Not long ago, I heard something from a patient that really surprised me. Now, that in itself is significant, because after practicing dentistry in Philadelphia for over 20 years, I thought I had just about heard it all. This patient, who up until recently had a great record of regular follow-up visits for cleanings and check-ups had been missing in action for about a year and a half. After we caught up with her and found out what was behind her unusual lapse in dental care, I learned that, among other things, she had been listening to a friend who had asked her: “Why do you want to go to the dentist? He’ll just find things that are wrong with you. And it’s so expensive.”
Wow!
Quite apart from the fact that this patient usually left her checkup without a need for any additional treatment, I thought to myself “With friends like that, who needs enemies?”
Well, here’s one to chew on: Let your oral health go and sure it may be expensive. That is, if you choose to get back into shape. Maybe even really expensive.
But, take care of yourself and – unless you have a serious accident – it’s very unlikely.
Statistically, I have found that patients who keep up with their bi-annual visits, have far less treatment that needs to be done. At times, an old filling or two may require replacement, but usually not a lot beyond that. That’s just normal wear and tear.
People who grind or clench their teeth often experience a higher need for dental work due to added stresses on their teeth, but we have solutions for this too.
All-in-all, having regular check-ups keeps the bulk of your hard-earned money in your pocket and not mine. Think about it. It’s just common sense.
While I believe you can find many useful tips on this site to help you improve your dental health, if there were only ONE thing I might impart to you that may help you achieve a more desirable oral condition – it would be to gain an understanding of the role your diet plays in the formation of tooth decay.
Over the years I have seen patients with good oral hygiene experience little decay and patients with poor oral hygiene experience the same. Conversely, I have seen several patients with excellent hygiene still experience problems with tooth decay. And of course, there are those patients with poor oral hygiene who, as one might expect, experience difficulties. Maybe it is all a matter of your genes, then?
If so, what about my genetically identical patients (twins)? One has virtually no tooth decay, whereas, the other has had a cavity in almost every other tooth in her mouth.
The difference, in virtually all of these cases is diet.
Patients with a tooth-friendly diet experience less decay than those who consume foods that are not good for your teeth. And, frankly, a tooth friendly diet is a body-friendly diet. So this begs the question: is tooth decay a problem of bacteria, or diet?
I believe both play their role. But you can control your diet and, to that degree, what you eat is most likely the very key to your dental health. Click on the links above to read about foods that are good for your teeth and those that are not.
Chances are that you have met someone with a dental implant and didn’t even know it. Completely natural looking, they have saved countless beautiful smiles. Dental implants are on the leading edge of technology and use special biomaterials – and they can be placed in only one or two office visits!
You may be a candidate for dental implants. In our office, we coordinate treatment with a periodontist who handles the first step of the procedure.
Implants are basically artificial tooth roots which anchor to surrounding bone and to which replacement teeth are attached.
The periodontist handles the first part of the procedure, which is placing the tooth root. Once that step is completed, I complete the second step which involves making the replacement tooth.
Permanent replacement teeth can be made translucent like natural enamel and are framed by your natural gum tissue.
Implants are long-lasting and reliable – and actually, quite cost effective. The cost to replace a single tooth with an implant is comparable to making a dental bridge. But, unless you’re 125 years old, most bridges will have to be replaced after several years. (Five to fifteen is the national average.) Implant crowns can last considerably longer because there is no natural tooth structure beneath them that can decay and if the crown comes loose, it is usually just a matter of re-cementing the crown.
Implants can replace one tooth, rebuild an entire jaw of missing teeth, or be used to secure dentures.
Cosmetic dentistry isn’t always just about good looks. Many of these treatments can improve various oral problems, such as correcting your bite. They are also not necessarily restricted to the teeth. Some people encounter problems with gum pigmentation or uneven gums. Periodontal procedures exist that address these difficulties as well.
Generally, cosmetic dental procedures include whitening, bonding, crowns, veneers, and the reshaping and contouring of teeth. If you have a cosmetic concern, it is a good idea to have heart-to-heart talk with your dentist and ask lots of questions. Among them:
What can I expect the changes will look like?
What should I experience throughout the course of treatment?
What type of maintenance will be required by me or by the dentist?
Television has certainly popularized cosmetic dentistry with such shows as Extreme Makeover and, at times, it can be as complex as a total smile reconstruction. At other times, cosmetic dentistry may be as simple as correcting the appearance of a single tooth. In short, it is what is right for you, what fits your budget, and makes you feel better about your smile!
Many of my patients have seen me use a dental instrument called a Diagnodent in the office. It is one of the latest diagnostic tools in dentistry.
No more poking and prodding. No additional radiation. No waiting until the film develops. A laser now detects cavities. And it may do it more accurately than conventional x-rays in many cases. How does it do it? It measures the amount of enamel and dentin lost and assigns a number using a special scale. The number helps the dentist decide if the tooth needs a filling or should just be checked again in several months. Small amounts of decay can disappear if the tooth hardens the softened enamel, a process called remineralization.
It gives you such accurate readings that if you decide to watch a tooth, six months down the road, you’ll rescan the tooth and check the reading. Sometimes we may find the numbers get smaller.
The device (the Diagnodent) is painless, and very safe. It does not necessarily find more decay. It helps us decide if it’s true decay. If small cavities are detected, patients can take steps that will help to remineralize the tooth and may avoid a filling entirely.
This new laser cavity detection system does not replace all x-ray technology. But it is one more tool we have to help keep your cavities small and your dental bill smaller.
Dr. Richard Walicki is a dentist practicing general and cosmetic dentistry. While we hope you find the information contained herein interesting and useful, this blog is for informational purposes and is not intended to diagnose any oral disease. Dental conditions should be evaluated by your dental health professional or a qualified specialist.
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You may be a candidate for dental implants. In our office, we coordinate treatment with a periodontist who handles the first step of the procedure.
