The Argument in Favor of Investing in Dental Health

When it comes to investments, few rate health over wealth if one considers the priorities of modern living. It is an enigma why so many will sacrifice their health in the pursuit of wealth, yet without health, one will not enjoy wealth, or not for long.

In maintaining overall health, the role of dental health should not be overlooked. Anyone suffering from poor oral health will quickly realise how dental problems can dramatically reduce the quality of one’s life. One aspect of life directly affected by the state of one’s dental health is eating and nutrition. Figures show that 21 per cent of adults in the UK report experiencing problems eating due to the condition of their teeth. Poor dental health is the direct cause of neglecting oral hygiene and avoiding the professional care and attention provided by a dentist Luton.

Why make the investment in dental health

The time and effort taken to protect one’s dental health should be seen in a similar way as an investment in tomorrow. Yes, professional check-ups carry a cost, but this is a fraction of what one would have to fork out to treat more serious dental problems that arise out of neglecting oral health; replacing missing teeth, for example, or rehabilitating gums back to health. Besides avoiding more expensive dental treatment down the line, investing in dental health offers returns on investment in ways that can’t be easily quantified.

Dental authorities, the Oral Health Foundation for one, consider a healthy mouth as a great personal asset. The reason for this is simple: good oral health holds a number of desirable benefits for a person. Look after one’s teeth and gums, and one can bite and chew with ease and enjoy a varied diet, and then there is the ability to flash an attractive smile to consider.

The day-to-day benefits of smiling are positively overwhelming. The biological process triggered by smiling boosts happiness, smiling looks after heart health by lowering stress levels and strengthening the immune system and studies also show the link between smiling and improved levels of productivity.

Then there is a causal relation between loving one’s smile and healthy self-esteem. Not loving one’s smile, because of the appearance of one’s teeth, can affect how one sees oneself and the confidence one feels. Low self-esteem and low confidence make up a high price to pay for not prioritising oral health.

The transformative effects of smiling are not limited to mental health. By being proactive about one’s dental health, one can avoid many common dental diseases and complications linked to underlying chronic medical conditions. Researchers have found that harmful oral bacteria present in patients with gum disease can make their way into the bloodstream where they can spread to affect vital life organs such as the heart and lungs. A number of worrying conditions have been linked to gum disease including diabetes, pneumonia and certain cancers.

Neglecting oral health will only result in creating problems that will need to be addressed in the future. Spending money on treating problems that could otherwise be avoided can be likened to wasting money and there is no avoiding major dental problems when they make themselves known.

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂

Thinking of Getting Dental Implants in St Albans for a Fuller, Natural Feeling Smile?

Get your smile back

Far more people than you might initially imagine are living each day with one or more gaps in their smiles where teeth once were. Whether you’ve lost a tooth through injury, decay or natural ageing the best treatment you can choose to regain both the look and function of your smile is dental implants St Albans.

Although dental implants have been widely available to the public for many years now, fewer people are aware of what they are – or how they can help. This is largely due to the popularity and availability of other treatments for lost teeth like bridges, crowns or dentures.

However, where these treatments often fail is in their long-term effects, as they are prone to becoming uncomfortable or ill-fitting over the years. Dental implants do not present the same issues as they are permanently fixed in place which makes them the only really durable solution.

What actually are dental implants?

Dental implants, in principle, replicate the way in which a tooth is embedded inside your jaw through the installation of a titanium-alloy based socket into the gap where you are missing a tooth or teeth. This socket effectively acts as a new root into which a dental implant expert can attach a natural looking and durable prosthesis.

Where dental implants differ from other replacement devices is the fact that they are permanently fused in a position that allows patients to use their new tooth with the same confidence as if the tooth were natural. Because dental implants are a long-lasting solution they are mostly hailed as the most comfortable and natural feeling way to bridge a gap in your mouth.

Additionally, other long-term dental health problems which are faced by those who have untreated gaps in their jaws, such as a loss in speech ability or a decrease in facial bone density, are all addressed through dental implant treatment, as the gap is forever filled on a structural level, which helps alleviate the surrounding areas in your mouth.

How are implants fitted?

Because dental implants are permanent they have to be installed by a qualified dental expert through a complex and specialist dental surgical procedure. Before this can happen, however, a dental implant expert must first determine your eligibility for implants by conducting a thorough examination of your oral health.

Because dental implants are fixed into your bone in all probability permanently, your oral health must be of a certain level before they can be successfully put into place. Providing that a specialist deems you eligible for implant treatment, the installation procedure will then involve drilling a small hole into your exposed jawbone within the gap in your mouth.

The implant expert will then place the titanium-alloy socket into this hole, before then resealing the hole and leaving it to fuse. The natural fusion between the titanium alloy and your bone tissue is fundamental to the success of implant treatment, and once this has happened the practitioner will then reopen the socket and fix a prosthesis in place.

This, once fixed, should never shift out of shape or move from position – which means you can enjoy your new smile to its fullest potential, eat any type of food and speak clearly, without worrying about the implant becoming crooked or uncomfortable as the years go by.

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂

Guiding You Through a Variety of Oral Implants used within the World of Dentistry

Tooth restoration has never been easier than it is now within the dentistry world. Unlike dentures and bridges, dental implants in Bromley are inserted into the jaw bone creating an artificial root that is fused into the bone after months of recovery. Once healed, an artificial tooth or multiple teeth can be attached to the root which can then recover and rejuvenate your smile.

With major advances in knowledge and technology within the dental world, it is no surprise that the demands on implants have spiraled and ways to accommodate even the unsuitable candidates has begun to take form.

We will therefore take a brief look at the 4 main types of oral implants in order to guide you and expand on the knowledge surrounding your options.

Why is there a need for multiple implant options?

Whilst it would be incredible for every candidate to have the perfect jaw bone in terms of depth and strength, in reality, this is not possible. Therefore, in order to accommodate the variety of patients, different oral implants were designed and created.

The most common implant used

The go-to of implants when it comes to tooth restoration is that of the Endosteal. This particular implant is similar to a small titanium screw that is drilled into a healthy jaw bone and then left to naturally heal for approximately 3 to 6 months. Once healed, which means the screw is fused in by the natural bone, then a tooth can be attached. With sufficient oral hygiene carried out the implant can then last for as long as 15 years.

Using the cheek

For patients with insufficient bone depth within the jaw, it may be that the Zygomatic implant is more suitable. This particular implant is almost the same as the endosteal except for the length and placement of the synthetic root. The Zygomatic implant is placed within the upper jaw and attached to the cheekbone, or in the medical world, the Zygoma. Once again time taken to heal varies but can be around 3 to 12 months before they are fully fused in place. Once this has happened the duration with the correct oral hygiene can be anywhere from 15 to 20 years.

Shrinking in size with mini-implants

In the complete reverse to the Zygomatic implant where the Endosteal implant has been lengthened is the mini-implant which is reduced in size. These implants are not inserted as deep into the jaw bone and therefore are used primarily for single tooth replacements. Whilst the fusing of the jaw bone is still needed, it is considerably less time due to the depth and can be around just 3 months. The depth of the implants does affect the longevity of the solution though and reduces to just 10 years before an alternative solution would need to be found.

An alternative method

One other option for tooth restoration is that of the Sub periosteal which is not actually implanted but physically attached to the jaw and gum. Molded to your own specific jaw, this fitting acts as an implant without being inserted into the bone. As many as 6 posts can be used with this fitting and once the gum has healed around the posts the tooth or multiple teeth can be attached. No, fusing of the bone, just simple healing of the gums to get through.

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂

Seeing Your Dentist Every 6 Months – Why is it Important?

If you are like most adult dental patients, when you receive a text message, email or letter reminding you to attend a dental check-up, you will most probably think of ways to get out of it!

But there are many advantages to attending regular dental check-ups with a dental Coorparoo and in this article, these will be highlighted and discussed.

So read on to find out why you should not be avoiding your dentist and how delaying dental treatments over a long period can have a detrimental impact on your oral and physical health.

Decay

When most people think of dental check-ups they think of fillings, crowns and especially tooth decay. And this is a key thing that dentists are looking for when they assess your mouth. Depending on the severity of any decay, you may be offered a filling or a crown. But even if there is no decay in your mouth your dentist can still prevent it from occurring by applying a fluoride sealant, which will protect your enamel from acids and sugars.

Gum disease

Gum disease is the number one cause of adults losing teeth. More specifically, it is the plaque which has been left on the teeth and gums that can create these issues.

Excess plaque in the mouth not only creates problems with gum disease, but can also lead to secondary health complications.

Many studies into oral care and cardiovascular health have found that patients with excessive plaque in their mouths are at a higher risk of developing heart disease, cancers, strokes and even suffering from heart attacks. So, getting to your dentist to have any gum disease treated or plaque removed may actually save your life.

Oral cancer

On that note, it is time to talk about a very preventable cancer which is growing in the Western world; oral cancer.

Exceedingly treatable, oral cancer is detected by your dentist at a check-up and all dental surgeries screen for it routinely. It may appear as something as insidious as a small lump, a patch of skin or even an ulcer which is bleeding. Luckily, if it is called early enough, it has one of the highest survival rates of all cancers and so by delaying dental check-ups you may actually be increasing your risk of developing oral cancer and delaying treatment.

Snoring

If you have an issue with snoring, you can discuss this with your dentist at your check-ups.

They will be able to assess if your snoring is due to the position of your jaw and may be able to offer you a device to wear at night, which will prevent your teeth from grinding together and creating that common sound associated with slumber! If your dentist cannot detect the cause of your snoring they may refer you to a sleep laboratory to test you for sleep apnoea.

Lifestyle advice and guidance

And finally, a key reason to attend a dental check-up is to discuss lifestyle choices and how they impact on your oral health. Many dentists are able to offer patients smoking cessation advice and can even advise you on other things such as diet, dental hygiene at home and how to prolong the effects of whitening treatments.

DISCLAIMER OFFSITE

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Contributed Post.

If you like what you’ve read here, please let others know of this post, blog, and site.

And thanks for reading!  🙂