7 Reasons: Why You Should Not Ignore Missing Teeth

There are many reasons why people lose more than one tooth, such as illness, an accident or simply inheriting poor teeth. Each tooth plays a critical role in your oral health & this can have a serious impact on your quality of life. 

Unfortunately in India not many people realize it until they are in their 40's.

Below are the 7 problems that can result when a missing tooth is ignored.

1.You can’t chew well which can lead to digestive difficulty affecting your overall health; also you might have to avoid some of your favorite foods.

2.You can actually start to look old; once you start losing teeth, physical changes to the face are a frequent result. 

3.There is loss of self-esteem if the missing tooth’s space is visible when you talk or smile. 

4.The teeth on either side of the missing tooth will tilt & drift into the missing tooth’s space making them prone to decay & gum diseases.

5.Missing tooth changes the alignment causes changes in chewing patterns and resulting in tooth wear

6.During mastication; pressure is applied on jawbones and teeth which stimulate bone growth. A missing tooth causes the jawbone to shrink because the bone is no longer stimulated during chewing. Bone loss can result and cause further tooth and jaw problems.

7.Sometimes missing tooth might leave behind a unhealed wound where food particles might deposited and may resulting in bad breath.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO FIX A MISSING TOOTH?

You can have a fixed replacement made such as Implant, Bridge (crowns), a combination of Implants & Bridges or a Dental Implant Over-denture

You also have a choice of removable replacement a removable partial denture. Dentures cost less than a fixed replacement. 

Call Arya’s Dental Clinic today to schedule your appointment.  

Why Replace Missing Teeth?

A great many people are of the opinion that nothing needs to be done after they lose(or extract) a tooth.

We all remember Ed Helms from the Hangover with his missing front tooth. Of course most people don't ignore a missing front tooth but if it is a back tooth which does not show in their smile line - they tend to ignore it completely - sometimes for years together.

So Does it really matter if you don't replace a missing tooth?

The answer is yes. It does. You know how you throw a stone in the water and it causes a ripple? That ripple propagates and causes another one and another one - till the water all around is disturbed. Removing a tooth and then not replacing it is like setting off a similar chain reaction.


The human body hates empty space. If there is one - it will most times try to fill it up with something. In the case of a space caused by a missing tooth - the remaining teeth will move to fill it up.

So what can be the sequelae to an unreplaced missing tooth? 

1. Change in teeth position: Teeth drift, tilt and extrude. Upper teeth come down, lower teeth come up, back teeth tilt/move forward. This causes a significant change in the bite.

       (Image credit: http://www.wqgebeaudental.com/bridges/)

2. Food lodgment: Also due to uneven contacts, open spaces and tilted teeth - food lodgment increases which leads to secondary conditions like cavities and gum disease.

3. Loss of chewing ability: When you lose one tooth and don't replace it - you effectively lose TWO teeth. Because the tooth opposing the space has no tooth to bite down on - therefore it too is now rendered useless.

4. Unfair loading: Imagine a well built man carrying a sack of potatoes and all of a sudden he dumps the sack on a five year old. Aren't his knees going to buckle under the load? (thats a different matter that school children these days carry the equivalent of a sack of potatoes - but we will leave that for a separate discussion:)) Many patients lose several back teeth and for years manage with their front teeth. However front teeth are not meant for chewing. They cannot handle that kind of load. This leads to loosening or wear of these teeth and their ultimate loss.


5. Uneven loading: Think about a Horse carriage that is supposed to be drawn by two horses. If one horse is removed - all the load falls on the other in a very awkward way. If this same horse is positioned in the centre it might be able to draw the carriage better. But it is not. It is to the side and the forces on it - are off centre. It is bound to be fatigued earlier.With loss of teeth on one side - patients tend to be partial to the other leading to undue load on those teeth due to unilateral chewing.

All of the above sequelae occur over a few months to years. Most patients are not even aware that any change is occurring. And every passing year makes the situation a wee bit more difficult to correct.


With so many predictable techniques of tooth replacement available like dental implants or bridges - there is no reason why anyone should be without teeth.

Invest in your smile. Invest a little money and a little time. Like L'oreal says - "Because you are worth it" :)

Mail us at draryasclinic@gmail.com
or Log on to www.aryasdentalclinic.com

( Part III) aaah...What I wouldn't do to chew nuts again!!!

 Statistics show that 69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, a failed root canal or tooth decay.

A lot of people do not replace these missing teeth leading to further dental and joint complications. Some replace them with removable prostheses and hate them.  Others get fixed bridges done - which are great but they involve grinding away two adjacent teeth for support. 

                   A dental BRIDGE ( Two teeth have been ground to fix the bridge)

So how are fixed teeth possible ?

Dental Implants. They have revolutionized dental treatment. 

Well - What are they?

Your natural tooth has a root ( which lies hidden in the gum) and a crown which is what you see in the mouth. When you remove a tooth - the entire crown and root is removed, leaving nothing in the bone. 

Naturally to fix a tooth we need something to support it on - we can't expect to sit pretty on the gum alone. Feviquick does have it limitations :)

So how do we recreate the tooth root? We place in a titanium insert into the bone. Let it heal and then fix a crown to that insert which acts as a root. 

 (A dental implant in the bone. On either side you can see untouched natural teeth with their roots. )

Is this a new untested technique? No - its been around for more than 60 years - tried - tested and working successfully. 

Is it safe? Absolutely. It is just the reverse of getting a tooth removed. Instead of removing - we are putting in.So if you are healthy enough to get a tooth removed - you are in all probability healthy enough to get it replaced with a dental implant.

Is it not a foreign body being put in? How will my body react? Titanium is a biocompatible material. Moreover when huge titanium implants are being inserted into knees everyday around the world with no issues - how will a tiny little screw 10 mm long cause any trouble?

How many teeth can I replace? as many as you need or want. Right from 1 tooth to 28 teeth can be replaced.

What is the success rate of implants? Depending on bone quality, and other factors different articles claim success rates of 90-97%. 

What if my implants fail? Nothing. That is the best part. Failed implants don't mean any trouble. They can simply be removed and replaced at a later date. Not many treatments in dentistry are so reversible.

A few more of your questions can be addressed at http://www.perio.org/consumer/2m.htm

Don't struggle with removable dentures. Don't sit around with missing teeth and big gaps. Don't give up on your favorite foods for the lack of chewing efficiency. 

Find a qualified dentist. Ask for dental implants. 

Once you are done with the treatment you will kick yourself that you didn't get it done earlier.

Visit http://www.aryasdentalclinic.com

( Part II) aaah...What I wouldn't do to chew nuts again!!!

Hats off to those people who survived and managed with removable dentures - either partial or total. The whole idea of having to remove your teeth every night, wash them and clean them like they are dinner plates and then store them at your bedside is a concept that few are able to come to terms with in today's day and age. 

Removable dentures make you feel old. Period. 

You may be 16 or 60 years old. If you have lost one or all teeth and have been wearing a removable partial/complete denture (RPD/CD) for any length of time - you will understand what we are talking about.

We are not saying that removable prostheses are bad or an incorrect treatment modality. They are not. They still have value in certain situations. But there are better and more convenient options. 

Imagine having your upper front teeth missing and having to remove your RPD in the night. Imagine your husband waking up in the middle of the night and finding his beautiful wife with a big huge window in the front of her mouth? 

For people who wear these prostheses - sudden guests late in the evening means a scramble for their bowls of water at the bedside and fumbling with the denture before rapidly pushing it in their mouth to smilingly face their late night visitors. 

For others it means talking a little less in weddings for fear that their lower denture may jump out of its place and expose to all their gossiping relatives what they imagine to be their weakness. 

For some it means covering their face with mortification when suddenly in front of strangers - their kids are found playing on the floor with what suspiciously looks like mamma's teeth :)

It may sound funny but all this takes a toll on you mentally. It makes you feel old, broken and ancient.  It makes you feel defective. It makes you feel past your expiry date.

A confident smile with all your teeth present and FIXED makes you feel confident. It makes you feel young and vital. And a confident smile is a couple of dental sittings away.

Teeth should be in the mouth not out of it. Not floating around in a glass of water.  

 

The next time you wake up in the morning and reach to your bedside table - let it not be for teeth - instead let it be for a cup of steaming hot tea made by an appreciative husband or wife.

aaah...What I wouldn't do to chew nuts again!!! ( Part I)

If we had a penny for every time a patient said something like that - We could close down the clinic and retire early :)

We wax eloquent about aesthetics and smiles and cosmetic dentistry but the fact of the matter is - that - most patients just want to be able to eat. Eat their favorite foods comfortably. Without worry and without pain.

For the majority of our lifetimes we take our dental health( or the lack of it) for granted. We avoid dentists like the plague and treat dental clinics like abattoirs. You enter only if there is absolutely no way out of the so called torture.

All of this works out quite well for a reasonable amount of time - but sooner or later you start paying the price. Losing teeth - sometimes at an alarming rate. A period of time goes by and your diet switches to softer and softer foods till a time arrives where you may be surviving on little more than bread and milk.

You may have one tooth missing or all.

You may or may not be having removable dentures.

The dentures don't really help. You still can't enjoy your favorite foods.



This is when the craving starts. 'Ah to sink my teeth into an apple again' or 'those nuts look ever so tempting' or 'chicken.....hmmmmm'.

We understand.

And the good news is - YOU CAN. If at least now you take the trouble to visit a dentist.

Dental Implants  have changed the lives of several patients with missing or no teeth.

Fixed teeth are possible. At almost all ages. In almost all patients ( unless you have a severe systemic disease). For almost all teeth. You may need just one fixed tooth or you may need 28 - YOU CAN HAVE THEM.

If you were brave enough to have undergone the procedure of a tooth removal ( extraction) then you are brave enough to undergo a dental implant surgery. The anesthesia is the same. The length of the procedure is just a little bit more. The post operative precautions are almost the same. You walk in - get the procedure done - walk out. No hospital admission. No scary stuff.



www.aryasdentalclinic.com

How to Choose your dentist?

I never cease to wonder when I see people talking about their doctors/dentists. Conversations often run like this -






Scenario 1:
Patient 1: hey... I need to see a skin doctor....you know anyone?
P2: yeah... but whats the problem? rashes? why don't you apply so and so cream? Its miraculous....
P1: Oh I tried that...didn't work...
P2: alright then ... there is this doctor practicing at xyz...he's good....
P1: yes...i have heard of him too.... but I want someone closer to my home in abc area... 






Scenario 2:

Patient 1: hey... I need to see a skin doctor....you know anyone?

P2: yeah... but whats the problem? rashes? why don't you apply so and so cream? Its miraculous....

P1: Oh I tried that...didn't work...

P2: alright then ... there is this doctor practising at xyz...he's good....

P1: yes...I have heard good things of him too.... but he's expensive.... Know someone cheaper??..

It is always interesting the factors that people consider - convenience, cost and recommendations. The latter is fine by me - and to an extent maybe even the cost.... but convenience?




Why'd you risk your health/smile with someone just because he/she set up clinic close to where you live/work?




How do you choose a good piece of jewellery? Do you go to the first shop near your home? or do you check up on several outlets? Do you prefer a place with a reputation for selling genuine stuff or do you write out cheques for anything that glitters?

The following guidelines should help you get a good dentist:

1. REPUTATION: People don't acquire reputations overnight. Talk to people -friends and family. Find out their experiences. If someone has something good to say - make a mental note of the name of the dentist. (remember no one likes dentistry - so its difficult to find someone who will rave about a dentist - but even if he/she agrees that the dentist was good - its a truly positive sign)
2. AMBIANCE: Check out the general appearance of the clinic - is it clean/hygienic? Does the ambiance put you off or is it pleasant?If the doctor has gone to the trouble of ensuring that you are seated in clean/neat/pleasant surroundings - it means the dentist is interested that you have a pleasant experience.
3. STERILIZATION AND SAFETY: Inquire about their sterilization protocol. Are all instruments put through the proper cycle of autoclaving and sterilization? Are they stored properly? Are disposables actually disposed of - after every patient? 
4. PERSONAL ATTENTION: Note the way the dentist speaks to you. The general vibe from the dentist should be friendly and confident. Does he allot sufficient time to listen to your queries? Does he/she take note of your requirements or does he thrust his own treatment plan onto you without your proper explanation? A doctor who listens to you fully, then formulates a treatment plan with more than one option - is someone who cares about what you need. The dentist should explain to you your condition, how he diagnosed it(showing you x-rays and photographs ) and possible reasons for its occurrence.
5. PATIENT CASE PHOTOGRAPHS: If you are going in for aesthetic/cosmetic procedures or dental implants - request to see previous cases done by the dentist. Most well established dentists have a patient case gallery. This is well within your rights as a patient. Moreover it will give you a fair idea what to expect, the possibilities available and the skill/experience of the dentist. 
6. DO YOUR HOMEWORK: If you have been referred a dentist's name - check online to see if they have a website. This way you have a basic idea about the doctor, the kind of work they do and also the facilities available. Also most dental procedures/products can be googled up anytime. Ask your dentist for names of procedures and products. If you need to decide about a procedure in a hurry - use the dental office computer to educate yourself immediately. Every good dental office has patient treatment related books/pamphlets/brochures available too for those not too net savvy.
7. COSTS: Do not reject a dentist on the basis of his/her treatment charges being higher than someone else. Ask the dentist politely to justify/explain the charges. Remember - there are a wide variety of materials used. Dental materials come in various qualities - and their prices differ naturally. Also a more experienced dentist will naturally charge you slightly higher than someone with less qualifications and experience. Listen - question - and then choose. ( A little note here for compulsive bargainers - please do not embarrass your doctor by attempting to bargain. Instead - if you cannot afford a certain treatment - explain your budget restrictions and request him for an alternative treatment plan).
8. CONVENIENCE: Nobody likes travelling miles to visit a dentist but forsaking a good doctor for convenience is foolishness. If you have identified a good dentist but he/she practices some distance from your place - ask him/her to reduce the number of appointments required. If you are co-operative and do not mind keeping your mouth open for larger amounts of time- the dentist will be willing to accommodate longer appointments for the sake of your convenience. This way you have achieved your objective of visiting a doctor of repute as well as decreased your travel time. Also identify convenience stores/relatives nearby - this way you can get some shopping/visiting done on the same day - justifying the distance you have traveled. 

Just like your health - your smile is something that enhances your life. It makes you feel good about yourself. It make you confident when you face the world. Entrust your smile to someone qualified, experienced and caring. 

Entrust your smile to someone who cares about your smile as much as you do. 

www.aryasdentalclinic.com