We recently observed National Prosthodontics Awareness Week by sharing stats about our specialty and associated services on social media. Before researching our practice, you may have never heard of a prosthodontist. You are not alone, many people haven’t heard the term—and those that have, may not be fully aware of the range of services the specialty offers.
The statistics of people dealing with complete toothlessness in one arch, or both, are staggering. The medical term for toothlessness is edentulism. According to the American College of Prosthodontists 23 million are completely edentulous, while an additional 12 million are missing all the teeth in just one of their arches, defined as partial edentulism. While this may seem like a preventable condition, most dealing with tooth loss are doing so due to injury, illness, or simply everyday wear, and not mere neglect.
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, more than 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. While the aesthetics of a missing tooth can be bothersome, the oral health issues caused are more concerning. When missing a tooth, problems with gum recession and bone loss are common. Without the root structure in place, the bone and gum tissue simply recede, which can result in problems with tooth alignment for the adjacent teeth.
Christmas trees are decorated, wreaths are hung, and traditional favorites are playing across the Southern Tier. All of this holiday spirit has inspired us. Rather than singing you the 12 Days of Christmas, we thought would share the 12 Tips for a Christmas Smile. Check out the tips below to keep your teeth healthy this holiday season and as white as the snowflakes in the sky. Just because you’re on a break from normal work routines, doesn’t mean your teeth get a break from good oral health practices.
Technology in dentistry has improved dramatically over the last several decades. Rather than needing to send out for physical x-rays, digital x-rays are taken in the office and observed on a computer. Instead of waiting for crowns, digital dental technology allows all-ceramic crowns to be completed in a single office visit. Digital dentistry has also improved tooth-replacement options for adults with missing teeth.
It used to be that if a patient was missing teeth the only option for replacement was a full or partial denture or a bridge. That is no longer the case. There are many reasons dental implants are usually the best option for replacing missing teeth. They vary in importance from person to person based on lifestyle, however the following three are of major consideration for most patients.
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