See how Canterbury residents are taking advantage of the latest teeth implants….
Having written about children’s oral health in our previous blog, it seems only fair to take a look at a treatment that can be hugely beneficial for the older generation. As we now generally live to an older age, we find that we also want to remain active for as long as possible.
Whilst we do have to accept some limitations on our abilities as we get older, it doesn’t mean that we should have to put up with things which can cause us problems when we don’t have to.
One example of this is that many older people do lose their teeth, or at least some of them. There are many reasons why this might happen including poor oral care and other age related issues such as reduced saliva flow which can increase the risk of gum disease and potentially lead to tooth loss.
Losing a number of teeth means that many will resort to dentures. These have improved over time but some people do still find them restrictive and even uncomfortable as they may have a tendency to move around in the mouth, rubbing against the gums. If your dentures are unstable, you are also likely to resign yourself to not eating some of the foods that you really like, replacing them with softer and easier to eat foods.
It doesn’t have to be this way and a tooth implant placement at Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic can revolutionise your later years.
What are dental implants?
Very briefly, as these have been covered more extensively in other blogs, they are a replacement tooth that consists not only of the crown, but also an artificial tooth root (it is actually this part that is the dental implant). The use of a replacement tooth root means that, once placed and integrated with the jaw, they remain strong and stable in the mouth for a very long time.
Can older patients have them?
Absolutely. In fact, anyone whose face has developed sufficiently can have a dental implant placed. There are certain conditions that have to be met though, otherwise a prior procedure might be needed before the treatment can begin.
As adults, most of us acknowledge that we need to see our dentist on a regular basis, even if it is some way down our list of favourite things to do. Anxiety about dental visits can start from an early age and is just one of the reasons why children need to be introduced to the dental practice environment from a young age.
Most of us will occasionally feel a twinge as we bite into something really cold, like an ice cream. This usually lasts for a very short period of time and causes us no long term problems.
Summer seems to be trying to hold on by the skin of its teeth, at least for now, but most of us will have noticed the first signs of autumn appearing. That early morning ‘nip’ and the gradual browning and falling of leaves tells us that colder weather is certainly on its way and we can pack our tee shirts away for a few months at least.
There was a time when we simply accepted that our teeth looked less attractive as we grew older. Most people’s teeth would discolour and take on a yellowish shade.
It has long been instilled in us by our parents that it is important that we brush our teeth. This is good basic advice and although taking good care of our teeth is a little more sophisticated than that, it is a great start.
At the Bradley and Partners Dental and Implant Clinic, we believe in whole mouth health. This means that not only do we help you to keep your teeth healthy, but also the soft tissues of the mouth too. Whilst the focus is often on gum health, with gum disease being a serious problem that can result in lost teeth, there is a very real threat to all of the soft tissues in the mouth and that is oral, or mouth, cancer.
There are essentially four options available for anyone who loses a tooth, or a number of teeth. These are leaving the gap as it is, having dentures, having a bridge fitted or having a dental implant placed. We don’t recommend the first option as leaving a gap in the teeth, however unnoticeable it is, is not a good idea and can lead to issues such as misaligned teeth over a period of time.
A smile can really lift our day and a great looking smile even more so. It is said that the first thing that most of us notice about other people is their smile, and we tend to be drawn towards those that do, rather than people who smile less. There can be many different reasons, of course, why some people smile more than others. Our health, money and relationship worries can make smiling more or less likely for periods of our life.