As a young mother, I was reasonably ignorant when raising my firstborn. My biggest regret is that I didn't help her take better care of her teeth. Like many people, I didn't realise the importance of baby teeth, resulting in long-term dental problems. Recently, my daughter got married and some of my tears were for the beautiful, glistening smile she presented to the cameras. Ever since I realised the dental damage I had caused, I had been saving for my daughter to have cosmetic dentistry. The results are remarkable. During the course of this journey, I have learnt a lot about caring for children's teeth and corrective procedures that can be undertaken when issues arise. I am sure many of you would be interested in the latest knowledge and techniques that are available to prevent and repair dental complications. I'm Margret Devlin - thanks for visiting.
Many people can go through life without worrying about their dentition. They may not pay too many visits to a dentist or even schedule a checkup at all, but in the meantime, they may develop a range of problems without even realising it. If you're in this situation and know that you have some catch-up work to do, is it too late, or can you restore your mouth to its previous condition?
The Passage of Time
Over the months and years, your teeth will have been subjected to sugars and other foods that can prompt deterioration. Plaque will have built up around the gum line, and the gums will have begun to recede as it does so. The teeth will start to move apart and degrade at this stage, and in the worst case, gingivitis and periodontitis may emerge.
Assessing the Situation
If you find yourself in this situation and want to know if your smile can be restored, you need to pay a visit to your local dentist. They will be able to assess the accumulated damage and advise you on what to do going forward. In many cases, they may need to remove some of the existing teeth, as they may be beyond repair. They may advise you to consider dental implants alongside other vital work.
Restorative Implants
Dental implants can help to fill in any gaps and restore your bite so that you can, once again, chew on your favourite foods. This is not an overnight task, but if you entrust the work to a qualified and experienced dentist, you'd be amazed at the outcome in due course.
The Process
To begin with, the dentist will need to know if the supporting post can be connected to your jawbone correctly. They will use sophisticated equipment to plan this procedure properly and, usually, you will only need a local anaesthetic to numb the pain. Once the post has been inserted, they can then fix a temporary tooth (called a crown) in place while the permanent replacement is made in the lab. You will be called back into the surgery to remove the temporary crown and insert the permanent replacement when ready.
Taking It Easy
Remember that you will need to take things easy in the early days and allow several months for the implant to fuse correctly with the jawbone. Only then should you attempt to crunch those chewy foods and get back to your favourite diet.
Getting to Work
Begin the process today by talking with your local dentist. They will assess the current situation and advise the course of treatment.
Share9 September 2021
