Dentistry has gone through dramatic changes in the last century. A trip to the dentist was once regarded with all the glee of a trip to a torture chamber. However, advances in pain-free treatment have given individuals the opportunity to repair decayed teeth, get regular checkups and have major problems fixed without much discomfort.
Repair of Tooth Decay
Dentists can detect and repair tooth decay rather easily. By performing an oral exam, dentists can feel weaknesses in the enamel of teeth with their equipment. They can confirm those findings and find smaller deficiencies through X-rays. By using a dental drill, they can take out that decay and prepare the tooth for a filling that will keep the tooth functional and healthy. This process takes no more 20 to 40 minutes per tooth, barring complications.
Information From Oral Examinations
Dentists can be detectives when it comes to an individual's overall health. There are many times that cardiovascular problems or stroke precursors can show themselves in an oral exam. The patient may get a "heads up" on these problems if the dentist finds gum disease. Oral examinations often give the dentist an opportunity to find and treat dental problems before they become major. An individual who does not see a dentist regularly may not seek out treatment until pain becomes unmanageable. However, a dental exam would have revealed the problem at a much earlier point and allowed a tooth to be repaired relatively inexpensively. When the patient ends up in unbearable pain, the result is usually quite expensive and involved.
Lessons on Oral Hygiene and Habits
Dentistry is as much about prevention as it is about tooth repair. The advances in the field of dentistry mean that dentists have the latest information when it comes to tooth brushing technique, gum stimulation, tooth flossing, oral irrigation and halitosis (bad breath). The dentist and the dental hygienist can give patients information that will help the patient keep his teeth clean and healthy in order to avoid problems.
Improvements via Cosmetic Dentistry
Many advances have been made in cosmetic dentistry. Patients unhappy with the color of their teeth can get them chemically whitened in order to look more attractive. This option was not readily available in the 1980s or prior because it was either too expensive or advances in the field had not been made. People who were ashamed of the way their teeth looked can now smile brightly because of advances in cosmetic dentistry.
Member Comments