Do you believe having a nice smile is important socially? If so, when was the last time you had a dental check-up or a teeth whitening procedure?
Were you aware that many people in the United States don’t visit the dentist every year? In fact, recent figures show that 100 million Americans appear to avoid the dentist entirely. While the reasons for this vary, many people are afraid to go to the dentist because they expect it to be painful.
The good news, however, is that sedation dentistry is available for many types of treatment situations. When you need to have deep cleaning for gum disease, extractions, or implants, a sedation dentist will be able to make you comfortable before they proceed.
If you’re not sure whether or not you have periodontal disease, you may be interested to know that this is typical for adults 30 and older. Approximately 47.2% of adults within this age bracket have some level of this disease. When left untreated, this painful disease can also lead to your losing 1 or more teeth.
Are you experiencing tooth pain? It’s possible that you might have a cavity. Approximately 20% of adults in the United States have 1 or more untreated cavities, so it’s important to take care of that as soon as possible. In addition to being painful, untreated cavities can lead to other issues, such as broken teeth.
If you’ve lost 1 or more teeth as a result of gum disease, an accident, or other causes, you may want to consider dental implants rather than a bridge. Americans undergo this procedure every year, and since 2006, there have been over 5 million of these procedures performed. Furthermore, there is a 98% success rate with dental implants which have the look, feel, and functionality of natural teeth.
Not sure how often you should brush your teeth? The American Dental Association recommends that you do so twice every day. It’s also a good idea to replace your tooth brush regularly. The next time you visit your dentist, be sure to ask them how often they recommend that you replace yours.
