When your father told you that he was changing dentists, you thought it was a little odd. He already lives 30 minutes from his current dentist, and the new dentist is now 90 minutes away. The fact that your father is 85-years old makes the dentist changes even more puzzling. When you had a chance to her your father’s further explanation, however, even though his decisions was unusual, it was understandable.
At his age, your father only goes to the dentist once a year. And the fact that the last time your Dad went to the dentist close to his home, the diagnosis of a possible infection and that a root canal was necessary. Your father had never had a root canal before, and the only thing he knows about them is lots of pain. Instead of making a follow up appointment for the root canal, your dad went home and started using a strong mouth wash several times a day. Every time he walked into the bathroom, in fact, he used the mouthwash, bit down hard on his teeth, and eventually got rid of the infection and the pain. His only problem, though, was that when it came time for the next appointment, he still feared that they would still push for the root canal.
Your dad’s only solution: get a new dentist. Even if the change meant driving an extra hour.
Fortunately, your dad was really impressed with the new dental office. By his count, the new office spend at least 20 minutes cleaning and polishing his teeth, while the first dentist barely spent five. Even though the drive is longer, the new dentist seems to be the best solution for your dad.
Wisdom Tooth Surgery Does Not Need to be Painful or Scary
Not everyone is an 85-year old who decides to self correct for his dental problems. In fact, the younger you are, the more important it is that you get into a healthy and regular dental routine. From two to three times daily brushing and flossing to making sure that you make it to your twice a year dentist appointments, regular dental care can help you protect your teeth and your overall oral health. Wisdom tooth removals or root canals can be a frightening prospect for many people, but finding the right dentist can make any procedure less frightening and more comfortable.
Whether you are looking for wisdom tooth removal or full dental implants, finding the right dentist is often the key to making sure that you follow up on return visits and needed procedures. And while many traditional dentists offer the same kind of care that has been practiced for decades, a growing number of dentists offer pain free, low sedation dental work that can keep your anxiety low and your comfort level high.
Consider some of these facts and figures about wisdom tooth removal, single tooth implants, and other kinds of procedures offered by the best oral surgeons:
- 5 million Americans have wisdom tooth removal, an outpatient procedure, each year.
- Impacted wisdom teeth is a condition were the third molars at the back of the mouth do not have enough room to emerge or develop normally.
- 3 million people receive dental implants every year, and that number is growing as much as 500,000 annually.
- 69% of Americans between the ages of 35 and 44 have at least one missing tooth.
- 25% of Americans over the age of 74 have lost all of their natural teeth.
- 35 million Americans are missing all their teeth in one r both jaws, according to prosthodontists.
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) is compromised movement and pain of the jaw joint and the surrounding muscles that has been diagnosed in as many as 35 million people in the U.S.
- Unfortunately, only 50% to 66% of those with TMJ disorders will seek treatment. Among this same percentage group, approximately 15% will develop chronic TMJD.
- One of the most important reasons to take care of your teeth is that a serious consequence of missing teeth is bone loss in the jaw. This dramatic loss begins as soon as a tooth is lost. In fact, the width of the bone can be reduced by 25% in the first year after tooth loss.
