Teeth

Welcome to your 50th birthday

Broadway Dental Care

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In my surgery I have a copy of a graph produced by Forbes magazine detailing health care expenditure against age in the US. Its easy enough to find on the internet if you want to have a look. In essence what is shows is that up to the age of 50 our health care costs are minimal and you might be hard pressed to even know who you doctor or dentist is, only attending when there is a problem.
What is startling is how the graph suddenly starts rising after the 50 year point.
Is it a global conspiracy that all the doctors and dentists have stated picking on the 50+ age group? Well maybe but is more likely that those crowns, fillings and veneers that you have been collecting over time have now been in constant use for 20-30 years and are starting to wear out coupled with some degree of gum recession opening up space between our teeth which we never had before.
What can we do about this? Well there are two choices.
The first is to pretend its not happening but put your dentists number on speed-dial and hope their weekend emergency service is good.
The second is to change the way we approach our healthcare and move to a more preventative attitude.
At the annual meeting of the British Society of Prosthodontics in Newcastle we were discussing when was the best time to have a crown or filling replaced. The conclusion was ‘just before you need to’. Now this might seem like daft advice but once you have got toothache or broken a big fillings your dental bills can rapidly go from expensive to very expensive.
So what’s the message? Give your teeth a treat and keep your gums healthy,make an appointment to fix those broken or discoloured fillings and sensitive teeth before your teeth make an appointment for you. Invest in your dental health early and it will save you a lot of money and grief in the long-term

10 Things to know when choosing cosmetic dentistry

Broadway Dental Care

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1. Investigate the qualifications of the dentist and disregard advertising claims that seem to be too good to be true. Remember that cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty so beware if a dentist claims to be a specialist in cosmetic dentistry. All cosmetic procedures require time and excellence in operative procedures.
2. Dental practices that have high sales motivation and offer reduction in fees for signing up immediately should raise a red flag also don’t be deceived by office glamour or glitz. Fancy waiting rooms do not necessarily mean high quality work.
3. Never make a decision for a cosmetic procedure on the first visit. Beware if confronted with an urgency to book dental work by the practice staff.
4. Lack of information on dental procedures and the lack of required time for evaluation and planning before beginning the procedure should be questioned. Remember that a conscientious dentist will explain treatment options, indications and contraindications for procedures and required time for completion.
5. When reviewing presentations of past procedures ask if procedures in the presentation were performed by the dentist.
6. Have knowledge of the restorative materials that will be selected for your procedure. Never accept a statement that these are the “state-of-art materials.” Remember the best materials are not the only ingredient for success, it requires the proper diagnosis and restorative team and a clear plan before you proceed with any cosmetic procedure.
7. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Beware of the dentist who does not provide adequate time for questions or explaining and performing procedures
a. Ask about the longevity of the restorative procedure and the time span for replacement
b. Ask if adhesive protocols are utilized in the procedure and if a dental dam is used.
8. Get an independent second opinion before you agree to any cosmetic dentistry.
9. Do not accept changes in the treatment plan unless those possibilities have been discussed prior to the procedure and seek opinions of independent specialist if changes occur with regard to periodontal, endodontic, or oral surgery during a procedure.
10. Do not accept a restoration as finished until viewed in different lighting and observation by an independent observer. (i.e. family member, friend)