Rather Than Dread Dentures, Views Them as a Chance to Design Your Own Smile
Posted on January 14, 2010 | Filed Under Dentistry
Morton came in as a new patient asking for a new set of dentures. In collaborating with him so we could make him dentures he would be proud to wear, I asked him questions such as:
Do you want spaces between your front teeth?
What type of smiles do you like?
Who do you want to look like?
Do you want big teeth, little teeth, long teeth,wide teeth?
Do you want personalization, such as little character flaws built into your teeth?
Do you want perfect alignment?
According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 out of every 4 adults over 60 have lost all of their natural teeth due to gum disease and tooth decay. Another CDC report says 1 out of every 5 adults over 65 have lost all of their teeth. Once that occurs, your choices are dentures or implants.
Although dental implants are an excellent alternative to dentures, not everyone can get them. This doesn’t mean you have to dread dentures. The biggest reason denture wearers switch to implants is:
Their dentures are ill-fitting and uncomfortable; or
They don’t like how their dentures look.
You can dread dentures or view them as an opportunity to design your smile. If you want to pay $99 and get “teeth-on-a-plate” then the old adage “you get what you pay for” applies.
On the other hand, if you want someone to craft an appliance that feels and looks natural, you can spend the money and get something that will make you feel confident.
I minored in Art Minor and I view dentistry as both an art and a science. Although an appliance needs to be engineered perfectly, there’s no reason it can’t also be an aesthetic expression of the smile you’ve always wanted.
Is Your Dentist Keeping Secrets From You?
Posted on December 15, 2009 | Filed Under Dentistry
I don’t think so. But I did like much of the information contained in an article of this title from Dr. Mercola’s website. Here’s a few followed by my comments:
Secret #1: Your dentist may not have the latest technology.
Digital x-ray: Dentists who do not have digital x-ray equipment are practicing in
the dark ages. Digital x-rays use less radiation than film. They are easier to read
and make diagnosis more accurate.
Ultrasonic Cleaning: Ultrasonic instruments vibrate plaque and calculus off your
teeth, even in areas below your gums. It is much more comfortable than oldfashioned
hand scraping.
Doc comment: I agree. Thats’ why our office has had this technology for years.
Secret #2: Your dentist may be using mercury.
Mercury is toxic. Norway and Sweden have banned the use of mercury fillings..
But mercury fillings are less expensive and easier for the dentist to use. If your
dentist does not use composite fillings, don’t go to that dentist any more. In the
US, the FDA is way behind the ball and not actively warning patients about this
like they have been mandated by the courts to do.
Doc’s comment: Very accurate. I haven’t used mercury in my office for years.
Secret #3: The lab may be more important than your dentist.
Dental labs create dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, and other
dental restorations like implant crowns. There is a huge difference in the quality
of these labs. You should be particularly wary if your dentist is using a lab in
China or Mexico. Some of the top labs in the U.S. are Aurum Ceramics,
MicroDental Laboratories, da Vinci Dental Studio, and Williams Dental Lab.
Doc’s comment: True. Aurum Ceramics is one of the labs we use a Artistic Dentistry.
Secret #4: There’s more to good dentistry than filling cavities.
A competent dentist screens for more than tooth decay. He or she should be
concerned about sleep apnea, jaw-related pain known as TMJ, oral cancer,
diabetes and hypertension.
Doc’s comment: All good points. I cover some of this in my free downloadable
electronic ebook found at http://stlouisdentistdrpete.com
Look Ma’ No Cavities!
Posted on August 25, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry, General, Health, St. Louis, Teeth Tips
For Boomers who grew up with this famous toothpaste commercial, I have a news flash: At your age, it’s no longer just about cavities!
If you’ve passed the age of forty, you really should have a mid-life diagnosis to evaluate the overall state of your oral health AND to plan a proper course of treatment that will enable you to keep your teeth for the remainder of your lifetime.
Patients over forty have often shortchanged their dental health or just barely maintained their teeth and gums. With the expense of family taking precedence through the previous two decades, Boomer-aged patients coming to me for the first time are often prepared to play catch-up with their own dental health.
Today you can plan a course of treatment that will ensure you’ve got your own teeth to chew with well into your senior years. In addition, nothing is more youthful than a natural-looking white smile. Unlike your parents, if you take care now you can have both.
Tags: aging, allergies, appearance, breath, brushing, cavities, cavity, dental care, dental health, dental treatment, dental work, Dentistry, dentists, dentures, extraction, fillings, gums, implants, insurance, oral health, overall health, pain, root canal, smile, teeth, tooth
Living Without Teeth Is A Curse For Seniors
Posted on August 9, 2008 | Filed Under Health
One topic omitted from the anti-aging forum is the relationship of your teeth to how you look and feel every day. This area of medicine has long been excluded from discussions of longevity and wellness and categorized mostly as a cosmetic function, much like plastic surgery. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Every tooth impacts a different area of your body. Every extraction has an impact on your longevity.
Why do we neglect the role our mouths play in overall health? Why do we accept missing teeth and dentures as a “natural” course of aging?
My answer is the extreme lack of information on the subject. Look for my book coming out soon.
In an Era of Speed, Quality is Still Valued…
Posted on July 18, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry
Will all of you under 40 indulge me for just a moment while I reminisce about “When I was Growing Up?” Once in a while, I’m reminded of the higher quality with which things used to be made. Cars, furniture, clothing, appliances and yes, even dentistry were MADE TO LAST.
My dad, Dr. Sam Pagano, practiced dentistry in St Louis for over 50 years. Many of his techniques are lost today. Yet, his techniques resulted in quality dental work that lasts.
Case in point: My dad and I were having breakfast at Sunrise Café on 141 and Olive Blvd. A 91 year old woman by the name of Josephine came up to our table. She looked at my dad, waiting for him to recognize her. Turns out, he filled her teeth 40 years ago. She proudly announced that she still had those same fillings and that her current dentist wanted to know (and I quote): “Who did all of this beautiful work in your mouth?”
In another outing, my dad and I ran into a former patient of his who proudly displayed the dentures my dad had made for him – IN 1953! Over 50 years later, these dentures were still working for this patient.
In earlier times artisans and craftsmen spent years as apprentices in order to Master their skills. I was fortunate enough to get an apprenticeship fresh out of dental school, working with my dad for nearly ten years. I learned as much from him as I did in school, if not more. By mastering the fundamentals of dentistry and focusing on quality, I had a strong foundation on which to embrace the technological advancements that have been made in dentistry.
Despite my excitement at learning new procedures and acquiring the latest technology, I know that these aren’t substitutes for a firm grounding in the skills of providing quality dentistry that will last.
Denture Wearers Speak Out
Posted on June 6, 2008 | Filed Under Dentistry, Health
According to an online poll of 2,567 denture wearers, nearly one third said they got them to end the misery of endless dental problems. Nearly half said they (dentures) seemed to be the only, best or good solution. Now that they had dentures, 63% wanted new ones and 58% said they were not satisfied with the ones they had, citing uncomfortable or loose-fitting as the common complaints.
Nearly 3 out of 4 respondents were considering dental implants to replace their dentures.Two takeaway points from this poll:
1. Do everything you can to having to get dentures in the first place.
2. If you have them and find them uncomfortable to live with, find out how dental implants could be a solution.
