Tooth loss affects millions of people. It is not always the result of poor dental care. Age-related bone loss may weaken teeth’s placement in the jaw and cause them to break. Also, physical trauma from prolonged clenching and grinding could result in broken teeth. Here are some reasons why implants may be a good solution.

Dentures and Bridges Tend to Be Difficult to Manage

As a practical matter, removable hardware to chew is going to be rather cumbersome. It will affect people’s oral care significantly, and it may lower their confidence about their smile. Fixed denture placement or bridges may be a more tolerable alternative to a full set of dentures, but they also carry some worrisome ramifications. There are often small crevices where food and miscellaneous bacteria can become trapped. This may lead to infection, bad breath, or unhealthy gums.

Avoid Bone Loss

Once a tooth is lost, the bone in the area of the jaw that once supported it will slowly lose form. Bone loss may even cause visible changes in the face. An oral surgeon can advise you about how bone loss from an extraction may affect adjacent teeth and the contour of your jaw. If you need to find an oral surgeon Wheaton IL, reach out to a dental provider who has extensive experience with implants.

Keep Teeth Aligned

Other teeth may shift out of position after one tooth is no longer where it should be. The teeth next to an extracted tooth may shift into the empty space. Also, the weaker bone density in your jaw following an extraction may loosen the teeth on either side of an extracted tooth. An implant can prevent changes in your teeth’s alignment by reinforcing your bite and averting bone loss.

Consider whether implants may help you. They may be integral in preserving your remaining teeth.  

The way that you care for your teeth at home in addition to the care that you receive from a dental provider can have a big impact on your smile. Even the most well cared for smiles are vulnerable to wear and decay over time. Here are some things that you can do to fortify your smile.

Be Proactive About Seeing the Dentist

Preventative care will help you keep your smile looking the way that you want it to. Don’t wait until you experience discomfort or observe something isn’t looking right to see your dental care provider.

Regular cleanings and examinations are indispensable. Cleanings can remove tartar and preserve gum health which will in turn prevent tooth decay. Examinations with x-rays can indicate when you have a problem developing that you need to address before it gets any worse. If you need dental x-rays Happy Valley Oregon, make an appointment with a provider that offers both preventative and restorative treatment.

Keep Your Teeth Strong

The best way to strengthen teeth is to build and maintain enamel. Using a toothpaste and mouth rinse with fluoride will help you avoid losing or damaging enamel.

Safeguard Your Teeth From Forceful Damage

Believe it or not, one of the biggest threats to an individual tooth is another tooth above or below it. Bruxism is an extremely common condition that manifests as biting or clenching. The force of the impact from one tooth coming into contact with another when grinding may cause significant harm. It can change teeth’s alignment, wear down enamel, and even break teeth.

If you have bruxism and do most of your grinding and clenching at night, be sure to wear a nightguard consistently. This small measure can offer extremely valuable protection.

Your smile is one of the first things that people see. Show off your best smile by doing what you can to stop damage before it happens.

As a newly minted professional starting your first dental practice, you need to focus on patient relations as part of your growth strategies. Potential patients may experience many barriers to receiving appropriate dental care, ranging from increasing integrated medical services to their own anxieties. You can make your practice one that draws in and retains patients by training your staff to think professionally and enthusiastically. Here are tips for creating the right mindset so your team will form positive patient impressions.

Preach Togetherness

Your first message should be to encourage all in your practice to work together to serve a common purpose; aim this goal toward both staff members and any partners you have brought on board. Start by sharing and clarifying your vision. Ask for input on how you can fulfill that vision so that everyone feels a sense of personal responsibility to the practice.

Provide Internal Growth Opportunities

Another way to get your young staff members on board is to instruct them on every facet of the business. This strategy will pay off in reducing the number of missteps that can occur on a daily basis. For example, don’t just ask your hygienists to hand you Sirona electric handpiece components during a patient exam; teach them about how they work and why you chose the particular brand.

Model and Request the Right Attitude

A smile goes a long way, especially in a dental practice. Every employee in your practice needs to show that smile during every interaction. Even a receptionist answering the phone must convey that positive attitude; in fact, studies have shown you can convey a smile in your tone of voice by actually smiling during the conversation.

A grumpy environment in your dental office will have a negative impact on the practice. Encouraging your employees and partners to work as a team while brushing up on their patient relations can keep your practice growing for years to come.