Do you wait until your teeth are completely damaged before dealing with them?

        As they grow older, many elderly people begin to experience tooth decay and periodontal disease, resulting in structural defects or missing teeth, which can lead to tooth pain, difficulty chewing food, or unsightly appearance. When they come to the clinic for treatment, they often ask the doctor: "Anyway, the teeth will eventually break down. Can we just wait until all the broken teeth are removed together and then have full dentures done?" This issue of "Health Column" will answer your question.

        

        What problems may arise if the tooth structure is damaged or left untreated?

        Not aesthetically pleasing: Missing teeth or tooth defects may not only be unsightly, but also lead to facial depression and other problems, which can affect confidence in socializing.

        Reduced chewing function: Defects in tooth structure may cause difficulty and pain in chewing. If food enters the gastrointestinal tract without sufficient chewing and grinding, it can easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort; Especially for the elderly, if they reduce their food intake due to pain, discomfort, and difficulty chewing, it may lead to malnutrition and further develop more diseases.

        Tooth displacement, tilting, and alveolar bone resorption: When teeth are missing for too long, it may further lead to difficulties in denture reconstruction, and even require more difficult surgery and higher costs to make dentures and rebuild bite function.

        Reduce the remaining lifespan of teeth: If teeth are crooked, it is not only difficult to clean but also prone to food filling, causing problems such as dental caries, periodontal disease, and even pulp inflammation. And missing teeth can also burden the remaining teeth with greater biting force, shortening their lifespan.

        Regular 6-month check ups and teeth cleaning for better health and quality of life

        If the elderly have no symptoms, it is advisable to have regular dental checkups and teeth cleaning every 6 months. If any of the following conditions is met, it can be shortened to every three months until the dental staff receive the dental examination paid by the health insurance, and apply fluoride to prevent tooth decay: patients over 65 years old, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney washing, use of osteoporosis bisphosphate drugs, cancer, and patients with physical and mental disorders manual. (The above health insurance welfare measures will be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the annual Ministry of Health and Welfare announcement.)

        If there is periodontal disease, pulp disease or other dental diseases, further examination and treatment should be carried out to alleviate gum inflammation, alveolar bone atrophy, tooth pain and extend the service life of teeth. In addition, those who need to make dentures due to tooth defects or missing teeth should also follow medical advice and receive treatment as soon as possible.

        Methods of denture reconstruction

        Single fixed dentures (braces): When the patient's teeth are severely damaged, the dentist will use fixed dentures to protect the teeth, strengthen their strength, restore their appearance and chewing function. If necessary, dental pulp treatment and placement of dental nail cores will be combined.

        Dental bridge: A dental bridge is a row of connected fixed dentures made by using the teeth on both sides of the missing tooth area as pillars. Patients must clean the gaps under the bridge body daily to avoid problems such as tooth decay or periodontal disease in the supporting teeth. However, if the condition of the teeth on both sides of the missing tooth area is poor or the missing tooth area is too long, it may not be suitable for making a dental bridge.

        Dental implant: A type of fixed denture in which a dentist implants an artificial tooth root into the alveolar bone of the missing tooth area through surgery, and then installs a crown that resembles a real tooth. Because it uses artificial tooth roots as pillars, there is no need for extensive grinding of adjacent teeth, nor is there a need to dismantle dentures. It can also avoid loss of alveolar bone and provide better bite force. It is worth noting that if there are serious periodontal disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, or serious molars, smokers, or those who eat betel nuts, it is not suitable for dental implant.

        Removable dentures: Making removable dentures does not require extensive grinding of adjacent teeth, does not require surgery, has a shorter treatment time than dental implants, and is relatively cheaper in cost. The wearing method is fixed on the remaining teeth with hooks, which can be freely disassembled. However, because most of them rely on gum support, the biting force is relatively poor, and there may be a feeling of foreign objects when wearing. It is necessary to practice and adapt to the break in period.

        Conclusion

        For other physical illnesses, people are usually more alert and seek medical treatment as soon as symptoms appear. However, when encountering dental problems, they often wait until the pain is unbearable or difficult to cure before seeking medical attention. In fact, if dental problems are not treated, they can not only affect the quality of life, but may also cause other physical conditions. It is recommended to regularly seek dental checkups and teeth cleaning from a dentist, and promptly address any minor issues.

        *Dr. Chen Yuhui's expertise includes teeth whitening, aesthetic reconstruction of teeth, full bite reconstruction, production of fixed and removable dentures, production of fixed and removable dentures for artificial dental implants, and tooth restoration. More introduction https://www.femh.org.tw/section/sectionDetail2.aspx?CID=0270&&DoctorID=88784

        #