Keeping your teeth young
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Keeping your teeth young

As we get older suddenly we realised many things we didn't appreciate about being young - being fit, having smooth skin and having all your own teeth. As our loose teeth (and bridges) struggle to deal with chewier food we start eating bland mush and, there is no easy way to say this, OLD PEOPLE FOOD. I'm determined not to let that happen to me and I'm doing everything I can to keep my own teeth as long as possible, and when that's not possible to get the best possible teeth replacement. If you are like me and want to keep on eating whatever you want, I think you'll like my site. It's all about dental health and teeth replacement & maintenance.

Keeping your teeth young

How Technology Makes Your Visit to the Dentist A Lot Easier

Mabel Hicks

If you've ever talked with your parents or grandparents about their experience at the dentist in their younger years, you will know that it was a very different place back then. Tooth decay was even more prevalent, and it was difficult to arrest it. Often, the dentist would have no choice but to extract the tooth, and there were few alternatives when it came to replacement. Fast forward to today, and there are many different solutions available, due to advancing technology. How lucky are you to live in this era when it comes to your dental health?

Imaging benefits

When you next visit your dentist's surgery, have a good look around and you'll see all of the new pieces of equipment in place to help diagnose any issues you may have. Indeed, diagnostic imaging is one of the dentist's most relevant tools.

Technology Provides Information

Now, the dentist is able to plan where to place an implant, should an extraction be necessary. Computerised technology enables the specialist to see the finished result in three dimensions, rather than two, and enables them to augment their experience to present the entire process. Fundamentally, the dentist doesn't need to guess how strong the bone is at the insertion point.

Remember that the dentists of old could only see the external bone structure and weren't able to tell if its density would be able to support the type of implant needed. Today, that's no issue any more.

CT Scanning

It's also possible to have a look at the patient's jaw in full three dimensions on a computer screen, by using a "cone beam" CT scanner. This technology not only aids in the planning stage, but can also significantly cut down the amount of time that you need to spend in the chair when the process is ongoing. This can save the patient a lot of money over time.

All In-House

A couple of generations ago, a patient would need to go to an advanced medical facility like a hospital, in order to take advantage of the technology used by cone beam scanners. Now that these have become more widespread at the typical dental surgery, all information can be collected "in-house" without the need for outsourcing and extra cost.

Extract and Replace

Dentists will now discuss your options before considering any tooth extraction, with clear recommendations as far as a replacement is concerned. In an ideal world, you should also always aim for an implant of some kind, both for functionality and to augment the health of the surrounding teeth.


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