Dentistry For Adults

Just because you may never have had any cavities in the past does not guarantee that you will be caries-free all your life. As we age biological, functional, hormonal and cosmetic changes also translate to the oral cavity. In addition to preventive hygiene and cosmetics; restoring function, replacing old and failing restorations, replacing missing teeth, preventing and treating gum disease are only some of the treatments that adults need to consider when it comes to healthy mouths for a lifetime.

Dr. Farzam has been surgically replacing missing teeth with dental implants for many years. Just because you no longer notice the gap in your arch any more doesn’t mean others don’t notice it! Apart from cosmetics issues with missing teeth, there are many functional issues that can become noticeable only years after tooth loss. Drifting of the adjacent teeth, joint pain, collapsed bites and sunken lips and cheeks are very common. As always prevention in dentistry is key. Taking care of problems in the early stages is always easier and kinder to your pocketbook. We frequently see patients who have lovingly been hanging on to old silver fillings in their teeth, since childhood, and are not aware of the recurrent decay that has undermined their tooth structures, is causing bad breath or even causing pain that cannot be directly attributed to a single source.

Gum disease is another aspect of adult care. There are some contributing genetic factors to gum disease but periodontitis is primarily an infection of the tissues surrounding one or many teeth. The body’s immune response to the infection is the reason why gum disease can lead to tooth loss. If you have bleeding gums, you should have a check-up to rule out gum disease and if the diagnosis of gum disease is the result, proper care and education become very important. Data suggests that heart disease and gum disease are directly correlated although the mechanisms are not clear, the fact remains.