Dental Care

When is the right time to seek dental care, and when is it OK to wait? This seems like an easy question, but it is not. The answer is dependent upon a lot of variables. The first variable is the fact that everybody wants something different. If the goal is to keep the teeth healthy, have the best smile you can and prevent future problems before they start, then the answer is to seek dental care early and often. If the goal is to only avoid pain, then treatment should start at the first sign of a problem.

Almost all oral health problems start out small and are relatively easy to treat in the beginning. The length of treatment, cost and degree of difficulty increase with time. Unfortunately, people who don't like to go to the dentist end up waiting too long to seek treatment. They then wind up with a result they didn't want, such as loss of teeth, or more lengthy and costly treatment than they would have needed had they just gone to the dentist earlier. Some of the problems that can happen over time are:

• old fillings can fail and start to decay underneath
• cracks develop in teeth
• teeth break
• gum recession and bone loss can occur
• teeth can loosen
• teeth grinding can cause extreme wear and an aged appearance and lead to joint and muscle problems

Most people have their teeth treated one tooth at a time. It is a good strategy for avoiding pain. but not a good one for having the best function or health. The teeth, muscles and jaw joints work as a system and all parts of the system need to be functioning well for optimum health. Take charge of your dental care and have a comprehensive exam and treatment plan so you will not be a victim of fate.

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