Comprehensive Dental Care: Why Traditional Dentistry May Not Be Enough.

You walk in, your name is called, and a team member brings you back to the room. You sit in the chair; an assistant takes a few X-rays; someone cleans your teeth and tells you how many cavities you have. Does this sound familiar? You will find this in thousands of dental offices; this may not be enough to ensure you keep your teeth for a lifetime.

I am sure you know that if you have a cavity, it has to be fixed with a filling. Perhaps you broke a tooth and needed a crown there, so you get it done. Then you are done forever. WRONG. 

This is what is called “single-tooth” dentistry. Some people, they may be okay, and they may never really develop serious issues. However, as we get older and experience more dental work that needs to be replaced, worn teeth, gum recession, and sleep apnea, the more critical it is to have a comprehensive dentist.

A comprehensive dental plan will look at ALL of the current and potential issues and help determine why these issues are going on. If we treat the cause of the disease process and not just the problem, we can minimize the amount of dentistry you will need over your lifetime.

It is VITAL to develop a comprehensive oral care plan, even if it may be months or years before you will complete it. Having a plan will help you save money over the long term and also help rebuild, preserve, and even renew your dental and overall health. 

You may be saying, oh well, I am young, and my case is not complicated. Maybe. However, the same goes for younger patients as well. Why would you not want to know your risk factors like gum recession, clenching and grinding, erosion, and sleep apnea? Preventing people from becoming “advanced” dental cases is a fantastic feeling.

The following is a checklist of recommendations that you should look for when seeking dental care:

• A full set of photos, both extra and intraoral. This will allow the dentist to not only show you what they see and better explain where there may be issues going on in your mouth but also better plan any cosmetic work you may be interested in. 
• Full mouth dental x-rays. With new technology, there is very minimal radiation. The amount of information we get is crucial to ensure we don’t miss any issues or pathology that may be hiding.
• A joint and muscle assessment. Does your jaw pop or grind? If so, why, and what should you do to reduce the chances of further joint damage?
• A full dental examination. Which looks at tooth decay, worn fillings and crowns, tooth wear, and chipping, as well as noting any cracks and microfractures, loss of enamel, and much more.
• A full periodontal examination, including periodontal probing, determines the amount of bone support for each tooth, the degree of gum recession, the thickness of the gum tissue, and any tooth mobility.

Some additional and beneficial information: 

• A digital scan of your teeth to monitor change and make study models if necessary.
• A CT scan. Known as a CBCT scan gives your dentist a three-dimensional view of your jaw.

The more complex your case or, the more proactive and preventative you want to be, the more essential these diagnostic elements become. A proper diagnosis should come before any treatment. A little bit of planning will significantly reduce your cost and improve your results through practical, comprehensive dental treatment.

I always say, “Measure twice. Cut once.”