Your household’s health should be a main priority. That’s why professionals often look for benefits, like dental insurance, before taking on a job. Not worrying about astronomical healthcare costs improves life, but knowing what treatments to get is often hard. Let’s discover the most common family oral care services that will ensure your home’s happiness.
1. Cleanings
One of the most common family oral care services to boost your happiness is dental cleanings. Regular cleanings are important for maintaining good oral health and can help prevent gum disease and tooth decay. You need to find local dentists who can remove all the plaque and tartar from your teeth that most people can’t reach while brushing and flossing. Afterward, you may get other procedures like polishing your teeth to remove old stains caused by bad habits like smoking and drinking soda.
Getting this procedure is essential even if your oral hygiene is top-notch, particularly because of the benefits associated with regular dentist visits. Did you know that cleaning your teeth lowers your heart disease risk? According to Harvard Health, studies have revealed that gum and heart disease are related. Therefore, going for dental checkups can prevent strokes as well as respiratory infections.
Your mental health will improve because clean teeth boost self-esteem. According to the National Institute on Aging, the bacteria that causes gum disease is also associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Therefore, getting this procedure can ensure your longevity and make your life much easier. The best part is that many dentists offer personalized treatment plans to help you achieve your oral health goals.
2. Repairs
Tooth repair is another important aspect of family oral care services, especially because accidents happen. Everyone can injure their teeth, no matter how careful people are. A chipped tooth or another minor issue may not affect your life immediately. However, these imperfections in your teeth can become big problems if ignored.
The benefits of finding a solution as soon as possible include preventing cavities from developing. Bacteria can get trapped in holes in your teeth, and the area may be hard to clean with a toothbrush. Repairs also ensure the original structure of teeth, which is critical for eating and speaking. It’s also aesthetically pleasing to have naturally-looking and full teeth.
A broken tooth may not be strong enough to support the rest, causing movement. Crooked teeth can lead to many other problems, like being unable to brush properly, getting stains, and causing tooth decay. Therefore, get repairs if a specialist recommends them and ensure no one in your family suffers more.
3. Fillings
Fillings serve several purposes in family oral care. They are used most often. Teeth repairs tend to involve fillings and cavity repairs. A dentists office wouldn’t be complete without this treatment and the different materials used for it. Most people need them after getting their cavities removed to ensure their teeth don’t continue to decay or hole fill with bacteria.
However, the material used in fillings is so strong that it’s also used to replace portions of broken teeth or fix structural defects. It’s also convenient because most people will only need to visit the dentist once and will walk away in good shape a few minutes later. Fillings are also cheaper than crowns, which can also be used to cover tooth decay. You’ve probably seen that dentists use composite resin or amalgam fillings.
Amalgam was commonly used before because it was extremely resistant. It could also be infused with silver, zinc, copper, etc. However, dentists nowadays prefer composite resin because the final result looks much more natural. Unlike amalgam, composite can be adapted properly to restore a tooth’s original structure. However, amalgam can last between 10 and 15 years, whereas resin has a lifespan of five to seven years.
4. Implants
Dental implants are the best option in family oral care services for people who have lost one or several teeth due to aging and other reasons. It’s easy to believe these are used purely for aesthetic reasons, but eating with missing teeth can be difficult. Other problems may arise later, so these dental treatments aren’t frivolous. Implants are placed with an artificial root to stay attached to the jawbone and remain steady for a long time.
Implants are not the only treatment for missing teeth; they’re the most popular choice because they’re permanent. Not worrying about removing a foreign item and how your smile looks will keep your mental health up. Most dental offices can offer this procedure, but you’ll need several appointments before you can walk away satisfied. For example, you need a consult, the implant placement, and then the attachment of the fake tooth.
It may take longer if you have more than one missing tooth, but the benefits outweigh the few inconveniences. Aside from incredible durability, an implant can prevent bone loss. A hole in your mouth means your jawbone is exposed, which will deteriorate over time. Other teeth will move due to the extra space, and you don’t want that to happen.
5. Dentures
If you’re scared of dental implants or can’t afford to replace your entire teeth set, you may be better off with dentures. They used to be the main solution for missing teeth, and any family dentist can schedule a consultation so you can get started. This procedure has several benefits, like most family oral care services, such as improving speech. One of the main issues of losing teeth is that you’ll have to adapt and learn how to speak with all that extra space in your mouth.
Having no teeth almost makes eating almost impossible. You would have to adopt a diet of soft foods, which can be annoying. It’s even a choking hazard because chewing is vital for swallowing food properly. Dentures will replace decaying teeth, but they’re also important to stop facial collapse. You may have seen older people without teeth and noticed their sagging cheeks.
You may even get jawbone and muscle problems. Dentures can ensure the proper movement of your head and neck as well. Unfortunately, chewing efficiency is still reduced significantly. Other disadvantages include having to clean and remove them. You’ll also have to deal with denture adhesives, which is why these have lost some popularity in the last few years.
6. Crowns
Most people have heard of crowns as part of many family oral care services. Other solutions to weak, eroded, and cracked teeth have become more popular, but crowns are still a solid option. Their adapted caps will cover a tooth and ensure nothing gets beneath them. They’re often compared to veneers, but these are only placed in front of the tooth to improve the visual result. A crown may become the new tooth, but it’ll depend on your condition.
Any dental office can offer crowns because they’re so common, but it’s better to research before moving forward. Knowing the benefits will help you. As mentioned, crowns protect weak or broken teeth, ensuring that no more damage happens. The point is to prevent having to remove teeth from the root. They also strengthen bridges, which consist of a fake tooth between two natural ones. They’re put in place using crowns on the side, creating the shape of a bridge.
Crowns have also helped people who felt self-conscious about the shape or color of their natural teeth. Accidents happen, and aging affects your mouth, but crowns have helped people regain the original structure and pleasing visual outcome. You can also get crowns to avoid having dentures. Most prefer crowns because they don’t slip off place and don’t make you change your habits.
7. Braces
Almost everyone has heard of or considered getting braces because they’re the best solution for crooked teeth or uneven bites. Orthodontics is an important field in dentistry because fixing malocclusions has other benefits besides creating beautiful smiles. Enhancing your appearance is important because it maintains your mental health and self-confidence, but it’s not the main purpose of orthodontics.
Having aligned teeth makes brushing and flossing easier. You’ll be able to reach all areas and ensure your oral health. Crooked teeth make things a little harder because food can get stuck between them. That will lead to cavities and other problems, like gum disease and bad breath. An uneven bite is also a big issue because it could affect your jaw and make you clench or grind your teeth.
Dental injuries also happen when teeth aren’t in the correct position. Some people have speech issues, and others have trouble digesting. That’s why braces are so important. Anyone afraid to get them can choose clear aligner braces instead, which help people avoid embarrassment. However, traditional braces are still a good choice in terms of family oral care services.
8. Invisalign
If the traditional route is unappealing, look for affordable Invisalign options. One of the reasons why this model has yet to replace metal braces is that it’s still more expensive. However, you may be able to find payment plans. They’re also worth considering due to their benefits, like comfort. Metal braces have sharp edges, and you can feel the material in your mouth. They can cause sores and other injuries.
However, clear aligners are adapted to your teeth and have smooth surfaces. They’re better for dental health because you can remove them for eating and cleaning your mouth. Anyone using metal braces can attest that getting food out is complicated. Invisalign’s main benefit is that it’s not so blatant. Adults who never got braces as children don’t get this procedure because it makes them feel embarrassed.
Other benefits of this family oral care service include fixing dental problems that develop from crooked teeth, preventing future issues, avoiding invasive mouth scans, and reducing how many dental appointments you need. However, the biggest benefit for most people is that Invisalign can fix your teeth in a shorter amount of time. According to the Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry, your teeth could be aligned in just a year.
9. Other Orthodontics
How much do you know about alternatives to braces and Invisalign? Most people don’t know they can get their teeth aligned with another procedure. Retainers work if your situation isn’t that dire, as this procedure can’t extensively move teeth. Headgear was used to correct the most extreme malocclusions, but it’s rather unpopular as the most visible form of orthodontics.
Six-month smiles are similar to braces but are much more discreet and only used to correct minor issues. Veneers are also part of this orthodontics, as they can be placed on top of your current teeth, fixing the aesthetics immediately. Some veneers require the dentist to file down a tooth, removing all enamel, but others can be added without any prep. Investigate the pros and cons of all options before getting any of them.
However, most of them come with the same benefits, such as improving patient bite and jaw function. Maintaining oral health will also be easier. It’ll improve your mental condition as you won’t feel bad about smiling often. Another important advantage is protecting your other teeth because jaw and alignment problems can affect your entire mouth.
10. Extractions
Although most people will prefer to try all other family oral care services, the best choice is sometimes to get teeth extractions. A doctor will tell you if it’s necessary. If the decay has reached the root, you may have no other option. Removing the affected tooth will stop the pain. You’ll also reduce the risk of other issues, such as pushing healthy teeth off-center.
Most of the time, a tooth must be extracted because the infection has reached the interior. That must be addressed immediately to prevent more dental and physical ailments. Remember, what happens in your mouth can affect other aspects of your health. However, removing a healthy tooth is sometimes necessary, especially in orthodontics. Many people have extra teeth, or their mouths are too crowded.
A specialist could recommend getting rid of some before placing braces. This will help you get a better smile in the end. After an extraction due to infection or decay, you can get a dental implant, which will immediately improve the appearance. Therefore, don’t be afraid if the doctors recommend removals. You won’t have gaps because you can get other procedures mentioned above.
Now that you understand the most common family oral care services, it’s time to schedule an appointment. Try to call several dentist offices and see which one takes your insurance or offers the best deals, but remember to trust your gut. Your family’s dental health should be your main priority.
