8 October/November 2017 MCWomensJournal.com

One of the biggest factors in maintaining dental health is the degree to which individuals fear their dental visits. Let’s explore this mental dental anxiety. I believe many people had a bad experience as a child with a dental procedure that can manifest itself in some deep rooted continuation into adult life.I have heard patients tell me of dental procedures being done without anesthetic, and accounts of dentists being rough or not responding to their patients while they were uncomfortable. I had one patient tell me of a dentist who told

him to raise his hand if the procedure hurt, and when he did the dentist ignored him. I can clearly see why some people would rather just skip dental care altogether. This got me thinking about this subject at great length.SO MUCH HAS CHANGED!Let’s begin with the changes that have been made in the delivery of dentistry over the years. In the not-too-distant past we had equipment that was slower and much less effi cient than it is today. The fear-evoking drill has been revolutionized. Its speed has gone from 50,000 rpms to 500,000 rpms, in turn, reducing the ti me that the patient is in the chair. Of course, there are also dental lasers that are fast and not as noisy, but they still have some limitations. The new non-lasers are also quieter than previous generations of drills.MORE MATERIALS TO CHOOSE FROM Materials in dentistry have come a long way, too, from the materials used to fi ll teeth to the many choices of materials for crowns (caps). Then there is the debate about the safety of dental amalgam, which contains the element mercury. It is one material that has served the dental profession for many generations. Now there are so many diff erent types of fi lling material that a dentist can choose the one that is best for a patient’s specifi c situation. We now have a large choice of diff erent types of composites or plastics to enhance our choice of material that is best suited for any given area of the mouth.Material selection for crowns has grown as well. The older choices were either all gold or a porcelain baked to a gold alloy crown. Today the choices are much more extensive.

Some of the older types of materials are still very good for certain circumstances in tooth restoration. We also now have all-ceramic crowns. They can be used on front teeth to create very natural and beautiful esthetics. As the materials get more complex we can use lighter, thinner and more resilient fabrications, and use them in diff erent situations to achieve strength and beauty in restoring smiles. Crowns or half crowns, called veneers, can be used in this manner.Many material advances that have revolutionized other industries have done the same for dentistry. Dentists currently use some materials that had their initial application in automotive and aerospace industries.MISSING TEETHMissing teeth, or those that need to be removed, are areas of concern for many people. Techniques and instruments used to extract teeth have also changed. Most extractions can be done with a minimal amount of discomfort.Options for restoring those areas have changed as well. I can usually restore these areas with a traditional bridge if there is a tooth on each side. This would be fi xed in position and would require preparing the teeth on either side.There is a removable choice that would not need to much preparation or aff ect the teeth on either side of the space. The newest way to fi x a tooth into position without altering the adjacent teeth is by way of an implant system with three components: the implant, the connector, and the crown.The implant uses titanium placed into bone, which integrates with it. The procedure is usually relatively painless. It is very much the next generation of science and dentistry WE’LL TAKE AWAY YOUR FEARS!From materials that can desensitize teeth, remineralize teeth, and change the shade of teeth, to materials and procedures that are effi cient and eff ective in restoring smiles, there is no better time than today to take full advantage of modern dentistry. If you need a little extra help, medication can be prescribed to relax you either before or during your visit. We have nitrous oxide for patients who request it. Remember, a tooth with a cavity does not necessarily bother or hurt you until it’s too late. The same can hold true for gum disease.Clearly fears need to be addressed to rationally come up with a good plan for long-term physical health. There are many health care professionals ready to help you with these considerations. We would be happy to work with you during a consult to help you with your fears and discuss your dental makeover.

Dental Care

Is Dental Fear Keeping You From Good Dental Health?

Dr. Marc Baker has a baccalaureate degree from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree (DMD) from Temple University School of Dentistry. He has worked with the Montgomery County Center for Technical Studies and the PA Dept. of Labor and Industry, and has lectured in the area.

PRESENTED BY MARC BAKER DMD