This article discusses the shocking findings of a global health survey looking at the incidence and severity of gum disease and tooth decay.

It’s a shocking realization to come to, but a report published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Dental Research lead by Professor Wagner Marcenes of the University of London, has indicated that the number of people suffering from severe untreated tooth decay lies in the billions! In fact, this report states that more than half the world’s population is affected. Considering that population is approximately seven billion people, the estimated number of those with serious oral illness is around 3.9 billion!

“When you consider that even those with a decent education and economic background fail to look after their teeth properly and go for regular dental appointments, these statistics come as no surprise,” say New Jersey dental implant specialists. “Gum disease is a very real problem and one that is prevalent amongst North American society, not to mention the world.”

What is so strange is that so many people don’t seek treatment for conditions that not only lead to quite severe discomfort, but visibly wreck their smiles. To make the situation even stranger is the fact that gum disease, tooth decay and dental caries (cavities) are wholly preventable. With simple, good hygienic measures and regular dental appointments, you can keep your teeth and gums in excellent lifelong condition.

Then why does half the world’s population find this impossible to do?

Research Findings

The international research project carried out by Professor Marcenes was a part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 study. His interest was concerned with understanding oral health and its connections with whole body health. This peer-reviewed study revealed that:

• Close to four billion people suffer from untreated oral ailments and conditions that could be causing severe toothache, discomfort and difficulty sleeping. We’re not even talking about surface cavities and mild gum infections that can be readily ignored. “What this indicates is that there is a critical lack of regard for the importance of good oral health and hygiene,” say NJ dental implants specialists.

• Of all the major illnesses and diseases considered by the GBD 2010 research study (291 in number), cavities or tooth decay of a patient’s adult teeth was found to be the most common. In fact, 35% of the world’s population struggles with the disability of having teeth that are riddled with decay – a condition that can be extremely painful and difficult to eat and sleep with.

• The study continued to reveal that there was an appreciable link between those who were at a moderate stroke or heart failure risk and rampant tooth loss and decay. “There is a very real connection between oral health and overall general health,” say dental implants specialists in New Jersey. “This connection is serious and potentially fatal.”

• Additionally, the oral health problems mentioned in the study were estimated to cause the loss of 224 life years for every 100,000 people considered! Who would have thought that neglecting to brush and floss could lead to a lower life expectancy!

“Unfortunately, the situation doesn’t seem to be getting any better, which is surprising considering our increased awareness of the importance of good oral health and hygiene,” comments NJ dental implants specialists.

Between 1990 and 2010, Professor Marcenes’ study found that the global incidence and severity of these oral ailments had increased by a substantial 20%. Furthermore, the average health issues being considered are no longer mild gum infection and surface cavities, but rather severe periodontitis (gum disease) and rampant tooth loss.

The Professor had this to say: "The findings of the GBD 2010 study highlighted that an urgent organized social response to oral health problems is needed. This must deal with a wide array of health care and public health priorities for action."

What you can do in the meantime is brush more thoroughly, more frequently and for longer; floss your teeth every day and give your dentist a call. It’s probably time you went for a check-up!

This four-part series presents nine important facts about removable dentures (or false teeth) with the aim of exposing the flaws and inconveniences of this technology as a solution to edentulism and near-edentulism.

Removable dentures are a way of life for tens of millions of people in the United States. Lifelong poor oral hygiene and habits such as heavy smoking and drinking have claimed the oral health of these people over the years and the consequence is a life without most, if not all of their original adult teeth. This isn’t necessarily the end of the line, though. There are a number of teeth replacement methods available on the market, all of which are capable of – to varying degrees – restoring a patient’s bite functionality and smile aesthetics. However, qualified and experienced dentists all over the world consider NJ dental implants to be the most sophisticated and comprehensive of all these technologies. And this is not only because they are fixed and non-removable; it’s because they last decades longer than dentures and don’t come with any of the challenges and repeated costs!

People just don’t realize what the consequences of tooth loss are, say the dental professionals who specialize in the placement of NJ dental implants. They also have very little to no idea what the effects of wearing dentures have upon their jaws, their gums, their bones and their overall quality of life. By opting for removable dentures over a smart teeth replacement technology such as NJ dental implants, you are signing yourself up for challenges that will eventually have you wishing you had spent that extra money on really looking after your oral health.

In this four-part article series, we shall investigate the REAL ramification of dentures and why, considering these consequences, edentulous (toothless) and near-edentulous patients should always opt for NJ dental implants as the solution to single, multiple and total tooth loss. But first, let’s take a closer look at this technology… what are NJ dental implants?

NJ Dental Implants: How They Work

NJ dental implants are teeth replacement devices that consist of a titanium ‘tooth root,’ which provides support for either (1) a ceramic crown, when only a single tooth has gone missing, or (2) a prosthetic dental bridge, when multiple adjacent teeth are missing. The titanium root of NJ dental implants is inserted into the jaw bone at the site/s of the missing tooth or teeth where it, in the weeks and months subsequent to surgery, will biologically fuse with the hard tissue in the jaw. This enables the artificial root to remain free-standing and provide solid support for a replacement tooth without relying on any of the adjacent structures or soft tissues in the mouth, as is the case with removable dentures.

Why You Should Consider NJ Dental Implants Instead of Removable Dentures

The inescapable fact is NJ dental implants enable patients to enjoy a much better quality of life. You can eat the foods you love, you can smile with confidence and you don’t have to worry about removing and cleaning your teeth after meals and at nighttime. You also don’t have to constantly cope with the pain and discomfort of dentures, or shell out money for products such as adhesives and anesthetic gels. NJ dental implants provide the optimal treatment plan for anyone who has lost one or more of their original adult teeth.

So, if you are edentulous or are facing an immediate future of edentulism, stop before you simply follow in your parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps. In the next three installments of this four-part article series, we shall explore some pretty interesting and scary facts about removable dentures. By taking these into consideration before you opt for an inferior teeth replacement solution, you can literally save the quality of your life, your bite functionality, your youthful smile aesthetics and overall confidence.

NJ Dental Implants: Stay Tuned

In our next article installment, we shall begin looking at the things you need to know about removable dentures before choosing them instead of NJ dental implants: a much more sophisticated technology.

This article explains how the more modern approaches to treating rampant tooth loss are able to undercut traditional dental implant techniques by tens of thousands of dollars.

Many New Jersey residents have avoided replacing missing teeth or have opted for more traditional technologies, such as partials or full removable dentures, because they are under the impression that dental implant treatment is simply prohibitively expensive. Well, with the innovation of newer, less expensive dental implant protocols, this simply isn’t the case any more! The cost of new teeth is not only inherently lower, but also with the help of the financing offered by most NJ dental implant practices, it’s affordable. Let’s take a look at how the “new kid on the block” – the “All-On-4®” dental implant technique – is changing smiles and bank balances.

The All-On-4 Compared with Traditional Dental Implant Protocols

You wouldn’t be incorrect in the assumption that having all of your teeth replaced with dental implants is incredibly expensive. It was. But in 1993, with the introduction of the more sophisticated All-On-4 technique for fixed oral rehabilitation, the cost of getting new teeth became substantially more affordable. Here’s how!

Fewer Implants Needed

Traditional dental implant procedures could require as many as 10 implants per jaw in order to give patients a full set of new teeth again. The All-On-4®, as the name suggests, only requires four (see image below).

Each implant represents an investment in the region of $2,000 to $3,000, so by cutting down on the number of implants required, the All-On-4® already affords patients massive savings on the cost of new teeth. But we’re only getting started…

Only One Surgery in Most Cases

In order to place as many as 10 implants per jaw (20 in total if you’re undergoing full mouth reconstruction), the dental implant surgeons who treat NJ patients would frequently recommend that they come in for a series of surgeries, rather than one very long and complex procedure. Primarily because most patients who need their teeth replaced no longer have enough bone to place 10, 8, or many times even 6 dental implants. So many patients are told they need bone grafting before they can have their implants. This not only adds additional expense, discomfort and recovery periods, it also significantly delays the time until you can have new implanted supported teeth!

The All-On-4, however, only requires that four implants be placed, which can quite easily be done in a single surgical session, strategically utilizing the bone that is maintained. This saves patients a decent chunk of change on all the repeat bills that would be associated with multiple surgeries, including anesthesia, the surgeon’s time, hospital stay, surgical equipment and resources, etc. And the results are amazing!

Typically, No Bone Grafting

Where many thousands of dollars are saved, however, is by the All-On-4’s ability to avoid the need for bone grafting surgery, which is highly invasive, painful and expensive. As stated, older dental implant protocols would frequently require more implants (so they thought) and hence bone grafting was often performed before a dental implant professional could even begin oral rehabilitation for a NJ patient.

This is because tooth loss and the diseases that cause it, i.e. gum disease, leads to the atrophy and destruction of the bone tissue necessary to support dental implants. But through the strategic placement and precise angulation of implants, the All-On-4 is almost always able to bypass bone grafting, saving patients a lengthy recovery period and the bill for a most unpleasant surgery.

A Final Note

For all these reasons, the All-On-4 technique comes with a much lesser price tag than traditional dental implant procedures and, better still, can give patients new teeth in as little as a single day! The direct and indirect savings are incredible and the outcomes: priceless.

This article explains the importance of flossing as a part of your daily oral hygiene routine and how it is integral to the prevention of tooth decay.

When last did you give your teeth a good floss? No, that toothpick at dinnertime doesn’t really count. The vast majority of Americans fail to floss their teeth once a week, never mind the recommended once per day. And according to East Rutherford dental implants specialists, this constitutes a major breach in one’s daily defense measures against the bacteria that cause tooth decay, tooth loss and periodontal (gum) disease. Let’s take a closer look at your mouth under the microscope so that we can better understand just why flossing is so necessary.

Your Mouth Under the Microscope

Just because you can’t see them doesn't mean they’re not there! Oral bacteria are tiny micro-organisms that inhabit the deliciously dark and moist habitat that is your mouth. They’re so small that the tiny, tight spaces between your teeth are like vast gaping chasms to them. “You may brush twice or even three times a day, but the bristles of your toothbrush can’t get into these narrow spaces, which means that they offer excellent refuge for bacteria,” explain NJ dental implant specialists.

The nooks and crannies in your mouth, of which there are plenty, also tend to harbor food debris, upon which these pesky pathogens feast. Just like any animal that eats, they too need to excrete wastes and these wastes together with legions of living and dead bacteria accumulate on, around and between your teeth. Brushing is an excellent way to remove bacteria, which, in enough numbers, is visible as a white sticky substance known as plaque. However, brushing alone simply isn't enough. You need to floss!

Your Teeth are Three Dimensional Structures

Brushing would be enough if your teeth were two-dimensional structures with only a back and a front. But, they’re not. They have sides too and because these sides sit snugly against each other, your toothbrush cannot keep them clean. This is where flossing comes to the rescue. “Floss sweeps the sides of your teeth clean of plaque, food and other debris and you should perform this cleaning routine once or even twice a day,” recommend East Rutherford dental implants specialists.

If you don’t floss regularly, you leave that bacteria in place to just multiply and excrete their acidic wastes all over your dental enamel. Considering that so few people actually floss once a day, it’s no surprise that the most common location of cavities and tooth decay in between the teeth. Your teeth are three-dimensional structures and need to be cleaned accordingly. “People who don’t floss are missing out on cleaning about 35% of their teeth,” say East Rutherford dental implants specialists. “Do you only clean 65% of your body when you jump in the shower? No? So why would you neglect your teeth?”

A Final Note on Flossing

Flossing might not rank highly on one’s list of “fun” things to do, but it is an essential part of caring for your teeth. “If you like your smile and would like to keep your pearly whites healthy and white, then stop procrastinating and making excuses,” say NJ dental implants specialists. Whip out the floss and give each tooth a good clean. You only need to look at what comes out from between them even after you’ve brushed thoroughly to appreciate just how important flossing is!

This four-part article series presents a suite of interesting facts every dental healthcare practitioner wished their patients knew and practiced.

You only get one set of natural teeth once your milk teeth have, one by one, been taken away by the tooth fairy… and they are supposed to last you a lifetime. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth loss is a pervasive problem facing the United States and poor oral hygiene, a lack of professional care and gum disease are to blame.

In this four-part article series, a NJ dental implants professional sits down and speaks to us about the many important things dental healthcare professionals wish patients knew and adhered to, from how to properly store your toothbrush to the fact that there exists a strong connection between gum disease and a whole suite of potentially fatal illnesses. If we did adhere to these things, the incidence of tooth loss would be considerably less than it is and more people would be smiling with much greater confidence.

Let’s get started!

1. It’s not normal for your gums to bleed.

“It’s quite shocking just how many people think it’s normal for their gums to bleed when they brush or floss their teeth,” says the NJ dental implants Professional. “If you washed your hands and they started to bleed, wouldn’t you think that something was wrong? Absolutely, and you’d probably rush off to the nearest doctor. Your gums are no different. Gums tear easily and bleed when they have become compromised by inflammation and /or infection, so you should book an appointment with your dentist to have the problem diagnosed and treated.”

“In many cases, the cause of bleeding gums is gum disease, which, in its beginning stages is referred to as gingivitis. Left untreated, this condition can progress to become periodontitis, which is an advanced bacterial infection of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth,” explains a Connecticut dental implants professional. “Good oral hygiene – regular and thorough brushing and flossing – is essential in the prevention of the oral diseases that cause gums to bleed and the teeth to become decayed and loose.”

The Remedy: If your gums bleed, try not to press so hard when brushing. If they still bleed, you may have gum disease. Book an appointment with your dentist immediately. Practice a stricter home oral hygiene routine and floss daily.

2. Floss that frays quickly might be a sign of a cavity.

"If you’ve ever tried to floss between two teeth and the floss keeps coming away frayed, you might have an irregularity in the structure of your tooth that’s causing the floss to become snagged and the fibers to come apart," explains the NJ dental implants professional. "If you’ve noticed any other problems, such as sensitivity, pain or discoloration of the tooth, then you’d be best advised to see your dentist right away. An untreated cavity can lead to infection of the pulp chamber, which may require endodontic therapy (a "root canal") to fix."

3. You should see the dentist at least once a year, even if nothing feels wrong.

“Prevention is always, always better than cure… it’s also cheaper,” says the Connecticut dental implants professional. “What so many patients don’t realize is that serious problems, such as cavities and gum disease, may not cause any pain. Since most people rely on their comfort levels to compel them to seek treatment, these problems are allowed to progress to the point where permanent damage is done and the necessary solutions are more expensive and more traumatic. Go see your dentist every six months to a year, regardless of how healthy you think your teeth are.”

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more of the important facts the NJ dental implants professional wished patients knew, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series.