A healthy smile is more than just a way to look pretty for the camera. It can also impact your social life, your confidence, your diet and your overall health. But because people think of tooth loss as a superficial problem, they often don’t get the treatment they need to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle.

Not counting wisdom teeth, the average adult should have 28 teeth. However, the average number of remaining teeth for adults age 20 to 64 is about 25, says the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Adults over age 50 have about 22 teeth left.

“It is unfortunate, but losing teeth is actually a common happening among adults,” says Salt Lake City-based Dream Dental. “In the United States alone, there are 25 million people missing all of their upper and or their lower teeth.”

Missing teeth can cause a host of problems, both physical and emotional. Here are some things you don’t do when you aren’t happy with the health or look of your smile.

You don’t make a good first impression

A first impression is heavily influenced by a person’s appearance, which means a healthy smile is an important step in the right direction.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) reported the results of a study which found, “Nearly half of American adults (48%) believe that a smile is the most memorable feature after first meeting someone—more so than the first thing a person says (25%).”

Respondents ranked a person’s smile as more memorable in a first impression than his or her clothes or how the person smelled. They also ranked people with crooked or stained teeth as “less attractive and less confident than those with perfect teeth.” The AACD also referenced other recent studies which have found that bad teeth can prevent someone from getting a job or promotion they are otherwise qualified for.

You don’t feel confident

The fact is, when you know you have an imperfect or incomplete smile, you do tend to be less confident in social situations.

A survey reported by the British Dental Journal revealed that when people struggle with accepting the loss of their teeth, they are “more likely to feel less confident about themselves” and “more likely to feel inhibited in carrying out everyday activities.”

When you don’t feel confident in everyday activities, you’re more likely to avoid social activities like parties, reunions, or dating, which can negatively affect your quality of life.

Another study in the Journal of Oral Medicine found that “tooth loss also is associated with altered emotional functions.” Those researchers also learned that people who “had six teeth or more removed experienced a comorbid of depression and anxiety.”

This change in a person’s mood could actually be traced to an increase in size of the person’s amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for regulating the fear response.

You don’t eat as well

It can be tough to choose healthy choices when you have a full set of healthy teeth, let alone when your oral health is impacted by pain from dental problems or tooth loss. A common option for people with missing teeth is dentures, which are meant to improve the look and function of a person’s mouth.

However, many people find that dentures can come loose when eating very chewy foods like sandwiches or crunchy foods like raw fruits and vegetables. The discomfort and inconvenience can discourage denture-wearers from eating these foods, leaving them with fewer healthy choices for meals and snacks.

Researchers have also found that denture wearers “experience a reduction in flavor perception” when eating and “may impose upon themselves certain dietary restrictions which, in time, can compromise their nutritional status and ultimately place them at health risk,” according to an article in the International Dental Journal.

Because of dental implant technology, there is no need for the discomfort and hassle that comes with dentures. Instead, you can opt for Dream Dental’s All-on-4® implant restoration. With the use of just four implants, all your teeth on either the top or bottom of your mouth can be replaced. This type of procedure gives you a mouthful of teeth with a natural look and feel, the ability to taste and bite food with almost full natural biting force, and the chance to prevent the bone loss that happens when a person loses their teeth.

Teeth are meant for so much more than eating. Take back your confidence and call 801-948-9971 or visit Dream Dental today.

This article was featured on KSL: https://www.ksl.com/article/46730835/3-things-that-happen-when-you-dont-like-your-smile

Here at Dream Dental, we’re making a lot of changes to promote a more sterile workplace. Our clinic has always been cleaned multiple times a day, but now our waiting room and our consultation rooms are as well, not to mention we’ve removed any furnishing that cannot be easily wiped down and cleaned after each and every use.

Any patient or consultation we have scheduled for that day, we take their temperature before they’re allowed to enter the building. If they do not have a fever, they are then permitted inside to our sanitary station, where we have them put on masks, clean their hands, and are then allowed to go upstairs. Our staff also must wear masks at all times, and are cleaning their hands constantly, even those that don’t work in the clinic.

We are also offering virtual consultations, not just for those who are immune compromised, but for anyone who feels unsafe leaving their home right now. These are half the time of normal, in-office consultations, and are designed to pre-qualify people before asking them to come in for their CT-Scan and finalizing paperwork if it is decided that they can move forward with treatment. If you’re interested in this, please fill out this form to get scheduled: https://dreamdentalimplants.com/free-virtual-consult

We believe that this pandemic is going to give everyone a new standard of cleanliness, and we welcome the change! Please stay safe during these uncertain times, and if you have any questions, give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you.

In case you haven’t heard, smiling is great for your health.

According to Psychology Today, smiling makes you look younger and thinner, elevates your mood, promotes a sense of well-being, and can even predict your lifespan. (Spoiler alert: people who smile tend to live longer.)

And a good smile starts with your teeth.

Unfortunately, despite advancements in dental care, WebMD reports that millions of Americans suffer from tooth loss due to decay, disease, or injury.

The good news is that several options are available for those who yearn for that dream smile, even without their natural teeth. But before you opt for the seemingly cheapest and most convenient option, it’s important to know the facts.

Here’s what you need to understand about dentures and implants when you’re considering which one is right for you.

Dentures

For several decades, the go-to method of replacing missing teeth was dentures, but that trend has started to shift. Dr. Bryan Hendriks of Dream Dental explained why dentures are not necessarily the best option available.

The cons:

“A denture completely blocks the inside of the roof of the mouth,” Hendriks said. “The biggest problem with that is that you’re not going to be able to taste the food that you want.”

Aside from blocking some of your tastebuds, dentures also fall out easily, are less comfortable, and are expensive to maintain.

“To keep the denture fitting well, you have to reline it often — meaning that you have to add material into it,” Hendriks said. “The second you take your teeth out, you start to lose bone.”

The pros:

Dentures can be a good option for people who have lost all of their teeth and don’t have the finances to afford implants. Simply put, they’re better than nothing.

But since dentures can make a person’s profile look drastically different, Hendriks advises against them if your only goal is a better-looking smile.

“Don’t let a doctor convince you that a denture is the best option unless you truly have exhausted every resource possible,” he said.

Overdentures (known as ‘snap-in dentures’)

One step up from dentures is overdentures, which are also known as “snap-in dentures.” These differ from traditional dentures in that they have at least two or four implants to connect them. This allows the denture to snap in like buttons on a shirt.

The pros:

Because these dentures snap-in, this will keep them in while you’re talking.

The cons:

As you start to chew and eat, the denture will dislodge and the rings underneath can move or wear down. This leads to higher costs for cleaning and relining.

“Well over 60% of my patients have upgraded to a different device because of these maintenance costs,” Hendriks said.

Overall, overdentures are better than regular dentures, but if you’re going to spend the money, there are better options available.

All-on-4® dental implants

An All-on-4® dental implant bridge is a screw-retained device, supported on as few as four dental implants, and permanently replaces an entire arch of teeth. It is the most functional choice and performs like your natural teeth.

These implants come in two options: titanium or zirconia. The titanium implant has acrylic around the titanium bar with denture teeth on top, but the zirconia device is one piece.

The pros:

If beauty is your main concern, rest assured that both options are stunning. And because the zirconia implants are highly customizable, you can achieve that picture-perfect Hollywood gleam, if that’s your goal. The device is designed on a computer, meaning you can choose exactly the size, shape, or shade you want.

The titanium device is built from the same material used to make space shuttles, but the zirconia is made of the strongest material known in dentistry.

“It can take so much more pressure and strength, we don’t have to worry about a tooth breaking off or a tooth wearing down,” Hendriks said.

The ceramic surface of the zirconia device is also the most hygienic option of all dental implants.

The cons:

According to Hendriks, the biggest problem with combining a titanium bar with the acrylic and denture teeth is that patients who bite down the wrong way often have problems with teeth popping off. Over time, the teeth on the titanium implant will wear down. Because acrylic absorbs saliva, this also makes the titanium implant harder to clean.

The only con for the zirconia? The price. Because the custom implant takes much longer to create, this makes them the most expensive option.

However, the lower maintenance could end up balancing the budget when all is said and done.

“At the end of the day, the cost you would pay in maintenance with the titanium, you will make that difference up in the zirconia,” Hendriks said.

Get your dream smile

Each one of the options listed above works for certain people. To know what’s best for you, it’s important to get a professional opinion.

As you find yourself searching for the right dental provider, it can be challenging to know where to go. At Dream Dental, you’ll receive the best patient care available at the hands of highly-experienced dental implant experts.

With a virtually painless procedure, state-of-the-art equipment, and a convenient downtown location, Dream Dental has everything you need to achieve your dream smile. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, call 801-682-4519.

This was an article featured on KSL.com! https://www.ksl.com/article/46703710/know-all-of-your-options-before-settling-for-dentures