From the Desk of Dr. Tucker at Redding Dental Arts
Hello, my patients!
As a dentist, I understand that dental work can be a significant investment, both financially and emotionally. It can be disheartening to hear stories of friends or acquaintances experiencing dental work failure.
However, it’s crucial to remember that each person’s situation is unique, and several factors can contribute to dental work not yielding the desired results. In this week’s post, I’ll explore with you some common reasons for dental work failure and what you can do to prevent it.
Remember, every dentist’s approach is different. Here’s a little light shed on my approach.
Let’s do this right, not fast.
I am committed to the belief that your dental care is an intricate process that requires careful planning and execution. Rushing through any stage of the treatment can lead to complications and subpar outcomes, so quite simply, I don’t rush. Patience and adherence to the timeline in your treatment plan are vital for successful dental outcomes for you.
I’m relying on you for good oral hygiene practices.
Even the most skillful dental work can fail if proper oral hygiene is not maintained. Neglecting regular brushing, flossing and dental check-ups can lead to plaque buildup, gum disease and decay, which may compromise dental restorations. Your commitment to consistent oral care helps ensure the longevity of your healthy, happy smile and can prevent dental work failure.
I’ll keep eyes out for bite or occlusion issues.
Problems with your bite or occlusion (how your teeth come together) can put excessive pressure on dental restorations like crowns, fillings or veneers. This added stress may lead to chipping, cracking or even dislodging of your dental work. I will assess your bite and make necessary adjustments before placing any restorations.
I commit to always using the right materials.
My choosing the right materials for your dental work is critical. I will never compromise on quality to save costs, which can lead to premature failure of the restoration. At Redding Dental Arts, we always use high-quality, durable materials suitable for long-lasting results.
Come to me with any underlying dental concerns.
Dental work may fail if there are underlying dental problems that are not addressed before treatment. For example, placing a crown over a tooth with untreated decay can lead to the decay spreading beneath the crown and compromising the tooth’s structure. The team and I will thoroughly examine your oral health before proceeding with any restorative work, and always feel free to discuss with us any concerns you may have as well.
Let’s be honest about habits and lifestyle factors.
Certain habits, such as teeth grinding (bruxism), nail-biting or chewing on hard objects, can exert excessive force on dental restorations, leading to their failure. Identifying and addressing these habits is essential to preserve your smile’s lasting integrity. Your lifestyle can also play a role in the success of dental work. For instance, habits like smoking and consuming excessive amounts of staining foods and beverages can negatively impact the appearance of dental restorations like veneers or teeth whitening treatments. No judgement, of course, but with that said…
Let’s keep open lines of communication.
A successful dental treatment relies on effective communication between you, me and the dental team. Be sure to openly share with me any concerns, expectations or medical history I should know about.
You can count on me to listen attentively, provide clear explanations of the treatment plan and show potential outcomes in as great detail as I can. In a future blog, I’ll write about the model, wax-up and mockup that show you just what your new smile will look like. More on that soon.
