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Missing Teeth Should Be Treated As A Chronic Medical Condition

Missing Teeth Should Be Treated As A Chronic Medical Condition
from Dental Tribune America

Tooth loss can lead to poor nutrition and is linked to systemic diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease. Missing teeth also affect a person’s psychological well-being and ability to function in the workplace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, nearly 40 million Americans have no teeth in one or both jaws.

During National Prosthodontics Awareness Week, April 2-8, the University of Louisville School of Dentistry Postgraduate Prosthodontics Clinic is educating the public about tooth replacement options and oral health issues.

National Prosthodontics Awareness Week is an initiative of the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP). Prosthodontics is one of only nine recognized dental specialties by the American Dental Association (ADA). These dental specialists undergo three years of advanced residency training beyond dental school in replacement of missing teeth and oral health issues. The ACP is the ADA’s recognized association that represents and advocates on behalf of prosthodontists.

“Until recently, false teeth looked and felt false. Prosthodontists are using digital technology to change the way dentistry is practiced and producing results not possible until now. We are using new techniques to replace and restore teeth to a higher level of precision and beauty than ever before,” said Gerald T. Grant, DMD, MS, FACP, FAAMP, professor and interim chair of the Department of Oral Health and Rehabilitation, UofL School of Dentistry.

How digital dentistry is changing practice

• Computers and scanning technology take tooth restoration to a new level. Teeth can be viewed in 3-D and restorations can be customized for each patient. This allows more control by the prosthodontist and better outcomes.
• Tooth loss can lead to poor nutrition and is linked to systemic diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease. Missing teeth also affect a person’s psychological well-being and ability to function in the workplace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, nearly 40 million Americans have no teeth in one or both jaws.
  

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