The old saying goes that you only appreciate something once you have lost it. This is very true, especially when it comes to our teeth.
People are notoriously slack about cleaning their teeth regularly and thoroughly. We all learn about the importance of dental health: we learn about gum disease and that poor dental health can lead to loss of teeth. But, people being what they are, we all believe it won’t happen to us. So we skip brushing our teeth every now and again. Until the day when we lose our teeth …
Of course, not everyone who loses a large number of teeth has been lax about dental health. Some people just seem to inherit genes for poor teeth. Others have bone disorders that lead to loss of teeth, or hormone states that inhibit the formation of strong bones and teeth.
But whatever the cause of loss of teeth, the result is the same. A large number of us end up with so many teeth missing that we need dentures. A couple of missing teeth usually be replaced by implants or bridges; but if you lose a large number of teeth there is nothing else for it but to get dentures.
Fargo, ND residents are fortunate in that there are a large number of really expert dentists in their part of the world. These dentists are highly skilled when treating people who need dentures. The dentists will first examine a patient’s gums to ensure that they are healthy and free of disease, then organise the process of having dentures made. They will also advise their patients on the proper care of their dentures, and their continuing oral hygiene, so that the dentures keep giving good service for as long as possible.
If the dentures don’t fit as well as they should, and chafe against the gums, the patients should return to the dentist for help in having them adjusted. The dentures often need work once the patient has worn them for a while and the gums shrink, or as the patients get older, and the bone tissue in their jaws becomes less.
Dentures are quite expensive, so it is wise for all of us to ensure that we have sufficient health insurance to cover the cost in case we land up needing them. Once again, Fargo, ND residents can count themselves lucky: many of the dentists make allowances for people who need dentures but cannot afford to pay the whole cost in one go. They will enter into payment agreements with patients who need their dentures urgently but can only afford to pay over several months.
Another thing to bear in mind is that one can sometimes avoid the need for dentures by making regular visits to the dentist. The dentist will usually detect a problem with a tooth while it is still a minor, treatable condition. If the dentist in Fargo, ND sees a small spot where the enamel on one of your teeth is showing signs of damage, he can advise you to take special care when brushing there, so that you can avoid the need for dentures altogether.
