Teeth, Dentists, Dental and Orthodontic Procedures

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Permanent Retainers

• metal wire bonded behind 4 to 6 teeth at the front of the mouth (usually on lower teeth since more likely to break on upper teeth); can last 20 years; can cost $150 - $500; Source: Medical News Today

• Pros: low maintenance, reduce chance of relapse, discreet, convenient, life-long solution; cons: difficult to clean since they're on back teeth, discomfort; Source: Invisalign

Dental Implants

• effective way of replacing lost or damaged adult teeth; dentist places a metal post into the bone of your jaw in place of a missing tooth; they add an artificial tooth on top of the post to make your smile look natural; implants are strong enough to withstand normal chewing; better than dentures or bridgework; are stronger than removable teeth and usually more comfortable; but can take multiple procedures and carries some risk of complications; if you are missing 1 or more teeth and your jaw has finished growing: long-term replacement for your missing teeth; implants are long-lasting and almost as strong as natural teeth; Source: WebMD

• artificial replacement for root of tooth (ideally titanium dental implant): screwed into jawbone and supports crown (fake tooth); can last longer than 15 years; Source: Healthline

Dentists

• 71% of U.S. adults visit a dentist annually; poor oreal health is linked to: cardiovascular disease (oral bacteria entering bloodstream and contributing to arterial buildup), respiratory infections (COPD and pneumonia due to inhaling oral bacteria), negative pregnancy outcomes (oral bacteria reaching the placenta), mental illness (depression and anxiety linked to tooth loss, chronic bad breath, and visible decay); Source: Gallup

Teeth: Source: Anatomy & Physiology and Colgate 

• humans usually grow 2 sets of teeth throughout their life: 20 baby teeth starting Age 6 months, which are then replaced overtime by 32 adult teeth starting Age 6; Source: Live Science

• adults normally have 32 teeth (16 upper ones in the mandible and 16 lower ones in the maxilla); the upper and lower set each have:

  • 4 incisors

  • 4 canines

  • 4 premolars

  • 6 molars (4 molars, if the wisdom teeth are removed)

• enamel on your teeth: the human body’s hardest and most highly mineralized substance

• Teeth development:

  • Age 6 months - 30 months: 20 deciduous teeth (milk teeth/baby teeth) erupt

  • Ages 6 and 25 years: baby teeth are replaced by the 32 permanent teeth 

  • Ages 17 - 25 years: the 3rd molars (wisdom teeth) come out (sometimes not at all)

Losing Teeth

• losing teeth is not part of the natural aging process - most people lose teeth due to tooth trauma, illness, , cavities, smoking and poor nutrition, periodontal disease); timeline: Source: Arnold Dentistry

  • Age 21: starts adult life with 28 teeth

  • Age 44: 69% have lost at least one tooth

  • Age 50: 69% have lost 12 teeth (including wisdom teeth)

  • Age 74: 26% have lost all their teeth