Orthodontics – Mind the Gap
A debate has opened up around dentistry and orthodontics asking: how many teeth do we actually need?
It’s a scary thought. But a feature in the Independent newspaper has questioned whether it’s necessary to undergo orthodontic treatments to replace lost teeth. Why? Because dentistry is costly and as a nation, many of us are living longer. That means orthodontics, dentistry, and cosmetic dentists are under increasing pressure to meet demand.
A Hollywood Smile
The debate has been triggered as a new payment system for dentists could change how we view our teeth. Whether you need implants or orthodontics, it can be expensive. And with 32 teeth per mouth, do we need all of them? The answer may be no – after all many of us have our wisdom teeth removed. But aesthetically, the need for orthodontics to straighten the teeth or dental implants to replace missing teeth, as well as veneers and teeth whitening, are increasingly popular. The fact is our teeth don’t just represent the need to chew food – they are central to whether a smile is attractive or not. And if we’re not happy with our smile it can impact on our professional and personal lives.
Live with the Gap?
The NHS has always had a limited budget for treatments, which is why cosmetic procedures demand private cosmetic dentists or orthodontics. But now dental experts are asking how much is reasonable to expect the NHS to do for us – and could we manage by leaving a gap rather than opting for a crown, bridge or implant? For those of us who value our teeth, smile and looks, the question is unthinkable. Orthodontics is dedicated to giving us perfect teeth. The Independent however asks if it’s possible to maintain a nation of pearly whites when life expectancy is growing.
Don’t Compromise Your Teeth!
The problem The Independent outlines is we used to die before our teeth fell out but now life expectancy means we are outliving our teeth. Once teeth or gums are damaged, they have minimum capacity to repair – which is why we rely so much on orthodontics and dentists. Implants are not available on the NHS because of their high cost (up to £4,000 per tooth) but living with fewer teeth can impact on the quality of your life as well as your self image. Researchers have said that if someone has no teeth, just two implants to support a bridge (to help them eat) would be sufficient, costing the NHS around £500. But most people would be horrified at the idea of allowing their teeth to be dwindled to such a state. The fact that braces and orthodontics are now ‘trendy’ and teeth whitening is one of the fastest growing sectors in cosmetics shows that we aren’t ready to compromise when it comes to our teeth.
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