The need for the dentist even if you have no teeth
One of the questions we are often asked at Forest Dental is, do patients who have lost all of their natural teeth still need to visit the dentist? Our answer is always the same: yes, you do. Whether you have replaced your teeth with standard dentures or dental implants, the importance of keeping up regular dental appointments even when you have lost your natural teeth cannot be overstressed.
Dentures
Dentures are the most common option for patients who have lost all of their teeth. It is important to visit the dentist regularly to ensure that your dentures remain comfortable, fit snuggly and remain in the best possible condition. It’s also important to keep an eye on the health of your gums.
Many patients who wear dentures discover that they become loose over time, as their gums and bone recede, meaning that dentures that once fitted snuggly over the gums become loose and unwieldy. This can cause problems with eating and speaking, and can also cause dentures to fall out at inopportune moments. Regular visits to your dentist will ensure these problems are rectified early, and your dentures adjusted as necessary.
Dental implants
Dental implants and the crowns, bridges or dentures attached to them look and act like natural teeth – and, like natural teeth, require regular dentist and hygienist appointments to keep them healthy.
Mouth cancer screening
Everybody should have regular screening for mouth cancer, which is notorious for being difficult to diagnose in the early stages. Approximately 2,700 people per year die from mouth cancer in the UK, and it has a high proportion of deaths to number of cases. Late diagnosis is a major factor in this. As with all types of cancer, early diagnosis vastly increases your chances of making a full recovery. Your dentist is expertly placed to spot the early signs, and will refer you to a hospital consultant if anything suspicious is found.