Even in the modern world, there are still many dental myth about dental treatment. For some reason, many prefer not to listen to doctors, but they remember the opinions of people not related to medicine and actively pass them on to each other.
It’s time to collect in one place the most common myths about teeth and finally dispel them.
Professional teeth cleaning
Myth 1. There is no need to peel off the protective layer:
Of all the myths about professional dental cleaning, this one seems to be the strangest. Plaque on the enamel tends to thicken, gradually turning into tartar. Removing the stone is more difficult than cleaning, because of it, caries develop on the teeth, and the gums become inflamed.
Professional cleaning helps the patient not to get rid of the protective layer, but from the already compacted plaque, not allowing him to go into the state of tartar.
Myth 2. Electric toothbrushes damage enamel:
It is believed that it is the electric brushes that erase the enamel. In fact, you can break the enamel in many ways, including with a regular brush with overly stiff bristles. Electric brushes make circular motions and even protect teeth from excessive pressure during brushing. The main thing is to buy quality products.
Myth 3. Professional cleaning does not bleach, so why do it?
This procedure is compared to safe whitening, as it does not use substances that corrode the enamel. However, removing plaque, which contains food and drink contaminants, visually brightens the tooth surface.
Myth 4. After cleaning with ultrasound, teeth become more sensitive:
At first, such an effect may be in those patients who have had tartar removed, freeing sensitive areas from it. Only the stone is not at all a protective layer, but a defect that damages the teeth and gums. For a few days, you need to take care of your oral cavity as recommended by your doctor, and the sensitivity level will soon decrease again.
Myth 5. After professional cleaning, a new layer of plaque forms even faster:
This may happen after a poor-quality procedure. If you use an unsuitable apparatus, the enamel layer remains slightly uneven, which contributes to the fixation of new plaque on it. But this only means that you need to carefully choose a specialist.
Myth 6. It hurts:
Myths of this kind about teeth scare away most of the people. The pain threshold, as well as the degree of gum inflammation, is different for all patients. The less often they visit the dentist, the more likely they are to experience discomfort. But once you put your teeth in order and start brushing regularly, the discomfort will disappear.
Myth 7. You cannot do this procedure while wearing braces:
It is during this period that the oral cavity needs special cleaning, since with normal care there is a risk of missing part of the plaque or food debris. Cleaning in the clinic every 4 months is an excellent prevention of bad breath and plaque formation.
Dental implantation
Dental implantation myths usually fall on the fertile soil of human fears with a grain of mistrust towards dentists. This is too difficult a topic for many.
Myth 1. Implants rarely take root:
Such a disadvantage existed earlier, when the development of this direction in dentistry had just begun. But in recent years, progress in science, in particular in medicine, has reached a high level. The compatibility indicators of biomaterials have improved, as well as the technique of performing operations. The main thing is to strictly adhere to the doctor’s recommendations after implantation.
Myth 2. Implantation can be done only in absolutely healthy people:
Absolutely healthy people are not so common. Implantation has specific contraindications, including the presence of severe chronic diseases and blood diseases. But you should not immediately diagnose yourself and determine contraindications. First of all, you should consult a specialist in the clinic.
Myth 3. MRI cannot be done with implants:
This myth is also rooted in the past. The composition of modern implants is medical titanium, which weakly affects magnetic and electronic fields. At the same time, the titanium itself in the structure contains negligible amount, compared with the amount that could distort the signal. Another thing is if you need to do an MRI study of the jaw area, then the image may come out a little blurry. In this situation, an x-ray or CT scan can be done.
Myth 4. Implantation should not be done in elderly people:
This myth is related to the clause on contraindications. Elderly people often have a whole “bouquet” of diseases, moreover, regeneration worsens at a later age. Here, only a qualified specialist can help in making a decision. If an elderly patient does not have diseases from the list of contraindications, and his general state of health is satisfactory, then the doctor may approve the implantation for him.
Wisdom teeth
Too often wisdom teeth give their owners problems, which is why myths about them are so popular.
Myth 1. Wisdom teeth should be removed as early as possible:
These teeth are prone to disease, often misplaced, and painful. If carious cavities form on them, then dentists do not treat them, but remove them. So why wait for tooth decay and why not remove it right away?
Removing a healthy tooth is not easy for everyone. In the age period from 12 to 34 years, the body is especially reluctant to part with its teeth. This operation may take time to regain your well-being.
Myth 2. If wisdom teeth are not removed in time, the rest will begin to grow unevenly:
Wisdom teeth (third molars, as dentists call them) can cause various inconveniences, but they do not affect the position of other teeth. Therefore, their removal is unlikely to improve or worsen the density of the dentition.
Myth 3. These teeth are absolutely useless:
Indeed, you can chew food without them. However, they can play an important role in the placement of prostheses. It is convenient to fix some orthopedic constructions on them.
Myth 4. Extraction of wisdom teeth is completely safe and will only bring benefits:
Among the myths about different teeth, such statements are especially harmful. Much depends on the structural features of the third molars, the patient’s health status and the choice of a specialist. Removal is often easy. But sometimes the location of the third molars complicates the operation, and the body itself is reluctant to part with its teeth. Then side effects can be swelling, bleeding and feeling unwell.
If the doctor makes a mistake or carelessness, it can cause infection or damage other teeth. Therefore, it is imperative to visit trusted dentists.
Teeth whitening
Teeth whitening myths are also common among the people. Some people confuse whitening with professional cleaning and mislead themselves and others.
Myth 1. Modern clinical whitening is such a gentle procedure that there are no contraindications for it:
Professional cleaning and whitening are different procedures. In the first case, there is really no harm to the teeth. In the second, hydrogen peroxide is often used, which should not be applied to teeth affected by caries or wedge-shaped defects.
Teeth need to be treated, and in parallel with whitening. First, close the “holes” with temporary fillings, then bleach and only after clarification, install permanent crowns and fillings, the color of which is matched to the tone of the enamel.
Myth 2. Even thoroughly darkened enamel after bleaching will become snow-white:
Even clinical whitening allows you to lighten the enamel color by only 1 tone. If the patient is not satisfied with the result, he can repeat the procedure later. It is important that the dentist correctly assesses the condition and structure of the enamel.
Myth 3. Whitened teeth – eat and drink anything:
After the procedure, you should carefully care for your teeth and avoid coloring products so that the time and effort spent is not wasted. If you constantly drink strong tea and coffee, drinks with dyes, eat blueberries and beets, and then sign up for whitening – no enamel will be enough!
Dental prosthetics
Dental prosthetics myths are a painful topic. Empty spaces in the teeth are a tragedy for many. But what if there are so many frightening stories about this operation?
Myth 1. To install a prosthesis on one tooth, you need to sharpen the neighboring teeth, which will harm them:
Indeed, the adjacent teeth will have to be reduced, but at the same time a small part of them is grinded. A void in the dentition can be fraught with more unpleasant consequences than the loss of a small part of the volume of adjacent teeth.
Myth 2. Dentures loosen adjacent teeth:
Such a conclusion cannot be drawn without being based on a specific case. Much depends on the place of which tooth the prosthesis is planned, and what will be the load on it. Only a specialist can assess the risk and either place a prosthesis or recommend an implantation.
Myth 3. The tooth under the crown will quickly collapse:
In fact, teeth are destroyed even without crowns due to improper care and poor-quality treatment. Also in the case of prosthetics: it is necessary to strengthen hygiene with the use of products recommended by doctors. Then the crown-protected tooth can last even longer than the others.
These are far from all the myths about teeth, but only some of the most widespread. In order not to be led by such “superstitions”, it is necessary to make it a rule to visit the dentist regularly and ask him all the questions that arise. The specialists of the clinic “Helios” will competently advise everyone.
You can also read about Dysuria here.