Smile for life

Barriers to treatment

Tooth loss has long been related to older age, but as you know, it can affect anyone at any stage of life. If an individual begins life with poor oral health, then research suggests that this instability can follow them as they grow older.[i] [ii] This could be the result of parents/guardians not bringing their child to regular dental appointments, or are not encouraged to maintain a thorough oral hygiene routine at home.[iii] Of course, diets that are abundant in sugar are also driving factors for poor oral health during childhood.

Tooth loss is more common in aging individuals, and the impact that this can have on their quality of life can be extreme. However, when it occurs in young adults, the impact can be even more profound as younger generations are thought to be more image-conscious than older generations. In addition to poor childhood oral health, tooth loss in young adults can be caused by trauma, such as sports-related injuries.[iv] Conditions such as dental anxiety can also be a prerequisite for poor oral hygiene and tooth loss; researchers found that people with dental phobia are more likely to have caries and missing teeth.[v]

Despite the prevalence of information regarding dental implant treatment as a result of social media and the internet, patients still harbour uncertainties regarding treatment.[vi] Anecdotally, young patients who are suffering from tooth loss may not think that dental implants are suitable for them, as this treatment has often been associated with older individuals. Similarly, older patients may be unsure about the length of surgery time, or its invasiveness. The cost is another factor that might affect a patient’s opportunity to undergo dental implant therapy.

Demonstrate what you can do

Dental implants provide exceptional stability and aesthetics, making them ideal treatment options for many patients. The development of digitalised tools and equipment has allowed clinicians to streamline and enhance their workflows, most evidently in the form of digital scanners, 3D printers and in-house milling units. In fact, these systems combine to create an impressive digitalised workflow – clinicians are able to do so much more than previously possible. For example, you can create highly-accurate surgical guides for dental implant treatment – paired with impressive software, you can then adjust the data, print and implement your surgical guide during surgery for more accurate implant placement when compared to free-hand techniques.[vii] When the patient returns to have their restoration placed, you can mill them, in-house.

As seen in other dental fields, shorter treatment times are an important factor for many patients. As such, investing in systems that improve the treatment experience helps you to demonstrate that dental implants are a fantastic choice for a range of adult patients. Systems that enable you to be more conservative of your time means you can spend more time with your patients, offering them your attention when they need it most. For many, having this additional support throughout can make all the difference. You can clear the mist with digital systems – they make communication and patient education so much simpler.

The future of dental implants

The Primescan, Primeprint and Primemill, available through Clark Dental, help clinicians achieve remarkable outcomes in implant dentistry. The Primescan Smart Pixel Sensor function processes over a million 3D points per second, for fantastic precision and sharpness, even at a measuring depth of up to 20mm. Primeprint blends seamlessly into your existing digital workflow, allowing you to create accurate surgical guides for guided implant surgery. It also reduces handling time and supports increased productivity, thanks to its high level of automation. Finally, Primemill allows you to mill beautiful chairside restorations in 5 minutes (Super Fast mode). Your patients will appreciate dental implant treatment like no other, supported by a complete digital workflow.

Clinicians have many challenges in modern-day dentistry, including shaping patient perceptions surrounding dental treatment. When you harness the power of digital dentistry, you can deliver outcomes that truly make a long-lasting difference.

For more information call Clark Dental on 01268 733 146, email info@clarkdental.co.uk or visit www.clarkdental.co.uk

STUART CLARK

MANAGING DIRECTOR-

Having grown up within dentistry, Stuart has developed an unparalleled understanding of the industry. He is a technical specialist in digital imaging, pulling on his extensive experience as a Technical Director for Schick Technologies. Stuart is also an expert auto-CAD surgery designer and dental equipment engineer.

[i] Buldur, B. and Güvendi, O.N. (2019). Conceptual modelling of the factors affecting oral health‐related quality of life in children: A path analysis. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, [online] 30(2), pp.181–192. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ipd.12583 [Accessed 4 Nov. 2022].

[ii] Heilmann, A., Tsakos, G. and Watt, R.G. (2015). Oral Health Over the Life Course. [online] PubMed. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK385369/ [Accessed 4 Nov. 2022].

[iii] Drummond, B.K., Meldrum, A.M. and Boyd, D. (2013). Influence of dental care on children’s oral health and wellbeing. British Dental Journal, [online] 214(11), pp.E27–E27. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2013.533 [Accessed 4 Nov. 2022].

[iv] Mordini, L., Lee, P., Lazaro, R., Biagi, R. and Giannetti, L. (2021). Sport and Dental Traumatology: Surgical Solutions and Prevention. Dentistry Journal, [online] 9(3), p.33. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/9/3/33/htm [Accessed 4 Nov. 2022].

[v] Heidari, E., Andiappan, M., Banerjee, A. and Newton, J.T. (2017). The oral health of individuals with dental phobia: a multivariate analysis of the Adult Dental Health Survey, 2009. British Dental Journal, [online] 222(8), pp.595–604. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2017.361 [Accessed 4 Nov. 2022].

[vi] Sermsiripoca, K., Pisarnturakit, P.P., Mattheos, N., Pimkhaokham, A. and Subbalekha, K. (2021). Comparing pre‐ and post‐treatment patients’ perceptions on dental implant therapy. Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research, [online] 23(5), pp.769–778. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cid.13036 [Accessed 4 Nov. 2022].

[vii] Rouzé l’Alzit, F., Cade, R., Naveau, A., Babilotte, J., Meglioli, M. and Catros, S. (2022). Accuracy of commercial 3D printers for the fabrication of surgical guides in dental implantology. Journal of Dentistry, [online] 117, p.103909. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300571221003316 [Accessed 20 Mar. 2023].