Most dentists offer what might be known as piecemeal dentistry. In this dental approach, a dentist looks at your teeth one by one, looking for problems. Then, when they find a problem, they fix it.
Although this is a standard approach to dentistry, it’s not our preferred approach. That’s because it can lead to several problems for patients. Here are some of the problems that you experience when you’re getting piecemeal dentistry.
You’re Always Working on Teeth
Do you ever feel like you’re constantly working on your teeth? You go to the dentist for a checkup and get told you have a problem. You get the problem fixed, but then at the next appointment, something else comes up. This neverending cycle is partly a product of piecemeal dentistry.
With this approach to dentistry, there is no attempt to make your mouth actually healthy, just to address unhealthy problems as they come up. This sets you up for an experience where you have one problem after another. Your mouth is never really finished, and you likely never achieve a truly healthy mouth.
You End up with Mismatched Teeth
With piecemeal dentistry, your teeth get fixed one at a time. This means that all your restorations are different ages, which means they can be worn down or stained to different degrees. Since they’re not fixed at the same time, your teeth may not be fixed the same way. You can end up with many different types of restorations. Even if you stay with the same dentist, your restorations will change as that dentist’s techniques and approaches change. And the problem is worse when you work with different dentists.
But with comprehensive dentistry, we work to ensure that all your teeth look the same as part of ensuring you have a smile that is beautifully matched.
One Treatment Can Cause Other Problems
Piecemeal dentistry focuses on individual tooth problems, and when dentists practice it, they’re not always paying attention to the effects the one solution might have on the rest of the mouth.
One common example we see is a dental crown that causes damaging bite changes. If a dentist is only looking at the fit of a crown in a limited way, they might not notice the effects of that crown in your jaw or in other parts of your mouth. As a result, you might experience faster wear or chipping in other parts of the mouth, as well as TMJ symptoms related to your restoration.
Some Problems Might Get Missed Entirely
Speaking of TMJ, this is exactly the sort of problem that piecemeal dentistry can sometimes miss entirely. A dentist who is looking at each tooth separately will see only one tooth chipping, followed by another tooth chipping, then another. They may not even notice the accelerated wear on all your teeth.
They may not ask about TMJ symptoms like headaches, jaw pain, ear problems, and if you mention these symptoms, they may not link them to your bite.
Teeth May Not Last as Long
When teeth experience repeated problems followed by repeated restorations, they can become weakened and may be more likely to fail. Restorations put stress on teeth, and they can weaken the tooth structure. This can lead to more cracked teeth. Secondary decay can develop around old restorations, too.
But comprehensive dentistry can protect your teeth against failure by designing restorations that work together to protect and strengthen your teeth for long-term health.
Learn the Benefits of Comprehensive Dentistry
Are you tired of the constant cycle of restorations that never seems to stop? Let us show you an alternative that can give you a healthy mouth that doesn’t need to be constantly worked on. This approach works for people who need a full mouth reconstruction as well as those hoping to avoid that. And, as a side benefit, you may experience facial rejuvenation through a nonsurgical facelift.
To learn the benefits of comprehensive dentistry in the Detroit area, please call (248) 656-2020 today for an appointment with a comprehensive dentist at Doolin Haddad Advanced Dentistry in Rochester.
