Health

Turn Back the Clock on Your Smile

Many things in life get better with age. But the passing years are likely to take a toll on your teeth, a problem that could leave you feeling self-conscious about one of the most important parts of your appearance — your smile.

“As people age, they’re at greater risk for tooth decay and tooth loss due to factors such as taking multiple medications and being less able to care for their teeth properly,” explains UAB prosthodontist Mike McCracken, DDS, PhD. “Preventive care is important in helping to maintain healthy teeth and gums. But if you’ve experienced tooth loss or other dental problems, much can be done to restore your smile for a more youthful, healthy appearance.”

What is Prosthodontics?

Prosthodontics is a dental specialty that focuses on the restoration of teeth using a variety of reconstructive procedures such as crowns, implants, veneers, and dentures. Dentists in the field of prosthodontics must attend an additional three to four years of training in a program approved by the American Dental Association.

“While we focus on restoration of the dentition, we also stress preventive care to our patients,” says Dr. McCracken. “We often prescribe fluoride trays and other treatments to help lower the risk of further tooth decay, which can be a problem for older adults.”

Common Procedures to Restore Your Smile

Dental Implants — Dental implants are an advanced technology designed to replace one or more missing sections of teeth. “The absence of a significant number of teeth can cause difficulty with chewing, which can lead to malnutrition and affect overall health,” observes Dr. McCracken. While implant treatments can sometimes be an involved process, implants offer patients options that could not be imagined a few decades ago.

Dental Veneers and Other Bonded Restorations — Considered cosmetic dentistry, these procedures are used to create bright, white smiles with beautifully shaped teeth. “As part of this procedure, a thin shell of porcelain is bonded to the front of the tooth,” explains Dr. McCracken. “Veneers are an excellent option for improving your smile. They’re a relatively conservative procedure and are durable, long-lasting, and attractive.”

Ceramic and Metal Ceramic Dental Crowns — Designed to repair damaged teeth, crowns are usually made from metal, porcelain or a combination of metal and porcelain materials. “People in their 50s and 60s tend to show a good deal of wear on their teeth, and crowns are often required to restore teeth to their normal shape and appearance.” Advances in technology have now made getting a crown a one-day procedure for some patients. “Using a computer, we now use a machine to mill crowns in the office the same day the patient comes in,” says Dr. McCracken.

Removable Complete Dentures — Complete, removable dentures provide full-mouth teeth replacement for people who have lost all their teeth due to trauma, decay, or periodontal disease. “Removable dentures can sometimes cause mouth sores by rubbing and pressing on mucous membranes in the mouth. It’s important to visit your prosthodontist from time to time to ensure the proper fit and minimize this potential problem,” Dr. McCracken stresses.

Removable Partial Dentures and Fixed Partial Dentures — People who are missing many — but not all — teeth may have removable partial dentures. However, many people may prefer to have fixed partial dentures — also called dental bridges — because of the more natural results they provide.

Full Mouth Rehabilitation — “This procedure involves a complete cosmetic restoration by either crowing all of the teeth or using a combination of crowns and veneers,” explains Dr. McCracken.