The Price Of Neglecting Your Oral Health And How You Can Prevent A Mouthful Of Trouble. There’s a good chance you’re going to lose a few teeth in your lifetime. Here’s a hard fact to chew on: Adults between the ages of 20 and 64 average about seven lost permanent teeth, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
Further, 10 percent of people between 50 and 64 end up with no teeth left.
A pulled tooth usually has a rocky history behind it related to neglect. Dental professionals say a lack of preventative care by the patient is often at the root of the problem; only 37 percent of adults participating in the NIDCR survey reported visiting a dentist in the previous year. That number supports the popular theory most people go to the dentist only when pain forces them to go.
“You can eliminate a lot of pain, discomfort and frequent visits to the dentist by being proactive about your dental health,” says Dr. Ramon Duran (www.drramonduran.com), a dentist in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and author of Your Best Smile … For a Lifetime: Achieving Your Optimal Oral Health. “Taking preventative measures is vital if you want to save money and, more importantly, save your teeth.
“The best way to think about this is: what kind of teeth do you want to have as you near the end of your life?”
Duran can discuss the many oral problems that can be headed off or lessened when both the patient and dentist take a comprehensive approach to care and treatment.
Discussion topics
Thirty-five percent of young adults, according to a NIDCR survey, have difficulty biting and chewing. Why?
Before a tooth requires a crown, what is the general journey of the tooth and how could a crown have been prevented?
What is the concept called “complete dentistry” that you practice, and why do you think only 10 percent of US dentists practice complete dentistry?
What would you say is the number one reason for poor oral health?
As one who studies facial muscles and jaw joints as related to chewing, does how someone chews their food affect their teeth?
About Dr. Ramon Duran
Dr. Ramon Duran, DMD (www.drramonduran.com), is a dentist based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a public speaker and author of Your Best Smile … For a Lifetime: Achieving Your Optimal Health. Dr. Duran is part of just 10 percent of dental professionals in the U.S. who practice the concept of complete dentistry, helping patients to identify potential problems before further damage can occur. He is a former faculty member of the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine.
