Dentists are some of the most important people in the world because they help people feel comfortable and confident with their teeth while also helping people care for their dental health. After all, when it comes to teeth, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. From chipped or broken teeth to painful gums and even teeth extractions, there are many reasons why someone might visit their dentist. Nowadays people also visit their dentist when they feel uncomfortable about the appearance of their teeth in hopes the dentist can help map out a plan to improve the appearance of their teeth.
Of all the reasons why someone might visit their dentist in a given year, untreated cavities is one of the most common. Left untreated, cavities may become painful and spread to multiple teeth. In severe cases, the gums may even become affected. Because of this, it’s important to visit the dentist at the first sign of a cavity. Unfortunately, there are many people in the U.S. who have untreated cavities. It’s estimated that one in five Americans are living with untreated cavities.
Teeth extractions are another popular reason why someone may visit their dentist. Wisdom teeth in particular can be painful or uncomfortable, and often require extraction. Fortunately, the procedure to remove wisdom teeth is an outpatient procedure and is performed on an estimated five million people each year in the U.S. Many of these patients are adults. It’s actually common for adults to have their wisdom teeth extracted because there isn’t enough room in an adults mouth for the wisdom teeth.
Implants are another popular reason why people visit the dentist. Implants are a great option for people missing teeth or who need dentures. Today, it’s estimated that about 30 million people are missing teeth in their top or bottom jaw. To ease the discomfort that may accompany missing teeth or to help boost a person’s self confidence, a dentist may recommend dental implants. Already about three million people in the U.S. have some sort of dental implant and that number is expected to grow. In fact, dental implants are so popular that the industry is expected to grow to $6.4 billion soon.
Dentists are trained to tackle a variety of dental issues. From dental implants and cavities to extracting teeth, dentists work hard to keep their patient’s mouths healthy. If you’re in need of dental care, contact a local dentist soon.