Common dental myths
1. You should see the dentist only when you have noticed dental cavities.
You should see your dentist for a regular check-up every six months. It is recommended that children visit the dentist every three months due to fast tooth decay and insufficient oral hygiene. Cavities visible to the eye are usually the symptom of advanced tooth decay.
2. Tooth whitening is dangerous and should be done only once.
Tooth whitening process is safe if you follow your dentist's advice (tight dental fillings, no calculus or plaque etc.). There are a few professional in-office bleaching products available on the market. The producer of one of them (BOYOND) allows tooth whitening to be done approximately every two years. However, the final decision is always made by the doctor and the patient. You should also remember that the colour of dental restorations and fillings won't change with whitening treatments.
3. Using permanent dental braces causes decay and damages enamel.
Using permanent dental braces is absolutely safe. Fear of tooth decay or enamel damage is unjustified. The patients who undergo specialist treatment have regular check-ups and are under medical care. Brackets don't cause enamel damage. Specialist glue doesn't cause damage to the tooth layer during the treatment or soon after the braces are removed. Enamel is polished and all the glue is removed with special tools.
4. Root canal treatment is painful.
Nowadays root canal treatment does not involve any pain. Modern dentistry does no longer use chemical products to devitalize teeth, which caused discomfort and made the whole treatment longer (more appointments). Safe dental anesthetics have completely eliminated this problem.
5. Nothing can stop the development of periodontitis.
Periodontitis is a set of inflammatory diseases affecting the periodontium. When untreated, the disease can lead to bone loss. It may leave the teeth's roots uncovered leading to subsequent loss of teeth. The main cause of periodontal disease is not genes, as often believed by the patients, but rather poor oral hygiene. The problem is very complex, though, and professional treatment should start at the dentist's office. When the disease is under control (with surgical and non-surgical treatments), its progress can be stopped. Sometimes, it is even possible to rebuild lost structures. However, the success depends on when we start the treatment.
6. Placement of dental implants and convalescence period are long and painful.
Placement of dental implants involves a precise surgical procedure, which does not involve any pain, as it is performed under local anesthesia. It often lasts shorter than filling a molar tooth. After the implant is placed in the bone, osseointegration follows, when the bone integrates with the titanium implant. It takes between 3 and 6 months. The next step consists of prosthetic restoration (crown, bridge, etc.).
7. There is no need to treat primary teeth.
Tooth decay is an infectious disease both when it comes to primary teeth and permanent teeth. Primary tooth decay can damage tooth buds growing under the teeth and lead to premature loss of primary teeth, which causes malocclusion. It is now recommended to treat primary teeth.