It’s a common myth that as we get much older, our teeth are likely to experience hardship. Here to dispel that myth is Dr. Michael Maniscalco. His practice, Maniscalco Cosmetic and General Dentistry, has both maintained and restored optimal oral health and beautiful smiles for Birmingham locals of all ages, and he assures us that beautiful teeth can last a lifetime with regular home and professional care.
Is oral health different for seniors? Do our mouths change?
The three reasons we can lose our smiles are gum disease, decay and malocclusion, or bad bites. Gum disease is inflammation caused by ongoing accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth, resulting in infection and loss of bone support — but if we keep plaque off the teeth, inflammation can be eliminated.
The second reason we lose our smile is decay. Bacteria of the mouth produce acids, which dissolve enamel and create holes in teeth. The third reason we lose our smile is a “bad” bite — that is, the upper and lower teeth do not meet and chew properly. Signs of malocclusion include headaches, teeth shortening, discoloration, fracturing of teeth, painful or noisy jaw joints or sore chewing muscles.
For these reasons, it’s important to keep up regular checkups. None of these things have to be a normal part of aging. But as people get up in age, especially if they lose mobility or stop driving, they neglect important appointments for preventive care.
What are some reasons a patient needs dentures or implants?
Dentures can replace the aesthetics of a lost smile. Although, at best, dentures function at only 20% of natural teeth, they are an economical replacement.
Today, dental implants are a common replacement of missing teeth, from a single tooth to an entire smile. As few as four implants strategically placed can support the entire smile, eliminating the use of removable dentures.
What are warning signs/symptoms that you might need restorative dental work?
The following signs and symptoms are not part of the natural aging process: pain when biting, sensitivity, missing teeth, discolored teeth, broken teeth, spaces between teeth, bleeding gums or foul breath. Your mouth was designed to work with a full set of teeth, and if you’re missing any, it won’t work as well. The remaining teeth work overtime and break down faster. Above all, if you’re no longer excited about the appearance of your smile, dentistry can change that.
Explain the evolution of technology on dental implants.
Implants have been evolving for 40 years. When I was in dental school, The Alabama Implant Congress, a research and development group of restorative dentists and specialists, met here in Birmingham, and I was fortunate to observe live implant surgeries at that time. Interestingly, it was not condoned by teaching institutions because it was not a proven mode statistically. That shows how far we’ve come. Now, with a 98% implant success rate, we can take a 3D image of your jaws, and we can see in three dimensions, making surgery highly successful.
In conclusion, with today's technology, old myths that you lose teeth with aging are no longer true. I have elderly patients I’ve been seeing for years with beautiful, healthy smiles. But my practice does not just provide attractive smiles — smiles have to be functional, healthy, long-lasting and integrated with your overall health.