General dentistry is the branch of medicine that involves the care and prevention of oral health conditions, diseases, and disorders. General dentists are usually the first people you visit when you notice any dental issue. They provide a variety of services, which include mainly preventative measures. They perform various procedures including, but not limited to –
- Filling: Teeth with cavities can be filled with various materials such as amalgam, composite, gold, etc.
- Dental crowns and dental bridges: These are prostheses involved in the protection of decayed, treated, and missing teeth. Crowns are “caps” placed on top of teeth to prevent further damage or decay. While bridges are structures that fill in the spaces of the tooth that has been lost.
- Root canal treatment: This is carried out when the tooth is severely decayed, causing inflammation in the pulp cavity.
- Dentures: These are a set of false teeth, usually removable.
- Dental cleaning: Includes scaling, deep cleaning, and polishing of teeth to prevent gum disease.
General dentistry also involves certain cosmetic treatments as well, like bonding (veneers), teeth whitening, and dental implants.
Dental Implants vs. General Dentistry
Dental implants are the most popular solution for replacing a missing tooth or teeth. Before the advent of implants, healthy teeth had to be ground down to make space for dental bridges. (Dental bridges include the use of teeth present adjacent to the missing space in the oral cavity.) The dental profession has constantly advocated for the preservation of natural tooth structure, and the use of dental implants upholds the same belief.
Implants have rendered a lot of general dentistry practices either outdated or contraindicated. And the need for chopping away at healthy enamel has also been eliminated.
All dentists affirm the belief that a downward spiral begins the moment a tooth is touched by a dental drill for the first time. Several studies show that crowns and bridges have a life expectancy of 9-10 years in the United States. Before 1985, tooth replacement choices were significantly poorer. These have drastically improved since the inception of dental implants, which have become the standard of care.
Added Benefits of Dental Implants vs. General Dentistry
- Implants strengthen the other teeth in the oral cavity. By placing an implant in the space of the missing tooth, both the missing root and crown are replaced. This increases the life expectancy of the surrounding teeth. The bridges and crowns used in general dentistry weaken the healthy teeth by forcing it to carry the burden of the missing ones.
- Implants also preserve the jaw bone, which would otherwise resorb and finish when a tooth is missing.
- The most common reason for a crown or bridge to fail is the fact that decay might start at the margin where the crown meets the gum/natural tooth. Titanium implants do not decay, making them far superior.
General Dentistry (Traditional Treatments) vs. Dental Implants
One missing tooth – When a patient is missing one tooth, the two options for replacement are a single tooth implant and a three-unit bridge.
| Implant | Bridge | |
| Cost | Same | |
| Treatment Time | 3 months | 2-5 weeks |
| Other Teeth | Unaffected | Drilled |
| Life Expectancy | 10-30 years | 5-15 years |
| Effect on Dentition | Strengthened | Weakened |
| Future Decay Chances | No | Yes |
Several Missing Teeth – The traditional form of treatment would be a removable partial denture (RPD) to replace the missing teeth. Partial denture indicates that it’s a smaller denture, which is removable by the patient, several times a day. Most patients would prefer to have a fixed tooth if given the option. Fixed teeth on implants look, feel, and function like natural teeth.
| Implant Bridge | RPD | |
| Cost | More | Less |
| Treatment Time | 3 months | 4-12 weeks |
| Other Teeth | Unaffected | Drilled |
| Life Expectancy | 10-30 years | 5-15 years |
| Effect on Dentition | Strengthened | Weakened |
| Future Decay Chances | No | Yes |
| Prosthesis Stability | Like natural teeth | Moderate |
| Ease of Cleaning | Moderate | Easy (outside mouth) |
| Comfort | Like natural teeth | Poor |
| Speech Change | None | Improves with time |
| Palate | Uncovered | Covered |
| Bone Preservation | Yes | No |
Missing All Teeth – In traditional forms of dentistry, the solution to all teeth missing is dentures. While dentures do replace missing teeth and can also be aesthetically pleasing, they remain a nemesis to this day. Most denture wearers admit that dentures can be embarrassing and that they would “do anything” to preserve their natural teeth. Dentures are also difficult to adapt to, uncomfortable to wear, and painful to chew with. They also alter the wearer’s lifestyle significantly.
| Implants | Dentures | |
| Cost | Expensive | Cheaper than implants |
| Appearance | Good | Good |
| Treatment time | 3-12 months | 2-6 weeks |
| Life expectancy | 10-30 years | 3-10 years |
| Effect on chewing | Similar to natural teeth | Poor |
| Prosthesis stability | Like natural teeth | Very poor |
| Ease of cleaning | Moderate | Easy (outside mouth) |
| Comfort | Like natural teeth | Very poor |
| Speech change | Minimal | Improves with time |
| Palate | Uncovered | Covered |
| Bone Preservation | Yes | No. Bone loss accelerated. |
Why Don’t General Dentists Place More Implants?
Even though dental implants have become the norm for replacing missing teeth, many general dentists still do not place more implants. This is due to a couple of reasons –
- They might find the surgical procedure difficult.
- Significant capital might be required to set up dental implant equipment.
- In certain cases, a CT (computed tomography) scan or a CB (cone beam) might be required for the implant placement process.
- Integrative digital technology might be required for placing an implant, which can be costly.
- The training might be long and extensive. Furthermore, if a general dentist doesn’t have surgical training, they might have to do extra courses that are designed for their skill level.
- Most patients prefer specialists like oral and maxillofacial surgeons for the procedure.
Dental implants are an investment in the health (and aesthetics) of your oral cavity. If you feel like you have a requirement, get in touch with our team at River Rock DDS today. Dr. Todd Christianson is an active member of the American Dental Association who specializes in dental implants. Rest assured, you’ll walk out of our offices with the million-dollar smile you’ve always wanted.
