I’m looking for a dentist near me who is accepting new patients in west Edmonton…
If you are looking for a family dentist in Edmonton, or more specifically a dentist in westside Edmonton, we’d love to show you why Lotus Dental Wellness is the best dental clinic for your family! We consider our role as Edmonton dentists to be service providers as well as educators, and we often have that opportunity with our patients during dental checkups. This is our opportunity to answer your questions whether it’s about teeth whitening, tooth loss, or cosmetic dentistry. The best dentist in Edmonton would never be so if they weren’t also great patient educators! Any dentist in west Edmonton can perform services but only some will take the time to explain their approach and why.
As a family dentist in west Edmonton, Lotus Dental Wellness takes pride in our ability to assist our patients in choosing what is the best course of action for their circumstances. Many times, patients have more than one option in remedying an oral health challenge – as is the case with tooth loss which could be addressed with a dental bridge, partial dentures or a dental implant, for example. In fact, dental implants are frequently misunderstood, so our dental clinic in west Edmonton commonly educates about this subject.
Understanding Teeth
Pound-for-pound, the adult human bite is more powerful than even a gorilla’s. Hard to believe – but, true! A gorilla’s mouth has evolved for a diet of thick, fibrous plant material which requires extended periods of chewing to break the greens down and make them digestible. The human mouth, however, is less adept at chewing for long periods, but our powerful bite has allowed for versatility in our diets. What’s more, strength begets strength where our mouths are concerned. The more we use our jaws, the stronger they get!
To the observer, human teeth may seem fairly simplistic and unchanging. Teeth exist in fixed positions across the arches, they are inanimate and wouldn’t be considered to be particularly ‘alive’ in the way our eyes are, for example. Looks are deceiving though because our teeth are among the more complex systems in the body. They are continuously fed by a blood supply, and they have the ability to provoke a response from the body that maintains their health.
Action-Reaction
A tooth is anchored into the jaw with soft tissue and bone, and they are further supported by neighboring teeth. The arch shape arranges our teeth in such a way that the force of our bite is shared by all teeth to prevent breakage or otherwise overstressing them, but that’s not all that’s happening when you chew your food. Each of your teeth is attached to a ligament that allows them to flex slightly in response to pressure. Each time this pressure is felt in the socket, a reaction is triggered which reinforces the need for strengthening minerals and other nutrients to be sent to the teeth and jaw to maintain their strength and health. Just like a muscle grows by being used, your teeth are in constant communication with the rest of your body to maintain their strength.
What Happens When I Lose a Tooth?
When you lose a tooth, the area around the socket bone tissue ceases to receive impulses to keep that area of the bone strong. This may not be a serious issue if your loss is singular, but those who are missing many or all teeth will begin to see the effects of this loss of bone stimulation beginning approximately six months after losing them.
The body’s response to the lack of communication from the jaw is to limit the minerals and nutrients that it receives in lieu of supporting other body systems. While this is the appropriate response from the body, the result is significant changes to the form of the lower jaw and a shortening of the profile. This process is gradual and continuous, which complicates achieving a good fit for long periods of time with dentures. As the jaw changes, the denture’s fit and comfort may change and need to be adjusted to avoid the clicking and popping typically associated with poorly fitting dentures as well as hot spots from rubbing.
Dental Implants in Westside Edmonton
Dental implants stop the process of jawbone degeneration by replacing the natural root with an artificial titanium one in order to maintain stimulation. Dental implants require sufficient bone tissue in order to be able to implant successfully. Not all dentists in westside Edmonton offer dental implants, as many refer their patients out to specialists for installation. If you’re thinking about getting dental implants, ask your dentist where and how to get started at your next visit.