A Tooth Abroad

I can remember it like it was yesterday.  The first time I went to an airport to actually fly outside of the country.  Even before airport security stepped up to 11 after 9-11 it was still a nerve racking experience. Getting up at 5 in the morning and driving on an empty highway.  Then you see the sign for the airport and it becomes rush hour instantly.   Wheeling your bags through what seems like an eternity of brightly lit hallways until you see it.  The longest line of rushed individuals who all had one thing in common and didn’t even know it.  We were all going to a place where we would inevitably stand out by a feature we had never even thought of.  We would stand out every time we talked and every time we smiled.  What brought us together as Americans and what was about to set us apart from our destination was our teeth.  

One of the most perplexing cultural nuances that always stands out is dental hygiene.  My first trip abroad was a truly enlightening experience.  I should say an en-whitening experience and no, I don’t mean that in any racial context.  I am talking about teeth!   Really you don’t have to go far to tell.  Any country will do.  I first noticed that almost no one ever had white, straight teeth outside the United States.  Heck my first trip abroad was to Canada and I could spot any of my traveling companions out simply by finding the bright white smile in a crowd. 

When I first noticed the difference I immediately wondered why no one was taking care of their teeth.  Then it got me wondering if I was paying too much attention to my own teeth.  I was raised to brush twice a day at least.  I would say that is the cultural standard where I am from.  The thought of cavities and the pain they bring not only physically, but financially is the general motivation to brush and scrub the pearly whites. 

To be honest, I am not sure that it really matters rather your teeth are white and perfect looking or crooked and darker than a cave stalactite.   I will say this though, if you want to stand out in a crowd in a different country, just do a whitening treatment.  Not a single soul will think your local.  I figured I would pass my mental dental musings on to give some awareness of the biggest cultural difference you might not ever notice. 

Who has time for broken teeth?

If you’ve ever been in a rush where something inopportune happens, then you probably have been in the position of wondering what to do, maybe dreading it, the second you’re eating and soon a tooth breaks. It can be something as simple as you’re on break for lunch, you’re scarfing something down, and then bam, you break a tooth. You might not be sure about what to do next. Nobody has time for chipped teeth, and if you’re already trying to squeeze in a small lunch, this can cause a crazy demand on you, and you will feel stress about this. This can be a problem right before a big meeting, date, or an event where you need to look perfect. You might not think that you can get yourself completely fixed up and good to go in a day. But you totally can.

Now, the simplest way to do so is actually to go to the dentist. There are many out there that can actually do something called Cerec, which stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, and it actually can create custom crowns and onlays the same day you come in for the fix. If you’ve ever had or known someone who’s gotten a crown, you’ve probably heard that it’s a much longer process. Yom have to get molds, measurements, and then the crown has to be made in a dental lab. You know this takes time, and it can be quite hard to wait on. however, with Cerec, you actually don’t need to worry about this, since the crowns are made in-house, and it eliminates the process. You don’t need to take impressions either.

How in the world does this work though? You’re probably reading this, shaking our head and wondering if this is crazy talk. But it’s not. You can get a tooth fixed in a day. The machine uses some solid blocks of very strong porcelain to help create custom restorations. The porcelain is then matched to the natural tooth longer, and it actually is much longer lasting, and it also creates a very strong bond to the tooth. Simply put, this porcelain can help you get a tooth that looks out of place completely fixed. If you’ve got a tooth that is broken, a filling that falls out, or maybe you really need a crown, this can all be done with such a simple machine. All that you’ll need to have done, is they will take some pictures of the teeth, design it to make it match the tooth as best as it can, and then, the restoration is then put together in the office.

You probably think that you’re going to have to wait hours for this sort of thing. But that’s where you’re wrong. It’s actually done in only a little bit over an hour, meaning that if you can get an extended break, you can come back to the office looking your best in no time. It’s pretty magical.

This is a bit of a newer service, so not every single dentist has this just yet. But it is one of the best ways to get a restoration done fast, and if you’re ever worried about whether or not you’ll make it to the big meeting looking your best, then have no fear. This type of dental restoration can be one of the best, and if you’re someone that is constantly on the go, this can change your life.

It’s a miraculous process, allowing you to have the best and healthiest teeth possible. You’ll be able to be someone with a killer smile, so that when you do go to the event or gathering, you’ll be able to show off the killer smile that you have. Don’t let a broken tooth hold you back, or any other tooth problem for that matter. This is a special service, and if you know that it is a problem, the crown can fix it, and it can be one of those services that can change our smile. Don’t delay, if you got a problem, call our Roseburg dentist and find out if they have this awesome service today.