Do you really think that you can make teeth last for 100 years?

Brought to you by – Dr. Bradley Hepler and Dr. Jeffrey Priluck, The Atlanta Center for Dental

Health

“Hi, how are you doing today?”

She said, “Do you really think that you can make teeth last for one hundred years?”

It caught me off guard, but I love this question. This is a good question. It came from a long-term patient that I genuinely love and respect. And today she came in with a question that she had already given a great deal of thought. People are living longer. They need their teeth to last longer. Average life expectancy has been increasing for years now.

I had never promised anyone that I could make their teeth last for 100 years. But I must admit that I have thought about it and that it has become one of our goals at The Atlanta Center for Dental Health. I have a curious mind and have done some reading about longevity. There seems to be a growing interest in the topic. Some great minds in science and medicine seem to be making incredible progress. Ray Kurzweil has postulated that in a few years we may reach escape velocity.

His prediction is that scientific and medical advancement will reach a state of adding at least one year to life expectancy every year. Doesn’t that mean that I could live forever?

My answer to the question that afternoon: “Yes, I think that we can make teeth last 100 years. I think that we just need to try harder. People must take really great care of their teeth and prevent problems.”

Dentistry has incredible technology for repairing and restoring teeth. With dental implants and the vast array of great materials, we can do amazing things to fix and improve smiles. But my answer to the question really had to do with preventive dentistry. Preventive dentistry is the practice of taking care of your teeth to keep them healthy. This includes brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding sugary and acidic foods, seeing your dentist for regular check-ups, and getting sealants and fluoride treatments. These measures help to reduce the risk of developing cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems. If we can prevent diseases of your teeth and gums and prevent people from just wearing out our teeth, I really believe that we can make them last a very long time. The Atlanta Center for Dental Health’s mission is to help people achieve healthy, attractive smiles for a lifetime. Even a century!

“Preventive Dentistry can add 10 years to human life.” -Dr. Charles Mayo of the Mayo Clinic several key aspects of health, including the immune system, the musculoskeletal system, and even the brain and heart. Research has shown that it has an anticancer effect as well.

And maybe more! A healthy mouth is part of a healthy body. Our wish for you is that you look and feel your best in 2023!

Dr. Bradley Hepler, Dr. Jeffrey Priluck and the experienced team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health provide the most modern advances in cosmetic dentistry. Experience immediate results with procedures to greatly enhance your smile and your health. If you would like a complimentary consultation to discover which of these options is best for you, please call us at 770-992-2236. Dr. Hepler and Dr. Priluck are highly trained and certified to provide you with the latest and best techniques to allow you to achieve your cosmetic and restorative goals.

Although we obtain some vitamin D from the sun, as well as from food, I have found that virtually all patients who are not supplementing with vitamin D have a suboptimal level.

I encourage you to ask your doctor to check your vitamin D 25-OH level the next time you have blood drawn. A level between 60-80 ng/mL in the blood is considered optimal. For most people, a daily dose between 5,00010,000 international units of vitamin D3 is required to achieve this optimal level. It is also recommended to have vitamin K2 (often included within the same capsule) to enhance absorption.

As always, please discuss any potential new supplement with your doctor to make sure it is right for you.