By Bae Ji-sook
Our teeth sustain an average of 30 kilograms-worth of shock every time we open and close our mouth to chew: imagine the tremendous stress they are under.
Koreans, who enjoy cracking ggakdugi (diced turnip kimchi), lollipops or ice cubes, have teeth that are even more vulnerable. The recent changes and variety in diet due to eating greasy food and meat more often, and then ending with cold ice cream for dessert, wages an enormous amount of stress on the teeth. Also, the bone structure is not particularly strong, requiring more people to receive dental treatment at early stages.
Dental implants are currently the becoming more popular for patients who seek semi-permanent replacement teeth.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth, according to a Wikipedia definition. Virtually all dental implants in the 21st century appear similar to an actual tooth root (and thus possess a "root-form") and are placed within the bone (end- being the Greek prefix for "in" and osseous referring to "bone"), it says.
In Korea, implants were adopted in the 1990s by some pioneering dentists and have seen massive growth within such a short period. There are more than 500,000 reported procedures a year now.
“However, I would like to raise several issues because many people should be alert to the implant practices they receive,” said Dr. Lee Jong-jin of Cheongdam Khan Clinic in southern Seoul.
In his interview with The Korea Times, Lee said that the speed of the development is so fast that even many dentists aren’t capable of catching up. Also, some poor-quality implant materials have appeared due to the extreme price competition which has made the overall quality in the market worsen.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency, the portion of reported complains accounted for over 6.5 percent of the total in the dental section but quickly rose to 22 percent in 2010. The majority of those who found problems in their artificial teeth said they found serious flaws or disorders in the nerve system.
“Out body is an organism and each organ is related to one another, affecting each other. Teeth are no exception Therefore, if there is something wrong with the dental implant, it is obvious that the whole body will be affected by it,” Lee said.
Lee warned that some dentists take advantage of people who seek cheaper practices by providing ill-manufactured supplements which causes greater trouble in the future. He also noted that some doctors paint a rosy picture of the supplements and “forget” to inform the patients that the original teeth are never replaceable in terms of function.
Lee, who specializes in “repairing and maintaining” ill-practiced implants, says patients need to be aware of what they can get and how they should be careful.
“If you have chronic illnesses such as hypertension or diabetes, please consult the dentist prior to treatment. Please check if your dentist conducts a blood pressure test in advance of the treatment and see if the clinic is equipped with an emergency kit at the surgery ― many dental treatments could be considered surgery because it involves bleeding,” he said.
“Disorders do take time and money. So do not rush out to expect visible results in too a short period of time. Good supplements can cost a lot but usually provide better results. Also, in order to fit the artificial teeth in the right spot, you need to be patient and understand it requires a lot of time,” he said.
Most of all, he stressed an individual’s efforts for maintenance. “Try to use a “water pik,” which shoots water in between the teeth, rather than using a toothbrush and toothpaste. Avoid eating too much spicy food. Also, visit your dentist regularly to get your teeth checked,” he said.
He also advised some of his fellow workers. “Dentists are bound to provide abundant information on the pros and cons of what services they offer. The patients must understand that the supplement doesn’t last forever ― generally about 15 years. It’s like changing car tires,” he said.
“Also the doctors should study the individual’s characteristics and try to find the best material. If they fail, they should be honest with their patients. Usually, patients are open to frank confessions,” he said.
Lee advises ordinary people to look at their teeth more often and visit a dentist regularly. “Remember, No implant is better than the original teeth you have. Our mission is to maximize use instead of putting high-tech materials in your gums,” he said.