Noting that 25.8 percent of elderly people in Taiwan have no teeth, a dentist yesterday said that people who have a tooth or teeth missing should discuss getting implants with their dentists, but must remember that follow-up checks after the procedure are vital.
A healthy adult should have 32 teeth, Division of Medical Devices Director Wu Ting-yao (吳亭瑤) said.
However, Health Promotion Administration statistics show that only 42.1 percent of people aged 65 and older have more than 24 teeth, while more than a quarter have none at all, she said.
“Tooth decay and not having a full set of teeth are not only problems for elderly people, but young people can also lose teeth in accidents — while playing sports for example,” Wu said, adding that a missing tooth can limit effective chewing — or even lead to changes in facial structure.
Receiving a tooth implant is a common dental procedure and all artificial tooth root products must obtain legal permits from the Food and Drug Administration, which has so far approved 252 products, Wu said.
A missing tooth might not only affect a person’s ability to chew, but also oral occlusion as a whole, National Taiwan University Hospital dentist Lin Li-deh (林立德) said.
There are differences in the material and design of artificial tooth root products, so patients should consult with their dentist about which product is most suitable for them, he said.
It is crucial for patients with tooth implants to get follow-up check ups regularly (at least once every three to six months), especially in the first two years, because it takes a few months for the roots of artificial teeth to adhere properly to the alveolar bone and loose implants can cause inflammation, he said.
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