1. I. Intro – Do you want to keep your teeth for your whole life? Many people don’t realize
that your teeth help you maintain proper nutrition and help with articulation of words.
Imagine going a whole day without any of your teeth. Taking care of your teeth is
essential and is something that can’t be done by yourself. Going to the dentist is
something that everyone should do for the reasons that I am going to present to you. By
the end of this speech I hope your image of the dentist will change.
II. Modern Dentistry
A. Cavities-
a. Early prevention of cavities-frequent exams catch early problems and
prevent toothaches….new technology enables Dentists to detect cavities
at their earliest stage… finding cavities early enables fillings to be done
with new painless technology (look to Diagnodent info)
b. No longer use drills (look at Air Abrasion info)
c. Don’t always need anesthetic for small fillings
B. Air Abrasion
a. Enables no anesethic filling, which means no needles
b. Streamlined powder under pressure instead of drill
c. No hideous sound or vibration from drill
e. Only removes bad part of tooth leaving all healthy tooth=smaller filling
C. Diagnodent
a. Helps find cavities at earliest stage before broken through the outer
surface of the tooth (enamel layer)
III. Periodontal Disease
A. Facts
a. Roughly 70-80 percent of adults have some form of gum disease
b. Primary cause of tooth loss in adults, although normally not associated
with pain as disease progresses
B. Gingivitis (gingiva = gums, -itis = inflammation)
a. Inflammation of gums
b. Reversible form of periodontal disease
c. No bone loss – reason why reversible
C. Periodontitis
a. Infection deep enough to effect bone
b. Not reversible because bone is lost
c. Bone continues to be lost until treated and maintained
d. If not treated soon enough teeth could begin to move and could be lost
D. Causes
a. Plaque
1. Sticky colorless film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth
2. If not removed can harden turns into tartar (calculus)
b. Tartar/ Calculus
1. Calcified plaque that can’t be removed from teeth with
toothbrush or floss.
2. Must be removed by dental professional
c. Bad oral hygiene

2. 1. Not brushing two to three times a day
2. Not flossing daily
3. Tobacco use and alcohol consumption
4. Not thoroughly removing plaque when brushing and flossing
d. Teeth not properly aligned- may have needed othrodontic work
1. More plaque accumulates and often missed when brushing and
flossing
E. Other Health Risks (same bacteria found to cause health and oral problems)
a. Heart Disease
b. Diabetes
c. Stroke
d. Pre-term low weight births
e. Ulcers
f. Osteoperosis
IV. Conclusion – Now that I have given you information on modern dentistry and
periodontal disease hopefully you realize how important going to the dentist is. If you
don’t want to be someone that has to live without your natural teeth or rely on dentures
go see a local dentist today.
Sources:
www.perio.org
www.dentalairabrasion.com
www.chw.org