[Just Between Us] Why Treating Dental Problems One at a Time Is Better in the End #ToothPreservation #DrChoiYongHun

Sharing technical information through my blog and YouTube channel is rewarding,

and introducing my clinical philosophy is enjoyable as well.

This is also the conclusion I have reached after practicing for many years:

Most seasoned dentists do not treat several teeth at the same time.

Cases in which several teeth are problematic at once are very rare.

In particular, when the pain is severe, there is always just one causative tooth.

Even so, I have spent 20 years as a university professor treating toothaches...

Even if the toothache is extremely severe right now, with a headache and a feeling that your eyes are about to pop out...

the cause is still just one tooth.

It is rare for several teeth to need root canal treatment or extraction at the same time.

Of course, several loose teeth could be extracted at the same time,

but what I'm talking about right now is 'toothache.'

So when a toothache is severe, the most important thing is to find the causative tooth first, treat it properly, and check whether the pain improves.

2. Treating several teeth at once compromises the quality of care

Thinking about it logically, this is quite obvious.

Among professors in the conservative dentistry departments at university hospitals, hardly any would recommend root canal treatment on several teeth at the same time.

If you try it yourself, you will see for yourself.

The moment you work on several teeth, there are too many things to keep track of, and your head is about to explode.

Is it easier for a chef to focus on one dish and create a masterpiece?

Or would the quality be higher if they tried to make many different dishes all at once?

3. In the end, treatment costs are lower

Many people don't fully understand this and simply compare prices, such as how much a crown costs here versus there,

or how much implants cost...

without even knowing whether this tooth really needs a crown.

Comparing prices like this is so unfortunate...

It's also unfortunate when a tooth that doesn't need root canal treatment gets root canal treatment and a crown anyway...

What matters is that you only have 28 teeth.

Comparing treatment prices alone, one approach may look more expensive, but if you skip unnecessary treatment and only do what is needed,

your total treatment cost ends up being lower.

So many people don't realize this, and that is unfortunate.

If only one crown was needed, but they give in to temptation and end up with three,

or if only one implant was needed, but they're told the neighboring teeth must be extracted too, so the number of implants increases,

the total cost goes up even more.

It's not just the cost that rises. When quality suffers, as mentioned in point 2, there is also the question of how to deal with the aftermath...

It's like going to Daiso, loading up your basket with all sorts of things, and then, when it's time to pay, thinking, 'Oh? That came to more than I expected!'

It's a similar situation.

You are not in a position to judge the condition of your own teeth.

If you can't even tell whether a tooth needs treatment, and yet you're comparing prices...

I think you can understand what I mean by now.

4. When problems occur, they become impossible to handle

It would be ideal if every treatment went exactly as planned and there were no problems afterward...

Teeth are among the most sensitive organs in the body.

For example, suppose you received several resin fillings at the same time,

and then you developed a toothache afterward.

But you can't tell which tooth is the problem. (In reality, you really can't tell.)

So what do you do?

You try adjusting the bite, waiting to see if it resolves, and applying some medication.

And if that doesn't work?

Since you don't know which one it is, you remove all three resin fillings,

and it would be nice if that solved the problem,

but it may make no difference, or even make the pain worse.

That is the inherent nature of teeth.

Teeth can hurt even more if they are handled carelessly.

Treating several teeth at once can be efficient and save time, which is good,

but if problems arise, you may not be able to find the cause, especially if you don't know which tooth is the problem,

and that's when the nightmare begins. This is true for me as well.

Because this is the scariest scenario, I treat just one tooth, check that everything is fine,

and then move on to the next one. This may seem unsophisticated, but it is the safest approach.

From your side, too, if you want to determine whether this dentist is a good fit for you and is skilled,

start by treating just the most serious tooth well and see whether the result is good.

Once you judge that for yourself and feel you can trust them, doesn't it make sense to entrust the treatment of your other teeth to them?

Dental treatment isn't something that can be done quickly and easily.

This may feel especially true for me, since my approach is to save teeth that others say are too damaged and must be extracted,

but even inserting a single anesthetic needle is not easy.

Honestly, it gives me chills to watch several teeth being ground down at once, and I can't imagine what kind of courage that takes.

There is a sad backstory to Korean dental care that is the reason I have to write posts like this,

but I will share it with you gradually.

That's all for now.

In Korea, implants are considered the default treatment.

Saving teeth without root canal treatment is not an easy or simple procedure.

Also, once a tooth passes a certain threshold, it can no longer be saved.

When many teeth are missing or many teeth are loose, it is difficult to apply the tooth-preservation approach I practice.

I recommend reading my blog and watching my YouTube videos thoroughly, and checking whether your situation falls into this category.

Dr. Choi Yong-hun's clinic introduction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCiCJLrG1J8

#CrackedTooth #Replantation #ToothReplantation #FracturedToothReplantation #PeriodontalDiseaseReplantation #DrChoiYongHun #ToothPreservation

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to treat several teeth at once if you have a severe toothache?

The author explains that multiple teeth are usually not treated at the same time. Cases in which several teeth are problematic simultaneously are very rare, and when the pain is severe, the most important step is to first identify the causative tooth, treat it properly, and check whether the toothache improves.

Does treating one tooth at a time lower the total treatment cost?

The author explains that total treatment costs can be lower if unnecessary procedures are avoided. Comparing individual treatment prices alone may make one approach look more expensive, but by avoiding unnecessary treatment, the total cost ends up lower.

What problems can arise from treating several teeth at once?

The author explains that treating several teeth at once lowers the quality of treatment and makes it difficult to identify the causative tooth when problems arise. The author points to the example of removing all of several resin fillings without knowing which one is the cause, and considers this the most frightening scenario.

Can anyone receive tooth-preservation treatment?

No, it is not an option in every case. The author explains that once a tooth passes a certain threshold, it can no longer be saved, and notes that people with many missing teeth or many loose teeth may find it difficult to receive this tooth-preservation treatment. Readers are encouraged to check the blog and YouTube introduction videos to see whether they qualify.