Is the dental implant prone to cavities or gum disease?

dental implants

Dental implants are often chosen by patients who need to replace a tooth that was lost due to tooth decay or gum disease. They offer a structurally complete tooth replacement and have a number of advantages over alternatives like dentures and dental bridges. Understandably, these patients want reassurance that those conditions will not compromise the replacement tooth as well. The implant itself, which is a small cylinder made of titanium, is not made of biological material so it is not directly susceptible to the effects of the oral bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal disease. However, the answer to this question is not quite that simple. Gum disease can affect the stability of a dental implant by degrading the quality of the underlying bone that supports it. Osseointegration, which is the process of bone bonding with the implant after the oral surgeon places it, is the keystone of the durability…

Details

How closely do dental implants resemble a natural tooth?

dental implants

Dental implants are the only structurally complete tooth replacement devices available today. After the titanium cylinder is inserted in the jaw, the surrounding bone fuses with it, creating a root-like structure to support a prosthetic crown. This is quite similar to the relationship between the root and crown of a biological tooth. Older methods, such as dentures and dental bridges, only restore the absent crown, not the missing root. Yet, that root structure plays a pivotal part in the smile’s overall stability. Therefore, a patient who receives dental implants from an oral surgeon gains a number of benefits from the intervention. Dental implants help to anchor the jawbone and prevent its atrophy following tooth loss. This helps to maintain the fit of the prosthetic appliance as well as protecting the surrounding teeth from the effects of jawbone erosion in the vicinity. Furthermore, dental implants preserve more of the functionality of…

Details

How do I avoid dry socket after having wisdom teeth removed?

oral surgeon

Wisdom teeth extraction is a surgical procedure typically provided by an oral surgeon. Having one’s wisdom teeth removed can prevent a number of oral health complications such as periodontal disease, orthodontic problems, and abscessed teeth. After your wisdom teeth extraction, it is important to allow a blood clot to form over the treatment site. If you touch the extraction site with your finger or tongue, you can dislodge the blood clot and develop dry socket. A blood clot forming over the extraction site is a necessary part of the healing process. Like a scab over skin, a blood clot helps tissue close over the empty tooth socket. Dry socket can slow down the healing process and produce pain and discomfort. What should I do if I develop dry socket? If you dislodge the blood clots over wisdom teeth extraction sites, you need to call our practice to schedule an appointment…

Details

Will I need recovery time from sedation with my oral surgery?

oral surgeon

Most patients who have a surgical procedure like a wisdom tooth extraction or dental implant placement will want some sort of sedation during the procedure. Your oral surgeon will review your sedation options with you and advise you of what to expect in the recovery process. Some methods require some recovery time after the appointment, while others do not. The mildest form of sedative is nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas), which the patient inhales in gaseous form through a mask. It produces a calming sensation throughout the patient’s body, and its effects are reversed quickly after the patient returns to inhaling normal air. There is minimal recovery time needed for patients who receive nitrous oxide as sedation for their procedure. Alternatively, your oral surgeon may recommend IV sedation or general anesthesia for your procedure, and these methods do have lingering effects even after the surgery is complete. With…

Details

Do dental implants require special care?

dental implants

Dental implants offer patients a tooth replacement option that is convenient in many ways. One of those is day-to-day maintenance. In most cases, dental implants do not require any special care beyond the same good oral hygiene habits that you keep to preserve your biological teeth. After the oral surgeon places the dental implant in the jaw and the surrounding bone forms the necessary bond with the device, the implant-supported crown is able to stand alone without support from neighboring teeth. Therefore, there is no structure that restricts access to the gumline, as is the case with a traditional dental bridge. Patients can brush and floss around a dental implant in the same way they do with their natural teeth. No special tools, like floss threaders, are required. An implant-supported bridge or denture may require a special technique, such as sliding the appliance down in order to floss along the…

Details

All-on-4 Offers a Permanent Tooth Replacement Solution

All-on-4

Edentulous patients often have great difficulty with traditional dentures, especially if they have worn them for years. Traditional dentures only address the loss of the biting surfaces of teeth. In recent years, dental professionals have favored using dental implants to secure prosthetics because implants address the loss of an overlooked part of tooth structure: the roots. Using a revolutionary method called All-on-4, our oral surgeons can secure an entire arch of custom made dentures to precisely placed dental implants. This tooth replacement solution allows an edentulous patient to enjoy a full restoration of oral function and appearance without the hassle of ill-fitting prosthetics that only rest on top of the gums. What Makes All-on-4 Unique All-on-4 allows edentulous patients the ability to enjoy the benefits of dental implants without the need for replacing each single tooth. Instead, four dental implants – placed in strategic locations – can support a full…

Details

Common Reasons for Tooth Extractions

oral surgeon

Many people may first think of the wisdom teeth when they hear the phrase tooth extraction, but there are a number of other reasons that a patient may need to have a tooth removed, as well. For example, a tooth that has been severely damaged by injury may not be salvageable. Similarly, extraction may be indicated in the case of a tooth that has been significantly compromised by extensive decay to the degree that not enough tooth material remains to support a restoration. An oral surgeon may also need to extract a tooth as part of an orthodontic treatment plan. If the patient’s smile is “crowded,” removing a tooth can create the space needed to move the other teeth into their proper positions. Indeed, impacted teeth also may be extracted, and the surgeon may need to remove surrounding bone first in order to access the teeth. Regardless of the issue…

Details

Dental Implants: Enjoy the Health Benefits of a Complete Smile

dental implants

While tooth loss is devastating, there are durable and lifelike alternatives to bridges and dentures. Dental implants have become the most popular method for replacing lost teeth in recent years. The reason these permanent replacement teeth are so well liked is the fact that they replace total tooth structure, last for decades, and support all oral health structures – including bone. Receiving a dental implant can reduce the likelihood of further tooth loss while also improving oral function and appearance. Our oral surgeons offer dental implants to folks in our community. The Devastating Impact of Tooth Loss When we lose teeth during childhood, it’s a milestone. When we lose teeth in adulthood, it’s traumatic. Losing a tooth affects more than just our ability to eat. It affects our overall oral health and our psychological health. Many patients suffer with depression after tooth loss because they feel incomplete and embarrassed. Losing…

Details

All-on-4: How strong will my replacement teeth be?

All-on-4

Are you in need of a brand new smile? Perhaps you already wear dentures but they have become ill fitting. Whether you have lost most or all of your teeth or currently wear dentures, our oral surgeons can help you regain oral function and confidence in your appearance with All-on-4 implant supported dentures. Dental implants make for great anchors to prosthetic teeth. They allow for smooth oral function and are durable enough to withstand the force and pressure associated with eating meals. Patients with All-on-4 enjoy balanced diets and can eat tough and chewy foods. Following is some helpful answers to common questions about All-on-4. What is All-on-4, exactly? All-on-4 refers to a method of securing prosthetic teeth to dental implants. By loading four strategically placed dental implants into the jawbone, an entire set of teeth can be supported. The dental implants will act as anchors or pillars to hold…

Details

Will Dental Implants Affect the Natural, Adjacent Teeth?

dental implants

Are you considering dental implants to replace lost teeth? Replacing missing teeth is very important to enjoying proper oral function and preventing conditions associated with tooth loss. Our team understands that losing teeth is a very stressful experience and for this reason, we provide options to help our patients regain their oral function and self-confidence. Dental implants are a permanent, tooth replacement solution that is incredibly long lasting and lifelike. Since implants are made from biocompatible materials, they will help improve the health of neighboring teeth as well as support the entire oral health system. How are dental implants different from dentures? The construction of implants is what makes them different from other types of prosthetics. Consisting of a titanium post and a manmade crown, implants replace an entire missing tooth’s structure. For example, dentures and bridges only replace the crowns (visible portions) of teeth and rest on top of…

Details