Dental Implants: Enjoy the Health Benefits of a Complete Smile

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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…

Will Dental Implants Affect the Natural, Adjacent Teeth?

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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…

I’m considering dental implants: What questions should I ask my oral surgeon?

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An increasing number of patients are weighing dental implants as a possible treatment for tooth loss. As is the case with any dental treatment, especially one that requires oral surgery, it’s important for patients to be well-informed when making this decision. As part of the treatment planning process, you will have an initial consultation with an oral surgeon. That first appointment gives you an opportunity to ask a variety of questions that can help you determine whether dental implants will be the right option for you. Here is a list of some questions to ask the oral surgeon about this intervention: Am I a good candidate for dental implants? Dental implants can last for decades under the right circumstances. Check to see if the conditions are right for dental implants to be a long-lasting solution for you. What are the benefits of dental implants? Dental implants have a number of advantages…

Preserve Natural Teeth with Dental Implants

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Did you know that losing just one tooth could lead to further tooth loss? The oral system consists of a variety of hard and soft tissues that work together to support teeth. When one area of the system’s function is disrupted by an oral health condition or missing a tooth, the entire mouth is affected. This is why our oral surgeons strongly encourage patients to replace missing teeth. Why Missing a Tooth Increases the Risk for Further Tooth Loss Teeth support one another. When a tooth is lost, the socket is empty. Over time, teeth neighboring a tooth socket, lacking structural support, will collapse into or slide over into empty sockets. When a tooth is not upright, in its proper position, the roots become weak and the tooth will eventually fall out. Why Replacing Missing Teeth is Important Not only is replacing a missing tooth important to maintaining the structural…

Stop Jawbone Atrophy with Dental Implants

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Did you know that when you lose teeth, your gums will recess and your jawbone will deteriorate? When a tooth is missing, the jawbone will naturally atrophy because the tooth’s roots are no longer present in the bone. Bone deterioration and gum recession associated with tooth loss poses serious risks to your oral health. Fortunately, patients can take a proactive stance in protecting their oral health while stopping jawbone atrophy with dental implants placed by your oral surgeon. When the bone no longer has to support the roots of a missing a tooth, the bone will atrophy over time, thus leaving patients susceptible to losing more teeth. Furthermore, when an empty tooth socket is not replaced with a prosthetic, adjacent teeth lack structural support and will move out of their proper position over time. When teeth slide or collapse into neighboring empty tooth sockets, these teeth are at risk for…

How Dental Implants Can Reduce Long-term Dental Costs

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Dental implants represent the most modern tooth replacement technology that dentistry has to offer. A significant advance over past tooth replacement methods, the dental implant fuses with the bone, providing structural support underneath the gumline and becoming a permanent fixture in the mouth. Dental implants are made of titanium, and after the oral surgeon inserts them into the jaw, they osseointegrate with the bone, offering stability and durability that is unmatched by alternatives like bridges and dentures. In fact, if you care for your implants as instructed, they can last for decades. A significant shortcoming of bridges and dentures is that they do not replace the absent tooth root as dental implants do. Because no root is available to anchor the jaw, it will gradually wear away over time. This process leads to ill-fitting appliances that must be re-fitted or replaced periodically—at the patient’s expense and inconvenience. Another important budget-friendly…

Reclaim a More Youthful Appearance with Dental Implants

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What does your smile say about your age? If you are living with missing teeth or a poorly fitting tooth replacement, your smile may look like a fake I.D. It’s adding years to your actual age! Rather than simply accept the consequences of tooth loss, it may be time that you consider the advantages of dental implants. As the most life-like and attractive tooth replacement, implants allow you to regain the youthful smile that you once enjoyed. Even with close social contact, no one will be able to detect your artificial teeth. They’ll only notice that your full and attractive smile seems healthy and natural. Missing front teeth are evident when you smile, making you appear older, less attractive, and it’s a symbol of poor health. When teeth are missing in the rear of the mouth, the spaces may not be visible when you smile, but there are other consequences…

What is the success rate of dental implants?

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Dental implants are perhaps the most popular solution for tooth replacement within the last 30 years. When used to replace individual missing teeth, implants are designed to mimic the shape and size of a natural tooth. They can also be customized to replace only the root portion of a natural tooth in order to serve as an anchor for a dental bridge or a complete denture. As you discuss the option of dental implants with your oral surgeon, you will likely learn that these restorations have an impressive success rate of approximately 97%. According to clinical research statistics, nearly all dental implants can be expected to be successful. To qualify as “successful”, an implant must remain in place and functional for at least five years after it is initially placed. The great majority of implants, however, have been documented to last for a significantly longer period of time. Many of…

Dental Implants: Will my new teeth look natural?

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With dental implants, the possibilities for your new smile are virtually endless. Though the basic concept for the foundation of most dental implants is the same, the final outcome can be customized to reflect your unique personality and individual needs. Ultimately, the end result of the implant process is a single tooth or a full set of teeth that look beautifully natural. A beautiful and successful dental implant begins with a thorough clinical examination. Your oral surgeon will utilize digital imaging to gather information about the underlying bone at the location of the proposed implant. Even the position of the neighboring teeth will be evaluated in order to ensure that there is sufficient space for your new artificial tooth and root. The health of the surrounding gum tissue will also be carefully considered to ensure that proper healing can take place.  As the implant is placed into the bone, precise…

Dental Implants: A great investment into your health

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Your teeth, though they may seem small, are an important part of your body. They are also essential to your physical and emotional health. Within your mouth, each tooth has special duties, and much like a team, they work together for a good cause. When a tooth is missing, your team is incomplete. Your chewing capacity is compromised, your jaw joint has to overcompensate, and the neighboring teeth become unsupported. In time, shifting, crowding, and bone loss become more evident. You may even notice that your confidence begins to decline as you grow increasingly insecure about your smile. Replacing your missing tooth is imperative. In most cases, replacing the missing tooth as soon as possible is the best way to reduce the consequences of tooth loss. But, which tooth replacement is right for you: Dental implants, a bridge, or dentures?  Since all methods of tooth replacement require an investment of…