Good Candidates for Dental Implants

May 15th, 2012 Posted in Dental Implants
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If you have one or more missing teeth, dental implants may be an excellent tooth replacement option for you.  The many advantages that dental implants offer compared to other tooth replacement alternatives such as dentures and bridges have made dental implants one of the most popular tooth replacement alternatives available.

Your dentist or oral surgeon will perform a full examination and consultation to see if you are a good candidate for dental implants.  Fortunately, most patients are good candidates for implants.  As their name suggests, dental implants are surgically implanted in the patient’s jaw and the main requirement is that the patient has a sufficient amount of bone in their jaw to firmly anchor the implant.

Patients whose teeth have been missing for a long time may not have sufficient bone for a dental implant.  When a tooth is lost, bone loss in the jaw begins because the biting and chewing pressure on the tooth no longer stimulates bone production in that area of the jaw.

Patients who have had full or partial dentures for extended periods of time may have lost too much bone for a successful dental implant.  Fortunately, your oral surgeon can restore lost bone through bone grafting to allow for placement of a dental implant.

Other factors that may prevent a patient from being a good implant candidate include exposure to high doses of radiation and chronic illness such as uncontrolled diabetes, hemophilia, or a compromised immune system.  If you have any of these conditions, talk to you dentist or oral surgeon.  Depending on the severity of your condition, you may still be a good candidate for dental implants.

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Advantages of Dental Implants Compared To A Fixed Bridge

May 15th, 2012 Posted in Dental Implants
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Many Americans are missing one or more teeth, especially older Americans.  Dental implants are a relatively recently developed tooth replacement alternative that offers many advantages over traditional tooth replacement options such as a fixed bridge.

With dental implants, a metal base is surgically implanted in the patient’s jawbone.  After allowing a few months for the bone to heal, a natural looking prosthetic tooth is permanently attached to the implant.  The result is a replacement tooth that looks and feels like a natural tooth.

A fixed bridge is placed by attaching it to the healthy teeth adjacent to the missing tooth.  The adjacent teeth are prepared by removing some of the enamel surface to allow the bridge to be placed.  The bridge itself is similar to two crowns that have a prosthetic tooth supported between them.  The bridge is attached to the two adjacent teeth and the prosthetic tool fills the space left by the missing tooth.

One drawback to a bridge is the necessity of removing the enamel from the healthy teeth.  A bridge is also not as strong as a dental implant because two teeth bear the load of the missing tooth.  In addition, a bridge will only last about 10 to 15 years before it will need to be replaced.

A dental implant is initially more expensive than a bridge, but it will last a lifetime which makes it the more cost effective solution for most patients.  In addition, a dental implant requires surgery that is not necessary for a bridge.  Dental implants take longer to place than a bridge.  From start to finish, it can take six months to a year to place a dental implant.  Finally, unlike a bridge, a dental implant does not damage adjacent teeth.

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Dentures or Dental Implants?

May 15th, 2012 Posted in Dental Implants
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Dentures and dental implants are both alternatives for replacing missing teeth. Each has advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into consideration when choosing which is the best option for you.

Millions of Americans are missing one or more teeth.  In fact, a quarter of Americans over the age to 60 have no natural teeth left at all.  Dentures have traditionally been one of the most widely used options for replacing missing teeth, especially if the patient was missing all or most of their upper and lower teeth.

Partial dentures are removeable an use a wire to attach to neighboring teeth for support.  Full dentures rely on temporary adhesive to stay in place and are removed nightly for cleaning.  Dentures can be uncomfortable to wear and can move around which causes problems with eating and speaking.  They tend not to have a very natural appearance.

Dental implants are a more recently developed tooth replacement option in which a titanium device is implanted into the patient’s jawbone.  After the jawbone has healed around the implant, a prosthetic tooth similar to a porcelain crown is permanently attached to the implant.  Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth or all of the patient’s teeth.

Dental implants are much more firmly attached than dentures.  Dental implants look and feel just like natural teeth.  In addition, bone stimulation from biting and chewing stops the bone loss in the jaw that is common with dentures.

However, some patients are not good candidates for dental implants.  The patient must have sufficient bone structure to support the implant.  In addition, dental implants have a higher initial cost than dentures.  However, they are a permanent, durable tooth replacement solution and over time may actually cost less than dentures.

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Tooth Replacement Options

May 9th, 2012 Posted in Dental Implants
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Millions of Americans are missing one or more teeth.  It is important to replace missing teeth to prevent the development of further oral health issues.  If a missing tooth is not replaced, the remaining teeth will move which can cause bite issues and other problems.  There are several different options for replacing missing teeth.  You dentist can help you decide which option is best suited for you.

A fixed bridge can be used to replace missing teeth in some patients.  In order to be a candidate for a fixed bridge, there must be healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth.  A bridge is permanently attached to the adjacent healthy teeth and the prosthetic tooth (or teeth) are suspended in between.

A fixed bridge has the advantage of being permanently placed and provides a strong chewing surface.  It looks and feels natural and lasts about 10 to 12 years in most patients.

Dentures are another option for replacing missing teeth.  A partial denture can replace one or more teeth and a full denture replaces all of the teeth in the upper or lower jaw.  Dentures are removable and rely on adjacent teeth, the gum, and jaw bone for support. They are not as sturdy as a bridge and are not as natural feeling.  They must be removed and cleaned at night.

Dental implants are surgically placed in the patient’s jawbone.  They have the look and feel of natural teeth and will last longer than any other alternative.  They stabilize the remaining teeth and stimulate the jawbone like natural teeth which stops bone loss.  They are more expensive than a bridge or dentures, but they last much longer and are the tooth replacement option of choice for patients who are good candidates for the procedure.

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Prompt Tooth Replacement Is Important For Oral Health

May 9th, 2012 Posted in Dental Implants
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Millions of Americans have one or more missing teeth.  In fact, according to the Center for Disease control, about 25 percent of Americans over the age of 60 have no natural teeth.  Tooth loss can occur due to an accident, tooth decay or gum disease.

No matter what the cause, replacing a missing tooth as soon as possible is important to maintain good oral health and to prevent future oral health problems.  Many people with one or more missing teeth are unaware of the damage they are causing by not having the missing teeth replaced.

Teeth depend on each other for support and stability.  When a tooth is lost, the remaining teeth will gradually shift position which leaves gaps between the other teeth.  These gaps are prone to trapping food and plaque which leads to tooth decay.  In addition, as the teeth shift they can cause bite problems.  Replacing the missing tooth promptly is important to stabilize your remaining teeth and prevent these problems from arising.

Once a tooth is lost, bone loss in the jaw begins. Chewing and other forces on the teeth stimulate the jaw bone and without this stimulation, the jaw bone will shrink. If too much bone is lost, placement of dental implants or fitting dentures can become problematic. Bone grafting may be needed to build up the jaw bone before dental implants can be placed.  Finally, replacing missing teeth can dramatically improve the appearance of your smile, boosting your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Dental implants are currently the treatment of choice for missing teeth.  Dental implants take the place of the missing natural tooth and stabilize the jaw bone and surrounding teeth.  Other alternatives include a fixed bridge and dentures.

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About Dental Implants

March 1st, 2012 Posted in Dental Implants
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Individuals lose teeth for any number of reasons. It may be from trauma, a history of gum disease, or advanced decay. In the past the only options available for tooth replacement were fixed bridges, partials or dentures. Modern dentistry has brought us far from that! Dental implants are no longer the tooth replacement of the future, but are the tooth replacement option of the present.

Dental implants are made of a titanium post that serves as an artificial root for the replacement tooth. This post is placed into the socket or jawbone of the missing tooth. Titanium is very biocompatible so that the bone naturally osseointegrates around it, forming a stable “root” that can support an artificial tooth.

On top of this post is an abutment to which a porcelain crown will be attached. This crown is similar to other dental crowns throughout the mouth, making it appear as a natural tooth. There is no need to prepare or adjust teeth next to the implant that may have nothing wrong with them.

In cases of more than one missing tooth, implants can be used to affix bridges or dentures. The stability offered by implants helps these larger units to stay in place during normal eating and talking.

Compared to other tooth replacement methods, dental implants are the most “natural” option that is available. Keeping them clean is easy. Normal brushing and flossing, or using a Waterpik is all that patients need to do in order to keep the area healthy.

Sometimes patients may not have enough bone structure to support an implant. It is fairly common to use bone grafts that can encourage new bone growth in the area. If you would like to find out about dental implants, or determine if they are the right choice for you, talk to your dentist or oral surgeon.

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Options for Missing Teeth

December 9th, 2011 Posted in Dental Implants
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If you have one or more missing teeth, you have several options available to you.  Each option has its pros and cons and your dentist will help you decide which option is the right choice for you.  The most widely used techniques for replace missing teeth are implants, a partial denture, or a bridge.

A bridge is a very common way to replace missing teeth.  A dentist trims the adjacent teeth, then a prosthetic bridge is made that is cemented to the teeth adjoining the missing tooth or teeth.  The results are permanent and the teeth look natural and feel comfortable.  A bridge is relatively expensive and cannot be used for some patients.  For example, a bridge could not be used if there were no teeth on one side of the missing teeth, or where the adjoining teeth are too weak to support the bridge.

Dental implants are a fairly recent development in dentistry and are an excellent choice for replacing missing teeth.  With an implant, a metal anchor is surgically implanted into the patient’s jawbone.  After allowing several months for the jawbone to heal, a prosthetic tooth is attached to the implant. Implants are a permanent solution and look and feel natural. Like bridges, they are expensive and the entire procedure can take six to nine months due to the time needed for the jawbone to heal.  Also, they are not suitable for patients who do not have sufficient bone density to hold the implant.

Finally, a partial denture is an option for many dental patients.  Partial dentures are removable devices which have teeth attached to a pink colored base.  The device clips onto your remaining teeth.  These are the least expensive option, but they have an unnatural feel and are the least natural looking of the three options.

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Teeth In An Hour

August 25th, 2011 Posted in Dental Implants
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How would you like to have a new dental implant in an hour or less rather than waiting months from the initial workup to the insertion of the implant to the final placement of the tooth?  Well,  now you can with the latest cutting edge dental implant procedures.  Developed by Nobel Biocare, the Teeth-in-an-Hour process means your oral surgeon can place the implants and the tooth in the same appointment, usually in less than an hour!

Traditional implant surgery requires numerous visits to the oral surgeon to prepare the implant site, place the implants, create the replacement teeth, then finally have the final replacement teeth fitted. 

With the Teeth-in-an-Hour procedure, computer technology allows your oral surgeon to precisely place your implants and immediately fit the replacement teeth instead of waiting for the site to heal.  In addition to fewer visits to the oral surgeon, this procedure dramatically reduces discomfort and healing time.  Most patients leave their oral surgeon’s office with fully functioning teeth. 

To be a candidate for the procedure, you need to have a healthy jawbone and you will need to schedule a pre-surgical visit to the oral surgeon for evaluation and to have x-rays and CT scans taken of your jawbone. 

After these steps are completed, your implants and new teeth will be fitted in a single visit with minimal discomfort.  You will be able to use your new teeth almost immediately after the surgery.

Talk to your oral surgeon to see if you are a candidate for the Teeth-in-an-Hour procedure.

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Dental Implants

January 31st, 2011 Posted in Dental Implants
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If you have a missing tooth, the best treatment is a dental implant.  A dental implant is an artificial tooth that will replace your missing tooth.  This replacement will help prevent bone loss in the jaw.

The advantage of dental implants is that your smile is restored, it is easier to talk again, and eating and swallowing return to normal.  Dental implants are durable and can restore all functionality to the mouth area.  Dental implants are permanently placed.  Basically, you have a new tooth where the missing one used to be.

The first step in deciding if a dental implant is the best choice for you is to see your local dentist. The dentist will conduct a complete exam to help determine why the tooth was lost, and if there are any other teeth that are damaged.  When teeth have been lost from trauma the mouth should be examined to ensure that other teeth are safe and structurally intact.  Mandible fractures may have occurred during this time and will be screened for.  If any of these problems are noted, they will be corrected before the dental implant is done.

For teeth that have been lost because of tooth decay, a thorough examination is necessary to determine if jaw bone decay is present, or if there is gum damage or other teeth that show signs of severe decay.  If so, your dentist will want to correct these problems before beginning your tooth implant.

After the exam, your dentist will recommend the type of implant that is best for you.  To see if you are a candidate for a dental implant, contact your local dentist today.

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