The purposes of dental implants For thousands of years, the work of the “dentist” consisted of basically nothing more than removing and replacing aching teeth. Now, with three other methods of treatment -- filling cavities, performing root canal therapy and crowning teeth -- at their disposal, dentists resort to extraction only if the decay is so severe as to render all of these alternative methods impossible. Still, dental prosthetics are commonly made today, and they frequently need to be supported by something underlying them -- and that is where the benefits of dental implants come into play. A strong substance, such as titanium or some kind of ceramic, is used as the primary construction material for the implant. It is to this that the jawbone tightly fuses; the process by which such fusion occurs is known as osteointegration, from the Greek word ?st???, meaning bone. A well-made implant can maintain its hold for many years without weakening. Some of the benefits of dental implants will be described below. Compared with other methods of treatment Of all dental prosthetics, implants come closest to creating the appearance of natural, healthy teeth -- and can even feel and function that way too! Nor do they cause the bones to deteriorate, distort the shape of your face or make it difficult to eat, smile or talk. (Incidentally, George Washington's dentures, which were heavy and fit badly, made it extremely difficult for him to smile. You can see them today in the Smithsonian Museum.) This means that you will not have to be afraid to go out in public and not be able to present a pleasing appearance. Unlike bridges, which typically last for only five to seven years, implants can endure for a decade or more -- provided, of course, that you take proper care of them. The fact that implants are supported by the jawbone also keeps that part healthy. Dentures are not thus supported, and the jawbone can become weaker and less firm because it is not being used, just as muscles waste away from long periods of disuse. Implants are the only dental prosthetics that give this benefit. Another advantage of implants with regard to dental health is that preparing the mouth to receive them does not involve grinding healthy teeth, which may also shift out of place if they are attached to bridges. An implant simply fits over where the missing tooth used to be. The presence of false teeth in the mouth can affect the tastes of many kinds of food, making it harder to enjoy them the way you did when you had your natural teeth. With implants, on the other hand, you can continue to experience in full the tastes of all of your favorite foods. Then, too, dentures are meant to be taken out of the mouth and stored in a cup at night. Many people lose theirs as a result (right now my own mother cannot find her bite plate, and it is tedious for me to have to help look for it. Maybe the cats got hold of it!) Here is yet another of the many benefits of dental implants -- they are designed to be kept permanently in the mouth. Besides, putting your dentures in and taking them back out again can be no less tiresome.
There are some rather frightening oral health facts that you should not ignore. Over half of the population suffer from periodontal disease- and many people may not even realize that they have it! It would be a grave error to think that gum disease is a benign condition that has no impact on other body systems. In fact, gum disease can negatively impact holistic health, leading to fatal blockages to major organs of the body. This is in addition to the typical side effects of periodontal disease, which can include swollen, sore gums, bleeding, bad breath, oral pain, and tooth loss. Ten ways to prevent and treat this condition include: Brush, brush, and brush. The timeless way to prevent issues such as periodontal disease is to brush. Brush several times a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride enhanced toothpaste. Floss every day. Flossing is the best way to get at the tartar between teeth and along the gums, which later turns to plaque. It is this plaque that causes gum disease, leading to tooth loss. See your dentist twice a year. The old standard was once a year, but depending on your risk factors, it is pragmatic to see your dentist two to three times per year. Start kids early. Children should be taken to a dentist early, before their teeth come in, around six months of age, no later than one year old. Rinse with water. Get the whole family in the habit of rinsing their mouth after eating or drinking anything at all. A good mouthwash or rinse is best, but even water is effective. Teeth descaling is key. When you have plaque around the gum-line, a dentist can scrape this away using a method known as descaling. This may be part of your routine visit. Surgical options for severe cases. There are some surgical procedures, including laser treatments, that can be effective at treating periodontal disease. Since the disease can progress to tooth loss and issues with the bones of the mouth and jaw, bone grafting and plaque removal techniques are offered by oral surgeons. Xylitol has advantages. There is some evidence that xylitol can be an effective product in the fight against gum disease. Xylitol is often seen as a sugar substitute and is found in plums, berries, and birch trees. Consuming xylitol can help reduce unhealthy bacteria in the mouth, and reduce risk of gum disease. Control your risk factors. Some risk factors for periodontal disease include age, genetics, and diet. If family members are prone to oral health issues such as gum disease, than you may be, also. Watch what you eat and maintain a healthy lifestyle to give you a fighting chance against periodontal disease. Quit smoking today. There is a correlation between smoking and gum disease. The best prevention for those who smoke is, simply, to quit. Talk to providers about alternative smoking options or cessation products. Periodontal disease and oral health facts are no laughing matter, but it is reassuring to know that some very basic oral health practices can reduce and eliminate the chance of contracting this condition. If you experience any symptoms of gum disease, talk with your dental provider about ways to treat the condition and improve your oral health.
Advances made in the dental field have now made it possible to get things done within one day. A dentist in Portugal, Dr. Paulo Malo, is the one that devised this technique that is now being used by many dentists across the country today. Dr. Malo found that this procedure works out great for patients who lost their teeth but do not have sufficient bone available to use the normal dental implants. It certainly beats getting a bone graft which would take a lot of time and would be more costly to the patient. How is it possible to having it done only on one day? A set of implants can support the dentures all in the same day but with only four implants being used, you won't be finished all in the same day but you will have teeth! If you have a mouthful of missing teeth or are wearing dentures this may be your new solution! Losing one's teeth can certainly alter your life too. It also can be cost effective and the procedure has been proven that it is better than others. Then again, it is up to you and your dentist to come to a conclusion if this procedure would be a good fit and match for you. The benefits of this will give you an immediate result and also a long lasting one too. They will certainly function like real teeth and you will treat them just like "natural" teeth. All-on-4 will get rid of the need to do any bone grafts, it will be quicker to get done and you will heal much faster at fort worth dentist. As with dentures, you do not have to remove these, you won't need any adhesives to make them adhere to your gums, will even restore your facial features. This type of implant are placed at an angle which will use the natural support of your jaw bone. The All-on-4 procedure should only take about 2 and 1/2 hours from start to finish. The success rate is also quite high, almost at 100% but averaging in at 98%. Ideal patients will be the ones that already have dentures or those who may need them in the future. No one will know that you are wearing them as they look like real teeth. You won't necessarily leave with your actual teeth thou, but you will not leave the office without a temporary set. AFTER you heal, taking approximately up to eight months, then the permanent teeth will then be given to you. If you only need top or bottom teeth this can be done also. You are not required to have a full set if you don't need too. Just as having natural teeth brushing and flossing will still be necessary to do daily. Always ask what is included in the cost from start to finish this way you will have no "payment" surprises along the way. The average cost will vary depending on your location and what you really are needing. I have noticed that the cost can be upwards of $57,000, but I am guessing that extensive work and a full mouth of teeth may have been for this price point. Again make sure you get second opinions along with pricing in advance before making any major decisions.
When you visit a dentist to obtain dentures, the dentist typically follows a few basic procedures. The Impression And Assessment Stage - The Actual Dentures Are Often Created Off Site In A Lab During this stage, the dentist will discuss the reasons why you need dentures. Then, the dental specialist will inspect your month and every area that has tissue. The condition of your teeth will also be examined. Finally, an impression of your mouth will be taken before you leave the clinic. The process of making the impression requires the use of unique material. The material has the consistency of a soft dough. The dough-like material will be placed in a stock tray, which is a plastic container. The stock tray fits in your mouth over your jaw. Each impression will be made individually; once made, the dentist lets the mold set to a solid consistency that is somewhat rubbery. After the dentist removes the impression from your mouth, it will be examined carefully because all relevant information must be present. Then, the impression is sent to a dental lab with specific details for the lab employees. The next stage involves making a custom-made tray. This is an important step because the trays that are used to make the first impression are standard sized trays. Custom trays always have to be measured. Once the impression is made, it is sent back to the lab so that dental specialists can produce a model. The Bite Stage - The Actual Dentures Are Often Created Off Site In A Lab Shortly before your next visit to the clinic, a technician will mold the model so that it resembles a wax denture. A technician uses the wax to register the lower and upper jaw area together. The dentist then measures the mold to determine the proper positions for each specific tooth. During this stage, the Orlando dentist will choose the tooth color and size. Test Stage - The Actual Dentures Are Often Created Off Site In A Lab After the dental laboratory has gathered enough information from the bite stage, technicians use the data to construct the denture. They build the denture by using teeth and special wax. Technicians also use an articulator so that they can construct the denture in the proper position for the patient’s mouth. While the mold is housed in the articulator, the correct teeth are chosen based on the information that the patient and dentist provided. Technicians use a hot knife to soften the wax. Once heated, each tooth is placed on the wax. Then, the wax is shaped so that it will blend with the patient’s existing tissues. Finally, the denture is sent to the dentist for an inspection. The dentist will examine the teeth’s positions, the biting positions, and the overall appearance. The Fit Stage - The Actual Dentures Are Often Created Off Site In A Lab Once the wax dentures return to the lab, technicians convert the wax portion to plastic. To construct the mold, dental specialists place the wax into boiling water. In its softened condition, technicians can separate the mold after the remaining wax boils away. After boiling is completed, the mold will have a space where the wax are previous located. Technicians fill the space with plastic, which has a consistency of dough. Then, the dental specialists place the two halves together after all excess material is squeezed under a press. Pressure is used to hold the mold together; then, the mold is placed in a curing bath so that the plastic can harden. The hardening process usually takes several hours. Hardening is the final step of the construction process. At this point, the finished denture is sent to the dentist so that it can be fitted.
Dentist eugene has said he wants to give you a porcelain crown. You've heard of crowns, but not porcelain. Is that even possible? Looking it up online only makes things worse: veneers, metal and porcelain hybrids, machine milling versus hand shaping, it goes on and on. What does all this mean, and how do you make the best decisions? A dental crown is a cap that sits on top of a damaged tooth. It generally looks like the tooth it's replacing, and is made of metal, porcelain (also called ceramic), resin, or a combination of metal and porcelain. There are lots of reasons why a crown is a good choice. The most common is to protect a tooth that is already broken and needs to be held together, or is in danger of breaking or other damage without the protection of a crown. Crowns can also be used to anchor a larger dental appliance, like a bridge. They can also be used for cosmetic reasons, to mask deformed teeth, to hide a dental implant, or just to make a prettier smile. When your dentist talks about a porcelain crown, he can be referring to one of several types. A porcelain fused to metal crown is just what it says: porcelain is permanently fused to a metal shell. The porcelain can cover the entire shell, called a PFM crown. Alternately, the porcelain may only cover part of the shell, usually the part that is visible; this is called a porcelain veneer. Then there is the crown that is made entirely of ceramic / porcelain. There are also variants called "onlay" or 3/4 crowns; normal crowns completely cover the tooth, where the onlays and 3/4 crowns only cover part of the tooth. Each of these types have their own advantages and disadvantages. Both the veneer and the porcelain-and-metal crowns are much stronger than most of the alternatives, thanks to the metal shell. However, they don't look entirely natural. Both the veneer and the full porcelain and metal crown can have metal showing, usually at the gum line. For that reason, they're not well suited to front teeth replacement. Moreover, metal crowns can cause wear on adjacent teeth. If you're sensitive or allergic to certain metals, such as nickel, then crowns with metal content are out of the question. Full porcelain teeth look entirely natural, which makes them perfect to replace front incisors or any tooth that is visible to others. They can be color-matched to your natural teeth and can even be molded to match shape and even apparent alignment. The downside is that porcelain is not as strong as the metal alternatives, and can be prone to chipping or breaking. Sometimes chipping can be patched. But if it's chipped too badly, it would have to be replaced. To apply a crown, first the tooth has to be prepared. Your dentist will make molds of the target tooth, and find the color that best matches your natural teeth. Sometimes, if the tooth is in very bad shape, or is in danger of further damage, he might want to perform a root canal first to strengthen things. Then he will form the tooth into a shape that will fit the crown and hold it safely in place. The next step is to apply the crown and cement it into place. Normally, this requires a second office visit (usually about two weeks later; you'll be fitted with a temporary crown to protect the tooth during that waiting period). Placing the crown requires only dental cement, but your dentist may want to numb the area first, to minimize any discomfort. Some dentists offer same day crowns. This means that he has the shaping equipment in his office to make the crowns on site. Either way, the end results are the same. A crown requires no special care. But a crown, whether full porcelain or metal and porcelain, does not protect the tooth beneath from decay, nor does it protect against gum disease; bacteria can get underneath the crown. You will still have to brush and floss the same as before. If you have bad habits, like grinding your teeth, biting your fingernails, or crunching ice, you should break them, because they can damage your crowns (they're not good for your real teeth either!) Assuming that you take good care of the crown, and there is no unusual wear and tear, a porcelain crown can last anywhere from five to fifteen years. Porcelain crowns, either a full porcelain piece or a metal and porcelain fusion, require no special procedures to install, are as strong or stronger than the alternatives, and they don't need any special care once they're in your mouth. They look natural, making them perfect for visible teeth. Your dentist can help you decide whether porcelain crowns are the best choice for you.
The anchoring teeth are known as abutment teeth. The fake tooth is called pontic and can be manufactured out of porcelain, alloys, and gold. The dentist trims down the two teeth touching the gap from either side and keeps the middle part open. You can keep the bridge area clean by flossing inside the gap amidst the crown and the gum. Advantages of dental bridges Missing teeth can hinder confidence and affect the want or ability to smile. With dental bridges, you can have a restored smile again. Difficulties in chewing and speaking can now be relieved. The teeth near and around the missing tooth, are prone to falling prey to improper distribution of force during biting. This would be mitigated with the help of dental implants. The rest of the teeth in your mouth would not drift out of their natural position. Types of dental bridges Dental bridges fall in three categories: 1. Traditional Bridges– A traditional bridge is where a crown for the missing tooth is created on each side of it and the pontic is placed in the middle. They are generally made out of ceramic or fusion of porcelain with metal. They are the most common types of bridges used by dentists. 2. Cantilever Bridges - These are used when the adjacent teeth are present on only one side of the missing one. Cantilever bridges are not commonly used and are not recommended for the teeth in the back of the mouth as they may apply excess pressure on other teeth and damage them. 3. Maryland Bonded Bridges– These bridges are prepared out of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal or plastic teeth and artificial gums, which are held together by a porcelain or metal framework. They are also known as resin bonded bridge. Your existing teeth are bonded to the bridge with the help of metal wings on either side. How are Dental Bridges prepared? When you first visit your dentist to get a dental bridge, he will have the abutment teeth prepared. These teeth are re-contoured through removal of a part of enamel to provide for space to accommodate a crown to be positioned over them. To facilitate easy preparation of the pontic, crown and the bridge by the dental lab, the dentist will send the model of the same by taking impressions of your teeth. The dentist will prepare a stopgap bridge to be put in the mouth for protection of the exposed teeth and gums while the lab prepares the bridge. On your next visit, the dentists will remove the makeshift bridge and check the compatibility and adjustment quotient of the permanent bridge in your mouth. Once the proper fitness level is achieved, he will put the bridge. You may need to subsequently visit the dentist a number of times to have the metal framework and biting convenience adjusted. The number of visits and adjustments required will vary from individual to individual. If you have chosen to get a fixed bridge, the dentist will ascertain the fitting quotient by temporarily cementing the same in place for a few weeks. Once there are no more issues, the permanent cementing would be carried out. Cost of Dental Bridges The expenses incurred in getting a dental bridge made would depend on the nature of bridge and the specific region where the procedure is carried out.
Something about the whole experience gives most people shivers down their spine. Although it is not in anyone's top five list of things do there are many reasons why regular dental check ups are important part of our overall health. Catch the Little Things Before They Become the Big Things Getting a cavity filled is not a great experience but it is much better than having to get a root canal. Regular dental check ups allow you to catch cavities when they are small and easy to fix or even catch and reverse the beginning of tooth decay. It can also help to catch the early stages of gum disease before it becomes a major health problem. Oral Cancer Detection Cancer is a scary word and its even scarier when you realize that it can even invade your mouth. Dentists are able to detect warning signs and early signs of oral cancer which increase your chances of survival. Regular dental check ups increase the likelihood that oral cancer will be detected early. Clean the Places You May be Missing It happens to all of us, you go in thinking that they are not going to be able to say one bad thing about your mouth and you find out that you have not been cleaning around your molars at all. No matter how diligent you are with brushing and flossing it is entirely possible that you have missed some spots. Regular dental check ups help to educate you on the spots you are missing and get your entire mouth extra clean. Even if it seems like torture at the time you know you walk out of the room feeling like your teeth are exceptionally smooth. To Maintain Your Overall Health Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body and science is proving that your mouth health affects your overall health more than anyone could have ever imagined. Gum disease has been linked to some serious conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s disease. The links have not been fully understood but if getting a regular dental check up is all it takes to ward off these serious diseases then it seems like an easy decision to make. Educate Yourself It may seem as though dental hygienists and dentist are judging know-it-alls but they are really there to help. Going to your regular dental check ups is a perfect time to educate yourself and get any questions you may have answered. It is also a great time to learn about the newest and greatest technology in dental procedures and prevention. It may seem scary, boring, or even a waste of time but a regular dental check up is
Wisdom teeth removal is a very common procedure, but it’s important to make sure you know what to do – and what not to do – as you recover. These tips can help you prepare so you’ll have the best chance of an easy, trouble-free recovery: Talk to your dentist or oral surgeon and support staff about what to expect after your wisdom teeth removal. It’s important to follow their advice, and they’ll have knowledge or your particular circumstances and needs. Make sure you have someone to drive you home from your procedure. You may also want to have them pick up your pain medication on the way home and stay with you for a while. Make sure that they also understand your instructions from your dentist or oral surgeon’s office. Rest for the remainder of the day. You can usually go back to some of your normal activities the next day, but avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, or exercise that could dislodge the blood clot from its socket. You’ll have gauze to gently bite down on. Do this periodically, and replace the pad when it gets soaked with blood. Bleeding should stop within 24 hours. Use an ice pack on the outside of your cheek for 15 to 20 minutes at a time if needed for the first day. Moist heat from a washcloth wet with warm water can also be used for the second or third day. Get plenty of rest, and elevate your head with pillows. Avoid accidentally biting the inside of your cheek or lip. This can be easy to do when it’s still numb. Also avoid rubbing the area with your tongue. Drink plenty of water after your surgery. Don’t drink hot beverages or those with alcohol or caffeine in them for 24 hours. You’ll also want to avoid using a straw for at least a week so you don’t dislodge the blood clot. Eat soft foods for the first 24 hours. Applesauce, pudding, yogurt, or thin soup are good choices. While you’re still healing, avoid foods that are very chewy, hard, or spicy. For the next day or two, you may want to stick with soft foods like pasta or scrambled eggs. Don’t smoke for at least 24 hours, and if you chew tobacco, don’t use it for at least a week. Don’t brush your teeth or rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours. After a day, gently rinse with a warm salt water mixture made with about a half a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of water. Do this several times a day, particularly after eating or drinking. This can help reduce swelling and pain. If you had stitches that need to be removed, make a follow-up appointment to have this done. Notify your dentist or oral surgeon if you have any concerns about your recovery after your wisdom teeth removal. Make sure to call if you have swelling that gets worse after two or three days, a fever, bleeding after 24 hours, or severe pain that isn’t helped by medication. Also call if you have pus or oozing from the socket or numbness that doesn't go away.
A Porcelain Fixed Bridge is used to implant another tooth in your mouth. For those missing teeth, this is a perfect solution to replacing the missing tooth without your mouth looking too weird. Hockey players can rejoice, knowing that their mouths can be fixed with bridges. A Porcelain Fixed Bridge uses the teeth around it in order to replace your missing tooth. How does the bridge utilize the teeth around the missing tooth? Porcelain is used to recreate a tooth, emulating the enamel look and feel. Porcelain is a strong material that will make your new tooth durable. The surrounding teeth are connected with the porcelain tooth (with the fake tooth being the literal bridge between the two), and then replaced into your mouth. As long as the tooth is correctly molded in conjunction with the other two teeth, your mouth will look as though you were never missing a tooth at all. The Porcelain works best because it can easily be molded into the shape of the surrounding teeth. A huge benefit of a porcelain fixed bridge is that it is easy to maintain. There is nothing different with the porcelain material, it acts just like a regular tooth does. That means you can brush and floss your teeth as you normally would, and acidic things like mouthwash should have no ill effects on the tooth. A bridge is used to implant another tooth in your mouth and there are actually different types of bridges that are available, so speak to your dentist regarding which might be best for you. However, the porcelain bridge has some large benefits. In terms of aesthetics, the bridge can improve your smile greatly. This is huge for most people, because a nice smile is how people judge others and can give you a huge self esteem boost. Without replacing your tooth, your teeth can get out of line, and a bridge keeps your teeth from losing their shape. Having the tooth replaced also helps greatly with chewing, as often lacking a tooth affects the ability to chew on one side. One down side to a bridge is that they can be costly. A single bridge with porcelain will typically cost close to one thousand dollars. The price will vary depending on the tooth that is being replaced and how much porcelain they have to use. Remember that a bridge is used to implant another tooth in your mouth which is not a cheap procedure. Replacing a tooth will almost always be costly. The process of getting a bridge is not quick either. It will typically take at least a couple of visits to the dentist to get it done. First, you have to get your teeth looked at, and the models have to be prepared. Then, when the lab prepares your teeth, you have to have them placed. The bridge will have to be adjusted over a couple of visits to see if it fits properly and if your bite is fine. Each person will have different cases when it comes to getting a bridge fitted, however. A porcelain fixed bridge has many benefits and can improve your teeth greatly.
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon are usually the "preferred" doctor to remove the wisdom teeth thou a General dentist may be able to do this procedure as well. It is preferred to see the oral surgeon as he does many more then the usual dentist and that is his area of expertise. You may even go to the hospital if the teeth are severely impacted or if they expect you to have any complications. What are wisdom teeth? Why would I need surgery? Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars and usually appear later in life starting in the late teens, around age 17 all the way up to age 25. They can cause problems during this time. If they are impacted you may feel pain in that area. You may hit that area when brushing your teeth and notice some tenderness or if you touch it with your finger. I have had my own experience with them and it feels very tender and sore to the touch. You may also get some swelling of the gums in and around that area and maybe into the jaw. This will take place as they try to erupt thru the skin of the gums. Most likely you will need to have surgery if your jaw is too small as they can damage adjoining teeth, the jaw area and even the nerves. Also it can prevent you from having future problems with your teeth as you age. Not everyone has all four molars. Some people have less than that or even none at all! Impacted molars are the ones that don't want to break thru the skin and sometimes the root attaches itself to another tooth right next to it. That's what happened to me and I had all four removed at one time. A partial eruption can cause you to have an slight opening for bacteria to seep thru causing infections or even tooth decay as it will make brushing more difficult. Surgical removal of the wisdom teeth will be determined by the dentist by taking some xrays. Then he will most likely recommend that you remove them sooner rather than later and get them out before they are fully grown. When having the surgery, you may want to be put under anesthesia and you will not feel a thing! Thou I have known some to stay awake during this process. Me? I would rather be sedated and have them get it done. After surgery you will be given instructions on how to have them heal. In my day my stitches were attached to my face in that area! I wondered why it hurt when I laughed. Now they use dissolvable stitches. Your mouth may be numb, sore, swollen. Ice packs are very helpful and soothing. You will want to eat soft foods in the beginning and nothing too hot or cold. Rinse with warm saltwater as your mouthwash. Do not smoke during this time. And carefully brush your teeth. This procedure generally works well to also prevent crowding of the back teeth and gum diseases and tooth decay. This procedure of having them surgically removed is rarely harmful to your overall health.