If you need to replace a number of teeth, you no longer have to dread the idea of dentures or fight with an ill-fitting bridge. With the new advancements in dental implants, you can have replacements that look and work just like the real thing. Imagine no fighting with moving dental work, no icky pastes, or wafers. All you need is a good dental hygiene plan and regular visits to your dentist.

Dental implants were great before, but advancements in the materials used and the techniques for implantation have made them even better. Once everything has healed, there should be no worries about anything coming loose, sores, discomfort, or the embarrassment that comes with other orthodontic treatments.

The Implant Process

A specialized titanium post is added in along the jaw where the bone will eventually grow around it and fuse onto the metal. This hygienic metal leaves a screw-like appendage above the gums. After approximately six months of healing time, the dentist will screw a crown-like top made of porcelain that resembles a natural tooth.

While it can take a year or more to do an entire mouth, they are long lasting, look natural, and don’t stop you from eating your favorite foods. The porcelain not only looks great, but also is resilient when it comes to pressure and chipping while resisting staining better than many traditional materials.

New Materials, Better Implants

Older dental implants used stainless steel. However, after some experimentation, doctors turned to titanium because it has the same hypoallergenic qualities and fuses to the bone faster. (This discovery goes to Per-Ingvar Branemark and a rabbit’s broken leg.)

Several other benefits to dental implants make them a superior choice as well. As we grow older, our jawbones begin to wear away. However, researchers have found titanium implantations actually prevent the bone from wearing away.

Staying Healthy

A degradation of nutrition is also common in people as they age because of the restrictions and difficulties they have with other treatments such as bridges and dentures. With the improvements to implantation technique and materials, there are no restrictions. This keeps patients eating more variety and maintaining a balanced diet. Also, because they are not attached to adjacent teeth, there is no wearing way of the enamel on healthy teeth, and therefore, less risk of decay.

Even with all of the advancements in this area, they still require good quality care. Without the proper cleaning and checkups, you leave your gums open to gingivitis and disease.

If you are interested in getting dental implants, you must meet a few requirements. First, you cannot smoke. This restricts the blood vessels and inhibits healing making it impossible for the bone to fuse to the metal. You need to have a healthy bite pattern to prevent an excessive amount of force from being placed on a single tooth. Finally, you need to have good oral health with enough bone to support the titanium.

With all of the advantages over traditional treatments, dental implants are quickly becoming the preferred treatment for replacing missing teeth and maintaining that healthy smile.

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It’s something that many parents fear, the dentist telling you that your son or daughter may need braces. We’ve all heard that they’re expensive, but we also know that they’re necessary for some kids so that when they’re older, they have nice, straight teeth.

Braces are an orthodontic cure for what’s commonly called a “bad bite”. This means that the teeth are crowded, crooked, or don’t align properly to allow a person a natural, healthy bite. Sometimes the upper and lower jaws don’t come together the right way when an individual bites down, due to misalignment, and even though the teeth are straight, the bite is not. (more…)

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The very phrase “root canal” sends shivers up one’s spine. Although this common dental procedure is synonymous with excruciating pain, the actual experience, thankfully, doesn’t live up to its reputation.

Work on the tooth’s root canal is necessary when a tooth has becomes seriously decayed or infected. In such cases, the dentist removes the pulp and nerve from inside the tooth (the “root canal”), cleans the cavity and seals it. The root canal procedure prevents infection from spreading to surrounding tissue and causing even more serious problems.

Root canal procedures have a high rate of success — in the neighborhood of 95%. Once the dentist has determined root canal work is necessary, the procedure typically occurs over the span of one or two weeks. After the debris is removed from the tooth, it may be left unsealed, giving any infection time to resolve. Later, a permanent filling/crown is applied, and in some cases, further restoration or cosmetic treatments may be done. (more…)

Gum disease (also referred to as periodontal disease) is the most likely cause for adult tooth loss, and can actually be treated if diagnosed early. Of course prevention is the best way to avoid any kind of oral disease or infection, but it’s extremely important to talk to your dentist is you notice any of the following warning signs:

1. You have really bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth.
2. Your gums are very red, tender or swollen and they bleed when brushing.
3. Pressing on your gums creates a pus or discharge between your teeth.
4. Your gums appear to be pulling away from your teeth, or you notice a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite or close your mouth.
5. Your teeth are loose or easily “wiggled” with a finger or tongue.

Plaque along the gumline is what causes gum disease over time. The bacteria in the plaque produce acids that destroy bone and gum tissue which is what causes the decay. (more…)