Tooth care and the prevention of tooth decay is a touchy subject for many people, with horror stories about under-qualified dentists causing more harm to smiles than good. Visits to the dentist can also be very costly, especially to individuals who do not have adequate insurance coverage allowing them to make regular visits possible. In these cases we see people taking their dental care into their own hands, and this can lead to unfortunate results.
It is not uncommon, for instance, to see people deciding to use a variety of different instruments to try and clear away food particles from their teeth. People have used anything from simple earrings to business cards to, surprisingly, screwdrivers, to remove unwanted invasive particles from their teeth. Use of such devices can increase the devastation of tooth wear, which can deter the overall health of your teeth in general.
Tooth wear such as cracking or chipping can impact tooth health and cause negative effects on hygiene. Other wear that can develop is surface damage, which can flatten teeth, forcing them to take on a pitted, shiny appearance. The coloring of teeth can quickly dissipate from bright white to disheartened yellow as enamel fades away.
It is important, therefore, to make frequent visits to a dentist in order for them to not only clean your teeth and run routine maintenance on them but to give you the information you need to take care of your teeth yourself. Dentists are trained professionals and are able to provide useful information on not only how to take care of your teeth but can offer live demonstrations on how to effectively brush and use dental floss.
Individuals may not realize that by administering tooth care themselves they are endangering their oral hygiene and can cause unwanted future complications. Regular visits to dentist will provide personal training on what instruments to avoid, what not to put inside of your mouth and how trying to perform dental work on yourself can do much more harm than good. Avoidance of trying to do dental work yourself means that you can also avoid other problematic issues such as the onset of sensitive teeth from tooth wear or heightened levels of tooth sensitivity.
We need to remember that in order to make sure that our next smile is bright and healthy that we need to make regular appointments to see trained professional dentists.
At One Stop implants and Dental we offer Dental Implants as low as . We have two great offices located in Van Nuys California and Norwalk California. Fill out our form and schedule yourself for a free consultation!
Dental implants require a titanium screw that is placed in the area of the mouth where the tooth will be replaced by the implant. The placement of this screw into the bone is done by an experienced dental implant professional. Some general dentists do this or an oral surgeon may perform it. It is not painful. The only pain felt is the prick of a needle that injects the numbing medication necessary to make the procedure comfortable. Some dentists may use general sedation, if necessary, but that is generally not required.
The procedure requires some drilling into the bone and the placement of the screw into the jaw bone. The patient will feel a little tugging and pulling but not any actual pain. If pain is indeed felt and uncomfortable, the patient can alert the dentist and more novocaine can be used. It is essential that the bones of the jaw are strong, healthy and not in disrepair for the implant to be successful. The initial visit will take about an hour. This is the worst part, if you will, of the procedure, because it is the longest single visit required.
Ibuprofen or Tylenol should be enough to make pain management tolerable for the day or so following the initial procedure. This part of the procedure requires complete healing for the next phase of the implant and can be as much as 2-3 months following. The area must be kept clean as it is essential to prevent infection. Clean gauze may be given if bleeding persists. Liquid and soft foods avoiding the implant side of the mouth will be advised.
Once this part of the procedure is healed, a dentist will fit the patient with a temporary crown that will be made to match the color of the original teeth. Once the permanent crown is received from the dental laboratory, the patient will come in for a fitting where adjustments can be made. This permanent crown will actually screw into the implant secured in the gum on the initial visit. By this time, it should be well secured and healed completely. Once all these fittings are customized, the crown is permanently attached to the implant and the procedure is complete.
The dentist may want to recheck in six months and a year’s time to ensure everything is still looking pink and healthy and working well for the patient.
Not everyone is guaranteed to have all their teeth for their whole life. Fortunately, there are ways to preserve the overall appearance of good dental health. There are a lot of things that could happen when one loses a tooth. For one thing, one could lose a lot of bone density when it comes to tooth loss. There are a few criteria that need to be met when looking to get dental implants. Among the basic one’s to meet are:
• Adequate bone density for dental implant support
• No gum disease
• Metabolic health needs to be strong
• Free of Smoking
• Be free of medication that help with bone growth
Any of the above does not keep you from getting the dental implants. These are only steps that are needed to be taken in order to improve their chances of getting the implants. The dentist will make sure that you are not involved in anything that could interfere with the implanting procedure. In the case of lacking bone density needed for the implants, you may be referred to a specialist that will put you through bone grafting. Gum disease can be treated and smoking can be ceased. There are also medical conditions that could affect the implants such as:
• Treatment of Cancer
• Diabetes which is out of control
• Cardiovascular issues that are very severe
• Dycarsia of the Blood or Bone
Dentists take it very seriously when it comes to dental implants. You have to make sure that any problem you have is taken care of before going for implants. With diabetes, you can get it under control. There are specialists that could help you with a diet and treatment plan that could help you get your blood sugar under control.
If you are interested in getting dental implants, then you can set up an appointment here with us at One Stop Dental & Implants in order to get looked at and determine if you are a fit for dental implants. If you are not ready for an implant because of any of the problems, then we will provide our options to help you reach a solution.
Seeking the advice of a dental professional who is qualified and well-trained in implant dentistry is the first criteria to determine whether or not you are a candidate for dental implants. It is also important that you inquire the dentist’s particular training in this field. Some types of training are more recognized and accepted in most states. For example, a training in crowns, implants and oral surgery that is offered by private institutions may have been completed in one sitting but sophisticated, extensive and comprehensive training are those that are done at medical organizations such as the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and American Academy of Periodontology. Dental implant placement is a form of oral surgery and requires intense attention before and after treatment. This is why here at One Stop Implants, we are dentists with the right experience and skills to perform the surgery.
While some dental implantation for replacing missing teeth are done after adolescence, certain treatments are performed on patients who have complete bone growth. However, patients with active diabetes, periodontal disease or cancer may require additional treatment before this procedure is done. In order to determine if this procedure is right for you, the dental professional assigned to your case will examine your mouth and evaluate the density of the bone and other features. This involves X-rays and CT scans where the dentist will ensure that there is enough bone structure for the implants and the spot to place the implant is the right one. The dentist will then lay out different options for dental implant treatment based on the condition of the oral tissues and other factors such as personal habits, oral hygiene and commitment to treatment aftercare. Patients with insufficient bone or gum tissue may be required to undergo bone or soft tissue grafting or mini implants (small diameter implants)
Patients who smoke, drink or use drugs and are considering this procedure may be required to quit smoking or drinking before undergoing the implant procedure as these patients are at a high risk of implant failure. Patients who are addicted to drugs or other immuno-suppressants and narcotic medications are more likely to face implant failure as well. It is therefore necessary for everyone considering to have implant surgery to seek advice from the dentist or assigned physician and take precautionary measures at least six months to year before the surgery is performed.
Over time, poor dental hygiene can eventually affect your overall health. With many adults nowadays neglecting proper basic dental hygiene practices, tooth loss becomes the end result. Having missing teeth or gaps in your teeth can affect your self-esteem and create awkward social situations. We are judged by others so much in society today that having a bad smile could really do damage to how we perceive ourselves mentally in the long run. Leaving missing teeth in your mouth can cause a number of problems, including the alteration of the shape of your face. Immediate action should be taken before any major damage is done. Gum and bone deterioration and tooth shifting are signs the damage has already begun to take place. Seeing a dentist that specializes in implant dentistry is a good start to win the fight for your smile. Waiting for several months or even years to get the procedure done will only allow things to get worse and by far more costly. With over a 90% success rate it is a wise choice to get it done as soon as you can. Here at One Stop Implants we will look for a few components to ensure the procedure can be executed successfully.
Bone Support – Having an adequate bone density is an important requirement because the implants fuse to the jawbone to anchor the tooth in place. For children, this procedure is rarely done because their bones and not developed enough. For patients with little bone support, mini dental implants or bone grafts are often used.
Overall Health – Since you will be going through a surgical procedure you will be checked for good health. Patients who consume alcohol, smoke, or are diabetic generally have a lower success rate because theses conditions affect the healing process that must take place after the surgery.
Having Healthy Gums – The state your gums are in can affect the healing process tremendously. Your gums are needed to support the implant as it begins to fuse to your jawbone. There is a high failure rate for patients that have been diagnosed with gum disease.
Patient Commitment – Patients must be committed to maintaining excellent oral health practices. Daily brushing, flossing and regular visits to the dentist to check-up on the healing process of the implant. This routine of brushing, flossing and dentist visits should be continued to ensure that the implant and all of your teeth are strong and healthy.
Bruxism – If teeth clenching occurs, you must contact your dentist immediately. This can lower the success rate of your procedure. Teeth clenching often happens at night and most people are not even aware they are doing it.
To find out if you are a fit candidate for an implant dentistry procedure, contact us. The faculty here are certified dentists and deliver the highest quality service to our patients. We review the above criteria and match it to every patient’s case, judging what actions we have to take to help you take back your smile.
