Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Disastrous Dentures! Reasons You May Want to Consider All on 4 Implants, PART 1

This two part article series presents compelling reasons why patients should consider dental implants as their tooth replacement solution instead of traditional removable dentures.

If edentulous (toothless) and near-edentulous people had any inkling of the trouble removable dentures can be, they’d very likely invest in having dental implants placed instead. This is an incredibly valuable lesson for all of us to learn before we make decisions that will harm our oral health and quality of life. When it comes to your oral health, no compromises should be made.

In this two-part series, we shall be discussing some very compelling reasons why you should choose All on 4 implants as your tooth replacement technology, and not removable dentures.

All on 4 implants

All on 4 Dental Implants and the Health of Your Jaw Bone

The roots of your teeth are essential to maintaining good jaw bone health because they transmit the forces associated with eating into the hard tissue that surrounds them. This keeps the bone ‘exercised’ and strong, thus preventing atrophication from claiming jaw bone volume. When teeth are lost, the underlying bone in the jaw undergoes a remodeling process due to the loss of this essential stimulation. Unfortunately, because dentures only replace the visible tooth structures (the crowns) and not the roots, they do nothing prevent atrophy. All on 4 dental implants, on the other hand, replace both the crowns and the roots of the teeth, keeping the jaw bone healthy.

The Consequences of Jaw Bone Loss

Dental implants in Houston

As the hard tissue in the jaw wastes away, patients will experience a weakened bite and the gradual aging and collapse of their natural youthful facial contours. The remodeling of the jaw bone is also what results in the need for patients to have their dentures refitted time and again, the costs of which add up in the long run. Eventually, the jaw will have become so weak and wasted away that it won’t even be able to support dentures.

At this juncture, dental implants in Houston will also be out of the question, thus leaving the patient without any tooth replacement options. This has a significant effect upon diet, which explains why one of the biggest problems faced by elderly denture wearers is malnutrition! In fact, wearing dentures can shorten your life expectancy by up to 10 years! If that’s not a good enough reason to opt for dental implants on the outset, I don’t know what is!

The Benefits of having Teeth that are Fixed and Non-removable

All on 4 implants

Never underestimate the quality of life you can enjoy when your teeth are fixed in your mouth and cannot be removed. Many of the challenges and repeat expenses that denture wearers are forced to contend with all stem from having teeth that are loose and can slip around in the mouth:

  • Low confidence and poor self-esteem
  • Unnatural smile aesthetics
  • Difficulty eating and managing tougher foods
  • Limited diet
  • Repeat expenses, such as adhesives
  • Having to take your teeth out at night
  • Having to take your teeth out after meals to clean them
  • Chronic bad breath as a consequence of dentures harboring food and bacteria
  • Gums that are irritated and sore from being rubbed against

The All on 4 dental implant protocol can give patients a complete set of fixed and non-removable teeth that function, feel and look like natural teeth. This eliminates all of the typical above-mentioned problems, vastly improving a patient’s quality of life and self-confidence.

To read more about the benefits of All on 4 dental implants, stay tuned for the second half of this two-part series.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Dental Implant Houston News: The Development of the “All-on-4” Protocol

This article traces the development of the procedures used to give toothless patients a new set of non-removable teeth using dental implants.

Dental implant HoustonDental implants as we know them today have been around for several decades and for as long as they have, dentists have been trying to find a way to offer edentulous (toothless) and near-edentulous patients fixed tooth replacement solutions. The problem is, the more dental implants you surgically place, the more complicated the procedure becomes and the greater the chance of implant failure. Other problems include the cost of such a procedure, the physical toll it takes on the body and the amount of time it requires for patients to get a new set of teeth again. In the end, removable dentures - as uncomfortable and difficult as they can be to live with - just seem to be the better option!

Then, news of the “All-on-4” dental implant protocol was announced to the world.

In the Beginning, there was Osseointegration

In 1951, Swedish orthopedic surgeon - Per-Ingvar Brånemark - accidentally stumbled across the key that would lead to the conception of the entire field of dental implantology: ‘osseointegration’. It was during a clinical trial using rabbit bone that the professor noticed the complete bio-compatibility of titanium. Instead of being rejected by the body as most foreign materials are, the bone had actually biologically bonded to the surface of the titanium.

Eureka!

It wasn’t long after that the first dental implants were constructed from titanium metal and successfully used to replace teeth. As the years passed, ceaseless research and clinical trials expanded upon the academic understanding behind and practical application of dental implants as a tooth replacement solution. But still… while dental implant dentists could replace one or more missing teeth quite successfully, those who had lost all of their teeth faced a long and painful journey to oral rehabilitation.

Design and Development of “All on 4” Dental Implants

All on 4

Just think about it: you have 32 teeth in your mouth; 28 minus your wisdom teeth. Can you imagine replacing every single one with dental implants? Can you image the scope of the surgery required to give an edentulous patient a complete set of teeth back?

Such a procedure just isn’t viable, so instead of replacing every single missing tooth with an implant, oral surgeons would use up to 10 dental implants per jaw to provide support for a non-removable prosthetic dental bridge (an artificial set of teeth). Yet still, 10 implants per jaw can require many separate surgeries to place and the expense of such an endeavor costs a considerable amount of time and money.

It was only in the early 1990’s that a protocol, which only required four dental implants per jaw to support a full set of replacement teeth, was developed and clinically tested. This protocol became termed the “All-on-4”. What further set this procedure aside from traditional dental implant procedures was that it was designed to, as far as possible, bypass the need for bone grafting surgery, thus saving patients many months of recovery, tens of thousands of dollars on the cost of surgery and a whole lot of pain and discomfort.

“All on 4” Implants, Here, Today

Dental implant Houston

Nowadays, more and more dentists are receiving the necessary training in what is increasingly becoming regarded as a fundamental rehabilitative dental procedure. And when you consider that All on 4 dental implants in Houston are able to give people a brand new set of teeth in as little as a single day, with a single surgery and at costs that are an average $25,000 lower, it’s no wonder why!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: 21st Century Solution to Tooth Loss

This article provides an overview of the “All-on-4” dental implant protocol and its benefits over traditional removable dentures.

Periodontal or gum disease is a pervasive ailment today, in spite of our advanced medical technology and increased health awareness and standards of hygiene. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, more than 30 million people in the United States have lost all of their original adult teeth in one or both of their jaws. And the most common cause of rampant tooth loss and edentulism (the state of having lost all of one’s teeth) is gum disease.

The traditional approach to replacing missing teeth, especially in cases where most of your teeth have fallen out or have been extracted by the dentist, is removable dentures. But these bulky plastic dental appliances and all of the challenges and repeated expenses they come hand-in-hand with have been eclipsed by a far more sophisticated and non-removable technology:

Dental implants and in particular, the “All on 4” protocol.

About Modern Dental Implant Procedures in Houston

All on 4

“All on 4 dental implant protocol” may sound complicated and full of medical jargon you don’t think you could understand, but the procedure is actually very simple in concept! A specially-trained implant dentist places four dental implants in the mouth, which are used to support a non-removable prosthetic dental bridge (refer to the picture above). This bridge is fabricated from exceptionally strong, durable and non-corrosive materials so that it can endure many decades of chewing, grinding and biting with little risk of breakage.

Furthermore, because the bridge is supported by dental implants, which are in turn anchored by the jaw, it doesn’t need to be big and bulky like removable dentures do. This eliminates many of the challenges patients experience with dentures, such as gagging, sore gums, impeded taste ability and impeded texture and temperature sensation.

The Benefits of All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston

Dental implants Houston

Nowadays, removable dentures are no longer the best option edentulous and near-edentulous patients have. You no longer need to follow in the footsteps of mom and dad as far as getting new teeth is concerned. If you have lost most or all of your teeth to the ravages of periodontal diseases, your smile quite literally has a second chance. All on 4 dental implants in Houston can provide fixed and non-removable tooth replacement solutions that enable patients to eat all the foods they like while enjoying the many benefits of having a natural-looking and confident smile.

Because All on 4 dental implants are non-removable, they are cleaned and maintained like natural teeth and don’t require any of the repeat expenses that dentures do, such as messy, sticky adhesives, overnight soaking solutions and special cleaning pastes. The “All on 4” dental bridge is also custom fabricated to fit snugly against a patient’s gums, which prevents it from harboring food debris and bacteria: a common problem with dentures that leads to chronic bad breath.

All on 4 Implants: Fact, not Fiction

All on 4

With typically only a single surgery of a few hours only, you can go from toothless to having a mouth full of fixed, non-removable and gorgeous-looking pearly whites. This may sound very much like the stuff of dreams, but it is a reality thanks to the incredible advancements that have been made in the fields of fixed oral rehabilitation and dental implantology!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

9 Reasons to Throw Your Dentures in the Bin and Get All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston

This article described 9 very good reasons why dentures are considered inferior to dental implants and why dental implants, in turn, offer a much better solution and healthier solution to missing teeth.

Have you lost all or most of your natural teeth to periodontal (gum) disease? Are you currently a denture-wearer or, like your mother and father before you, facing an immediate future of denture-wearing? Well… before you endure years of this archaic technology and before you make the mistake of having them fitted, consider the following very important facts about removable dentures. There are far more sophisticated solutions to tooth loss available today and they won’t necessarily break the bank either! All on 4 dental implants in Houston could secure your quality of life, protect your youthful facial contours and prevent you from ever needing to endure the terrible challenges caused by dentures…

All on 4 dental implants Houston

1. All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: Did You Know that wearing removable dentures accelerates the loss of bone tissue in the jaw?

With time, dentures become loose because as a direct result of this bone loss. In fact, it is entirely possible to wait for your jaw bone volume to disappear to a point where the success of any treatment – even All on 4 dental implants in Houston - is doubtful.

2. All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: Did You Know that at the end of five years, only 40% of denture wearers are still wearing the same partial denture they were originally fitted with?

The other 60% have had to have their dentures refitted, either because their denture has broken or because jaw bone loss has compromised its fit. This is certainly not a great testimonial for the utility and value of dentures, is it? Consider the 40% to still have a functioning partial denture after five years lucky? Don’t… they too are losing valuable jaw bone volume.

3. All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: Did You Know that of all the patients who wear a partial denture, a staggering 50% feel that they chew better without it?

As the jaw bone loses volume, it weakens, thus facilitating a lesser and lesser bite force. This really makes dentures more of a weak cosmetic solution to missing teeth rather than a functional one.

4. All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: Did You Know that partial dentures utterly wreck your natural teeth?

All on 4 dental implants

One research study showed that 40% of the teeth used to support partial dentures had been completely ruined by fracture or decay after only eight years.

5. All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: Did You Know that denture-wearing slowly but surely degrades your natural bite force?

A natural, healthy bite force is about 200 pounds of force per square inch. Denture wearers are typically only able bite down with 50 pounds of force. After 15 years of denture wearing, this decreases to a shocking 6 pounds of force. Considering this, it’s not hard to understand why so many elderly people suffer from malnutrition.

6. All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: Did You Know that it is totally normal for the average denture to shift from side to side during conversation and eating?

This accounts for a significant number of patient complaints, but it’s just a problem new denture-wearers have to grow accustomed to.

7. All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: Did You Know that denture-wearers suffer a decreased intake of nutrients?

All on 4 dental implants Houston

Moreover, only 30% of denture-wearing patients can manage soft foods and nothing else. But, perhaps most shocking of all is the impact of “denture diets” on one’s life span… it can reduce yours by 10 years!

8. All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: Did You Know that the rate of tooth implant success is an incredible 98%?

Furthermore, the natural teeth that lie adjacent to the implant are no more at risk than if you had never lost a tooth in the first place. This is in stark contrast to dental bridges, which require two healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth to be filed down to nubs.

9. All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: Did You Know that an implant-supported denture has a success rate of 95% over the duration of 10 years?

And this period of 10 years is marked by very little loss of supporting bone volume.

For all these reasons and more, All on 4 dental implants in Houston offer a much better and more sophisticated solution to edentulism and near-edentulism.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

All-on-4 in Houston: A Not-So Fond Farewell to False Teeth!

This article describes the All-on-4 dental implant protocol and why it is considered a superior tooth replacement technology to removable dentures and traditional dental implant protocol.

Retire those removable dentures and forget false teeth! The All-on-4 in Houston is a cutting-edge dental implant protocol for the treatment of edentulism (not having any teeth left) and near-edentulism. Since the procedure’s design in 1993 by European implantologist Dr. Paulo Malo, it facilitated the oral rehabilitation of tens of thousands of previously edentulous patients and revolutionized the field of dental implantology. So, what is the All-on-4 in Houston and what sets it aside from traditional dental implant techniques?

A Closer Look at the All-on-4 in Houston

All-on-4 Houston

The ‘All-on-4’ is a dental implant protocol that involves the affixing of a fully customized prosthetic dental bridge to the abutments of four dental implants per jaw. Traditional implant techniques could require as many 20 dental implants in order to provide patients with a full set of working teeth again. The All-on-4 in Houston was designed to give patients a full and beautiful and functional smile with only four dental implants and better still, almost always without the need for bone grafting surgery. Owing to the lesser complexity of the procedure, the All-on-4 in Houston can be completed in as little as a single day, with a single surgery.

When you consider the nature of the results (complete oral rehabilitation), the treatment time of the All-on-4 in Houston goes without precedent. The protocol itself was designed out of the need for a fixed and non-removable tooth replacement solution that: (1) did not require patients to spend up to 18 months in-and-out of surgery, and (2) did not require them to deal with all the repeated costs and crippling challenges associated with removable dentures. Until the innovation of the All-on-4 in Houston, oral rehabilitation was an ordeal. Now patient’s lives can be changed in a single day, with a single surgery!

The Problem with Dentures (Amongst Many Others): Jaw Bone Atrophy and Loss

All-on-4

Removable dentures are archaic dental devices that not only cause pain and physical discomfort in the mouth; they also do nothing to halt the progression of bone loss in the jaw. A lack of stimulation to the jaw bone – and subsequently, atrophy - is one of the biggest problems caused by the loss of the tooth roots from the jaw. Since removable dentures only replace the visible portion of the teeth, jaw bone deterioration is common amongst denture-wearers. The All-on-4 in Houston, on the other hand, uses dental implants, which essentially function like natural teeth, to support a full dental bridge. This helps to keep the jaw bone healthy and its full structure intact.

A Final Note on All-on-4 in Houston

If you are currently edentulous or are facing an immediate future of edentulism, chances are you’re entirely familiar with their endless challenges, struggles and repeated costs. There’s no need for us to reiterate them. What you perhaps do need to know is that the All-on-4 in Houston offers a far more sophisticated and long-term solution to edentulism than either removable dentures or traditional implant protocol.

Under the experienced hands of an implant dentist, it is entirely possible for you to regain an exceptional standard of oral health, bite functionality and near-perfect smile aesthetics: in most cases, regardless of your age, jaw bone health or the complexity of your oral problems. With the All-on-4 in Houston, a confident smile could be as little as one day away, even if you’ve lived without teeth for years!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

New Teeth in a Day in Houston? All on 4 Implants Make it Possible!

This article opens with a look at tooth loss statistics in the United States. It then describes the All on 4 dental implant technique and how it makes it possible for patients to get a new set of non-removable teeth in as little as a single day.

New teeth in a day in Houston may sound like science fiction, but advances in modern dental science have in fact made this rather ridiculous-sounding statement a reality! Thanks to the revolutionary “All on Four implants,” tens of thousands of people in the United States have regained their confidence and greatly improved their quality of life.

New Teeth in a Day in Houston: Gum Disease Statistics in the United States

Teeth in a Day Houston

Rampant tooth loss, edentulism (not having any natural teeth left) and near-edentulism are pervasive problems in the United States. The oral ailments that cause tooth loss are nursed into existence by bad habits such as tobacco smoking, excessive drinking, drug abuse and a poor diet high in sugar and acid. But perhaps the biggest reason teeth become irreparably decayed and require extraction is bad oral hygiene, for which there is no excuse.

In spite of our advanced technology and heightened awareness of the importance of good hygiene, according to the American Dental Association, a truly staggering 85% of our population presents with some form or stage of periodontal disease. Periodontal, or gum disease is an acute oral bacterial infection which, if left untreated, ultimately causes tooth loss. It is one of the primary reasons so many people over the age of 60 wish they could get new teeth in a day in Houston.

Thankfully, if the damage has already been done, All on 4 implants can change your life.

New Teeth in a Day in Houston with All on 4 Implants

Prior to the conception of All on 4 Implants, oral rehabilitation was a process that took place over the course of up to 18 months. It required multiple surgeries and as many as 20 dental implants in order to give a person back their full and beautiful smile. You can just imagine how expensive all of that must have been! Then Dr. Paulo Malo designed “All on 4 implants” with the express purpose of providing edentulous and near-edentulous patients with new teeth in a day in Houston. Even patients who have lived without teeth and/or with dentures for many years are able to get new teeth in a day in Houston!

All on Four implants protocol is an innovative surgical technique that enables specially-trained and experienced implant dentists to give patients teeth in a day in Houston by replacing an entire set of missing or failing teeth with a fully customized prosthetic dental bridge. This bridge, which is expertly crafted to be virtually indistinguishable from a set of natural healthy teeth, is permanently ‘anchored’ in the mouth by four dental implants per jaw. One of the greatest advantages of All on 4 implants is that the procedure was cleverly designed to avoid the need for bone grafting: an additional surgery required by patients who have lost a lot of bone volume in their jaw as a result of living without teeth and/or with dentures for many years.

All on 4 implants

Because All on 4 implants are almost always able to avoid the need for bone grafting surgery (which takes months of healing), implant dentists are routinely able to give patients new teeth in a day in Houston!

New Teeth in a Day in Houston

Not surprisingly, the ability of this breakthrough protocol to give patients new teeth in a day in Houston has caused waves in the medical community since its conception in the early 1990’s. Nowadays, removable full or partial dentures are no longer the stock-standard approach dentists take to tooth replacement. With the ability of All on 4 implants to provide a comprehensive, sophisticated and long-term solution to edentulism and near-edentulism, why would you opt for anything less? Get new teeth in a day in Houston!

Monday, November 12, 2012

About All on Four Dental Implants in Houston

This article explains what the All-on-4 dental implant technique is and how it gives edentulous and near-edentulous patients a complete set of natural teeth again.

All on Four dental implants in Houston offer a fantastic solution to patients who have lost many or even all of their natural teeth. Not only does this innovative dental implant protocol give patients a full set of teeth that boast a lifespan of decades; they are also non-removable, immediately functional and are virtually indistinguishable from natural, healthy teeth! With all of the benefits of a fixed and non-removable tooth replacement solution and none of the challenges and endless costs associated with older dental technologies, such as removable partial or full dentures, All on Four dental implants in Houston represent a long term investment in both your oral health and quality of life.

About All on Four Dental Implants in Houston

All on Four dental implants Houston

All on Four dental implants in Houston are a revolutionary approach to the treatment of patients who have lost most or all of their teeth to periodontal (gum) disease. Unlike traditional dental implant techniques, All on Four dental implants in Houston can provide patients with same-day tooth replacement solutions, almost always without the need for bone grafting surgery first. This substantially shorter treatment time and far less complex treatment method has rendered All on Four dental implants in Houston a much less expensive solution to edentulism (toothlessness) and it is highly recommended by dentists all over the world.

So, how does it work? Quite simply! The procedure consists of the affixing of a customized prosthetic dental bridge to the abutments of four dental implants per jaw (hence the name.) These implants are carefully and precisely inserted at locations in the mouth that naturally contain a greater volume of more atrophy-resistant bone tissue. All on Four dental implants in Houston are also angulated to avoid damaging vital structures in the mouth, such as the nerve canal in the lower jaw and the sinus cavity in the upper jaw.

All on Four dental implants in Houston: Does it Hurt Doc?

Perhaps the most frequently asked question in the business is: “Does it hurt?” One of the great things about All on Four dental implants in Houston is that it requires patients to endure minimal pain and discomfort. This is because the use of modern sophisticated computer imaging software enables skilled oral surgeons to perform the procedure using as few incisions and sutures as possible. This minimizes post-operative pain and discomfort. Furthermore, All on Four dental implants in Houston are placed under the effects of anesthesia so the procedure itself is totally pain-free. Most patients report a dull localized aching in the first few days after their surgery, but this is normal and can easily be managed with a painkiller or two.

All on Four Dental Implants in Houston: Smile! You Are a Candidate!

All on Four

A lot of patients are very unfortunately told by their dentists that they are not candidates for dental implants and so they believe the same applies to All on Four dental implants in Houston. What’s important to note is that All on Four dental implants in Houston were created with the intention of providing a much quicker and more painless and effective tooth replacement solution to people who have been living without teeth and/or with dentures for many years. All on Four dental implants in Houston provides a comprehensive tooth replacement solution for all kinds of unique cases, whether a patient is in their teens or in their nineties!

Speak to your dentist today about All on Four dental implants in Houston. Thanks to this innovative protocol, almost everyone’s a candidate!

Monday, October 29, 2012

A Comprehensive Guide to All on Four Dental Implants in Houston, PART 4

This four-part article series takes an in-depth look at All-on-Four dental implants, what they are and the various benefits they offer over removable dentures and traditional dental implant protocols.

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on All on Four dental implants in Houston. We have spent much of these articles discussing how this surgical protocol works and its numerous benefits and advantages over removable dentures, as well as traditional dental implant techniques. In this article, the final installment of the series, we shall address patients’ frequently asked questions and expressed concerns. Armed with this information, it is hoped that you will all have a much better understanding of what to expect from the procedure and how your decision to receive All on Four dental implants in Houston is in the best interests of your long term oral health and quality of life!

FAQ: What is the success rate of All on Four dental implants in Houston?

Answer:  Scientific, peer-reviewed articles have shown that All on Four dental implants in Houston have a 97.0% to 98.0% success rate when placed in the upper arch and a 98.2% success rate when placed in the lower arch. Of course, success rates also vary from dentists to dentist. Make sure you opt for a highly qualified and experienced implant dentist. When it comes to the placement of All on Four dental implants in Houston, education is second only to experience!

FAQ: Who is the ideal candidate for All on Four dental implants in Houston?

All on Four dental implants Houston

Answer: All on Four dental implants in Houston are ideally recommended for patients who are currently wearing dentures or will, sometime in the near future, require dentures to be fitted. The ideal candidate, although edentulous (not having a single original adult tooth left) or near-edentulous, will also be in good health and present with little deterioration of jaw bone health and volume.

The best way to find out whether you are a candidate for All on Four dental implants in Houston is to contact a qualified and experienced implant dentist and book yourself a consultation. It is important to note that even patients presenting with advanced jaw bone atrophication have managed to have a new set of teeth placed; regardless of age too!

FAQ: Where are the replacement teeth for All on Four dental implants in Houston made?

Answer: The prosthetic dental bridge affixed to the abutments of All on Four dental implants in Houston is fabricated in a laboratory, which, in the case of advanced dental implant centers, is generally located on-site. They are custom-built from molds taken of a patient’s teeth and gums.

FAQ: What can I expect from the procedure required to place All on Four dental implants in Houston?

Answer: Every patient has a different experience when undergoing oral rehabilitation. In general, however, the guidelines provided for the placement of All on Four dental implants in Houston are as follows:

  • Prior to surgery, patients are required to come for between one and two consultations during which you will receive a comprehensive clinical examination. Your medical history will also be taken down and preparatory procedures performed, such as X-ray imaging and impressions.

All on Four dental implants

  • The surgery can almost always be completed in a few hours. You will have any remaining teeth extracted, the dental implants placed and a temporary dental bridge placed; all in the space of one day.
  • After the placement of your All on Four dental implants in Houston, you will be required to return for (usually) two post-op visits to make sure your new teeth are healing nicely.
  • You will be required to come for a consultation approximately four months after surgery to have new molds of your teeth taken in order to facilitate in the fabrication of your permanent dental bridge.
  • Six months after the placement of your All on Four dental implants in Houston, you will have your permanent dental bridge permanently placed in your mouth.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

A Comprehensive Guide to All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston, PART 3

This four-part article series takes an in-depth look at All-on-Four dental implants, what they are and the various benefits they offer over removable dentures and traditional dental implant protocols.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on All on 4 dental implants in Houston. In our previous post, we discussed the key differences between this breakthrough dental implant protocol and that archaic tooth replacement technology, removable dentures. In this article, the third installment of the series, we shall be exploring how All on 4 dental implants make it possible for specially-trained and experienced implant dentists to provide patients with a new set of non-removable teeth, almost always without the need for bone grafting surgery first. We shall then discuss the benefits of this unprecedented feat in implant surgery.

All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston and Bone Grafting Surgery

All on 4 dental implants

In our previous article post, we discussed the importance of the roots of your teeth in keeping the underlying jaw bone stimulated and alive. Just like the muscles in your body, if bone doesn’t get exercised, it atrophies and wastes away in volume. Removable dentures only replace the visible part (the crowns) of your teeth. But All on 4 dental implants in Houston replace both the roots AND the crowns. As such, they help to keep a patient’s jaw bone alive and healthy. But what All on 4 dental implants are really known for are their ability to provide comprehensive tooth replacement solutions to patients who have gone without teeth and/or with removable dentures for so long that they have lost a substantial amount of jaw bone volume.

Prior to the innovation of All on 4 dental implants in Houston, dentists would recommend bone grafting surgery to patients before implants could be considered a viable treatment option. This surgery is intended to augment and encourage the growth of new and healthy hard tissue in the jaw so that it can support replacement teeth. But there are three problems with bone grafting:
 
  1. It’s incredibly invasive and causes much post-operative pain and discomfort,
  2. It requires several months of healing before the jaw bone is strong enough to support dental implants,
  3. It is very expensive.
The result of all this is that patients would have to wait up to 18 months before they could get a complete set of new teeth placed. This is not even to mention the tens of thousands of dollars oral rehabilitation cost them. No wonder so many of them opted instead for removable dentures!

All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: The Difference

All on 4 dental implants Houston

Through the precise placement and angulation of four dental implants in regions of the mouth that naturally contain a greater volume of atrophy-resistant bone tissue, trained implant dentists are able to provide enough support for a customized prosthetic dental bridge WITHOUT the need for bone grafting first. This is true in most patient cases and the result is that All on 4 dental implants in Houston can almost always provide patients with a brand new set of non-removable, immediately functional teeth in as little as a single day, with a single surgery!

This unprecedented feat in oral rehabilitation is also made possible by the fact that All on 4 dental implants in Houston, as the name suggests, only requires four dental implants per jaw in order to provide patients with a complete set of teeth. Older and more traditional surgical protocol frequently required as many as 20 dental implants for oral rehabilitation. These dental implants could not all be placed in a single surgery. And so, a patient’s journey to oral rehabilitation would have to be broken up into multiple surgeries and recovery periods. Can you see the costs mounting up here?

With only four implants required, All on 4 dental implants in Houston can be placed in a single surgery, enabling patients to go from being completely toothless to having a full and confident smile… all in a single day! This breakthrough surgical protocol also saves patients from unnecessary discomfort, exorbitant medical bills and all that time off from work and life!

All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: Stay Tuned

To read the answers to some of patients’ frequently asked questions about All on 4 dental implants in Houston, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

A Comprehensive Guide to All on Four Implants, PART 2

This four-part article series takes an in-depth look at All-on-Four dental implants, what they are and the various benefits they offer over removable dentures and traditional dental implant protocols.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on All on Four implants. In our previous post, we provided an introduction to this advanced surgical protocol for fixed oral rehabilitation and ended off with a brief discussion on the differences between All on Four implants and removable dentures; an archaic and out-dated dental technology. In this article, we shall take a closer look at the benefits and advantages of All on Four implants over dentures and why any patient who desperately requires a new set of teeth should opt for the fixed and non-removable solution afforded by the former.

Key Differences Between All on Four Implants and Removable Dentures

All on Four implants

As opposed to false teeth, or removable dentures, the All on Four surgical protocol gives patients a complete set of permanent teeth that look, function and feel like natural teeth.
The All on Four prosthetic bridge:

  • Is fixed and non-removable and won’t shift around or fall out.
  • Is brushed, flossed and cared for just like natural teeth.
  • Doesn’t need to be removed after meals or at nighttime for cleaning.
  • Is fixed in place by dental implants and so doesn’t require messy, sticky adhesives.
  • Is supported entirely by the jaw bone and not the underlying soft tissue. As such, All on Four implants don’t cause any pain, inflammation and discomfort of the gums.
  • Does not necessitate a constant investment in anesthetic gels in order to combat the pain caused by dentures pressing down on and rubbing against the gums.
  • Enables patients to experience their food properly: taste, texture and temperature!
  • Does not trigger the gag reflex.
  • Does not harbor food and bacteria, causing bad breath.
  • Enables patients to bite down with a strong natural force, allowing them to eat all the foods they love and need to remain strong and healthy.
  • All on Four implants promote good jaw bone health, thus preserving a patient’s youthful smile aesthetics.
  • Without the risk of denture slippage and the unnatural aesthetics caused by bulky dentures pushing against the lips from inside the mouth, All on Four implants give patients a much more beautiful and confident smile.
  • All on Four implants last decades and even a lifetime without the need for restoration and replacement.
  • Dentures need to be refitted every few years or so as a result of loss of bone volume in the jaw (see image below).

All on Four

For all these reasons and more, All on Four implants constitute a much smarter investment, not only in your oral health, but in your overall quality of life too. In order to fully appreciate many of the benefits offered by All on Four implants, one needs to understand the consequences of allowing missing teeth to go without replacement…

All on Four Implants: The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

Many patients only think about their appearance when it comes to replacing a tooth or several teeth that have gone missing. They think that as long as their replacement teeth look okay and work well enough to allow them to eat, then it’s worth the money they paid. But technologies such as removable dentures only replace the visible portion of missing teeth: the crowns. But the roots of the teeth play an essential role in keeping the underlying jaw bone stimulated and healthy. Without them, this hard tissue atrophies from disuse and wastes away. Jaw bone atrophy:

- Has a substantial aging effect upon one’s natural facial contours,
- Upsets dental stability along the tooth row, increasing your chance of losing more teeth,
- A greater risk of bacterial infection to your entire mouth,
- Can render the success of dental implant surgery doubtful.

Thankfully, the loss of bone volume consistently seen in patients who had gone without teeth and/or with dentures for many years could be overcome by All on Four implants. And in our next article installment, we’ll discuss exactly how!

All on Four Implants: Stay Tuned

All on Four implants

To find out how All on Four implants can bypass the need for bone grafting surgery and what the benefits of this are, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.

Monday, October 8, 2012

A Comprehensive Guide to All on Four Implants, PART 1

This four-part article series takes an in-depth look at All-on-Four dental implants, what they are and the various benefits they offer over removable dentures and traditional dental implant protocols.

Prior to the innovation of All on Four implants, a patient’s journey to oral rehabilitation could involve as much as 18 months’ worth of consultations, surgeries and recovery periods. The associated medical bills were prohibitively high and the result was that most edentulous (toothless) and near-edentulous patients opted for that archaic tooth replacement technology; removable dentures. The problem with this is that false teeth, as they are colloquially known, are not only inferior in function and aesthetics to dental implants, they are actually damaging to a patient’s health, well-being and overall quality of life.

It was only in 1993, when All on Four implants were innovated by European implantologist Dr. Paulo Malo, that many of the challenges and obstacles facing traditional dental implant techniques could be overcome. Nowadays, a new set of beautiful, non-removable and immediately functional teeth are possible with the breakthrough All on Four implants protocol. In this four-part article series, we shall be taking an in-depth exploration of this surgical protocol and why patients who are edentulous, or who are facing an immediate future of edentulism should consider All on Four implants as their tooth replacement solution. But first, let’s take a look at All on Four implants… what are they?

What is the All on Four Protocol?

All on Four implants

The All on Four protocol, or All-on-4, is a surgical technique that governs the placement of dental implants in a patient’s mouth. It is generally recommended for edentulous and near-edentulous patients who have lost most, if not all of their teeth to periodontal (gum) disease. These are the patients who would formerly be considered candidates for removable dentures. All on Four implants, as the name suggests, involves the permanent attachment of a fully customized prosthetic dental bridge to the abutments of four dental implants per jaw.

These implants are inserted at very precise locations in the mouth (and at very precise angles too) in order to reap maximum support for the bridge without the need for bone grafting surgery first. This additional surgery is frequently required for patients who have lived without teeth and/or dentures for many years. The ability of All on Four implants to almost always avoid the need for bone grafting surgery is perhaps one of its greatest advantages it boasts over traditional dental implant protocols. And this is because:

  • All on Four implants allows skilled and experienced oral surgeons to provide patients with a new set of teeth in as little as a single day, with a single surgery, and
  • All on Four implants substantially reduces the cost of oral rehabilitation by an average amount of $25,000!

All on Four Implants and Removable Dentures: What’s the Difference?

All on Four

Any dentist or dental healthcare professional worth their salt will tell you that dental implants offer a much more comprehensive and long term solution to missing teeth than removable dentures. The latter comes with a whole host of challenges and repeated expenses that, at the end of the day, can severely compromise a patient’s quality of life. In fact, research has shown that the patients who have been wearing dentures for 15 years can only bite down with a force of six pounds per square inch. That’s 97% of one’s natural bite force lost!

The ramifications of this are debilitating and serious: most patients end up eating without their dentures because it’s more comfortable for them. Malnutrition is an associated problem. The difference between All on Four implants and dentures is the difference between being happy, healthy and confident and being miserable, challenged and uncomfortable. And when you consider that long-time denture wearers generally live 10 years shorter than those with healthy teeth, this is no exaggeration!

All on Four implants

All on Four Implants: Stay Tuned

To find out what the key differences between All on Four implants and removable dentures are, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Breakthrough All-on-4 Dental Implant Technique Saving Smiles

This article explores one of the biggest problems associated with traditional tooth replacement technologies, namely, removable dentures: they do not prevent bone loss in the jaw. We then explain how All-on-4 dental implants bypass this problem.

The All-on-4 dental implant technique is an innovation in the field of implant dentistry and fixed oral rehabilitation. And just one of the reasons for this is that it enables patients who are either already edentulous (don’t have a single original adult tooth left) or are facing an immediate future of edentulism to have a brand new set of non-removable teeth placed in as little as a single day! The All-on-4 surgical protocol was designed in the early 1990’s by European implantologist Dr. Paulo Malo and has since gone on to successfully treat tens of thousands of edentulous and near-edentulous patients in the United States alone. If you have long suffered the crippling challenges and endless costs associated with wearing false teeth, or removable dentures, then perhaps it’s time you considered a more sophisticated tooth replacement technology. The All-on-4 in Houston offers just that: a brand new set of teeth that look, function and feel just like natural teeth!

All-on-4

All-on-4 Dental Implant Protocol: About Periodontal (Gum) Disease

The All-on-4 surgical protocol for the placement of dental implants is a real step above traditional tooth replacement technologies because it makes candidates out of patients that present with advanced periodontal (gum) disease. Periodontal disease is an acute bacterial infection of the soft tissues surrounding the teeth, explains the All-on-4 dentist. Without timely professional intervention, the harmful bacteria migrate deep down into the spaces between the tooth roots and the gum walls, creating deep pockets of toxin that are impossible for the patient to clean. Over time, tooth decay and bacterial infection cause tooth loss, which, if left without replacement, results in atrophy of the supporting hard tissue: the jaw bone. This may sound like a problem only a minority of the population suffers from, but did you know that a staggering 80% of all Americans present with some stage of gum infection or disease?

According to the dental professionals that perform the All-on-4 in Houston, one of the many problems with gum disease is that it doesn’t necessarily cause any painful symptoms, which makes it easy for the sufferer to ignore for years. This is especially true for those that harbor a fear of the dentist. In the early stages of periodontal disease, symptoms such as bleeding gums when brushing, bad breath, mild tooth discoloration and gum inflammation can quite easily be ignored. Consequently, say All-on-4 dentists, by the time a patient desperately requires professional intervention, the damage done to the teeth and jaw bone is irreversible!

All-on-4 Houston

All-on-4 in Houston and Traditional Dental Implant Protocols

All right, so the All-on-4 in Houston offers a fantastic comprehensive solution to edentulism and near-edentulism, even for patients presenting with advanced periodontal disease. But how does the breakthrough All-on-4 technique differ from the traditional protocols for the placement of dental implants? Perhaps the greatest and most significant difference between the All-on-4 in Houston and older surgical protocols is that the latter almost always requires bone grafting surgery before the jaw bone is able to support dental implants. As a result of jaw bone remodeling and the loss of bone volume caused by atrophy, this preliminary procedure becomes a necessary step in a patient’s journey to oral rehabilitation, explain All-on-4 dentists.

The problem with bone grafting is that it is an invasive and therefore, painful procedure that is expensive and requires months of healing before the jaw bone is strong enough to support dental implants. The All-on-4 in Houston almost always avoids the need for bone grafting surgery through the very unique positioning and precise angulation of only four dental implants in the mouth. The All-on-4 dentist then uses the abutments of these four dental implants (hence the name of the procedure) to support a fully customized prosthetic dental bridge. Without the need for bone grafting, the entire All-on-4 procedure can be completed in as little as a single day, with a single surgery!

All-on-4

The All-on-4 in Houston: In Conclusion

It is thanks to the unprecedented treatment time and the fantastic solutions provided by All-on-4 dental implants that this tooth replacement protocol has earned its ‘breakthrough’ reputation. Dentures no longer have to be the future of people that have lost most, if not all of their teeth over the years. Say ‘hello’ to a much better quality of life with the All-on-4 in Houston!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Denture-wearer? Here’s How All on Four Implants in Houston Could Change Your Life! PART 3

This three-part article series discusses the key differences between All on 4 dental implants and removable dentures and how these differences can really change a patient’s life and quality thereof.


Welcome to the final installment of our article series on All on Four implants in Houston! In our introductory article, we took a detailed look at what All on Four implants in Houston are and how this breakthrough surgical protocol works. In our second installment, we discussed the bite function benefits and advantages of dental implants over removable dentures. Now, in the final part of the series, we shall take a look at how All on Four implants in Houston compare with dentures as far as oral comfort, convenience and smile aesthetics are concerned.


All on Four Implants in Houston Vs. Removable Dentures: Oral Comfort and Convenience

All on Four implants Houston

Removable dentures cause all sorts of problems for patients:

  • Their bulkiness can trigger the gag reflex in more sensitive patients.
  • They impede one’s ability to taste their food properly.
  • They harbor food and bacteria causing bad breath.
  • They need to be removed after meals for cleaning and at nighttime.
  • They press down uncomfortable on the gums causing pain while eating.
  • They slip around and can even fall out if they don’t fit snugly.
  • They require patients to repeatedly spend money on adhesive strips to prevent slippage.
  • Dentures require refitting every few years or so because of the loss of hard tissue volume in the jaw (caused by tooth loss.)

All on Four implants in Houston are used to support a fully customized and non-removable prosthetic dental bridge in the mouth. Because this bridge reaps all the support it needs to remain permanently ‘anchored,’ its construction is much slimmer and far less bulky. Consequently:

  • All on Four implants in Houston do not trigger the gag reflex.
  • They do not impeded one’s ability to taste their food properly, which makes meal times far more enjoyable!
  • All on Four implants in Houston support a bridge that sits tightly against the gums, so it cannot harbor food and bacteria. This promotes a greater standard of oral hygiene.
  • The bridge is non-removable and cleaned just like natural teeth; with regular and thorough brushing and flossing.
  • All on Four implants in Houston do not cause any oral pain or discomfort.
  • The bridge affixed to All on Four implants in Houston cannot move around or fall out.
  • All on Four implants in Houston last decades before restoration or replacement becomes necessary.

All on Four Implants in Houston Vs. Removable Dentures: Smile Aesthetics

All on Four implants

Removable dentures rely upon their bulk to prevent them from slipping around in the patient’s mouth. As a result:

  • They push against the lips from the inside, making them look thin and stretched.
  • They cause unnatural smile aesthetics.
  • Dentures do not keep the underlying jaw bone alive and stimulated. The resultant steady loss of jaw bone tissue causes that aged and sunken oral appearance we typically associate with the elderly.

All on Four implants in Houston, on the other hand, support a very slim and far more natural-looking bridge, which:

  • Doesn’t push against the lips from inside the mouth, making them appear old and stretched.
  • Is fabricated from high quality and durable materials to be virtually indistinguishable in aesthetics from a full set of natural, healthy teeth.
  • All on Four implants in Houston support a healthy jaw bone, which prevents atrophy from affecting a patient’s natural youthful facial contours in the long term.

All on Four Implants in Houston: The Natural Choice

When it comes to your quality of life and smile confidence, nothing can beat the benefits and advantages offered by All on Four implants in Houston. Make that investment in the future of your oral health, comfort, bite functionality and smile aesthetics today and you will enjoy the benefits for a lifetime.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Denture-wearer? Here’s How All on 4 Implants Could Change Your Life! PART 2

This three-part article series discusses the key differences between All on 4 dental implants and removable dentures and how these differences can really change a patient’s life and quality thereof.


In our previous article post, we described what All on 4 implants are and how they work to provide a fixed and non-removable tooth replacement solution to those patients that are either already wearing dentures, or are facing an immediate future of edentulism (not having a single original adult tooth left.) In this article, the second installment of a three-part series on the benefits of All on 4 implants, we shall begin to take a look at how this breakthrough surgical protocol could change your life if you’re in desperate need of new teeth.

Removable Dentures: Not Cutting it Anymore!

All on 4 implants

Prior to the innovation of dental implant protocols (such as All on 4 implants) designed to treat patients presenting with multiple and comprehensive tooth loss, the most popular approach to teeth replacement was dentures. Removable dentures look like a complete set of teeth and the plastic gums that they are mounting into are designed and shaped to fit neatly over the soft tissue-covered jaw bone ridge in the upper and lower jaw. Dentures rely on their bulkiness to prevent them from slipping around and falling out. But over the years, the steady loss of jaw bone tissue caused by the missing teeth result in dentures that fit less and less. Greater slipping causes trauma to the gums as well as general oral discomfort. There is a whole host of problems associated with removable dentures. Let’s explore these in a systematic way and then compare them to the solutions provided by All on 4 implants.

All on 4 Implants Vs. Removable Dentures: Bite Functionality


Dentures rest upon the jaw bone ridge and consequently transmit all the forces associated with eating directly to the underlying gums. This:

• Limits a patient’s bite force.
• Causes irritation and inflammation of the gums, as well as the development of sores that aren’t given a chance to heal.
• Restricts the kinds of foods patients can comfortably enjoy.
• Necessitates a repeated investment in anesthetic gels to numb the pain caused by eating with dentures.
• Can lead to malnutrition, especially in the elderly.

All on 4 implants are supported directly by the jaw bone, like natural teeth. As a result, they transmit all the forces associated with eating into this hard tissue and not to the delicate and vulnerable underlying gums. So:

• All on 4 implants enable patients to bite down with a much stronger force.
• They allow patients to comfortably eat all the foods they love without compromise.
• All on 4 implants do not apply any pressure to the underlying gums and therefore do not cause any irritation, inflammation or pain.
• They do not require patients to constantly buy anesthetic gels to numb the pain associated with eating.
• All on 4 implants enable patients to eat a much healthier and more balanced diet.

All on 4

Stay Tuned for More on All on 4 Implants

To read more about how All on 4 implants can totally revolutionize your quality of life, stay tuned for the third and final installment of this informative article series.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Denture-wearer? Here’s How All on Four Dental Implants Could Change Your Life! PART 1

This three-part article series discusses the key differences between All on 4 dental implants and removable dentures and how these differences can really change a patient’s life and quality thereof.


Have you lost most or all of your teeth? Do you currently wear or are facing an immediate future of needing dentures, or false teeth? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then listen up. You do not need to resign the rest of your life to the challenges and repeated expenses associated with this inferior and uncomfortable tooth replacement technology. All on Four dental implants are the solution to edentulism (not having a single original adult tooth left) and near-edentulism recommended by implant dentists around the world. In this three-part article series we shall be exploring the many benefits and advantages of All on Four dental implants over removable dentures. We shall also be explaining how these key differences will totally revolutionize your quality of life and smile confidence!

All on Four Dental Implants: A Definition

Before you can fully appreciate the difference between removable dentures and All on Four dental implants, you need to understand what the latter essentially are! The ‘All on Four’ is a surgical protocol or method for the placement of dental implants. It involves the insertion of – as the name suggests – four dental implants in regions of the jaw that naturally contain a greater volume of atrophy resistant bone tissue. This enables implant dentists to provide even those patients that suffer from advanced jaw bone atrophy and volume loss with a fixed and non-removable tooth replacement solution. These are the patients that have been told in the past, as a result of jaw bone loss, that they are not candidates for dental implant procedures.

All on Four Dental implants

Once the four implants have been placed (two in the region of the second and third molars, two near the front of the mouth – see image above), the dentist will affix a non-removable prosthetic dental bridge to the abutments of the implants. This prosthesis is expertly fabricated from molds and X-rays taken of your teeth and jaw during a prior consultation. Its construction from high quality and durable materials enable patients to use their new teeth just as they would their original natural teeth; before they went missing of course! One of the greatest things about All on Four dental implants is that the entire procedure can be completed in as little as a single surgery of a few hours only. So, essentially, All on Four dental implants enable edentulous and near-edentulous patients to get a full set of beautiful, immediately functional and non-removable teeth in one day. And this is a feat that goes without precedent in implant dentistry.

All on Four Dental Implants: Stay Tuned!

All on Four dental implants have drastically changed the way modern dentists approach the treatment of edentulous and near-edentulous patients; in particular those that suffer from advanced periodontitis, or gum disease. Now that you have a better understanding of what All on Four dental implants are, we shall spend the next two articles exploring all the benefits and advantages of this sophisticated tooth replacement protocol over the antiquated solutions provided by removable dentures.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Want to Avoid Tooth Loss, Says the Dental Implant Surgeon in Houston? 19 Habits To Stop, PART 4

This four-part article series discusses 19 habits that, through various mechanisms (both short and long term) lead to the degradation of the health of your teeth, gums and jaw bone.

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on the top 19 habits to stop if you want to avoid ever needing Houston dental implants as a result of tooth decay and subsequent loss. In our previous three posts, the dental implant surgeon in Houston discussed the following 13 points:

1. Chewing on ice,
2. Tongue and lip piercings,
3. Playing sports without a mouth guard,
4. Giving babies bedtime bottles
5. Teeth grinding,
6. Regularly sucking on cough drops,
7. Chewing on gummy candy,
8. Sipping on soft drinks,
9. Using your teeth as tools,
10. Drinking sports and energy drinks,
11. Regularly drinking fruit juices,
12. Indulging in potato chips,
13. Constant snacking.

In this, the final installment of the series, we shall explore the final 6 habits to avoid if you want to (1) keep your teeth in excellent lifelong condition and (2) avoid ever needing Houston dental implants.

Dental Implant Surgeon in Houston: Habit to Avoid # 14 ~ Chewing on Pencils

Houston dental implant
Just as the dental implant surgeon in Houston warns you against chewing on ice, so too should you avoid munching on the end of your pencil. Chronic habits like this can do substantial damage to the dental enamel, rendering the tooth more vulnerable to bacteria, decay and infection and possibly even the need for replacement with a Houston dental implant.

Recommendation: If you have the urge to chew, opt for sugarless gum, advises the dental implant surgeon in Houston: it tastes better!

Dental Implant Surgeon in Houston: Habit to Avoid # 15 ~ Coffee Addiction

There’s nothing wrong with the occasional cup of coffee, says the dental implant surgeon in Houston, but drinking multiple cups every day can contribute to severe staining of the dental enamel. Coffee is heavy in acid and dark tannins, which can render your pearly whites a less attractive shade of yellow.

Recommendations: There are a number of things you can do to prevent dental staining from coffee-drinking, says the dental implant surgeon in Houston. (1) Chase sips of coffee with water, (2) add milk to your coffee to lessen its staining effect and (3) limit the amount of coffee you drink every day. If your teeth are already quite stained from your five-a-day habit, then ask your dentist about the various whitening methods they have, suggests the dental implant surgeon in Houston.

Dental Implant Surgeon in Houston: Habit to Avoid # 16 ~ Smoking

Dental implant surgeon Houston
There is no greater death sentence to your teeth than smoking, warns the dental implant surgeon in Houston. Smoking causes dental staining, bad breath, inflamed gums, oral cancer and periodontal (gum) disease, the latter two of which leads to tooth loss and the need for Houston dental implants. Ironically, however, smoking also compromises the success of implant procedures, so you may not even be able to replace the teeth that have gone missing as a result of your lifelong habit!

Recommendations: Break free of this crippling habit and you can save your teeth, your smile and your life, urges the dental implant surgeon in Houston.

Dental Implant Surgeon in Houston n: Habit to Avoid # 17 ~ Drinking Red Wine

One glass of red wine with dinner is actually very good for you, says the dental implant surgeon in Houston. But frequent exposure to the acids that are naturally found in wine can result in the erosion of your dental enamel, creating rough spots on the tooth crowns that render them more susceptible to staining. Red wine, in particular, is full of tannins and a dark pigment called chromogens. These are responsible for that comical purple smile you have after a glass or two.

Recommendation: Everything in moderation. And pair your wine with water.

Dental Implant Surgeon in Houston: Habit to Avoid # 18 ~ Drinking White Wine

Dental implant surgeon Houston

Unfortunately, white wine isn’t that much better either. The high acidic content of this beverage still leave the enamel weakened and more vulnerable to staining from other dark-colored foods and drinks, such as your post-dinner coffee.

Recommendation: As with red wine, says the dental implant surgeon in Houston, pair your white wine with water. You can also invest in dental whitening toothpaste, which contains low concentrations of bleaching agent. This will combat the accumulation of staining from red and white wine.

Dental Implant Surgeon in Houston: Habit to Avoid # 19 ~ Binge Eating

Houston dental implant
Eating disorders not only wreak havoc upon the body, they do irreparable damage to your teeth as well, says the dental implant surgeon in Houston. Many people who had eating disorders in their teens have ended up requiring Houston dental implants to replace teeth that were lost as a result of malnutrition and tooth decay from constant acid exposure (in the case of bulimics). Binge eating is no better as one tends to indulge in foods that are high in sugar, such as sweets.

Recommendation: Seek immediate professional help from a general doctor and a psychologist. Eating disorders are terribly destructive and can do lifelong damage to your body and youthful smile.

A Final Note on Houston Dental Implants

Houston dental implants offer the most comprehensive and long term solution to single and multiple missing teeth. Yet, in spite of their sophistication as a dental technology, they simply cannot rival the aesthetics and functionality of your own natural teeth. Follow the advice laid out in this four part article series, says the dental implant surgeon in Houston, and you’ll keep your teeth beautiful and healthy for life!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Want to Avoid Tooth Loss and the Need for Implant Dentistry in Houston? 19 Habits To Stop, PART 3

This four-part article series discusses 19 habits that, through various mechanisms (both short and long term) lead to the degradation of the health of your teeth, gums and jaw bone.

Welcome to the third installment of this four-part article series on the top 19 habits to cease if you want to avoid developing the array of oral diseases and maladies that lead to tooth loss and the need for Houston dental implants. In the first two articles, we discussed 8 of these habits and, according to professionals in Implant dentistry in Houston, they are:

1. Chewing on ice,
2. Tongue and lip piercings,
3. Playing sports without a mouth guard,
4. Giving babies bedtime bottles
5. Teeth grinding,
6. Regularly sucking on cough drops,
7. Chewing on gummy candy,
8. Sipping on soft drinks.

In this article, the third installment of the series, we shall discuss another 5 habits to cease if you want to avoid the need for Houston dental implants and reach late adulthood with a complete set of beautiful, healthy teeth.

Implant Dentistry in Houston: Habit to Avoid # 9 ~ Using Your Teeth as Tools

Implant dentistry HoustonThat party trick of yours may impress your friends, but using your teeth to open bottles, pry open stubborn containers and tear packaging is one habit that makes professionals in implant dentistry in Houston absolutely cringe! This kind of treatment can cause your pearly whites to become cracked, chipped and/or fractured, making them more vulnerable to oral bacteria.

Recommendation: Avoiding the need for Houston dental implants means only using your teeth for what they are intended: eating. Use a bottle opener and scissors next time!

Implant Dentistry in Houston: Habit to Avoid # 10 ~ Sports and Energy Drinks

There’s nothing like an ice-cold energy drink after a solid workout on the treadmill or bike, but the problem with these kinds of beverages is that they’re high in sugar and in acid. Frequently indulging in sport drinks may provide you with the kick you need to attain those exercise goals, but they can increase your risk of tooth decay, warn professionals in implant dentistry in Houston.

Recommendations: The very best way to stay hydrated at the gym is to drink good old fashioned water. It comes without the calories and sugar.

Implant Dentistry in Houston: Habit to Avoid # 11 ~ Fruit Juice

Implant dentistry HoustonJust like sports and energy drinks, fruit juices are heavy in sugar and are highly acidic. They may be rich in vitamins, but you need to be careful about how frequently you indulge in them, explain professionals in implant dentistry in Houston.

Recommendations: If you love your fruit juice, opt for those that are unsweetened and also perhaps add a little water to dilute it. Don’t treat juice as a thirst quencher, stress professionals in implant dentistry in Houston. Regular consumption of sugary, acidic beverages increases your risk of needing Houston dental implants in the future.

Implant Dentistry in Houston: Habit to Avoid # 12 ~ Indulging in Potato Chips!

Bacteria are notorious for their love of all things unhealthy. In addition to their affinity for sugar, they are quite fond of starchy foods and will break down the particles that are left in your mouth after a snack on acids. This acid corrodes away at the dental enamel, explain professionals in implant dentistry in Houston, which can leave your oral health at risk.

Recommendation: Try to limit your intake of potato chips – they’re not great for you anyway. But if you can’t resist a snack, make sure you brush your teeth afterwards, or at least wash it down with some water. Good hygiene will help prevent you from ever needing Houston dental implants.

Implant Dentistry in Houston: Habit to Avoid # 13 ~ Constant Snacking

Houston dental implantsEvery time you eat, the pH levels in your mouth drop (become acidic), say professionals in implant dentistry in Houston. Eating a full meal produces greater amounts of saliva, which help to wash away the sugary residues and food particles left behind in your mouth. Snacking doesn’t.

Recommendation: Avoid snacking too frequently and when you do, stick to foods that are healthy and low in sugar, like whole-grain bars or carrot sticks, advise professionals in implant dentistry in Houston.

Implant Dentistry in Houston: Stay Tuned

To read about the final 6 habits that could, one day, see you requiring Houston dental implants, stay tuned for the fourth installment of this article series.