Wednesday, February 27, 2013

All on Four Dental Implants in Houston: 5 Ways to Keep Your Teeth!

This article explains five ways you can keep your original natural teeth in excellent lifelong condition, preventing you from ever requiring dental implants to replace them.

All on Four dental implants in Houston are widely regarded by Houston dentists to be the best possible treatment solution for edentulism (the state of being toothless) and near-edentulism. But there is one option that is by far better and that’s keeping all of your original teeth! No matter how advanced the field of oral rehabilitation gets, nothing can rival your own biological technology. So, instead of discussing the benefits and advantages of the “All-on-4” as a teeth replacement solution, we’re going to explain five things you can do to keep your full set of natural teeth in excellent lifelong condition.

Tip # 1: Look After Your Teeth

All on Four dental implants Houston

The biggest cause of tooth loss is periodontal (gum) disease and tooth decay, both of which are wholly preventable. By maintaining a high standard of oral hygiene, you can keep the nasty oral ailments that cause tooth loss at bay. Your home oral hygiene routine should include:

  • Twice daily (at least) brushing for two minutes at a time
  • Flossing before you go to bed at night
  • Optional: using an ADA-approved antibacterial mouthwash between brushes

Tip # 2: Go to the Dentist and Oral Hygienist Twice a Year

Going for regular scheduled dental check-ups and professional cleanings will ensure that any oral problems are diagnosed and treated in their infancy. A mild localized infection can be treated before it spreads; a cavity can be filled before it causes the entire tooth to decay and a small irregular patch can be biopsied to determine if it is dangerous. Prevention and early treatment are always better than cure, so start scheduling those appointments today!

Tip # 3: Stop smoking

Smoking causes gum disease and tooth loss, amongst a whole host of other nasty illnesses. Smoking also compromises the healing success of surgical procedures, such as dental implant placement. Quitting tobacco will not only increase your chances of keeping all of your teeth in good condition until your golden years, it will also increase your chance of actually getting to your golden years!

Tip # 4: Eat Healthily

All-on-4

What you put into your body is what you can expect to get out. Eating a healthy and balanced diet promotes whole-body health and your immunity against infection. Try to cut sugar out as much as possible, because it encourages oral bacteria to flourish. The dentist wasn’t joking when he explained that sugar causes cavities!

Tip # 5: Love Your Smile

Too many people take their oral health for granted. The condition of your teeth doesn’t appear to change from day to day, so where’s the harm in skipping the odd brush? Well, in the long term, the harm can be considerable. If you love your teeth and if you love your smile, you will do what it takes to keep them in excellent condition. This requires a daily investment of time and effort that is, if you think about it, quite negligible! Love your smile and take the time to look after your pearly whites, so that you can save yourself the expense of having to replace your teeth with Houston dental implants.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Implant Dentistry in Houston: Comparing Implants With Dentures

This article provides a brief overview of the difference between dental implants and dentures as replacement solutions for missing teeth.

Dentures have been in use since around 700 BC. Originally, removable prosthetic teeth were made from human teeth, animal teeth or wood; more recently from porcelain or acrylic. For many years they were the only option available to those with missing teeth but they come with several drawbacks. Houston dental implants are readily available in Houston and are a relatively new method of replacing teeth that offers many benefits over dentures. Implant dentistry can provide Houston dental patients with long-term solutions to the many functional and aesthetic problems caused by having missing teeth.

The Drawbacks of Dentures

Implant dentistry Houston

Removable dentures are prosthetic teeth that rest on the gum and which are designed to have the outward appearance and function of natural teeth. The fact that dentures have been in use for much of human history indicates that they serve a purpose, but they have certain shortcomings as well. Tooth loss causes atrophy of the bone under the gums. As the bone loses density and shrinks, it can cause dentures to fit poorly and uncomfortably over time.

Dentures that do not fit can cause the wearer problems when attempting to chew food and may also impede speech. The result of the bone deterioration is that dentures will have to be refitted at regular intervals.  Aside from poor fitting, other issues with dentures include the fact that they need to be removed and cleaned regularly with denture cleaner, they can trigger the gag reflex and cause the development of painful sores in the mouth. Some shocking studies reveal that denture-wearing can shorten one’s life expectancy by 10 years as a result of malnutrition.

How Dental Implants Work

Houston dental implants

Dental implants consist of three parts: a post, an abutment and a crown. These parts work together to provide an approximation of natural teeth that is structurally closer to the real thing than any other type of tooth replacement. The post is made of titanium, an exceptionally strong and non-corrosive metal that is totally bio-compatible and readily accepted by the human body. This post serves as the foundation or anchor for the rest of the implant. Once the post is in place, the dentist will attach the abutment to it. The abutment may itself be made of titanium or of ceramic. The purpose of the abutment is to support the crown, which is the only part of the replacement tooth that is visible above the gum line. The crown is expertly fabricated in an on-site laboratory to be virtually indistinguishable from a natural tooth and is usually made of strong and durable dental ceramic.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

There is no danger of implants slipping as they are connected to the titanium post. Furthermore, they are designed to look and function like the patient's natural teeth and there is also no atrophy of the jawbone. One's ability to speak and eat is fully restored. The only maintenance needed for dental implants is regular cleaning, as is the case with natural teeth. Sometimes, crown restorations are necessary, but these are rare; it is possible for wearers to get decades of use from their implants without any problems.

For Houston residents with missing teeth, modern dentistry has provided the closest approximation to real teeth thus far in human history. The services of a dentist who specializes in implant dentistry in Houston provide a comprehensive solution to the problems that come with poorly fitted dentures.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Understanding the Basics of All on Four Dental Implants

This article provides an explanation of what dental implants are, the placement procedure required and the benefits they offer.

If you have lost all your upper or lower teeth, you don’t have to opt for an inferior tooth replacement technology, such as removable partial and full dentures. All on four dental implants, which are as close as possible to natural teeth that you will ever find, offer a fantastic alternative.

Before advancements in dental implant surgeries, patients would have to undergo many invasive procedures, as only a limited number of implants could be placed per surgery. Having a complete set of teeth placed using dental implants could take up to 18 months and cost an exorbitant amount of money! With the conception of “All-on-4” dental implants, this is thankfully no longer the case. The "All-on-4" enables patients to return home on the same day of their procedure, with a new set of beautiful, immediately functional and, of course, fixed and non-removable teeth.

This is made possible by the ability of this breakthrough procedure to almost always avoid the need for bone grafting surgery, even in cases where patients present with a significant loss of jawbone volume.

The Procedure of Placing All on Four Dental Implants

All on Four

After you have made an appointment with an implant dentist, he or she will ascertain whether or not you are a candidate for the procedure. The dentist will take down your medical history, conduct a visual examination of your mouth and also take 2D and 3D X-ray images of your jaw and dentition. Based on the results of these tests and examinations, the dentist plans the treatment, which could involve extracting any remaining failing teeth. Once the dentist has confirmed your candidacy for the procedure, he or she will give you a date to come in for your “All on Four” dental implant surgery.

On the day of your procedure, you will be gently sedated. The dentist will then perform any necessary tooth extractions before preparing your mouth for the implants. Thereafter, two implants are placed in the anterior (front) portion of the jaw and another two in the posterior (back), at an angle. Once the surgery is drawn to a close, you will be left to recover from the anesthesia while your customized non-removable dental prosthesis (new set of teeth) is prepared. These teeth are then fixed to the implants, giving you a new set of pearly whites... all within a single day!

The Benefits of All on four Dental Implants

This procedure offers the best results with minimal discomfort. You do not have to deal with temporary dentures. Even the healing time is shorter than most other procedures. The overall cost is tens of thousands of dollars less than traditional dental implant procedures. All on four dental implants offer long-term results and can last a lifetime with proper care and oral hygiene.

Other benefits include:

  • Gives a new smile within a single day
  • Boosts self-confidence
  • Allows you to eat all the foods you love
  • The teeth can be cleaned just like natural teeth (with daily brushing and flossing)
  • Does not press down on the gum to cause discomfort
  • Facilitates jawbone stimulation, which prevents atrophy and premature aging
  • Promotes youthful smile aesthetics, as the sunken-in appearance of the mouth disappears.

All on Four dental implants

All on four dental implants look and feel natural, so no one will even be able to tell that you have had all of your teeth replaced! Having beautiful new teeth encourages people to interacting with much greater confidence in both a social and professional environment.  Above all, you will be able to savor all kinds of foods, including hot and cold foods, with relish. This, together with the other benefits of dental implants, improves the overall quality of your life.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Houston Dental Implants and Bridges: A Comparison

This article compares dental implants and bridges and the benefits they offer people who have lost one or more of their original adult teeth.

If you have lost one or more of your original adult teeth, replacing them with either dental implants or a bridge can offer you many short and long-term benefits. These dental devices prevent your neighboring teeth from becoming loose and shifting; they also minimize the risk of bacterial infection from attacking the exposed tooth socket. Replacing missing teeth with a dental implant or bridge also fundamentally helps patients to eat and speak properly and with good confidence. However, before you opt for either Houston dental implants or a dental bridge, it is best to understand the difference between these two technologies. This will you help you to make the right choice.

What are Dental Implants?

Houston dental implants

A dental implant in Houston is a titanium screw that functions like a root for an artificial replacement tooth. This screw in placed in the mouth at the site/s of them missing tooth or teeth. Over the ensuing weeks, it fuses with the surrounding bone in a process termed ‘osseointegration’, essentially becoming a permanent part of your body. While this biological fusion is taking place, the implant dentist will places a temporary crown over the implant so that you don’t walk around with a noticeable gap in your smile. Complete healing typically takes anywhere from six weeks to nine months and is dependent on the location of the implant, the number of teeth replaced and individual's general and oral health. Once the healing is complete, the dentist will replace the temporary tooth crown with a permanent one.

What are Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth that are kept in place by way of a bridge that is fixed to two healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth. These natural healthy teeth are ground down to nubs in order to provide fixed support for the bridge. Alternatively, a bridge can be fixed to the adjacent healthy teeth using metal bands and resin cement. There is also the ‘cantilevered bridge’ that makes use of just a single tooth to stay in place.

Comparing Houston Dental Implants and Bridges

Both dental implants and dental bridges provide a great aesthetic solution to missing teeth.  They’re also both fixed quite sturdily in place, so they cannot shift around or fall out. There are, however, some significant differences between these technologies that have rendered implants the preferred teeth replacement method of dental healthcare professionals.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Houston Dental Implants and the Science of Restoring Smiles

Dental implants offer the most sophisticated tooth replacement solution to people who want a beautiful, healthy and confident smile back.

Your smile... do you take it for granted? Maybe it’s been a while since you last smiled with the full caliber of emotion you feel, because you believe that your teeth are not in very good condition. Perhaps you have suffered tooth loss or are facing the need to have decayed and or broken down teeth extracted. Unfortunately, few people appreciate the true value of a beautiful smile. It just goes to show that you don’t know what you have until you’ve lost it! So, what does your smile mean to you and your fellow human beings?

Houston Dental Implants

The Value of Smiling: Did You Know?

  • Certain physiological reactions take place when you smile, releasing endorphins into your body. These “happy” chemicals help to relieve stress and instantly boost your mood.
  • Scientific research indicates that the activation of certain muscles used for smiling trigger neurotransmitters in the brain. These then release certain chemicals in the brain, which regulate breathing, blood pressure and block stress hormones. In other words, smiling is excellent for good health!
  • Smiling is an intrinsic, instinctual part of our body language as human beings. Just think about it... even the most isolated people on Earth smile, even though their culture is so completely different and they are completely divorced from the rest of the world. Universally, a smile conveys intentions of good-will, acceptance and satisfaction.
  • We have the ability to smile since birth, proving that it is an ingrained mechanism for expression in humans. Babies begin smiling in the womb, literally as practice in winning over the acceptance and protection of adults when they are born. Babies naturally interpret smiles as encouragement of good behavior and learning.
  • People who smile often are statistically more likely to land a job or promotion. This is probably because people who smile more are just more likable!

Dental implants Houston

Your smile is important. So, even if you’ve lost one or more of your teeth, you should take the necessary steps to have it restored. Houston dental implants, without a doubt, offer the most sophisticated and long lasting solution to missing teeth.

Dental Implants in Houston: Benefits and Advantages

  • A dental implant consists of a titanium replacement ‘root’ for an original tooth that may have been lost due to infection, decay or physical trauma sustained during an accident. This replacement ‘root’ stimulates the jaw bone tissue the way the natural tooth root would have done. This promotes excellent jaw bone health and prevents further tooth loss, unlike other tooth replacement technologies, which only replace the crowns of the missing teeth.
  • Houston dental implants provide support for a durable and natural-looking ceramic tooth crown. This crown can withstand a natural bite force, without exerting pressure on the surrounding teeth or soft tissues, unlike dental bridges and removable dentures. Furthermore, unlike natural dental enamel, ceramic crowns won’t become stained or discolored.
  • Dental implant procedures in Houston are typically quite brief. A damaged or decayed tooth can be extracted and replaced within a single appointment!
  • Dental implants in Houston have a higher success rate than any other conventional method of dental restoration and they last decades longer.
  • If properly cared for, dental implants can last 20 or 30 years and even longer without the need for restoration or replacement. No other teeth replacement technology can compete.
  • Dental implants restore smile beauty and self confidence.

Houston Dental Implants

Houston Dental Implants: A Final Note

Dental implants are - functionally and aesthetically - the closest thing to having natural teeth one can get. One of their most important benefits is that they enable people to smile with all the confidence they thought they had forever lost. Now you can enjoy the successes that a confident and natural-looking smile brings.