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Periodontal Disease - Something You Should Know

Diseases of the gums and bone about the teeth are called "periodontal disease" in English. Gum disease encompasses a wide variety of conditions, most commonly seen are gingivitis and periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. The disease may be limited to one tooth, or all the teeth. The disease takes hold when bacterial plaque on the teeth causes the gums to be inflamed. Plaque is the sticky film that forms on your teeth; it is like glue that helps the bacteria to stay on your teeth.   Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease and is totally reversible with professional dental cleaning gum grafting durham and good home hygiene. Good home hygiene is not something people know how to do automatically. Most people need to be shown what to do so that they can get the most benefit from their brushing. Even people who brush well can benefit from some coaching. Even the best sports athletes in the world have coaches. The dentist and dental hygienist are tooth brushing coaches.  

Gingivitis that is left untreated can advance to periodontitis. This happens when bacterial plaque spreads below the gum line. Toxins in the plaque cause a chronic irritation in the gums and bone starting an immune response. This immune reaction causes the gums and bone to break down and be destroyed. As the bone around the teeth is destroyed, the space between the gums and teeth deepens and the disease progresses even faster with more destruction. The early stages of the disease often have mild symptoms, so many people are unaware of a serious problem developing and do not seek the help of a dentist. Signs of gum disease are:

Bright red, swollen, or tender gums Bleeding gums (gums should not bleed when you brush or floss) Shrinking gums Loose teeth Pus from around the teeth Bad breath that does not go away Change in the position of the teeth   Though the main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, other factors make it more likely for you to get this disease. First and foremost is tobacco use. Smokers have more gum disease and are more likely to loose teeth. Moreover, they do not respond as well to treatments for gum disease. Smoking is also a risk factor for developing serious oral cancer, as well. Other risk factors for periodontal disease are family history, stress, medications, clenching and grinding, diabetes, poor nutrition, and various systemic diseases. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of getting gum disease have been known for a long time, however, in recent years, gum disease as a risk factor for other medical conditions has become clear. Recent research by Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.M.D., the dean of University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, has shown that scaling and root planing resulted in an 84 percent reduction in premature births in women who were less than 35 weeks pregnant.

Scaling and root planing is a common gum procedure to clean the teeth above and below the gum line and poses no risk to the mother and unborn child. Premature birth is a significant problem in the United States with nearly 12 percent of the babies being born preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy). Preterm birth results in increased death and other long lasting problems for these babies. Before becoming pregnant all women should seek a gum and tooth exam as a way of avoiding this serious complication of pregnancy. For women who are already pregnant when gum disease is detected, scaling and root planing can still help. This treatment should probably be carried out in the second trimester.   Treatment for gum disease comprises many different modalities. Most common is scaling and root planing to clean the hard and soft deposits above and below the gum line. At the same time the dentist may use various antimicrobial agents placed in the space between the gums and tooth to help fight the bacteria and improve the healing.

For patients whose periodontitis has altered the gums and bone too much, various surgical therapies are often applied. Depending on the nature of the disease, new bone and gums may be grafted in localized sites to improve the condition. For patients whose tooth supporting bone loss is so great that they loose a tooth, dental implants may be an option to replace what they have lost.  Some treatments for the gums focus on cosmetics. These procedures are often called oral plastic surgery. Patients with a gummy smile (a display of too much gum when they smile) can be helped by reshaping the gums. Patients with an irregular line of gums, or with gum recession on individual teeth can be helped with various techniques to restore missing gum tissue. This often has not only a cosmetic benefit but, also helps to cover exposed root surfaces which are painfully sensitive to foods and cold liquids.

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Are Dental Implants for You?

A dental implant is a "root" device, usually made of titanium, used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth to replace missing teeth. A typical implant consists of a titanium screw (resembling a tooth root) with a roughened or smooth surface. The majority of dental implants are made out of commercially pure titanium, which is available in 4 grades depending upon the amount of carbon and iron contained.

They are used for the support periodontist raleigh and retention of dentures, fixed bridgework and the replacement of one or more missing teeth.

Virtually all dental implants placed today are root-form endosseous implants, i.e., they appear similar to an actual tooth root (and thus possess a "root-form"). They are placed within the jaw bone and become attached to surrounding jaw bone. The bone of the jaw accepts and Osseo integrates with the titanium post.

Osseointegration refers to the fusion of the implant surface with the surrounding bone. Dental implants will fuse with bone, however they lack the periodontal ligament, so they will feel slightly different than natural teeth do during chewing functions.

The implants remain rigid rather than have some flexibility that natural teeth have because they are attached individually to a periodontal ligament.

Prior to the advent of root-form endosseous implants, most implants were either blade endosseous implants, in that the shape of the metal piece placed within the bone resembled a flat blade, or sub-periosteal implants, in which a framework was constructed to lie upon and was attached with screws to the exposed bone of the jaws.

Dental implants can be used to support a number of dental prostheses, including crowns, implant-supported bridges or dentures. They can also be used as anchorage for orthodontic tooth movement. The use of dental implants permits un-directional tooth movement without reciprocal action.

You should know that not every person may be a candidate for receiving a dental implant. There has to be enough supporting bone present particularly in the upper jaw that is in such close proximity to the maxillary sinus. You also must have good oral hygiene and be in good general health.

That being said, certain invasive surgical procedures can be implemented like bone grafts, or bone augmentations and/or sinus lifts to provide enough bone. One obvious contra-indication for implants is placing them in the lower jaw to close or touching to the mandibular canal which has the mandibular nerve running through it.

Placing implants in such places could result in prolonged and/or permanent numbness of the lower lip and jaw. A very undesirable outcome indeed!

Although many dental professionals can provide you with implants, you must do your due diligence and ensure that the professional you select, is highly trained and experienced in dental implant procedures.

Oral surgeons, Periodontists, Endodontists and general dental practitioners who have had the necessary training and education can perform this service for you.

The actual dental implant procedure is not usually painful during or after the surgical placement. It is usually performed with the use of a local anesthetic but alternative methods like nitrous oxide, IV sedation and/or general anesthetic procedures are available.

If you decide to have your General Practitioner do this procedure, make sure to ask how many he or she has done. And ask them where and when they got their training in implant procedures.

The healing time required prior to loading and placing the denture, crown or fixed bridge on the implant may vary widely. I believe most practitioners will allow from 2-6 months for the healing process and complete bone integration to take place.

That said, the immediate placement into a recent extraction site and immediate loading has recently become more common because the success rates for this procedure are now quite acceptable.

If you should see a dental implant advertisement that states " Teeth in a day",it is a procedure more appropriate for a completely edentulous (no teeth present) case where all of the teeth are to be extracted or have already been extracted.

You might ask what is the rate of success for dental implants? Well that depends on the operators skills, on the quality and quantity of bone present, the patient's oral hygiene and condition of the remaining teeth and supportive gum tissue.

A patients who smokes, have diabetes, poor oral hygiene habits and/or other compromising general health issues are NOT very good candidates for a successful implant procedures.

The success rate in good candidates are extremely high. Around 95%. The cost of a basic dental implant is typically $1,250 to $3,000. Depending on your circumstances, additional costs for things such as in the case of a posterior mandible, bone regeneration, sinus elevation, and wide diameter or narrow diameter implants can quickly escalate the costs involved to as much as $15,000 to $30,000 for the complete procedure for the upper or lower jaw.

That being said, a related cost of a un-complicated single implant can vary between 1500.00 and 3,000.00 depending where you live and who is doing the surgery.

Many dental schools for example may have a specialty program which may offer to do a single implant for a considerable discount compared to private practice. Consequently, if you live near a dental school and get accepted into their dental school implant program, you may be able to have an implant or implants done at a reduced price.

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The Truth About Dental Implants

There are three (not serious) main questions, when you understand that you need a dental implant procedure:

1. How much dental implant cost? 2. What are main dental implant prices? 3. Can I get free dental implant? Actually, dentures implant procedure is one of the most expensive things you can do at dentists office.

In the past, dentists would try to keep or replace teeth with treatments such as root canals, bridges, and fixed or removable dentures. Unfortunately, a significant number of root canal treated teeth fail, bridges require that healthy adjacent teeth be cut down dental implants raleigh and removable dentures can often be unstable and require the use of sticky adhesives. Dental implants are a solution to these problems, and many of the concerns associated with natural teeth are eliminated, including dental decay.

A Single-Tooth Implant

Single-tooth implants can be used in people who are missing one or more teeth. An tooth implant is surgically placed in an opening that is made by your dentist in the jawbone. After the implant integrates (attaches) to your bone, it acts as a new "root" for the crown that will be replacing your missing tooth. A crown (cap), which is made to look like a natural tooth, is attached to the implant and fills the space left in the mouth by the missing tooth.

For this procedure to work, there must be enough bone in the jaw, and the bone has to be strong enough to hold and support the tooth implant. If there is not enough bone, be may need to be added with a procedure called bone augmentation. In addition, natural teeth and supporting tissues near where the implant will be placed must be in good health.

There are plenty of reasons to replace a missing tooth. A gap between your teeth, if obvious when you smile or speak, is a cosmetic concern.

Depending on their location, some missing teeth may affect your speech. A missing molar might not be noticeable when you talk or smile, but its absence can affect chewing.

When a tooth is missing, the biting force on the remaining teeth begins to change. As the bite changes to compensate for the lost tooth, there is a risk of extra pressure on and discomfort in the jaw joints. If a missing tooth is not replaced, the surrounding teeth can shift. Harmful plaque and tartar can collect in new hard-to-reach places created by the shifting teeth. Over time, this may lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease.

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is one option for replacing a tooth. Implants are manufactured devices that are placed surgically in the upper or lower jaw, where they function as anchors for replacement teeth. Implants are made of titanium and other materials that are compatible with the human body.

An implant-restored tooth consists of several parts.

The implant, which is made of titanium, is placed in the upper or lower jawbone. The abutment can be made of titanium, gold or porcelain. It is attached to the implant with a screw. This part connects the implant to the crown. The restoration (the part that looks like a tooth) is a crown, usually made of porcelain fused to a metal alloy (PFM), but also could be an all-metal or all-porcelain crown. The crown is attached either to the abutment or directly to the implant. It can be screwed or cemented onto the abutment. If the crown is screwed to the abutment, the screw hole will be covered with restorative material such as tooth-colored filling material (composite). An implant looks and feels like a natural tooth. It fits securely when you chew and speak. A single-tooth implant is a free-standing unit and does not involve treatment to the adjacent teeth. With a dental implant, the surrounding teeth can remain untouched if they are healthy, and their strength and integrity may be maintained. The implant can stabilize your bite and help prevent problems with the jaw. What Happens During the Tooth Implant Procedure?

Treatment generally is a three-part process that takes several months. Your dentist may provide the treatment, or you may be referred to a specialist - such as a periodontist, a prosthodontistor an oral and maxillofacial surgeon - for all or part of the treatment.

In the first step, the dentist surgically places the implant in the jaw, with the top of the implant slightly above the top of the bone. A screw is inserted into the implant to prevent gum tissue and other debris from entering.

The gum then is secured over the implant, where it will remain covered for approximately three to six months while the implant fuses with the bone, a process called "Osseo integration. "There may be some swelling and/or tenderness for a few days after the surgery, so pain medication usually is prescribed to alleviate the discomfort. A diet of soft foods, cold foods and warm soup often is recommended during the healing process.

In the second step, the implant is uncovered and the dentist attaches an extension, called a "post," to the implant. The gum tissue is allowed to heal around the post. Once healing is complete, the implant and post will serve as the foundation for the new tooth.

In the final step, the dentist makes a custom artificial tooth, called a "dental crown," of a size, shape, color and fit that will blend with the other teeth. Once completed, the crown is attached to the implant post.

And now, maybe most important part.

We'll try to answer if dental implants are good choice for you.

If you are missing a tooth, or teeth you could be an ideal candidate for implants, especially if your smile reveals missing teeth! If you are uncomfortable with the way your dentures fit. Loose dentures can cause sore gums because of friction or food trapped under the bridgework. Loose teeth from gum disease may need support. Dental implants can give you a new base to support new teeth to function and feel like natural teeth. In these instances, dental implants can help. Success and failure rates for dental implant procedure.

Dental implant success is related to operator skill, quality and quantity of the bone available at the site, and also to the patient's oral hygiene. Various studies have found the 5 year success rate of implants to be between 75-95%. Patients who smoke experience significantly poorer success rates.

Failure of a dental implant is usually related to failure to osseointegrate correctly. A dental implant is considered to be a failure if it is lost, mobile or shows peri-implant bone loss of greater than one mm in the first year after implanting and greater than 0.2mm a year after that.

Dental implants are not susceptible to dental caries but they can develop a periodontal condition called peri-implantitis where correct oral hygiene routines have not been followed. Risk of failure is increased in smokers. For this reason implants are frequently placed only after a patient has stopped smoking as the treatment is very expensive. More rarely, an implant may fail because of poor positioning at the time of surgery, or may be overloaded initially causing failure to integrate.

Does it very hurt to have dental implants placed?

The actual procedure to surgically place a dental implant is done under local anesthesia and is generally not at all painful. When the anesthesia wears off about three or four hours later, you might expect some discomfort. The level of discomfort is quite different from patient to patient, but most patients do not have significant problems.

In cases where there is prolonged pain, you should see your dentist right away. Prolonged pain is not a good sign with dental implants and although it does not always mean failure, the cause of the pain should be determined as soon as possible. If an implant is not properly integrating into the adjacent bone or if an infection develops, the implant may have to be removed.

What are the alternatives to implants?

The alternatives to implants are dentures or bridges. On the other hand, you may choose to simply accept the space where a tooth is missing.

A denture usually includes a metal and/or plastic base carrying plastic or porcelain artificial teeth. It is a removable replacement for a few missing teeth (partial denture) or a whole set of teeth (complete dentures). Dentures are very common but they can become loose, making it difficult to eat and speak. One or more implants can be fitted to help support and retain a denture.

A bridge consists of artificial teeth cemented onto adjacent natural teeth. If a fixed bridge were to be used, your dentist would cut down the adjacent teeth (the second molar and the second bicuspid) and fit a three unit fixed bridge over those two teeth.

The missing tooth would be called a pontic and it would be effectively replaced by the three unit bridge. If your dentist were to use an implant with a crown on it, he would place an implant in the site of the original first molar. He could do this immediately or at some date after the first molar was removed. There is no time limit here. The implant will take about 3 months to connect with the bone and then at that time, your dentist can construct a single crown on the implant to replace the missing first molar.

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What You Need to Know About Getting Dental Implants - 5 Advantages

Our teeth are a very important part of our body local periodontist and there are many different things that can go wrong with them. There are a lot of ways that teeth can become chipped or broken to where they fall out. When someone you lose a tooth or a tooth in your mouth needs to be replaced, you have many different options such as a bridge or dentures.

Another option you have, that many people choose, is dental implants. This is one of the best options when it comes to needing a replacement for your teeth or tooth. There are many advantages to getting these implants. However, before we get into ways that you will benefit from getting this procedure done, you need to know what these implants really are and different ways they will help you.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial teeth that you can use as a way of replacing a tooth that has fallen out or become decayed to the point of replacement. It will not affect the bordering of your teeth and you can replace as many teeth as you'd like with these implants.

Many people feel that the tooth won't look natural enough so they don't even attempt to get the implants. The truth of the matter is that these implants do appear to be very natural and nobody will be able to see that the tooth isn't real. You may not even remember that you lost your tooth after a while!

Other Ways Dental Implants Will Help You

Some other reasons that you may want to get dental implants, aside from just losing a tooth, might be:

• Make your dentures more comfortable and secure. • No need to have removable partial dentures. • Support a bridge in your teeth.

Five Advantages to Getting Dental Implants

1. The implants are very simple to maintain.

You do not need to spend time taking them in and out every day like you have to do with dentures. You just treat it as you would any other tooth that is in your mouth.

2. It's not a long procedure.

It doesn't take very long to have them put in. When you get a dental implant put in, you don't have to spend a long time in the office of where you are getting it done. You walk in then walk out in the same day.

3. Short recovery.

It doesn't take long to recover after you have a dental implant put in. Your mouth will be sore for a short amount of time but that won't last for a very long time and it the pain will be less noticeable if you take Tylenol or other pain reliever.

4. The implants will last!

You may think that with dental implants, the tooth will need to be replaced in a matter of time but that in all reality, a dental implant will last for many decades!

5. You will feel better about your smile.

This is one of the greatest advantages to getting these implants for yourself. You will feel much better about how your teeth look. They look real so you won't feel bad about how your first tooth came out any longer. Nobody wants to live with a missing tooth and if you get dental implants, you won't have to. You will want to smile dentist raleigh and laugh more to show off how great your teeth look and how great you feel.

What You Need to Know Before Getting Dental Implants

Before you get dental implants, there is important information that you need to know. You don't want to get dental implants before you know the important facts.

What You Need to Know

#1: You Will Pay More For Implants Than Other Tooth Solutions. This is one of the main reasons that people choose to not get dental implants. They can cost you a pretty penny! Most dental offices do not allow insurance to cover dental implants.

Most of the time, to have a dental implant, you will pay around $2,000 for one tooth. That doesn't include the cost of a crown though, which could end up running you another $1,000.

#2: Is the Cost Worth It? Many people say yes! It is worth it. These implants are better to get than dentures and bridges.

-Dentures give many people problems due to them not fitting in the mouth correctly and some have a hard time getting them to in their mouths. Not to mention they can cause you to taste things a lot differently.

-Having a bridge put in your teeth can cause the two teeth that are being adjoined to decay faster and become much weaker. This can be very dangerous for those two teeth and it can be a waste of time and money.

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Periodontal Disease - Something You Should Know

Diseases of the gums and bone about the teeth are called "periodontal disease" in English. Gum disease encompasses a wide variety of conditions, most commonly seen are gingivitis and periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. The disease may be limited to one tooth, or all the teeth. The disease takes hold when bacterial plaque on the teeth causes the gums to be inflamed. Plaque is the sticky film that forms on your teeth; it is like glue that helps the bacteria to stay on your teeth.   Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease and is totally reversible with professional dental cleaning dental implants raleigh and good home hygiene. Good home hygiene is not something people know how to do automatically. Most people need to be shown what to do so that they can get the most benefit from their brushing. Even people who brush well can benefit from some coaching. Even the best sports athletes in the world have coaches. The dentist and dental hygienist are tooth brushing coaches.  

Gingivitis that is left untreated can advance to periodontitis. This happens when bacterial plaque spreads below the gum line. Toxins in the plaque cause a chronic irritation in the gums and bone starting an immune response. This immune reaction causes the gums and bone to break down and be destroyed. As the bone around the teeth is destroyed, the space between the gums and teeth deepens and the disease progresses even faster with more destruction. The early stages of the disease often have mild symptoms, so many people are unaware of a serious problem developing and do not seek the help of a dentist. Signs of gum disease are:

Bright red, swollen, or tender gums Bleeding gums (gums should not bleed when you brush or floss) Shrinking gums Loose teeth Pus from around the teeth Bad breath that does not go away Change in the position of the teeth   Though the main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, other factors make it more likely for you to get this disease. First and foremost is tobacco use. Smokers have more gum disease and are more likely to loose teeth. Moreover, they do not respond as well to treatments for gum disease. Smoking is also a risk factor for developing serious oral cancer, as well. Other risk factors for periodontal disease are family history, stress, medications, clenching and grinding, diabetes, poor nutrition, and various systemic diseases. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of getting gum disease have been known for a long time, however, in recent years, gum disease as a risk factor for other medical conditions has become clear. Recent research by Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.M.D., the dean of University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, has shown that scaling and root planing resulted in an 84 percent reduction in premature births in women who were less than 35 weeks pregnant.

Scaling and root planning is a common gum procedure to clean the teeth above and below the gum line dentist morrisville and poses no risk to the mother and unborn child. Premature birth is a significant problem in the United States with nearly 12 percent of the babies being born preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy). Preterm birth results in increased death and other long lasting problems for these babies. Before becoming pregnant all women should seek a gum and tooth exam as a way of avoiding this serious complication of pregnancy. For women who are already pregnant when gum disease is detected, scaling and root planing can still help. This treatment should probably be carried out in the second trimester.   Treatment for gum disease comprises many different modalities. Most common is scaling and root planing to clean the hard and soft deposits above and below the gum line. At the same time the dentist may use various antimicrobial agents placed in the space between the gums and tooth to help fight the bacteria and improve the healing.

For patients whose periodontitis has altered the gums and bone too much, various surgical therapies are often applied. Depending on the nature of the disease, new bone and gums may be grafted in localized sites to improve the condition. For patients whose tooth supporting bone loss is so great that they loose a tooth, dental implants may be an option to replace what they have lost.  Some treatments for the gums focus on cosmetics. These procedures are often called oral plastic surgery. Patients with a gummy smile (a display of too much gum when they smile) can be helped by reshaping the gums. Patients with an irregular line of gums, or with gum recession on individual teeth can be helped with various techniques to restore missing gum tissue. This often has not only a cosmetic benefit but, also helps to cover exposed root surfaces which are painfully sensitive to foods and cold liquids.

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Periodontist - Know How to Locate a Good One

Sometimes a dentist cannot help you when it comes to certain issues, local periodontist and you are referred instead to a periodontist to help care for your gums. Your dentist might give you the name of one in particular, or you might simply be told that he cannot help you and only a periodontist can. In the latter case, it is up to you to find your own specialist. Find out a few ways to get started.

One of the first resources you should tap into is the dental office you go to. Most will have a few recommendations for periodontists to take care of your gum issues. Most professionals know others in their industry and have gotten to know a few in particular that they trust with patients. Ask your dentist or his staff for a referral.

If one is not provided by your dental practice, you can check out your insurance provider's website. Most offer a list of periodontists who are covered under your policy. This kind of list is helpful because not only does it show you where certain specialists are located in relation to your house, but it also ensures that you will be covered if you decide to visit any of the listed practitioners.

You can also ask friends and family members if they have had experiences with any gum specialists lately. They might have recently been treated for gum disease, or had dental implants put in, as well as a multitude of other types of treatment usually offered by this kind of specialist. Ask loved ones and coworkers near you who they would recommend for a periodontist. Most people love to recommend great specialists to their friends and acquaintances since they usually like to help others by talking about their treatment and what they liked about the practitioner in particular.

If you do not have any of these resources available to you, or you want to double check some of the names given to you, it is advised that you check out the Internet to get reviews on nearby periodontists. This way, you will be able to see what several people have said about the practitioner in questions, which can help you decide. Best of all, this method is free, fast, and easy. In fact, most techniques for finding the best possible one are quite easy and well worth the time you will spend on this task.

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Mini Dental Implants Vs Regular Dental Implants

Do you hide your smile because you have unsightly gaps between your front teeth? Or are some of your teeth badly damaged or decayed? If so, then dental implants may be the only permanent solution to your dental miseries.

Dental implants are fake dental roots, usually made of titanium (a metal that is well-tolerated by the human body), inserted into the jawbone to support a prosthetic tooth or bridge.

Implants can restore any number of teeth, from a single tooth to a full arch, helping you regain your smile, dental implants raleigh and enabling you to speak, eat and laugh again with comfort and confidence.

If you are seriously considering implants for your missing teeth there are two types, based on the diameter of the device - Traditional implants and Mini dental implants. Each type has its own size and diameter.

Traditional Implant Devices Implants have long been used as a sure shot way to replace missing teeth over the last three decades. This type of implants is used to replace a lost or decayed tooth, multiple teeth or a bridge or full denture. It is also used to hold removable dentures in proper place. Endosteal (in the bone), Subperiosteal (in the bone) and Plate form are the four main types of implants commonly used in implant dentistry today.

In this type of teeth implantation a tiny screw is fixed on the jaw bone through a small incision in the gum tissue. After few weeks when the jawbone is fully healed and implant is fused to the bone, a crown will be loaded on the implant. The whole procedures results in a new, vibrant smile with the most natural-looking permanent prosthetic teeth that feel and work like your natural teeth.

Mini Dental Implants Like traditional dental implants, mini dental implants are used to restore lost teeth. They are mainly used to replace front teeth, pre-molars, small teeth and teeth located in a narrow area.

This single-piece titanium screw has a head shaped like a ball on top. The head of this miniature titanium implant consists of a single rubber O-ring that allows it to connect into the socket of the denture or the prosthetic tooth.

The Real Difference between Regular and Mini Dental Implants

A mini implant is significantly thinner compared to a regular implant. The diameter of mini dental implants is generally between 1.8mm to 2.9mm compared to 4mm to 6mm for traditional ones. Being small in size, a MDI can be placed in areas where there is substantial bone loss.

A conventional implant is commonly composed of three parts- a titanium material screw, the abutment and the crown. MDIs, on the other hand, are narrow body, one-piece titanium appliances.

The regular screws are usually hollow in the middle, whereas the mini implant is one solid piece.

Unlike the traditional implants, only the ball-shaped portion of the mini implant sticks out of the gums.

Placing regular implants is an invasive, time consuming procedure. First the titanium screw or false root is inserted directly into the jawbone. After a healing period of several days, the root bonds to the bone. An abutment is fitted over the portion of the implant and a crown- the top most part of the restoration, is then added. The whole procedure is completed in several stages over the span of a few months. Mini implants, by contrast, are fixed by drilling a tiny pilot hole in the jaw bone, requiring no incisions. This minimally-invasive procedure is completed in a single stage in as little as 2 hours.

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Periodontist - Know How to Locate a Good One

Sometimes a dentist cannot help you when it comes to certain issues, periodontist durham and you are referred instead to a periodontist to help care for your gums. Your dentist might give you the name of one in particular, or you might simply be told that he cannot help you and only a periodontist can. In the latter case, it is up to you to find your own specialist. Find out a few ways to get started.

One of the first resources you should tap into is the dental office you go to. Most will have a few recommendations for periodontists to take care of your gum issues. Most professionals know others in their industry and have gotten to know a few in particular that they trust with patients. Ask your dentist or his staff for a referral.

If one is not provided by your dental practice, you can check out your insurance provider's website. Most offer a list of periodontists who are covered under your policy. This kind of list is helpful because not only does it show you where certain specialists are located in relation to your house, but it also ensures that you will be covered if you decide to visit any of the listed practitioners.

You can also ask friends and family members if they have had experiences with any gum specialists lately. They might have recently been treated for gum disease, or had dental implants put in, as well as a multitude of other types of treatment usually offered by this kind of specialist. Ask loved ones and coworkers near you who they would recommend for a periodontist. Most people love to recommend great specialists to their friends and acquaintances since they usually like to help others by talking about their treatment and what they liked about the practitioner in particular.

If you do not have any of these resources available to you, or you want to double check some of the names given to you, it is advised that you check out the Internet to get reviews on nearby periodontists. This way, you will be able to see what several people have said about the practitioner in questions, which can help you decide. Best of all, this method is free, fast, and easy. In fact, most techniques for finding the best possible one are quite easy and well worth the time you will spend on this task.

[moris06]

Periodontist - Know How to Locate a Good One

Sometimes a dentist cannot help you when it comes to certain issues, and you are referred instead to a periodontist to help care for your gums. Your dentist might give you the name of one in particular, or you might simply be told that he cannot help you and only a periodontist can. In the latter case, it is up to you to find your own specialist. Find out a few ways to get started.

One of the first resources you should tap into is the dental office you go to. Most will have a few recommendations for periodontists to take care of your gum issues. Most professionals know others in their industry gum grafting durham and have gotten to know a few in particular that they trust with patients. Ask your dentist or his staff for a referral.

If one is not provided by your dental practice, you can check out your insurance provider's website. Most offer a list of periodontists who are covered under your policy. This kind of list is helpful because not only does it show you where certain specialists are located in relation to your house, but it also ensures that you will be covered if you decide to visit any of the listed practitioners.

You can also ask friends and family members if they have had experiences with any gum specialists lately. They might have recently been treated for gum disease, or had dental implants put in, as well as a multitude of other types of treatment usually offered by this kind of specialist. Ask loved ones and coworkers near you who they would recommend for a periodontist. Most people love to recommend great specialists to their friends and acquaintances since they usually like to help others by talking about their treatment and what they liked about the practitioner in particular.

If you do not have any of these resources available to you, or you want to double check some of the names given to you, it is advised that you check out the Internet to get reviews on nearby periodontists. This way, you will be able to see what several people have said about the practitioner in questions, which can help you decide. Best of all, this method is free, fast, and easy. In fact, most techniques for finding the best possible one are quite easy and well worth the time you will spend on this task.

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What to Expect During Dental Implant Treatment

It's highly likely that you may already know people who have undergone dental implant treatment and hopefully their experience has been positive. Dental implants can be excellent for replacing missing teeth and this treatment is fast becoming the gold standard for dealing with tooth loss. In spite of this, how much do you know about the treatment periodontist durham and what to expect?

What Is a Dental Implant on How Does It Work?

Dental implants are actually pretty straightforward, generally consisting of three separate parts that include an implant post or screw that is inserted into your jawbone, an abutment that is attached to the implant post or screw and which protrudes just above your gum line, and the final tooth restoration that will cover up the abutment. The idea behind using a screw or post is that it will bond with your jawbone during a process called Osseo integration. This is where new bone cells begin to grow on the specially treated implant post, eventually holding the post firmly in place so it cannot move even a fraction. This bonding process helps to ensure the implant post is strong enough to hold a replacement tooth. Dental implants can be used to support implant crowns, bridges or complete dentures.

Why Is Dental Implant Treatment Often Better Than Other Alternatives?

One of the reasons why implant treatment can be better than other alternatives is because of the way the implant post artificially replaces a tooth root. Your natural tooth roots are important for good dental health. Every time you bite down on a tooth, the sensation is transmitted through the crown of the tooth or the part you can see in your mouth, right down through the tooth root and out into the surrounding bone. This has the effect of stimulating the bone so that any old bone cells are continually replaced. Once a natural tooth root is removed, this no longer happens and old bone cells are no longer replaced and the jawbone gradually begins to resorb. Most of this resorption takes place the first year after tooth loss which is why it's so important to think about replacing lost teeth as soon as possible.

Dental implants can also be more aesthetically pleasing, especially when used to replace single teeth. A top rated dentist can create beautiful new implant teeth that amazingly realistic, using the highest quality materials. We make sure these teeth are designed to provide the correct amount of support for your cheeks and lips, avoiding that sunken-in look that can be so prematurely aging in people who have suffered multiple tooth loss.

This treatment can be fantastic for people who have uncomfortable dentures and who hate being limited to easy to chew or softer foods. With dental implants, eating should be more pleasurable and teeth will be held firmly in place, making it easier to socialize with complete confidence. For people who lost teeth many years ago, replacing them with implant supported teeth can also help rejuvenate their appearance as often the dimensions between their upper and lower jaws will have been diminished by bone loss. Restoring the correct dimensions provides the proper support for cheeks and lips, helping to fill out fine lines and wrinkles.

Getting Started on the Treatment Process

If you are missing teeth or are facing tooth loss then initially you will need a consultation with a good dental implant dentist. During this first consultation, a dentist will closely examine your mouth and will want to know your medical history to determine if dental implants will be helpful for you. Generally, dental implants can be used to treat most cases of tooth loss, but there are occasions when an alternative solution may be preferable. A really good dentist will carry out a very careful assessment and only recommend implant treatment if they feel it's suitable for you. If you decide to go ahead, your dentist will need to take x-rays and a CT scan, and we may want to take photographs and possibly dental impressions to plan initial treatment. This might seem like a lot, but when the time comes for the actual surgery it's important for your dentist to know exactly where to insert the dental implants for optimal results and this ensures treatment is faster and more comfortable for you.

What to Expect during Surgery

The actual procedure to insert a single dental implant is surprisingly quick and can be completed in as little as an hour. Often treatment can be completed under local anesthetic, but it's up to you and if you are nervous then please talk to your dentist so they can provide you with additional sedation. The best dentist will want to make sure you feel comfortable at all times and are relaxed as possible during your visit. If you require multiple dental implants then it will take a bit longer and additional sedation might be helpful. Once the implants are in place, they must be left to heal and integrate with the jawbone and this generally takes at least three months. One thing we know lots of people worry about is if they will be left without teeth and we would like to reassure you that we will not leave you without a smile.

With some implant treatments, it's possible to attach new teeth quite quickly, but your dentist will always provide you with some sort of temporary restoration that should look and feel pretty good until your permanent teeth can be fabricated. Your dental office will also give you loads of information on how to care for the surgery site while it heals. It's not unusual to feel minimal discomfort, if anything at all, particularly after just having a single dental implant. However, a prescription for pain relief can always be provided, or advice on over-the-counter painkillers just in case you are at all uncomfortable once the anesthetic wears off.

Completing Treatment

Once your implants have fully integrated with your jawbone, we can provide you with your permanent teeth. These will look far better and will feel more comfortable than your temporary teeth and you will be able to use them to bite into food and to chew quite normally. This can be amazing for people who previously had complete dentures as the range of foods they can now be eaten will be far greater, making mealtimes that much more enjoyable.

Looking after Your Implant Teeth

With the correct care, your implant teeth should last for many years but it is important to make sure you keep your dental implants clean. This is simple to do and your dental team can provide you with lots of information on how to brush and floss your dental implants or how to use other tools such as interdental brushes to keep them clean. It's vital to keep up with your regular checkups and hygiene appointments, even if you have lost all your natural teeth as we can keep a close eye on your dental implants and your overall oral health.

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Periodontal Disease - Something You Should Know

Diseases of the gums and bone about the teeth are called "periodontal disease" in English. Gum disease encompasses a wide variety of conditions, most commonly seen are gingivitis and periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. The disease may be limited to one tooth, or all the teeth. The disease takes hold when bacterial plaque on the teeth causes the gums to be inflamed. Plaque is the sticky film that forms on your teeth; it is like glue that helps the bacteria to stay on your teeth.   Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease and is totally reversible with professional dental cleaning dental implants raleigh and good home hygiene. Good home hygiene is not something people know how to do automatically. Most people need to be shown what to do so that they can get the most benefit from their brushing. Even people who brush well can benefit from some coaching. Even the best sports athletes in the world have coaches. The dentist and dental hygienist are tooth brushing coaches.  

Gingivitis that is left untreated can advance to periodontitis. This happens when bacterial plaque spreads below the gum line. Toxins in the plaque cause a chronic irritation in the gums and bone starting an immune response. This immune reaction causes the gums and bone to break down and be destroyed. As the bone around the teeth is destroyed, the space between the gums and teeth deepens and the disease progresses even faster with more destruction. The early stages of the disease often have mild symptoms, so many people are unaware of a serious problem developing and do not seek the help of a dentist. Signs of gum disease are:

Bright red, swollen, or tender gums Bleeding gums (gums should not bleed when you brush or floss) Shrinking gums Loose teeth Pus from around the teeth Bad breath that does not go away Change in the position of the teeth   Though the main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, other factors make it more likely for you to get this disease. First and foremost is tobacco use. Smokers have more gum disease and are more likely to loose teeth. Moreover, they do not respond as well to treatments for gum disease. Smoking is also a risk factor for developing serious oral cancer, as well. Other risk factors for periodontal disease are family history, stress, medications, clenching and grinding, diabetes, poor nutrition, and various systemic diseases. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of getting gum disease have been known for a long time, however, in recent years, gum disease as a risk factor for other medical conditions has become clear. Recent research by Marjorie Jeffcoat, D.M.D., the dean of University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, has shown that scaling and root planing resulted in an 84 percent reduction in premature births in women who were less than 35 weeks pregnant.

Scaling and root planing is a common gum procedure to clean the teeth above and below the gum line and poses no risk to the mother and unborn child. Premature birth is a significant problem in the United States with nearly 12 percent of the babies being born preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy). Preterm birth results in increased death and other long lasting problems for these babies. Before becoming pregnant all women should seek a gum and tooth exam as a way of avoiding this serious complication of pregnancy. For women who are already pregnant when gum disease is detected, scaling and root planing can still help. This treatment should probably be carried out in the second trimester.   Treatment for gum disease comprises many different modalities. Most common is scaling and root planing to clean the hard and soft deposits above and below the gum line. At the same time the dentist may use various antimicrobial agents placed in the space between the gums and tooth to help fight the bacteria and improve the healing.

For patients whose periodontitis has altered the gums and bone too much, various surgical therapies are often applied. Depending on the nature of the disease, new bone and gums may be grafted in localized sites to improve the condition. For patients whose tooth supporting bone loss is so great that they loose a tooth, dental implants may be an option to replace what they have lost.  Some treatments for the gums focus on cosmetics. These procedures are often called oral plastic surgery. Patients with a gummy smile (a display of too much gum when they smile) can be helped by reshaping the gums. Patients with an irregular line of gums, or with gum recession on individual teeth can be helped with various techniques to restore missing gum tissue. This often has not only a cosmetic benefit but, also helps to cover exposed root surfaces which are painfully sensitive to foods and cold liquids.

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What You Need to Know About Getting Dental Implants - 5 Advantages

Our teeth are a very important part of our body periodontist durham and there are many different things that can go wrong with them. There are a lot of ways that teeth can become chipped or broken to where they fall out. When someone you lose a tooth or a tooth in your mouth needs to be replaced, you have many different options such as a bridge or dentures.

Another option you have, that many people choose, is dental implants. This is one of the best options when it comes to needing a replacement for your teeth or tooth. There are many advantages to getting these implants. However, before we get into ways that you will benefit from getting this procedure done, you need to know what these implants really are and different ways they will help you.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial teeth that you can use as a way of replacing a tooth that has fallen out or become decayed to the point of replacement. It will not affect the bordering of your teeth and you can replace as many teeth as you'd like with these implants.

Many people feel that the tooth won't look natural enough so they don't even attempt to get the implants. The truth of the matter is that these implants do appear to be very natural and nobody will be able to see that the tooth isn't real. You may not even remember that you lost your tooth after a while!

Other Ways Dental Implants Will Help You

Some other reasons that you may want to get dental implants, aside from just losing a tooth, might be:

• Make your dentures more comfortable and secure. • No need to have removable partial dentures. • Support a bridge in your teeth.

Five Advantages to Getting Dental Implants

1. The implants are very simple to maintain.

You do not need to spend time taking them in and out every day like you have to do with dentures. You just treat it as you would any other tooth that is in your mouth.

2. It's not a long procedure.

It doesn't take very long to have them put in. When you get a dental implant put in, you don't have to spend a long time in the office of where you are getting it done. You walk in then walk out in the same day.

3. Short recovery.

It doesn't take long to recover after you have a dental implant put in. Your mouth will be sore for a short amount of time but that won't last for a very long time and it the pain will be less noticeable if you take Tylenol or other pain reliever.

4. The implants will last!

You may think that with dental implants, the tooth will need to be replaced in a matter of time but that in all reality, a dental implant will last for many decades!

5. You will feel better about your smile.

This is one of the greatest advantages to getting these implants for yourself. You will feel much better about how your teeth look. They look real so you won't feel bad about how your first tooth came out any longer. Nobody wants to live with a missing tooth and if you get dental implants, you won't have to. You will want to smile and laugh more to show off how great your teeth look and how great you feel.

What You Need to Know Before Getting Dental Implants

Before you get dental implants, there is important information that you need to know. You don't want to get dental implants before you know the important facts.

What You Need to Know

#1: You Will Pay More For Implants Than Other Tooth Solutions. This is one of the main reasons that people choose to not get dental implants. They can cost you a pretty penny! Most dental offices do not allow insurance to cover dental implants.

Most of the time, to have a dental implant, you will pay around $2,000 for one tooth. That doesn't include the cost of a crown though, which could end up running you another $1,000.

#2: Is the Cost Worth It? Many people say yes! It is worth it. These implants are better to get than dentures and bridges.

-Dentures give many people problems due to them not fitting in the mouth correctly and some have a hard time getting them to in their mouths. Not to mention they can cause you to taste things a lot differently.

-Having a bridge put in your teeth can cause the two teeth that are being adjoined to decay faster and become much weaker. This can be very dangerous for those two teeth and it can be a waste of time and money.

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Best In-Depth Guide to Dental Implants

I hope to compile the answers of some of the dental professionals that have had years of experience in the dental implant industry. Thank you for reading.

How Long Do Dental Implants Take?

What's the surgery time for Dental Implants and How many appointment's are involved?

After my research on the appointment dental implants raleigh and surgery times I've reached the conclusion that it definitely depends on the implant procedure that you are interested in. However, I was surprised to find out that for many of these procedures, there is a very short waiting period, a very short surgery time, and a fair short recovery time.

Here's a list of some very common dental implant procedures:

Single Tooth Implants - For single tooth replacement. The insertion of a single titanium dental implants followed by the attachment of a single crown.

Fixed-Bridge on Implants - For two or more teeth missing. Involves the insertion of two dental implant spread across two, three, or four teeth. This is followed by the attachment of a fixed bridge spanning two, three, or four teeth.

Over-denture - Almost like the All-on-Four™ implant option but uses two implants instead of four and can still be removed with the assistance of a dental professional. For people who have lost all or the majority of their teeth.

All-on-Four™ Dental Implant Procedure - This is the most drastic dental implant procedure. Involves the placement of four titanium dental implants either on the top of bottom of the jaw bone and are followed by the construction and attachment of a fixed denture that essential acts like a new set of natural teeth.

The Specifics:

Most dental implant procedures are done in two phases. The first, after an initial consultation, is the insertion of the titanium dental implant into the patients' jaw bone. For some treatments, this can involve as many as four dental implants (screw-like titanium embedded into the jaw bone). After there has been enough time for the jaw to accept and merge with the bio-compatible titanium implants (which usually takes 1-2 months), it's now time for the next step.

From that point on, an appointment is scheduled for the attachment of the crown or the prosthetic tooth/teeth. This actually only takes a couple hours or less. The newly fabricated denture or crown/bridge is then attached either by another titanium screw or by screwing the crown into the dental implant. Overall, you're easily in and out of the dental office within 2-3 hours. After that, you can start eating with your new implants right away.

Many have noted that they have had sensitivity just after having the prosthetic tooth inserted but most recover after a week or so.

In conclusion, It's seems that the first part of dental implant procedures take about 1-2 months so that your jaw bone has time to accept and fuse to the titanium implants. The appointment after that is to insert the crown/bridge or fixed denture and then most are good to go at that point.

Why Replace Missing Teeth?

The most important question to answer in this case is what are the negative effects of missing teeth on your overall oral health.

The Negative Effects of Missing Teeth

The effects of living life without solving the obvious issue of missing teeth can have a great negative impact. Without replacing missing teeth you are at a great risk of having some serious oral health problems and will turn your beautiful smile into something that's not quite as pretty. You can often end up looking much older than you actually are. Allow me to explain...

Teeth aren't meant to fall out. This is a fact. Yes, I know that children have their teeth fall out but I'm not referring to children but adults. When an adult has a tooth missing, the rest of your teeth and jaw suffer because there is something out of place. Now, with a large gap between teeth things tend to shift over time. Firstly, it affects the way your jaw closes, called the bite relationship. Secondly and more importantly, the remaining teeth slowly slide, drift, and shift into new positions that are not comfortable or functional. It's a disaster. On top of all that, as teeth begin to shift and move, it opens the opportunity for food to get wedged into the new spaces between teeth and increases your risk of getting gum disease and serious tooth decay. All this can just be the very beginning of problems with TMJ.

Bone Resorption and the Deterioration of the Jaw Bone

Another important problem to address is the deterioration of the jaw bone when there is no tooth in place to stimulate the bone. Many times when people are missing multiple teeth, their jaw is affected by what is called, "bone resorption." Essentially, bone resorption is the thinning and deterioration of bone in the jaw because there is no longer any teeth to stress part of the jaw bone. When the jaw bone isn't stressed with some sort of force, it starts to weaken and shrink. You lose the stress against your jaw bone when you lose a tooth or lose multiple teeth.

Over longer periods of time without replacing the missing teeth, your overall face structure changes and makes you look older than you really are. It often makes you look as if your face is shrunken in.

As you will soon discover, replacing missing teeth is one of the best ways to keep your whole mouth healthy and maintain your facial structure.

Tips for Better Oral Health

Always replace teeth as soon as they are lost. This will ensure that you won't have any of the problems that are listed above and will keep you happy and healthy for the years ahead.

How much do Dental Implants Cost?

Most Dental Implant practices do you a great favor and make the first consultation free. That is a given. When you're not sure about your exact needs, it's so important to be free from having to pay a consulting fee. There may be some really stingy dental practices out there that will charge a fee, but most won't.

Next, to accurately determine if you qualify, that is - if you have enough existing bone in your jaw, you are required to have a mouth examination and an x-ray. This can end up costing you somewhere between $100 to $200.

The rough costs of any single dental implants, not an All-on-Four™ treatment, can cost you about $1000 t $3000 just for one tooth. I know, it's pretty expensive. But in the event that you've lost a lot of bone or your sinus is elevated, those implants can cost upwards of $15000.

Luckily, there are many other treatment options for missing teeth but it stands to be true that dental implants are the only tooth replacements that guarantee the overall well-being of your dental health and prevents the majority of shifting and degrading of the jaw bone.

Financing

Due to the fact that dental implants are such an expensive cosmetic surgery, implant dental offices most often provide financing options or easier way to pay for your dental implants over time. Some work with insurance companies and others have their own credit program that functions pretty much like a credit card. In the end, you'll need to consult your dental office to see what financing options they provide but most of the time, there are great options available.

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What You Need to Know About Getting Dental Implants - 5 Advantages

Our teeth are a very important part of our body periodontist durham and there are many different things that can go wrong with them. There are a lot of ways that teeth can become chipped or broken to where they fall out. When someone you lose a tooth or a tooth in your mouth needs to be replaced, you have many different options such as a bridge or dentures.

Another option you have, that many people choose, is dental implants. This is one of the best options when it comes to needing a replacement for your teeth or tooth. There are many advantages to getting these implants. However, before we get into ways that you will benefit from getting this procedure done, you need to know what these implants really are and different ways they will help you.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial teeth that you can use as a way of replacing a tooth that has fallen out or become decayed to the point of replacement. It will not affect the bordering of your teeth and you can replace as many teeth as you'd like with these implants.

Many people feel that the tooth won't look natural enough so they don't even attempt to get the implants. The truth of the matter is that these implants do appear to be very natural and nobody will be able to see that the tooth isn't real. You may not even remember that you lost your tooth after a while!

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The Truth About Dental Implants

There are three (not serious) main questions, when you understand that you need a dental implant procedure:

1. How much dental implant cost? 2. What are main dental implant prices? 3. Can I get free dental implant? Actually, dentures implant procedure is one of the most expensive things you can do at dentists office.

In the past, dentists would try to keep or replace teeth with treatments such as root canals, bridges, and fixed or removable dentures. Unfortunately, a significant number of root canal treated teeth fail, bridges require that healthy adjacent teeth be cut down dental implants durham and removable dentures can often be unstable and require the use of sticky adhesives. Dental implants are a solution to these problems, and many of the concerns associated with natural teeth are eliminated, including dental decay.

For this procedure to work, there must be enough bone in the jaw, and the bone has to be strong enough to hold and support the tooth implant. If there is not enough bone, be may need to be added with a procedure called bone augmentation. In addition, natural teeth and supporting tissues near where the implant will be placed must be in good health.

There are plenty of reasons to replace a missing tooth. A gap between your teeth, if obvious when you smile or speak, is a cosmetic concern.

Depending on their location, some missing teeth may affect your speech. A missing molar might not be noticeable when you talk or smile, but its absence can affect chewing.

When a tooth is missing, the biting force on the remaining teeth begins to change. As the bite changes to compensate for the lost tooth, there is a risk of extra pressure on and discomfort in the jaw joints. If a missing tooth is not replaced, the surrounding teeth can shift. Harmful plaque and tartar can collect in new hard-to-reach places created by the shifting teeth. Over time, this may lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease.

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is one option for replacing a tooth. Implants are manufactured devices that are placed surgically in the upper or lower jaw, where they function as anchors for replacement teeth. Implants are made of titanium and other materials that are compatible with the human body.

An implant-restored tooth consists of several parts.

The implant, which is made of titanium, is placed in the upper or lower jawbone. The abutment can be made of titanium, gold or porcelain. It is attached to the implant with a screw. This part connects the implant to the crown. The restoration (the part that looks like a tooth) is a crown, usually made of porcelain fused to a metal alloy (PFM), but also could be an all-metal or all-porcelain crown. The crown is attached either to the abutment or directly to the implant. It can be screwed or cemented onto the abutment. If the crown is screwed to the abutment, the screw hole will be covered with restorative material such as tooth-colored filling material (composite). An implant looks and feels like a natural tooth. It fits securely when you chew and speak. A single-tooth implant is a free-standing unit and does not involve treatment to the adjacent teeth. With a dental implant, the surrounding teeth can remain untouched if they are healthy, and their strength and integrity may be maintained. The implant can stabilize your bite and help prevent problems with the jaw. What Happens During the Tooth Implant Procedure?

Treatment generally is a three-part process that takes several months. Your dentist may provide the treatment, or you may be referred to a specialist - such as a periodontist, a prosthodontistor an oral and maxillofacial surgeon - for all or part of the treatment.

In the first step, the dentist surgically places the implant in the jaw, with the top of the implant slightly above the top of the bone. A screw is inserted into the implant to prevent gum tissue and other debris from entering.

The gum then is secured over the implant, where it will remain covered for approximately three to six months while the implant fuses with the bone, a process called "Osseo integration. "There may be some swelling and/or tenderness for a few days after the surgery, so pain medication usually is prescribed to alleviate the discomfort. A diet of soft foods, cold foods and warm soup often is recommended during the healing process.

In the second step, the implant is uncovered and the dentist attaches an extension, called a "post," to the implant. The gum tissue is allowed to heal around the post. Once healing is complete, the implant and post will serve as the foundation for the new tooth.

In the final step, the dentist makes a custom artificial tooth, called a "dental crown," of a size, shape, color and fit that will blend with the other teeth. Once completed, the crown is attached to the implant post.

And now, maybe most important part.

We'll try to answer if dental implants are good choice for you.

If you are missing a tooth, or teeth you could be an ideal candidate for implants, especially if your smile reveals missing teeth! If you are uncomfortable with the way your dentures fit. Loose dentures can cause sore gums because of friction or food trapped under the bridgework. Loose teeth from gum disease may need support. Dental implants can give you a new base to support new teeth to function and feel like natural teeth. In these instances, dental implants can help. Success and failure rates for dental implant procedure.

Dental implant success is related to operator skill, quality and quantity of the bone available at the site, and also to the patient's oral hygiene. Various studies have found the 5 year success rate of implants to be between 75-95%. Patients who smoke experience significantly poorer success rates.

Failure of a dental implant is usually related to failure to Osseo integrate correctly. A dental implant is considered to be a failure if it is lost, mobile or shows peri-implant bone loss of greater than one mm in the first year after implanting and greater than 0.2mm a year after that.

Dental implants are not susceptible to dental caries but they can develop a periodontal condition called peri-implantitis where correct oral hygiene routines have not been followed. Risk of failure is increased in smokers. For this reason implants are frequently placed only after a patient has stopped smoking as the treatment is very expensive. More rarely, an implant may fail because of poor positioning at the time of surgery, or may be overloaded initially causing failure to integrate.

Does it very hurt to have dental implants placed?

The actual procedure to surgically place a dental implant is done under local anesthesia and is generally not at all painful. When the anesthesia wears off about three or four hours later, you might expect some discomfort. The level of discomfort is quite different from patient to patient, but most patients do not have significant problems.

In cases where there is prolonged pain, you should see your dentist right away. Prolonged pain is not a good sign with dental implants and although it does not always mean failure, the cause of the pain should be determined as soon as possible. If an implant is not properly integrating into the adjacent bone or if an infection develops, the implant may have to be removed.

What are the alternatives to implants?

The alternatives to implants are dentures or bridges. On the other hand, you may choose to simply accept the space where a tooth is missing.

A denture usually includes a metal and/or plastic base carrying plastic or porcelain artificial teeth. It is a removable replacement for a few missing teeth (partial denture) or a whole set of teeth (complete dentures). Dentures are very common but they can become loose, making it difficult to eat and speak. One or more implants can be fitted to help support and retain a denture.

A bridge consists of artificial teeth cemented onto adjacent natural teeth. If a fixed bridge were to be used, your dentist would cut down the adjacent teeth (the second molar and the second bicuspid) and fit a three unit fixed bridge over those two teeth.

The missing tooth would be called a pontic and it would be effectively replaced by the three unit bridge. If your dentist were to use an implant with a crown on it, he would place an implant in the site of the original first molar. He could do this immediately or at some date after the first molar was removed. There is no time limit here. The implant will take about 3 months to connect with the bone and then at that time, your dentist can construct a single crown on the implant to replace the missing first molar.

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Are Dental Implants for You?

A dental implant is a "root" device, usually made of titanium, used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth to replace missing teeth. A typical implant consists of a titanium screw (resembling a tooth root) with a roughened or smooth surface. The majority of dental implants are made out of commercially pure titanium, which is available in 4 grades depending upon the amount of carbon and iron contained.

They are used for the support and retention of dentures, fixed bridgework and the replacement of one or more missing teeth.

Virtually all dental implants placed today are root-form endosseous implants, i.e., they appear similar to an actual tooth root (and thus possess a "root-form"). They are placed within the jaw bone and become attached to surrounding jaw bone. The bone of the jaw accepts periodontist raleigh and Osseo integrates with the titanium post.

Osseointegration refers to the fusion of the implant surface with the surrounding bone. Dental implants will fuse with bone, however they lack the periodontal ligament, so they will feel slightly different than natural teeth do during chewing functions.

The implants remain rigid rather than have some flexibility that natural teeth have because they are attached individually to a periodontal ligament.

Prior to the advent of root-form endosseous implants, most implants were either blade endosseous implants, in that the shape of the metal piece placed within the bone resembled a flat blade, or sub-periosteal implants, in which a framework was constructed to lie upon and was attached with screws to the exposed bone of the jaws.

Dental implants can be used to support a number of dental prostheses, including crowns, implant-supported bridges or dentures. They can also be used as anchorage for orthodontic tooth movement. The use of dental implants permits un-directional tooth movement without reciprocal action.

You should know that not every person may be a candidate for receiving a dental implant. There has to be enough supporting bone present particularly in the upper jaw that is in such close proximity to the maxillary sinus. You also must have good oral hygiene and be in good general health.

That being said, certain invasive surgical procedures can be implemented like bone grafts, or bone augmentations and/or sinus lifts to provide enough bone. One obvious contra-indication for implants is placing them in the lower jaw to close or touching to the mandibular canal which has the mandibular nerve running through it.

Placing implants in such places could result in prolonged and/or permanent numbness of the lower lip and jaw. A very undesirable outcome indeed!

Although many dental professionals can provide you with implants, you must do your due diligence and ensure that the professional you select, is highly trained and experienced in dental implant procedures.

Oral surgeons, Periodontists, Endodontists and general dental practitioners who have had the necessary training and education can perform this service for you.

The actual dental implant procedure is not usually painful during or after the surgical placement. It is usually performed with the use of a local anesthetic but alternative methods like nitrous oxide, IV sedation and/or general anesthetic procedures are available.

If you decide to have your General Practitioner do this procedure, make sure to ask how many he or she has done. And ask them where and when they got their training in implant procedures.

The healing time required prior to loading and placing the denture, crown or fixed bridge on the implant may vary widely. I believe most practitioners will allow from 2-6 months for the healing process and complete bone integration to take place.

That said, the immediate placement into a recent extraction site and immediate loading has recently become more common because the success rates for this procedure are now quite acceptable.

If you should see a dental implant advertisement that states " Teeth in a day",it is a procedure more appropriate for a completely edentulous (no teeth present) case where all of the teeth are to be extracted or have already been extracted.

You might ask what is the rate of success for dental implants? Well that depends on the operators skills, on the quality and quantity of bone present, the patient's oral hygiene and condition of the remaining teeth and supportive gum tissue.

A patients who smokes, have diabetes, poor oral hygiene habits and/or other compromising general health issues are NOT very good candidates for a successful implant procedures.

The success rate in good candidates are extremely high. Around 95%. The cost of a basic dental implant is typically $1,250 to $3,000. Depending on your circumstances, additional costs for things such as in the case of a posterior mandible, bone regeneration, sinus elevation, and wide diameter or narrow diameter implants can quickly escalate the costs involved to as much as $15,000 to $30,000 for the complete procedure for the upper or lower jaw.

That being said, a related cost of a un-complicated single implant can vary between 1500.00 and 3,000.00 depending where you live and who is doing the surgery.

Many dental schools for example may have a specialty program which may offer to do a single implant for a considerable discount compared to private practice. Consequently, if you live near a dental school and get accepted into their dental school implant program, you may be able to have an implant or implants done at a reduced price.

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Problems and Complications With Dental Implants

Dental implants have been providing a great alternative for restoring a missing tooth or teeth for the past many years. The implants are best described as anchors that are placed into your jaw bone to permanently support crowns or dentures.

Although the implants, made out of titanium alloy or ceramic, are now considered the Number 1 option to replace missing teeth but because they are surgically implanted in jaw you may encounter some problems dental implants morrisville and complications.

As with any surgical procedure there are some potential downsides to dental implants that you should be aware of before considering it as an alternative for replacing your missing teeth.

Improper Osseointegration One of the most common problems that occur with dental implants includes the improper fusion of the implant surface (Osseointegrated) with the surrounding bone. There are several factors that can lead to failure of osseointegration. These factors include limited availability of bone to stabilize the implanted root, an occurrence of infection in the implant recipient site, overheating of the jaw bone, pressure being applied on the dental implant immediately after implantation or compromised blood supply.

Allergic Reactions One of the most common problems particularly with titanium implants is that it can trigger an allergic or inflammatory reaction in patients who are allergic to metal. Made out of a metal, this implant can lead to galvanism, allergies and inflammation in bone and gums around a dental implant.

Infections Placement of the implants can lead to infection in the surrounding areas. Since the false dental root is surgically implanted into the jaw, the tissues around it can become infected. Infection can be introduced during the surgery or the crown restoration. Poor oral hygiene can cause infections as well.

Nerve Damage Nerve damage due to over-preparation of the implant site is another potential complication that can result in numbness (parasthesia), pain and an ongoing tingling in the tongue, chin, lips, or gums.

Dental Implant Rejection Any implant in the body is viewed as a foreign substance that can be rejected by the body. If in any way dental implant or jaw is compromised by bacteria at the time of implantation, it will rejected by the patient's body. Infection is the major cause for dental implant rejection.

Failure of Implant While rare, dental implant failure can occur in some patients. Exerting excessive pressure on newly implanted post can lead to partial or complete structural breakage of a dental implant. Grinding the teeth at night while sleeping (medically referred to as Bruxism) can disturb the positioning of an implant, eventually leading to its failure. In order to keep the implant protected at sleeping and resting times, it may be necessary to use a mouth guard.

Prolonged Pain Some patients may encounter prolonged pain in the area of the placement. This may be caused by severe localized inflammation or placement of the prosthetic root near a major or even a minor nerve branch. In these situations there are different methods of intervention. If the pain persists for a longer period of time, the implant removal becomes necessary.

Injury to Adjacent Teeth It is likely that a patient got his/her adjacent teeth injured during placement of the implant. The injury may happen during preparation of the recipient site. When drilling, the dentist may injure an adjacent tooth. In order to eliminate this potential problem, it is very important that you get the dental implantation done in a reputed aesthetic dental clinic at the hands of a skilled dental surgeon.