At Sensational Smiles Dental, its our job to put a smile on your face. Sometimes that means restoring your smile, so you can feel more confident. Other times, its providing preventative services like regular dental check-ups and cleans to keep your smile healthy for years to come. 

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 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.

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.

The following are the benefits of Dental Implant:

1. It enables you to eat easily and conveniently. You tooth implant will provide the same force of natural teeth and you can bite food stuff like natural teeth. Your better chewing efficiency will result in better digestion that eventually leads towards improved health of patients.

2. You will be able to speak better with tooth implant. If the missing tooth/teeth create some kind of discontentment in your speaking, you shall be able to overcome it. Denture wearers usually fear to talk swiftly and naturally. But implant of prostheses is retained firmly to jaw that allow you to speak with confidence.

Differences between cosmetic and general dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is when a person opts to have the look of their teeth altered to improve their smile and general appearance. Although the American Dental Association does not regard cosmetic dentistry as a specialty, the procedures can produce dramatic results. Restorative dentistry is used when a person loses, chips, or breaks teeth due to trauma, cavities and tooth decay or other natural reasons.

However, before undergoing any cosmetic dentistry treatment, an individual should know first the risks and advantages in addition to what to expect during and after the procedure. It is also important to know the credibility of your dentist to perform cosmetic dentistry treatment, how much the procedure will cost, and if there are any special maintenance required after the treatment.

Dental Implants

At one time, if a person lost a tooth due to trauma, old age, or any other cause, that space in the mouth was either left blank or a denture or false tooth was put in its place. Times have changed.

Dental implants involve placing a metal rod at the jawline and putting a molded artificial tooth or crown where the former tooth was. Because the implant is fused with existing teeth, it should last a lifetime and keep your gumline healthy.

Requirements for dental implant patients

You need to have healthy gums and strong bone as the basis for the implant or dental crown. These implants have the look and feel of regular teeth and can be used to chew food or do anything that regular teeth would do.

Advantages of Getting a Tooth Implant Over Dentures

Dentures are always considered the easier choice when it comes to replacing lost teeth. But being the easier choice is not always the best choice when it comes to dental treatment. Dentures provide a temporary solution to lost or removed teeth, while a dental implant has a more permanent feel and with extra care and proper hygiene, a tooth implant can last longer that you think.

Missing teeth can affect a person in many ways. Missing teeth means having a hard time chewing food, unclear enunciation of words, and awkward smiles which is why many people will do anything to have a complete set of teeth again. The thing is, people are so used to having dentures that they always end up using it as a dental treatment. What not many people know is that getting a tooth implant has a lot more advantages than getting dentures. The procedure may be a little difficult, but the long-term benefits are what matters most. 

Advantages of using a tooth implant:

· Teeth-saving. Unlike dentures and braces, a tooth implant does not alter or touch any of the neighboring teeth. For some patients who get dentures, the teeth beside the dentures are moved or even removed to fit and support the dentures. Implants standalone without affecting any of the teeth located beside it.

· Very reliable. Compared to dentures and bridges, teeth implants have a higher success rate without the need to replace them every now and then. Getting teeth implants also mean that you don't have to worry about the tooth wobbling out or loosening while eating since teeth implants need to be secured within the jaw bone.

Tooth Implant Procedure - Most Practical Replacement Option For a Single Tooth Or a Few Teeth

Knocked out a tooth or a few teeth due to sports or an accident? The best answer to your woes could be tooth implant procedure especially if you would like to avoid the scenario where your other teeth are affected by the positioning of bridges and partial dentures. To acquaint you with the procedure of tooth implant, the basic steps are described to familiarize yourself with the procedure and to better equip you to ask questions, and confer other alternatives with your doctor.

Basic Description of a Tooth Implant Procedure

* The first stage of a tooth implant procedure is to determine whether you are a good candidate for a dental implant. Smoker, heavy drinkers, and people with healing disabilities such as diabetes and anaemia are discouraged to undergo this treatment to avoid the risk of complications. The second stage is compliance with pre surgery requirements to include administration of x-rays for jawbone analysis as basis for determining the most appropriate implant device.

Tooth implants are available at almost every clinic you can find. But you have to keep in mind that you need to do a comprehensive dental evaluation first before getting a tooth implant. Aside from passing the dental evaluation, it is important that you have a healthy jawbone that will secure the implant, healthy oral tissues, and a good health condition.

So, here you go. Here are the things that you need to do if you are going to undergo a tooth implant:

Thorough dental evaluation. Tooth implants are different from a tooth extraction. That is why it is important that you prepare for some comprehensive dental examinations, such as dental X-rays, CT and mouth examinations. These dental exams will prevent potential dental problems during and after the tooth implant. 

You may lose your tooth implant same with your natural tooth when the infection reaches the jaw where you implant was placed. 

Steps to Successful Tooth Implants

Dental implants are artificial roots and teeth placed directly into the jaw (by a periodontist). Dental implants are great for people who are in good health, but, who have lost teeth due to any number of misfortunes. Implants are very natural looking and feel almost exactly like "regular teeth" when you bite or chew food.

With normal conditions and proper patient maintenance, dental implants can last a lifetime. Since they are connected to the gums and bone in your mouth, a periodontist will be the primary member of any tooth implant team (as they deal with gums). They will usually give you an initial consultation, and let you know where the implant will be placed. Depending on the type of implants you wish to use, and, your mouth's current condition, the periodontist will create a custom tailored treatment plan. Many things can alter this plan. For instance, will you be replacing a single tooth, or several teeth?

Single tooth replacement can be carried out with an implant and a dental crown. This procedure replaces not only the tooth, but also the tooth's root. It also carries a number of advantages over other options; it looks like a natural tooth, and, the implant can be placed in the mouth without harming neighboring teeth. Since the dental implant replaces the root in addition to the crown, your bone usually remains intact. In the long run, a single tooth replacement can be easier to keep clean than a dental bridge, and, your gums will not recede around the metal. Single tooth implant is a great option. 

When replacing multiple teeth or an entire mouthful, a dental bridge is usually necessary. These bridges will replace both your lost and natural teeth, and, many of the roots. First, implants that look like screws are placed within your jaw and left to heal. A few months later, the implants and bone will have usually bonded together. Next, abutments (small metal posts) are installed to complete the foundation. Your gums are then allotted a few weeks to heal before the process continues. Finally, bridges (or replacement teeth rows) will be created for you, and installed by your periodontist. These replacements are attached to the before mentioned abutments.

After your implants have been installed the recovery process begins. Full recovery and healing usually takes about 3-6 weeks - this of course, will depend on the number and type of dental implants used in your procedure - the more implant, the longer the healing time. To combat the pains of healing, one should avoid smoking cigarettes and drinking through a straw. Doing either can decrease blood supply to the tooth area and potentially cause dry socket. It can also be beneficial to use ibuprofen, which will decrease swelling and ease pain. Proper oral hygiene and the use of a mouthwash will keep the implant areas clean and sterile while you heal.