February 2017 - The Dental Place

February 20, 2017

Tooth loss can occur for many reasons … a traumatic event, excessive dental decay, gum disease, or teeth may not have erupted normally. Dental implants provide an ideal solution to restore dentition allowing the patient to eat all the foods they, speak clearly, and have their dignity restored allowing them to laugh, eat, speak, and smile in public without embarrassment.

When first introduced many decades ago, dental implants were not as commonly used as they are today. But research and experience has shown that there are many advantages to dental implants over other traditional methods of tooth replacement.

A dental implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed in gum tissue where one or more teeth are missing. Titanium is the ideal metal for this procedure as it allows bone to integrate allowing it to become a permanent part of your dentition offering the same support for the final restoration that your tooth’s roots do for biological teeth.

When implant and bone has merged; and healing is completed, the final steps can be finished. Your dentist will have fabricated a restoration that will match your surrounding teeth in size, shape, and shade. An abutment will be attached to the implant and the final cosmetic enhancement will be tried in. When ready, it can be cemented in place.

The advantages of dental implants are numerous. In addition to allowing you to eat all the foods you loved before tooth loss occurred, they are permanent. The implant itself remains for life – if needed, the restoration can be replaced.

Dental implants promote gum health. Teeth replacement with a partial or bridge that merely sits on top of the gums does not prevent gum shrinkage. The implant promotes bone growth where tooth loss has occurred keeping gum tissue healthy with proper care.

If your dentist tells you that you are not a good candidate for dental implants due to insufficient bone, there is a procedure for bone augmentation that may work for you.

Dental implants do not require special care. During the healing process, you must remain vigilant in keeping the implant area clean to prevent infection, but once the final restoration is placed brushing, flossing, and regular dental appointments for cleaning and dental exam are sufficient for maintaining a healthy dental implant.

Considering implants? Call our friendly team at The Dental Place today!

February 6, 2017

Having a tooth removed can be an easy process or can involve a surgical procedure. Your dentist will issue instructions to follow upon completion, but generally even a simple tooth extraction warrants going home and relaxing for the balance of the day.

Following the extraction you will likely have a wad of gauze where the tooth was removed. This is there to stem blood flow and help the area to clot. Replace if it becomes soaked. If the tooth was already loose, extraction may have been very simple; however, if your dentist had to elevate the tooth for removal or the tooth had broken you may experience some discomfort and you will want to go home.

With the majority of simple tooth extractions the patient receives some type of anesthetic … the jaw is numbed for the extraction. During tooth removal the patient feels pressure; however, when the anesthetic wears off depending on the severity of the extraction there may be discomfort. In most cases an over the counter analgesic is sufficient for relief.

In the case of surgical extractions like for impacted or wisdom teeth, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon. They are equipped to offer you the appropriate anesthetic for your needs. If the patient requires a general anesthetic or uses oral sedation, they will need transportation home. The only anesthetic where the patient can transport themselves is with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) which wears off quickly or a numbing agent like lidocaine.

Post-operative instructions usually include:

Rest to stop the bleeding; keep your head elevated. Take pain medication as prescribed and needed.
Do not smoke or use any type of tobacco.
Do not drink using a straw. Any type of sucking action can remove the clot that has formed where the tooth was extracted. The result can lead to a dry socket … if the clot becomes dislodged for any reason, the patient will experience pain. A return to the dentist is often required.
Eat soft foods like pudding, applesauce, scrambled eggs, yogurt, or ice cream … you can resume eating normally in a few days.
Do not brush the surgical area until healed; brush surrounding teeth carefully.

Let your dental professional be your guide on when it is best to return to work or school. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation!