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Dental implants are a long-term solution for tooth loss, but people investigating this treatment need to have good dental and medical health and ideally should not have any signs of periodontal disease (severe gum disease). Advanced periodontal disease can be tricky to treat as it may become chronic, requiring ongoing care to control it. However, severe gum disease often causes tooth loss, so does this mean patients with gum disease can’t have implants?

The short answer is probably not. A dental article published some years ago found the survival rates of dental implants in people with periodontal disease were little different compared to those without this condition. Anyone visiting our practice is carefully assessed for suitability. We review your medical and dental history to determine if implants are the best treatment and provide a good chance of long-term success. One issue with severe gum disease is that it can destroy the jawbone, leaving inadequate bone for implant placement.

When this is the case, a special type of implant may be needed called a zygomatic implant that uses the cheekbone instead of the jawbone. Another option is to have a bone graft to build up the missing bone in the jaw, which could help people who have had severe periodontitis successfully treated.

We often see patients with tooth cracks, but while some are serious, other types may not need any treatment. There are five different types of tooth cracks which are:

• Craze lines
• Split tooth
• Vertical root fracture
• Cracked tooth
• Cusp fracture

Craze lines are microfractures only affecting the enamel. They can be a sign of bruxism (tooth grinding and clenching) or the result of another form of trauma. If treatment is needed, it’s probably only due to aesthetic reasons, but it may be important to prevent bruxism to protect the teeth in future. A split tooth is more serious and can extend from the tooth crown to below the gumline. Sometimes it is possible to salvage the tooth, but often it must be removed.

A vertical tooth root fracture is most often associated with previous root canal therapy. Unfortunately, this is another frequently hopeless case where the tooth will need removing. A cracked tooth may be salvageable depending on the location and depth of the crack. Sometimes a tooth can be restored with a dental filling or crown, or other times it may need root canal therapy. A cusp fracture can cause tooth sensitivity, but depending on the extent of the fracture, there’s a good chance the tooth can be restored with a dental crown or another type of restoration.

If you are considering dental implants, you have come to the right place. In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about dental implants. We will talk about what they are, how they work, and the benefits of getting them. We will also discuss the cost of dental implants and how to finance them. If you are considering dental implants, this is the perfect place to start!

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a type of prosthetic tooth root that is placed into the jawbone to support replacement teeth. The implant itself is made from titanium, which is biocompatible and integrates with the surrounding bone over time. Once in place, dental implants can support single or multiple crowns, bridges, dentures, or other prosthetic devices.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

During the dental implant procedure, your dentist will surgically place the implant into your jawbone in order to secure it in place. Over several months, your body will begin to heal around the implant as new bone tissue grows and fuses with the implant’s titanium post. This process is known as osseointegration and it is what makes dental implants so secure. Once the implant has successfully integrated with your jawbone, your dentist will be able to attach a replacement tooth or teeth to the implant.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

There are many benefits to getting dental implants, including:

• Improved appearance – Dental implants look and feel just like natural teeth, giving you back your smile.
• Improved speech – Implants can improve clarity when speaking due to their stability compared to other prosthetic devices.
• Improved chewing ability – Implants are firmly rooted in place and are designed for long-term use, allowing you to enjoy all of your favorite foods without worrying about them coming loose.
• Improved comfort – Unlike dentures, implants don’t require adhesives and won’t slip out of place while you are eating or speaking.

Cost of Dental Implants

The cost of dental implants will vary depending on the type of implant, the number of teeth that need to be replaced, and other factors. Generally speaking, however, the average cost for a single implant is around $3,000. For multiple implants or more complex procedures such as full-mouth reconstruction, the cost can range from $15,000 – $30,000.

Financing Dental Implants

If you are considering dental implants but are worried about the cost, there are several financing options available. Many dentists offer in-house financing plans with low monthly payments and no interest charged. In addition, there are several third-party lenders that offer loans specifically for dental procedures. Be sure to do your research before making a decision on any type of financing plan.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you are considering getting dental implants, knowing the facts is key to making an informed decision. This blog post has provided you with all the information you need to know about dental implants including what they are, how they work, and the benefits of getting them. We have also discussed the cost of implants and how to finance them.

Most children enjoy sweets, and Halloween is the perfect time to indulge that sweet tooth. However, eating too many sugary treats increases the risk of cavities and toothache. So we’ve put together some ideas for alternative tooth-friendly treats.

Sugar-Free Gum

Sugar-free gum is great for teeth because it helps promote saliva flow. A good flow of saliva helps to wash away harmful bacteria and leftover food particles. Saliva is also essential for helping the mouth to maintain a more neutral and healthier pH level. If you can, look for a brand containing xylitol, a natural sweetener that disrupts the action of harmful bacteria in the mouth, preventing them from thriving.

Choose Chocolate over Sticky Toffee

Chocolate is preferable to sticky and hard sweets because it melts easily and is washed away more quickly by saliva. In contrast, sticky toffee or hard sweets can hang around teeth for much longer.

Inedible Treats

As an alternative to traditional Halloween sweets, why not hand out inedible treats such as small toys like vampire teeth or bouncy balls. Glow sticks are great for increasing the visibility of little trick-or-treaters. When given a choice, many children will prefer a toy to sweets.

Your mouth is host to hundreds of different strains of bacteria. While most are harmless, others can cause disease, especially as your mouth is the entrance to your respiratory and digestive tracts.

Usually, if you follow a good oral care routine, these bacteria are kept under control. However, suppose you are a little lax about brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. In that case, harmful bacteria can soon build up to such levels that they cause infections, including tooth decay and gum disease. Another health risk is dry mouth, a condition where insufficient saliva is produced. A good saliva flow is essential for helping to neutralise the acids produced by bacteria, and without it, the risk of oral disease increases substantially.

Over the past few years, there has been substantial research into the connection between oral health and overall health. Studies suggest that poor oral health, specifically gum disease, an inflammatory infection, could be linked to other serious health problems. These include cardiovascular disease, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases, diabetes and dementia.

Luckily, it is relatively easy to maintain good oral health with regular visits to our dental practice for checkups and cleanings. In addition, when we can detect gum disease early, it is entirely reversible.

Seeing your infant get their very first tooth is a significant milestone, and they come through in five distinct stages.

1. Children are born with a complete set of 20 teeth underneath their gums, ready to come through when the time is right.
2. Typically, a child’s baby teeth or primary teeth begin pushing through the gums around six months. The upper and lower front teeth are the first teeth to push through, followed by the lateral incisors.
3. From 10 months to 14 months, your child’s first primary molars begin to erupt.
4. When your child is aged 16 months to 22 months, their canine teeth begin to erupt. These are the teeth that come through between the incisors and molars.
5. At age 25 to 33 months, your child gets their large second molars that come in just behind the first molars.

As soon as your child gets their first teeth, you need to start brushing them carefully. It’s also a great time to book their very first dental visit, just so we can check your child’s teeth are erupting as expected, and we can give you plenty of information on how to care for those precious first teeth.

Over the past few years, it has become commonplace for everyone to sport a white and seemingly healthy-looking smile, and there are a plethora of products available over-the-counter or online. However, please don’t forget that teeth whitening is a dental treatment and is best carried out under the supervision of a dental professional.

The products you can buy are quite different from the professional strength products we use. Also, these over the counter products have the potential to harm your teeth when overused or used incorrectly and can harm your dental health if you have untreated issues like cavities or gum disease. Everyone’s teeth will whiten slightly differently, and if you have dental restorations like crowns, bridges or veneers, or white fillings, these will not change colour.

When you come to see us for a teeth whitening treatment, we carefully check your mouth, ensuring you are suitable for this procedure. If you have any dental problems, we can provide suitable treatment beforehand, and we can also advise you on the type of results you can reasonably expect from teeth whitening. The products we use are extremely high quality, designed to minimise undesirable side-effects like tooth sensitivity, and they contain ingredients that can help protect your teeth, like fluoride.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps to protect and strengthen your tooth enamel and is extremely effective when used correctly. Dental fluorosis is a condition that occurs when teeth are exposed to too much fluoride while still developing, resulting in lacy white flecks or even brown stains discolouring tooth enamel. Usually, dental fluorosis is completely harmless, leaving only white spots or lacy flecks over teeth, and it may require no treatment whatsoever. However, if dental fluorosis has caused unsightly stains on teeth, several treatments can help to improve the appearance of these teeth cosmetically.

Possible treatments include teeth whitening, although this may not always be very effective for more severe staining. Another option is to have teeth bonded, where we coat the tooth surface with composite resin in a shade that blends in beautifully with your natural teeth. Dental bonding usually lasts for several years before the composite resin begins to discolour. The rate of discolouration depends on your lifestyle habits. If you want something more long-lasting, we can provide porcelain veneers. A veneer is a thin porcelain shell custom-made to fit over the tooth and bonded onto the surface. It typically lasts ten years or more with proper care.

Springtime is when many people start to suffer from allergies. If you are affected, do you know how it can impact your oral health? Allergies can cause several oral problems, including sore throats, dry mouth, and toothache.

During allergy season, many people begin to experience toothache because mucus builds up in the sinuses, placing pressure on the upper back teeth. Usually, sinuses are designed to drain upwards, but when allergies impact them, this becomes more difficult. However, if you suffer toothache in a different area of your mouth, come and see us just in case you have a tooth infection.

Allergies can also make it more difficult to breathe through your nose, so you tend to breathe through your mouth more often. This can cause dry mouth, where your mouth feels dry and sticky instead of moist and comfortable. When your mouth is drier, it allows harmful bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease to thrive. If you are affected, make sure you drink plenty of water or chew sugar-free gum or sweets.

When your nose is blocked, mucus from the nose drains down the throat and can irritate these tissues. Some people find a soothing hot drink is helpful or suck on sugar-free throat lozenges.

Are you currently considering a smile makeover and wondering what the benefits might be? Most people want smile makeovers because they are unhappy with the appearance of their teeth or perhaps are unable to eat comfortably.

Common reasons for seeking a smile makeover include being embarrassed about crooked or overcrowded teeth, having cracked or chipped teeth, or teeth that are discoloured. In addition, smile makeovers can address other problems such as missing teeth, unsightly gaps between teeth and other issues like loose dentures.

Investing in the appearance of your teeth can affect you in numerous ways, and some treatments can benefit dental health. For example, when you see us for a smile makeover, we assess the look of your teeth and your dental health. Restoring missing teeth not only improves appearance but helps protect your existing teeth and ensures you can eat more comfortably. Likewise, repairing worn and broken teeth protects and preserves them while improving your smile.

Additionally, when you have a healthy and attractive smile, it can boost self-confidence. When you feel great about your teeth, you are more likely to socialise with other people and make friends and build relationships.

We plan each smile makeover extremely carefully, taking the time to listen to you to learn your desires, devising a custom treatment plan to suit your needs.