About Dental Implants

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a popular choice because it is similar to a natural tooth. It is a replacement tooth that looks and acts just like the real thing because it has the same structure as natural teeth. Dental implants have a titanium “root” that is snugly inserted into the bone and is used to support a crown, bridge or denture. Best of all, it looks, feels and acts like a real tooth and can last a lifetime if properly cared for.

Dental implants have become the state-of-the art solution because it is far and away superior to previous treatments. This dental innovation helps most patients live a better and healthier lives.

Who are candidates for Dental Implants?

Individuals that have one or more missing teeth, broken or decayed teeth that are not able to be repaired can benefit from dental implant technology. Those that are not comfortable with dentures, partial denture or a bridge would be a good candidate for dental implants

Here is the good news, in the past, patients with insufficient bone or who had certain health conditions or habits were not considered candidates for implants. Advances in diagnostics and bone reconstruction have made it so that most patients can receive implants.

Benefits and advantages of Dental Implants

Dental Implants work like natural teeth

When it comes to chewing – dental implants act the same as natural teeth! Most patients can’t tell the difference between their natural teeth and the implant tooth. They can eat with it completely normally, and they can brush and floss normally as well.

Dental Implants can last a lifetime

Did you know, a dental bridge may only last around 10 years or so? Dental implants can last a lifetime! The implant is made from titanium and integrates with the jawbone. It’s also bio-compatible, meaning that it’s non-toxic and will not rejected by the body. All-in-all it makes a powerful replacement tooth.

Dental Implants prevent bone loss

Where there is no tooth the jawbone in the empty space begins to deteriorate due to lack of stimulation. If no implant is placed in the first year of losing a tooth, that bone area loses 25% of its volume, and bone loss continues over the years.

Dentures can even accelerate bone loss as they often become loose, and then rub against the bony ridge, gradually wearing it away. Because an implant replaces the root as well as the tooth, and chewing is restored to normal, it provides the needed stimulation for natural bone growth.

Dental Implants stop adjacent teeth from shifting

When you have a gap from a missing tooth it can cause your adjacent teeth to shift and can affect your bite and appearance. This can cause an alignment and therefore harm your ability to chew and function. It can cause dental problems that makes tooth replacement more difficult later. To top it all off a poor bite can also lead to issues with your TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and may result in pain and headaches.

Dental Implants can help keep you free of gum disease

A missing tooth gap can act as a trap for food and bacteria and can lead to gum disease.

Dental Implants can prevent facial sagging and premature aging

This can also affect your appearance. Facial sagging can occur and be an unwanted effect of bone loss resulting from missing teeth. This is where the lower third of the face starts to collapse, gradually closing the distance between the tip of the nose and the chin. Changes can include excess wrinkles around the mouth, thinning lips and a more pointed chin, making the person look a lot older than his or her true age.

Dental Implants vs. Dentures

Stable teeth coupled with a strong bite!

Dental implants provide a superior solution when compared to dentures alone. This occurs because dentures do not prevent bone loss and therefore will begin to slip and become uncomfortable over time.

Dental implants provide a far superior experience compared to dentures. Even dentures that originally fit the patient well begin to slip and become uncomfortable after a while, due to increasing bone loss.

It’s difficult to keep any denture continually stable due to wear on the bony ridges that dentures clasp onto. The most frustrating aspect of dentures, and the unhealthiest, is their poor chewing ability. many people also have to limit their diets because they are unable to chew certain foods with their dentures.

If you are deciding between traditional dentures or an implant-supported restoration, here are some things to consider.

  • Dentures often have to be kept in the mouth by using a dental adhesive. This sometimes requires re-glues after meals. An implant-supported denture requires no adhesive.
  • Dentures have to be removed for cleaning. With the exception of a removable implant-retained denture, your implant-supported restoration can be cared for by brushing and flossing.
  • Dentures cover the roof of the mouth. With implants, there’s nothing covering the roof of your mouth to interfere with your sense of taste or other normal activities. Implant-supported dentures can also be fabricated without a palate.
  • Dentures can slip out while eating or speaking. Implants and implant-supported dentures are securely anchored and won’t slip out.
  • It’s hard to chew with dentures and you can’t eat a lot of food you like or need. Dentures can move while you chew, which is annoying, and makes it difficult to chew! In fact, dentures generally have only 10% or less of full chewing power. Dental implants have full chewing power and implant-supported bridges or dentures also considerably increase the chewing power.
  • Dentures may click while eating. With implants or implant-supported dentures, there’s no annoying clicking sound.
  • Dentures don’t provide the stimulation needed to prevent bone loss. The jawbone needs to have the stimulation of high-pressure chewing to keep its volume. Implants ensure no jawbone is lost.
  • Progressive bone loss as a result of wearing dentures can cause facial collapse. Over the years bone loss can cause the collapse of the lower third of your face, creating excessive wrinkles, sagging skin and jowls, thinning lips and a sunken-in look. This can considerably age a person’s appearance.  Implants prevent bone loss.

Dental Implants vs. Dental bridges

A Dental Implant is a more affordable and natural replacement than a Dental Bridge

A bridge consists of a false tooth (or teeth) supported by adjacent teeth that have been capped. It is used to replace one or two missing teeth.

A bridge requires two often healthy teeth to be altered, which is not an ideal way of replacing a missing tooth compared to a dental implant. Bridges tend to have short lives, five to ten years, compared to a dental implant, which can last a lifetime. So while a bridge can sometimes be more economical at first, in the long run a dental implant can cost you less.

Are you ready to perfect your smile?

Are you ready to perfect your smile?  We are here to help you learn more about Dental Implants in Vallejo California.

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Questions & Answers

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

How Often Should I Get a Dental Checkup?

Dental health varies from person to person; a general rule for adult patients is to visit a dentist once or twice a year, even if your mouth is in excellent condition. This way, you can get your teeth professionally cleaned regularly and maintain excellent oral health.

What Are the Best Ways to Practice Good Oral Hygiene at Home?

In addition to daily brushing and flossing, take your oral hygiene to the next level by following a few steps to good dental health. These include:

  • Using products that contain fluoride
  • Limiting snacks that are high in sugar
  • Eating a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables
  • Avoiding tobacco in any form

How Can I Improve the Whiteness of My Teeth?

A beautiful smile with clean, white teeth is a huge confidence booster. Most people experience some discoloration of teeth over the years, either from surface stains or internal ones. Treat stains caused by coffee, wine, tobacco, and pigmented foods with at-home whitening or have professional, in-office whitening done regularly. For internal discoloration, consider composite bonding or the application of veneers to the affected teeth, which provides a more permanent solution.

How Do I Prevent Tooth Decay, Gingivitis, and Other Problems?

The best way to ensure a healthy mouth is to follow a balanced diet and regularly visit the dentist while maintaining your oral care routine with twice-daily brushing and once-daily flossing. Protect yourself against problems that can advance quickly by discussing these questions with your dental professional.

Why Should I Have Dental X-Rays Taken?

Your dentist should take a full set of dental X-rays early into the doctor-patient relationship. X-rays help your doctor monitor any changes that could be happening in your teeth between appointments. Most adult patients have bitewing X-rays every year and a full mouth series every four to five years. But those with a higher risk for dental caries problems may need them every six to 18 months.

What Is Tooth Sensitivity and Why Do I Have It?

Patients with tooth sensitivity feel pain when they consume foods or drinks that are hot or cold, sweet, or acidic. Sensitivity happens when tooth enamel, which usually protects the tooth’s pulp and dentin, is thinned from repeated exposure to acidity and extreme temperatures. Sensitivity can also occur as a result of:

  • Receding gums
  • Tooth grinding during sleep
  • Chipped or fractured teeth
  • Tooth whitening
  • Orthodontics and fillings

When Should I Consider Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the ideal way to replace missing or weakened teeth. Implants are permanent and serve as an excellent alternative to dentures for anyone with an otherwise healthy mouth and jaw. Most adult patients are good candidates for dental implants because they can help prevent the remaining teeth from moving or loosening.

Should I Use Mouthwash Regularly?

It depends – there are different kinds of mouthwash. Cosmetic mouthwashes aim to freshen breath and to maintain a healthy teeth color, but they contain fluoride to help fight cavities as well. Therapeutic rinses work to help treat conditions such as gingivitis, tooth sensitivity, and inflammation. For more advanced conditions, prescription mouthwashes often contain chlorhexidine gluconate to kill bacteria that cause bleeding, inflammation, and plaque or biofilm formation.

At What Age Should My Child First See a Dentist?

Studies show children can develop their first cavities by two years old, so the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends booking the first visit once their first tooth appears – or, at the latest, their first birthday. This helps your dentist catch potential problems that can affect your child’s overall health and well-being as more teeth grow in overtime.

When Do Baby Teeth Typically Fall Out?

Most children begin losing their baby teeth between the ages of six and eight. They typically fall out in roughly the same order in which they grew. Keep in mind that all patients are different. Children and adult oral conditions depend on how long they’ve gone without an appointment, how long a child’s baby teeth last, and what kinds of things you are naturally more sensitive to.

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