Category: Tooth Replacement

A beautiful, healthy smile does more than improve your appearance. It gives you confidence, makes you happy, and, most of all, improves your overall health. Unfortunately, missing teeth and a less-than-sparkling smile are a reality for many individuals. Missing teeth can make even the simplest daily tasks, like eating or socializing, a difficult and uncomfortable challenge. Luckily, oral care has become so advanced that you can restore your smile like new with the help of dental implants. 

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the next best thing to natural teeth. They are oral structures that replace missing teeth by mimicking the whole tooth structure. Dental implants are permanently implanted and secured into your jawbone to act as an artificial tooth root. The implant then becomes the anchor for the artificial tooth or crown. The crown is custom-made to fit your mouth and match the color of your teeth. They look, feel, and function like natural teeth. 

There are other dental options when it comes to missing teeth and restoring your smile. However, there are many benefits of having dental implants. Many of which can enhance your overall well-being. 

Permanent Replacement for Missing Teeth

One of the most significant benefits of dental implants is that they are permanent. Because they are surgically implanted into your jawbone, you never have to worry about them shifting or moving around in your mouth. Dentures used to be the primary option for replacing missing teeth. And although they are great oral care options, dentures are known to slip occasionally as they are not permanently placed in your mouth. They also tend to require much more care than dental implants.

Promotes Jawbone Health

Your teeth are essential to the health of your jawbone. Without teeth, your jawbone would essentially deteriorate. This is because if you don’t have teeth, your bone matter and soft tissue have no purpose. They are designed to support your teeth, so if there are no teeth, they begin to shrink. When dental implants are placed in your mouth, an osseointegration process begins. Osseointegration is when the jawbone and the implant begin to merge together. This helps to increase the jawbone’s strength and stability. 

Supports Facial Structure 

By promoting jawbone health and ensuring your jaw doesn’t deteriorate or shrink, dental implants ultimately help to maintain facial structure. Missing teeth and a shrunken jawline create a sunken and saggy facial appearance. Dental implants help fill spaces and provide the much-needed structure to provide a healthy, fresh face. 

Talk and Chew with Ease 

Another benefit of having dental implants is their ability to promote natural function. Your bite often determines what you can eat. In addition, your teeth and their placement or lack thereof affect your speech. Dental implants restore your natural bite, allowing you to eat and talk without hindrance. They are just as strong as natural teeth, so you aren’t limited to what you can eat.  

Requires No Special Maintenance

We briefly mentioned how dentures require a bit more care than dental implants. You must take them out and properly care for them, including rinsing and cleaning. Dental implants, on the other hand, require no special care. You simply brush and care for them as you would your natural teeth. And best of all, you don’t have to worry about getting cavities. Of course, you still need to brush and floss to maintain your oral health. Your gums are still very much real and must be taken care of. Plus, the artificial tooth or crown can still accumulate plaque and tartar if not properly cleaned.

Cost-effective and Long-Lasting

Dental implants are made out of high-quality material that is built to last. With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. Because they are permanent, you don’t have the risk of losing them or breaking them as you do with dentures or other dental appliances. Dental implants may cost more upfront but are generally more cost-effective, considering how long they last. 

Boosts Your Self-Esteem

All of the benefits of dental implants are great and are important for your oral health and well-being, but the tremendous impact they can have on your self-esteem is definitely more than worth it. Missing teeth can cause you to withdraw from social settings and even become depressed. It can be embarrassing to smile or speak if you’re not confident with your appearance. Dental implants can help give your self-esteem a major boost. When you’re proud of your smile and teeth, you don’t want to hide; you want to show them off. 

Smile Again with Dental Implants

Don’t let missing teeth stand in your way of having a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life. Restore your smile with dental implants. Schedule an appointment with your dentist today to discuss if dental implants are a great option for you. Everyone deserves to have a beautiful smile. Achieve yours today! 

We all want that beautiful pearly white smile. But unfortunately, not everyone can naturally achieve that goal. Millions of Americans suffer from edentulism or tooth loss. And as you may have suspected, it’s a common condition for older adults.

According to the CDC, one-quarter of adults aged 65 or older have eight or fewer teeth, and about 1 in 6 or 17 percent of adults aged 65 or older have lost all of their teeth. This certainly isn’t anything someone asks for, so what causes edentulism, and how can you prevent it from happening?

Types of Edentulism

People can suffer from two types of edentulism – partial and complete.

Partial edentulism is when there is only partial tooth loss. Individuals affected by this type still have some of their natural teeth. Tooth loss is much more common on the upper jaw than on the lower jaw.

People who have lost all of their natural teeth have complete edentulism. Once people begin losing their teeth, there is no way to reverse the condition, which ultimately leads to this type of edentulism.

What Causes Edentulism?

In order to prevent this condition from beginning, it’s important to know what causes it. Edentulism can occur for many reasons. Some you have control over, and some you don’t. Some of the most common causes include:

Poor Oral Care: The leading cause of tooth loss is cavities and gum disease. Generally speaking, the better your oral care, the better your chances of preventing edentulism. Tooth decay left untreated can cause permanent damage to the teeth forcing the dentist to have to extract it. Periodontal diseases, such as those that affect the gums, are a major cause of tooth loss. Gum disease affects the jaw bone, the tooth’s main structure. When it becomes weakened, teeth become loose and fall out or eventually have to be removed.

Osteoporosis: We just mentioned how important of a role your jaw bone plays in maintaining your healthy smile. Osteoporosis is a condition that affects your bones, causing them to become weakened and susceptible to fractures. So, someone with osteoporosis is at risk of their jaw bone becoming dense and unable to house and hold their teeth.

Poor Diet: Certain diets can severely affect the health of your teeth. A diet high in sugar and carbs is a culprit of tooth decay. Sugar leads to plaque, which over time eats away at the enamel on your teeth, thus leading to cavities. There is also a strong link between malnutrition and poor oral health. Lacking proper nutrients can cause your teeth and gums to break down, eventually resulting in edentulism.

Certain Medications: Several medications can cause side effects that directly impact the health of your mouth and teeth. For example, many medications lead to dry mouth, creating a feeding ground for bacteria. That then can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Smoking and Vaping: This habit leads to poor oral health through gum disease and severe plaque. In addition, the nicotine from smoking and vaping restricts blood flow to areas in your body as well as your mouth. Your gums are living tissue that relies on nutrients and oxygen to stay healthy. So, when blood flow is restricted, your gum tissue begins to die. This can result in loss of teeth.

Who’s At Risk for Edentulism?

Now that you know some of the causes let’s talk about some of the risk factors. Unfortunately, many of the risk factors you can’t avoid. You just have to be cognizant and take preventative measures to try to overcome them. And, of course, control the risk factors you can.

Age: More than 70 percent of seniors who are 65 years of age or older suffer from some form of periodontal disease. This condition is more common in men than women. Your risk of developing gum disease only continues to increase the older you get, so it’s imperative you do all that you can to prevent gum disease, which could result in edentulism.

Genetics: Your genes can play a role in whether you lose teeth or not. If other people in your family have lost teeth, you are at a greater risk of also suffering from tooth loss.

Gender: Because women undergo hormonal changes during menopause, they are more susceptible to losing teeth than men. This is because of the decrease in estrogen levels, a hormone that helps to keep women’s bones strong and healthy.

Certain Illnesses: If you suffer from certain conditions, you could be at a greater risk for edentulism. Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and heart disease might make you more prone to tooth loss.

Treatment for Edentulism

There are a few different restorative and cosmetic treatment approaches to edentulism. Dentists can replace missing teeth with partial dentures, a tooth bridge, or dental implants for partial edentulism. Dental implants are implant-supported prosthetics that use artificial tooth roots that are screwed into your jaw. This is done for individual teeth.

For complete edentulism, dentists will usually provide dentures or a tooth bridge as options. A tooth bridge is made up of artificial teeth attached to a metallic frame, which is then placed where the teeth used to be.

Prevent Edentulism With Proper Oral Care

Preventing tooth loss may not always be possible, but there are preventative measures you can take to avoid gum disease and other oral diseases that may impact your teeth. The best way to prevent edentulism is through proper oral care. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and having routine dental exams performed.

Losing teeth does more than just affect your appearance; it affects your facial structure and your health. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take steps to ensure you have a healthy smile that keeps you looking and feeling your best.

Despite advances in oral care in the United States, about 26% of adults have untreated tooth decay. When that is left untreated long enough, it ends with a tooth extraction. Instead of getting a dental bridge or dentures, you’ve got the option of dental implants.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is basically a full-on replacement for your teeth. Instead of just being like a cap or a denture, the implant is actually attached to the jawbone to make it a more permanent solution. Dental implants function exactly like normal teeth, and they’re made up of three main components.

The implant is the first of those components. This is the part that is inserted into your jaw. It’s basically a screw that goes into the jaw and functions like the root of the tooth.

Next, you have the abutment. It’s a connector that attaches to the implant and will hold the third and final component of the dental implants.

That third part is the crown, which is a prosthetic tooth. It’s often made of porcelain or zirconium, which makes it look good and makes it very durable.

How Dental Implant Surgery Works

Dental implant surgery is usually an outpatient surgery that is done in several stages. Going through the entire process often takes several months.

The steps for receiving a dental implant are:

• Removing the damaged tooth
• Preparing the jawbone, sometimes grafting if necessary
• Placing the implant
• Allowing for bone growth and healing
• Placing the abutment
• Placing the artificial tooth

When the surgeon places the implant, he or she will cut the gum to expose the bone. Then a hole is drilled into the bone for the metal post to be placed. It has to be placed deep into the bone because it’s meant to serve as the tooth’s root.

After the post is in place, you’ll wait for the area to heal before moving onto the next step. At this point, you will have a gap where the artificial tooth will go, but you can get a partial denture to use temporarily. You’re waiting period is to allow the jawbone time to grow into the surface of the dental implant so it fuses together. The process is called osseointegration.

Once that process is complete, you’ll go back to the surgeon to have the abutment placed. That’s the piece the crown will attach to. Sometimes you’ll need another minor surgery to make this happen. The surgeon will have to reopen the gum to get access to the implant and put the abutment in place. Once the abutment is where it needs to be, you’ll have another couple of weeks for your gums to heal before the crown can be put on top.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

There are several advantages dental implants have over other methods of tooth replacement. They’re arguably the best looking solution available, which will make you feel better about your smile. If you’re not worrying about people noticing a difference between your real teeth and the replacement, this is the way to go.

Looks aside, dental implants have many practical advantages, too. As far as comfort goes, you won’t get anything better. With the implants looking and functioning just like your real teeth, you won’t really notice any difference in how they feel. There’s also no risk of poor fitment like you can get with dentures. That eliminates any speech problems or issues you may have while eating.

In addition, you’ll see lasting oral health benefits when you go with dental implants. You brush and floss like you would with your original teeth. All of the oral hygiene you’ve learned still applies, and there’s no new trick you have to learn.

You also don’t have to worry about having your other teeth reduced as you do with dental bridges. That means there is more longevity with a dental implant and less of a likelihood you’ll experience complications.

The Cost of Dental Implants

As with most health-related issues, costs for procedures such as this one can vary wildly depending on your specific condition, which surgeon you go to, and what your insurance will cover. Some plans include dental implant coverage while others don’t. You’ll need to have that conversation before you go in to have the surgery so you don’t end up with an unexpected bill.

In general, this procedure can cost anywhere from about $3,000 – $6,000 without insurance coverage. That’s for the entire procedure, from the damaged tooth removal all the way through placing the artificial tooth. Be sure to discuss the financial aspects and your insurance coverage thoroughly before undergoing this procedure. It may not be feasible for you if the price is too high, in which case you’ll need to look at dentures or a dental bridge to fix the problem.

Dental bridges are a solution for replacing missing teeth. The bridge serves as a false tooth that fills the void left by the missing teeth. It is attached to the two crowns of the teeth on each side of the missing tooth or teeth and appears like a dental implant. It literally forms a bridge from one teeth to the other.

Bridges are a cosmetic dentistry procedure used as an alternative to dentures, giving patients the ability to regain complete functionality of their mouth especially when it comes to speaking and eating. They also prevent any further cosmetic problems such as your teeth drifting further apart due to the gap left by the missing teeth.

Type of dental bridges

The three most common types of bridges are:

• Traditional: The crown is placed on one of the two sides of the gap while the replacement tooth fits in between. The tooth used is usually made out of porcelain fused with either ceramic or metal material.
• Maryland: Plastic replacement teeth are fitted with the help of metal wings bonded to the natural teeth on each side. Maryland bridge is similar to a resin-bonded bridge.
• Cantilever: This bridge is similar to the tradition, however, differs in the sense that the tooth to which the bridge is applied is adjacent to the gap.

The procedure to fit dental bridges usually requires two visits. In the first visit, a temporary bridge is fitted while impressions for the actual ones are taken. In the second visit, the temporary bridge is removed and the permanent one is fitted. Temporary cement is used to hold the bridge in place and through the course of the next few weeks, the bridge is examined by your dentist to ensure it fits properly and whether adjustments need to be made.

Like any other procedure, there can be complications during or afterward. While dental bridges may serve as your natural teeth, they aren’t actually natural.

Common problems linked to dental bridges

Ill-fitted bridge

The need to consult with a qualified dentist can’t be stressed enough when it comes to dental bridges. You have to make sure that you get a bridge that is custom-made to fill the gap left by missing teeth. Ill-fitted bridges lead to discomfort but that is just the start. With time, the false tooth can lead to irritation in your gums potentially causing boils, infection, and gum recession around the bridge.

You should go see your dentist at the slightest bit of irritation or issue relating to how the bridge fits. So the problem doesn’t escalate into something far more serious.

Tooth decay

With dental bridges, you need to make sure you maintain good oral hygiene. It is common for patients with bridges to develop tooth decay on the tooth in which the crown for the bridge is placed. When this happens, the tooth is no longer stable enough to serve as the foundation for the bridge.

To avoid this, you need to ensure you have a good oral hygiene routine which includes brushing twice a day and flossing at least once. Visiting your dentist on a regular basis is also important so they can ensure your bridge or teeth around it are in a good condition.

Sensitivity

It is common for a patient to experience some sensitivity in their gums and teeth, on the side of the bridge, for a few weeks after it has been placed. Your mouth is getting used to the crown and therefore more sensitive. However, if you continue to experience sensitivity after two weeks, you should consult your dentist. There may be complications related to the bridge from it being ill-fitted or just not right for you.

Damaged bridge

The tooth replacement option in dental bridges is usually made of porcelain, metal, or a ceramic combination. They are not indestructible which is why your dentist will tell you to eat with a little more care, avoiding food that is sticky or hard. Once the structure of the bridge is damaged, you will need to replace it otherwise it can result in other oral problems particularly infection or gum disease.

Cracked tooth

While it is not common but there are chances of cracks in the teeth that serve as an anchor for the bridge. The smallest of cracks can lead to numerous problems. The most common of which is sensitivity. If cracks are left untreated, it becomes a gateway for bacteria into the nerves of your teeth, the gums, and so on. All of which results in an infection. The sooner a cracked tooth is identified, the better.

Some dental bridge issues are unavoidable such as cracked tooth or ill-fitted bridges because they have more to do with the procedure than how you care for the bridge. To avoid the rest, you need to adapt the best way to clean dental bridges into your daily routine:

• Brush the bridge but use a denture cleaner rather than toothpaste or an abrasive cleaner as they can scratch the surface of the bridge. Make sure you use a soft-bristled brush and are gentle. Putting too much force can dislodge the bridge.
• When rinsing your mouth, use cool, clean water. Hot water may warp the bridge.
• Do not leave denture cleaner on overnight, unless instructed by your dentist. Most dentures contain metal making them vulnerable to rust when in contact with the cleaner or water for a long period of time.

If at any point you face a problem with your dental bridges, be sure to seek professional help from our experienced dentists near you. Our team is always willing to help and offers emergency dental care for issues related to bridges. To make dental care less of a financial burden, we accept Medicare and other major insurances because we believe that everyone has a right to a million-dollar smile.

Society may place a huge emphasis on the ability to flash a “million-dollar smile” as one of the keys of likeability or business success. This may stem partially from the general disconnection between Hollywood types and the general public: the American College of Prosthodontists estimates that at least 200 million Americans suffer from tooth loss or edentulism.

However, the current abundance of tooth replacement options also plays a major part in keeping this epidemic hidden. A quick look at listings for local dentists is bound to show countless banners offering half a dozen different procedures, which often does little but increase confusion.

Is Tooth Replacement Really Necessary?

Losing a tooth often occurs as a result of deep cavities, out of control periodontitis, or traumatic accidents where the jaw bone is damaged. Long-time patients at VIPCare Dental know that all our restorative dentistry interventions are meant to prevent definitive tooth loss from ever happening in the first place – but factors such as osteoporosis and chronic metabolic conditions often get the best of us.

As this tends to happen mostly to older patients, it is easy to fall into the trap of dismissing tooth replacement procedures as a purely cosmetic concern. However, leaving gaps open in a patient’s mouth after extraction can progressively worsen their oral health: this will increase the chances of gum disease, create small pockets for infection to thrive, and even cause the surrounding teeth to shift.

Tooth Replacement Options: Which is Best?

Depending on the amount and position of the teeth lost, the available tooth replacement options and cost will vary.

Dentures

Dentures are usually considered the most cost-effective route to replace a tooth. At its core, they consist of a removable prosthetic that will look and function quite similarly to real teeth – but not quite.

Dentures can be either partial or complete. Removable partial dentures are the most common of all tooth replacement methods, as they can quickly fill the gap left following a surgical extraction.

Complete dentures, on the other hand, are reserved for complete tooth loss. Patients with advanced tooth loss are at a high risk of gum infection and shrinking. In such cases, we commission two sets of complete dentures: a temporary or immediate one to be used right after an extraction, and a permanent one that will be fitted after the gums have finished healing and shrinking.

The main advantage of dentures will always be their relatively small cost. However, they can be difficult to deal with: they can slip during the day, especially after biting too hard. They also need to be removed every night or before going to sleep – and forgetting to do so to take a quick nap can be dangerous. Finally, the constant manipulation they require can also cause gum injury.

Bridges

The purpose of bridges is to “bridge” the gap between one or more missing teeth. At first glance, bridges are pretty similar to partial dentures, although they do not need to be taken out every night.

There are a variety of bridge models and materials, but they all follow the same basic structure: a tooth-shaped pontic or crown, which will stand in for the removed tooth, will be anchored to the adjacent teeth and held together by an adhesive or screwed on by a small implant. Depending on the available budget and their position, crowns are usually made from porcelain, gold, or different metal alloys.

As a general rule, porcelain bridges are more expensive, but they offer more realistic results. This is why they are often the first-choice material for people who have lost their front teeth. In addition, bridges can either be fixed, bonded, or cantilever bridges.

A traditional fixed bridge consists of porcelain or metal crown attached to the adjacent teeth with a small crown. They are ideal for replacing up to two consecutive missing teeth.

Cantilever bridges, on the other hand, are usually attached only to one side of the gap. They are more unstable and do not prevent the adjacent tooth to shift. This is why they have largely fallen out of favor, except for temporary tooth replacement interventions.

Bonded or Maryland bridges are a low-cost alternative to traditional bridges. They are made from a combination of porcelain or metal framework, which is bonded to the crowns using resin. The framework, which is usually shaped like a wing or a butterfly, is then attached to the palate on one side and to a healthy tooth on the other one.

Although a bit pricier than dentures, bridges offer the following advantages:

• They are more functional, and feel more similar to real teeth
• They have a smaller chance of shifting or moving out of place
• They permit speaking more comfortably and chewing harder
• Unlike implants, they can be installed even when the surrounding facial bones are weakened or damaged

However, they also have the following disadvantages:

• Since they always need to be attached to a nearby tooth, they are not a good option for patients with advanced or total teeth loss.
• They usually last up to 10 to 15 years. After that, they will need to be completely replaced.
• They need frequent refitting

Implants

Out of all options for tooth replacement, implants are usually the most expensive one. However, they also offer the best long-term results and can help preserve and improve oral health in patients with advanced teeth loss.

Dental implants are small screws attached directly beneath the gums or on the bone plate directly under or above the teeth (the jaw or the maxillary bone). These are inserted through a surgical procedure which, although more complex than just fitting a set of dentures, still rarely requires a hospital stay. These implanted screws hold the crown in place.

Traditional dental implants use one screw per crown. These provide a very realistic and functional solution for patients who needed a good single tooth replacement option.

Patients who need an entire row of teeth replaced, or who have lost more than three consecutive teeth, are usually recommended an all-in-four dental implant instead. This procedure uses just four screws to attach an entire plate of teeth, and therefore requires a very deft hand.

Getting dental implants installed can be quite pricey, especially if high-end implant materials such as titanium are used. Fortunately, more and more insurance companies are now covering implants, at least partially – and you’ll find us very willing to help you figure out how to best apply for it. This is because:

• Dental implants provide the most realistic and functional results: patients can chew, bite, and roll their tongues in the same way that they would with real teeth.
• They have a lower rate of complications or accidents than temporary tooth replacement options such as dentures.
• They last a lifetime.
• They offer long-term protection from gum disease.
• They don’t shift or fall out of place.
• They don’t require any adhesives, which lowers the risk of an adverse reaction.

Unfortunately, no single method or dental technology is absolutely superior for all cases. Patients who have lost bone density, have a pre-existing bone condition, or who do not respond well to general anesthesia, may not be good candidates for implants.

Cosmetic dentistry services often feel like an extensive, free-for-all menu. However, the importance of professional advice should never be overlooked. At VIPcare Dental Ocala, FL clinic we can provide you with a full consultation, take a hard look at your history, and help you reach the right decision for your mouth.