A Comprehensive Outline of Dental Implants by Dentists in Silver Spring MD, PART 2

In this two-part article series, we take a comprehensive look at dental implants. We explain what they are, how they work, what the treatment entails and what benefits and advantages they come hand-in-hand with.

Welcome back to the concluding installment of this two-part article series all about dental implants. In our previous post, we discussed what dental implants are and some of the benefits they offer. Dentists in Silver Spring MD explain that the benefits and advantages that come with dental implants have resulted in these incredible devices being regarded as one of the most important and significant breakthroughs in the field of dental science in recent decades. Besides the fact that they are in effect identical to natural healthy teeth, the biological fusion between your jaw and the titanium screw comprising your dental implant allows the entire tooth substitution structure to stay steadfastly embedded in your mouth. This means that your replacement teeth can function just like natural, healthy teeth.

How the Dental Implant Treatment Works

During your preliminary consultation, your cosmetic dentist in Silver Spring will execute a complete oral assessment and decide upon the best possible surgical plan for your unique case. The first step will be determining the site/s for your dental implants. When you have come in for treatment and your implants have been placed, your dentist will provide you with temporary tooth substitution while you spend the next few months healing. Once the osseointegration has occurred to the desired degree, you will be fitted with your original, artificial and permanent replacement teeth.

Dental Implants: Even More Benefits and Advantages

A Cosmetic dentist in Silver Spring explains that dental implants accomplish vital functions that assist in sustaining an excellent standard of oral health.

• Dental implant restorations reinstate the entire missing tooth from the root to the crown, which not only affords an aesthetic replacement, but also the fundamental source of functional stimulation that the missing root once offered the underlying jawbone. This functional stimulation helps to protect good bone volume, prevent deterioration and keep your jaws healthy and strong.

• If you leave a missing tooth/teeth untreated, adjoining teeth start shifting in order to fill the gap/s left behind. This creates severe problems as this instability travels from tooth to tooth in what can be likened to the ‘domino effect’, causing your entire dental arc to become unbalanced. Dental implant restorations provide support to the neighboring teeth, keeping your dentition stable and firm.

Dental Implants Can Last a Lifetime

By opting for the dental implants as your mode of treatment, you will be left with not only a beautiful smile, but also a fully restored and efficient bite that can last a lifetime. The resourceful skill and proficiency that go into the creation and assignment of dental implants and oral restorations utilize highly developed techniques and materials that last decades! If you continue to care for your new teeth, following a good and consistent oral hygiene routine comprising of daily brushing, flossing and rinsing as well as regular dental check-ups, you can enjoy the benefits and advantages of your new teeth for the rest of your life!

A Final Note on Dental Implants

Dental implants are, by reputation, far better in purpose, look, comfort, health, and life span than older technologies, like traditional removable dentures. “Traditional removable dentures have a bad reputation for numerous reasons,” explain dentists in Silver Spring. “Other than their non-natural look, removable dentures are for the most part uncomfortable to wear; they can cause embarrassment and are often painful. To make matters worse, over time, the wearing of dentures can cause damage to your gums, which can lead to all kinds of oral health problems.”

On the other hand dental implants have a wonderful repute for improving one’s quality of life and smile, and many patients report back with nothing but positive feedback concerning their implants’ function and feel.

A Comprehensive Outline of Dental Implants by Silver Spring Cosmetic Dentist, PART 1

In this two-part article series, we take a comprehensive look at dental implants. We explain what they are, how they work, what the treatment entails and what benefits and advantages they come hand-in-hand with.

Millions of Americans deal with tooth loss on any given day. This unfortunate situation may be the result of poor dental habits, accidental trauma or general wear-and-tear. Our teeth offer more than just an important visual purpose; we require teeth in order to converse and articulate correctly. Furthermore, our teeth necessitate the very basic but indispensable function of chewing food. This is why when presenting with tooth loss you should consider the best possible solution for replacing your teeth with long-lasting, 100% functional and beautiful teeth. A Silver Spring cosmetic dentist explains that there simply is no better solution for dealing with tooth loss than dental implants. In this two-part article series, we will be providing you with a comprehensive explanation of what dental implants are and what benefits and advantages they offer.

Dental Implants: What Are They?

Dental implants have come into view as the best resolution modern dentistry has to offer patients who have lost one or more or even all of their natural teeth. These smart devices in effect serve as self-supporting synthetic tooth roots. Dental implants are constructed from the exceedingly resilient, lightweight and non-corrosive metal, titanium. In the 1950’s, Swedish professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark along with his clinical research team discovered that titanium is able to support a biological fusion process termed ‘osseointegration,’ during which bone tissue bonds with the surface of the metal. Discovering this breakthrough has provided the perfect solution for creating a fixed and non-removable tooth root that could remain permanently rooted in the jawbone. It also contributed enormously to the field of orthopedic surgery.

Dental Implants: Why Are They Superior?

At the end of the day, technology will always be in a process of evolution. Currently, dental implants are at the top of the innovative food chain when it comes to replacing missing teeth. Traditional dentures are fast becoming an option of the past. A dentist in Silver Spring explains that dental implants offer a far more efficient and beneficial solution for the treatment of missing teeth and the placement of new teeth. Dental implants have demonstrated to be far better in function, appearance, comfort, health and lifetime in contrast to other options available, such as traditional removable dentures and dental bridges.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

• “Your new teeth will work, appear and feel like healthy natural teeth,” says a Silver Spring cosmetic dentist. This means that you can return to life as normal and enjoy your new teeth in exactly the same way that you did your natural, original teeth.

• Modern dentistry utilizes sophisticated computer imaging software and 3D virtual scanning technologies that allow oral surgeons to place dental implants using techniques that involve minimal discomfort. This results in incredibly successful surgeries and a much shortened recovery period, too.

• “Dental implants are rooted in the bone of the jaw. This means that they do not require support from surrounding teeth and gums like dentures or dental bridges do,” says a Silver Spring cosmetic dentist. “For this reason, dental implants do not typically cause irritation or inflammation, nor do they inflict damage or discomfort on the surrounding teeth or gums.”

• Since our teeth play an important role in our articulation and speech, dental implants help in reinstating correct interface between the teeth, tongue and lips during speech.

• Your dental restorations will be modeled and crafted to fit perfectly and resemble your natural, original teeth, giving you the confidence to eat and smile with self-assurance.

Stay Tuned

Join us for the second article of this two-part series where we will be looking a little closer at dental implant treatment. We’ll also provide further reasons why dental implants are the best solution for missing teeth!

Dentists in Maryland Tell us about the Signs You May Have Gum Disease, PART 2

This two-part article series discusses the signs and symptoms of gum disease in both the beginning stages (gingivitis) and advanced stages (periodontitis).

Welcome to the second installment of this article series. In our previous post, we began by explaining just how serious gum disease it, not only because it can lead to tooth loss, but also because few people know they have it! In the absence of pain and discomfort, this terrible oral ailment can go ignored and undiagnosed for many years. This is why a staggering 80% of the American population suffers from some form or stage of it. Also, we tend to be a little lazy about brushing and flossing as frequently as we should. It is essential that you go to see one of the dentists in Maryland to pinpoint this condition as early as possible.

We then began discussing some of the signs and symptoms of gum disease, including gums that bleed when brushed or flossed and gums that appear to be red and swollen or spongy. In this article, we continue to speak to Silver Spring dentists about the symptoms we should be concerned about and seek prompt treatment for!

Your Breath is Bad... All the Time

This is a tricky one; after all, it’s nearly impossible to smell your own breath. However, the expression on people’s faces when you breathe on them should provide an apt indicator for the quality of your exhalations. It’s normal to have smelly breath at least some of the time, like in the morning, but as soon as half an hour after you’ve brushed or flossed is a little suspicious.

“Bad breath is caused by the noxious fumes produced by bacterial waste,” explain dentists in Maryland. “The more numerous the bacteria is in your mouth, the more likely your breath is to smell. Problems such as gum infection and tooth decay contribute enormously to the problem.”

Your best bet is to clean up your act and start brushing and flossing more often. Go to the dentist for a check-up to make sure there’s no infection or decay that needs treating and pop in at the hygienist for a professional cleaning.

Your Teeth Feel Loose and You've Already Lost a Few

Loose and missing teeth are about as blatant as your mouth is going to get in its efforts to tell you that you have a serious problem. Teeth that feel loose are indicative of a loss of support from the gums and underlying jawbone. This is most probably because the gums have receded from the crowns as a result of infection and the formation of deep pockets of bacteria around the roots of the teeth have caused the jawbone to deteriorate. At this juncture it would be very unwise to just ignore your oral problems, unless you have aspirations of being the youngest toothless person in America.

“You must book an appointment with your dentist at the first sign of trouble or at the very least at the first sign you’re losing a tooth,” say Silver Spring dentists. “There’s nothing pleasant about wearing removable dentures and not even dental implants can rival the benefits of your own biological technology. Looking after your natural teeth is easy. Having them replaced is difficult and costly.”

A Final Note

If you’ve noticed any of the problems mentioned in this two-part article series, it is imperative that you get the “all clear” from Silver Spring dentists. While we urge you to follow the advice provided here, your problems could require professional intervention and not just an increase in your home oral hygiene efforts.

The Dentist in Maryland Tells us about the Signs You May Have Gum Disease, PART 1

This two-part article series discusses the signs and symptoms of gum disease in both the beginning stages (gingivitis) and advanced stages (periodontitis).

Are your gums healthy? Most people would like to think so, but according to the dire statistics of gum disease in the United States, our oral health and standard of hygiene just isn’t up to scratch! As much as 80% of the population suffers from some form or stage of gum disease, whether it’s a mild infection of the gums known as gingivitis or pervasive and chronic periodontal disease.

How Can You NOT Know You Have Gum Disease?

The reason this disease seemingly flies under the radar is because it doesn't cause much pain or discomfort in its beginning stages. Consequently, most people are convinced they don’t have a problem. Concerns they DO have over the changes they've noticed in the condition of their gums are filed away under the “It’ll probably go away on its own” mental catalogue.

“This is a dangerous way of thinking and is one of the biggest reasons oral diseases cause as much damage as they do,” cautions a dentist in Maryland. “Patients ignore problems that are easily treatable in their beginning stages. With time, these problems just get worse leading to poor smile aesthetics, chronic bad breath and eventually tooth loss.”

So what are the symptoms to look out for? When should we start feeling alarmed for the sake of our oral health? And what signs should we definitely never ignore? We spoke to a qualified and experienced Silver Spring dentist about when you should seek professional attention for seemingly small oral problems.

Your Gums Bleed When You Brush or Floss

“You would be amazed at the number of people who think it’s normal for gums to bleed when brushed or flossed,” says a dentist in Maryland. Your hands don’t bleed when you wash them, but if they did you’d probably jump straight in your car and go to the doctor! Why is it that you see your gums differently?”

Bleeding gums are indicative of infection. The tissue becomes compromised and weakened and consequently, it tears more easily. If your gums bleed when brushing, try not to press down so hard and see if that works. If you don’t floss very often, it’s possible that the gum tissue between your teeth is irritated by the food debris and plaque you leave between your teeth. As a result, it could be a little inflamed and prone to bleeding on the rare occasion that you do pick up the floss. To remedy this, start flossing every day and if the bleeding doesn’t subside, book yourself an appointment with your Silver Spring dentist.

Your Gums Look a Little Red and Puffy

“Healthy gums are pink in color and firm to the touch,” explains a dentist in Maryland. “If your gums look red and swollen or spongy, it’s because they’re inflamed. And they’re inflamed because they’re irritated by the levels of bacteria in your mouth along with the acidic wastes they produce.”

You will need to up your efforts to keep your teeth and gums clean, which includes brushing more regularly and for longer. You must floss before you go to bed at night and you could even include an anti-bacterial mouthwash in your hygiene regime - or at least until your gums start looking a little healthier. Also, it would be a good idea to book an appointment with your dentist!

Stay Tuned for Part 2

Stay tuned for the second installment of this two-part article series for more advice on the signs and symptoms of gum disease!