Until recently, fixed permanent bridges were a patient’s only solution to replace a missing tooth or teeth. But fixed permanent bridges require the removal of healthy tissue from surrounding teeth, and they often need to be replaced a few years down the road. Thanks to modern dental implant technology, Fort Worth cosmetic dentists can offer a better alternative for patients who need to fill a gap in their smiles. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, some 3,000,000 patients have dental implants, and that number is on the rise.
Dental implants involve prosthetics, such as crowns, that are anchored to the jawbone using titanium screws. The screws help to replace the tooth’s missing root structure. Simulating a root helps to preserve the jawbone, which can recede in the absence of a root structure to hold it in place. Another advantage of dental implants is that they stand alone. Unlike fixed bridges, implants don’t require support from nearby teeth.
The dental implant treatment process takes place right in the dentist’s office under a local anesthetic. The screws are placed and then given time, generally three to six months, to heal before the full restoration takes place. While the implants are healing, your cosmetic dentist will provide you with a temporary tooth replacement structure for cosmetic purposes.
Some patients do not have enough bone remaining in their jaw to support implants, and in those cases, the cosmetic dentist must perform a procedure to supplement the bone before the implant can be placed.
Implants look and feel just like natural teeth, and they help patients eat and speak normally. Some tooth replacement alternatives can compromise the ability to chew and alter pronunciation. Dental implants also can last for decades, reducing the need for numerous follow-up procedures.
Dental implants represent just one advance in dentistry that helps patients achieve picture-perfect smiles. Consult a cosmetic dentist to see which other techniques might meet your needs.
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Many dental patients used to avoid the dentist out of fear, but now those patients are able to access dental treatment through sedation dentistry. Unlike general anesthesia, sedation dentistry does not put a patient to sleep completely. Instead, patients remain awake, but they are relaxed and, after the appointment, have no memory of the procedures performed in the dental office. Sedation dentistry presents fewer risks than general anesthesia.
Another advantage of sedation dentistry is that patients feel as though they’ve been in the chair for just a few minutes. This characteristic makes sedation dentistry a helpful strategy for complex cases, because it allows the patient to endure longer treatment sessions and reduces the overall number of appointments needed for lengthy procedures, such as the placement of multiple veneers or dental implants.
In years past, sedatives were primarily given intravenously, but recent advances allow sedation dentistry patients to avoid needles entirely. Oral sedation dentistry is becoming increasingly common and popular. In this approach, patients take a pill, which is typically from a class of drugs known as benzodiazapines.
When sedation dentistry is in use, most procedures will still require an additional local anesthetic, but that doesn’t necessarily preclude a needle-free dentist visit. Some local anesthetics can even be delivered through the nose, via spray or drops.
Oral health is important to overall health, so it’s important for you to have a dental exam and cleaning on a regular basis. If you have been avoiding the dentist because of anxiety, contact our Fort Worth sedation dentistry team for a more comfortable experience.
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Temporomandibular jaw disorders, often referred to as TMJ, result in significant jaw pain and can also lead to headaches and neck pain. TMJ also is frequently characterized by clicking or popping noises in the jaw. The condition can affect a patient’s ability to speak, chew and swallow, and in severe cases, even the ability to breathe. According to the TMJ Association, some 35 million Americans suffer from TMJ.
The jaw is a complex structure that is comprised of a number of ligaments and muscles, along with bones and the two termporomandibular joints, which are located in the lower jaw bone, or mandible. Because the jaw is so complex, a problem with any of its components can lead to a TMJ disorder.
TMJ can occur for a variety of reasons. Some sort of injury to the jaw may cause its onset, or TMJ may be the result of arthritis. Malocclusions, or misalignments of the bite, can be responsible for TMJ, as can stress and grinding of the teeth.
Fortunately, TMJ patients need not suffer in endless pain. The condition often responds to a number of treatments that require nothing more than a visit to the dental office. If you are experiencing pain in the jaw or other areas of the face, your dentist will take x-rays and conduct a physical examination of the jaw. The findings of these exams will give your dentist guidance on how to treat the condition.
Depending on the source of the TMJ, your dentist may recommend any of the following strategies to alleviate your pain:
- Muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medications or over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen.
- Dietary changes, such as introducing more soft foods that reduce the need for chewing
- Relaxation techniques to reduce stress in the jaw muscles
- A custom-made bite plate or splint to eliminate grinding of the teeth.
- Orthodontic treatment to correct a malocclusion
If you are experiencing jaw pain, schedule an appointment with your Fort Worth DDS as soon as possible. Treatment can improve your quality of life significantly.
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