June 28, 2011

Dental Implants: Will My New Teeth Look and Feel Natural?

Dental implants are becoming the option of choice for people faced with tooth loss. Implants present numerous advantages over traditional dentures or bridges, including natural appearance, permanence, and overall comfort.

What Do Implants Look Like?

One of the major advantages of dental implants is that the visible portion of the implant looks exactly like a natural tooth. The biting and chewing surfaces of an implant are made of materials designed to look like natural enamel, and are color-matched to an individual’s remaining teeth so that they will not look out of place if you are only having a few teeth replaced.

Implants are placed directly into the gums, so the tissue that normally supports your teeth is left intact. With dentures, the “gum” portion of the denture often looks “fake,” but with implants this is not an issue.

How Implants Feel in the Mouth

In addition to looking like your natural teeth, implants also feel like natural teeth. When dentures are first supplied, they usually take several days to get used to. They create extra bulk in the mouth, often triggering gag reflexes and making it difficult for denture wearers to adjust.

By contrast, implants do not create bulk in the mouth, because they consist of a tooth root to hold them in place and a prosthetic visible tooth. The implant, then, takes up no more space in the mouth than a natural tooth. Implants do not move around like dentures can, making them more comfortable and less likely to lead to discomfort.

Other advantages of implants include:

  • They do not need to be removed to be cleaned
  • They do not require special cleaning substances or adhesives
  • They help keep your jawbone strong and healthy

Overall, implants provide a much superior replacement for your missing teeth than dentures, because they look and feel just like your natural teeth, even when you are talking or chewing.

If you have missing teeth, please contact our dentistry office, specializing in dental implants in Fort Worth. We’ll help you decide if dental implants are right for you, to give you a long-lasting, beautiful smile.

June 16, 2011

Keeping a Healthy Smile During the Retirement Years

DDS fort worthMany people assume that, by the time they reach their sixties or seventies, they will be facing problems involving tooth loss, and might even have to resort to dentures. But just because you have reached retirement age doesn’t mean that you can’t maintain healthy teeth for many years to come. Proper, diligent care can help you keep your healthy teeth and your bright smile well into the later years of your life.

The Importance of Regular Dental Care

Regular, efficient dental care is important throughout your life. Everyday care is, in fact, the first and most important way to keep your teeth and gums healthy, preventing decay, gum disease, and tooth loss.

The most important elements of regular dental care are:

  • Regular brushing
  • Daily flossing
  • Avoiding sugary, sticky foods
  • Regular visits to your dentist

It is also important to use the correct tools for your everyday dental care. A soft to medium toothbrush is often the best tool for brushing, since it is less likely to erode the enamel on the surface of the teeth. Also be sure to consult your dentist regarding appropriate technique that will help you get the most out of your everyday routine.

Challenges of Dental Care as You Grow Older

Growing older often leads to some challenges regarding dental care. If you suffer from arthritis or limited mobility, this can make it difficult to maintain your everyday brushing and flossing routine. However, there are products available that make it easier for you to brush and floss. Special toothbrushes with modified handles make it possible to brush thoroughly and efficiently even if arthritis or other types of joint pain make it difficult for you to maneuver a standard toothbrush. Similar devices are available to make flossing less challenging, as well. Our Fort Worth DDS team can show you various products that can help you overcome these obstacles.

If you have any questions about maintaining proper dental care in your retirement years, or if you need help keeping up with your everyday oral hygiene routine, please contact our office. We’d be happy to help.

June 7, 2011

When is the Best Time to Start Orthodontic Treatment?

Orthodontic treatment such as braces has traditionally been reserved for adolescents. In fact, many parents expect to provide braces for their teenage children. However, in many cases it is to your child’s advantage to begin orthodontic treatment much earlier.

The Effects of Misaligned Teeth

Having proper alignment is important not only for permanent teeth, but also for baby teeth. These teeth, also called primary or deciduous teeth, help determine the placement of the permanent teeth when they arrive, beginning at about age six. If the baby teeth are improperly placed, the permanent teeth are likely to be improperly positioned, as well. This could lead to a variety of problems, including:

  • Poorly aligned bite
  • Teeth that overlap or interfere with each other
  • Teeth that are unable to emerge

All these issues can bring about a need for more extensive orthodontic care. This means the orthodontics your child might need during adolescence will take longer and likely cost more than if treatment were provided earlier.

The Best Time for Orthodontic Treatment

Many dentists now refer children to orthodontists for evaluation well before the permanent teeth have finished coming in. If problems begin to appear early on, pursuing orthodontic treatment is often the best way to ensure straight, healthy teeth during the adolescent and adult years.

While there is no single best time for orthodontic treatment, an orthodontic evaluation can give you, as a parent, a good idea of when might be the best time to begin orthodontic treatment for your child. If early permanent teeth are coming in crooked, or if there is obviously not enough room in the mouth for the permanent teeth, early orthodontic intervention can help ensure that the permanent teeth will arrive straighter and with appropriate spacing as your child matures.

To find out more about orthodontics, early orthodontic intervention and braces in Fort Worth, please contact the office of Dr. Robert D. Batton and Dr. Justin B. Harlin. We will evaluate your child’s teeth and determine if early orthodontic work will help your child have a beautiful, healthy smile through adolescence and beyond.