February 3, 2012

Congenitally Missing Teeth: What Are My Options?

Problems with missing teeth are usually associated with teeth that have been lost due to injury or decay. However, some people are simply born without certain teeth. When teeth are missing due to genetic conditions, they can still be replaced to provide a complete smile. One way to achieve this is through dental implants.

What Causes Congenitally Missing Teeth?

In some cases, congenitally missing teeth occur due to a systemic genetic disorder such as Down Syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Children born with a cleft palate can also have congenitally missing teeth. Other possible but uncommon causes of congenitally missing teeth include:

  • Ectodermal dysplasia, which causes irregularities in the hair, skin and teeth
  • Hay-Wells syndrome, a disorder whose symptoms include ectodermal dysplasia and cleft palate
  • Progeria, a disorder that leads to rapid aging

More often, though, congenitally missing teeth are simply a family trait, and there is no other cause or symptom. Regardless of the reason for congenitally missing teeth, an implant dentist can help you decide if dental implants are a good fit for you or your child.

How Dental Implants Work

Dental implants provide a complete replacement tooth that both looks and feels natural. Implants consist of a root portion that is placed directly into the jawbone, and a prosthetic tooth that replaces the biting and chewing surfaces of the tooth. Implants do not need to be removed—in fact they cannot be removed, and they function exactly like your natural teeth.

Because dental implants are placed directly into the jawbone, they do not move or slip as you eat, talk, or chew like dentures can. With dental implants, you can be confident that your smile will always look perfect. They also help maintain the health of your jawbone, preventing loss of bone in the jaw that can change the shape of your face as you grow older.

If you have congenitally missing teeth and would like to find out what implants can do for you, please call our experienced Fort Worth implant dentist to schedule an appointment for a consultation.

November 28, 2011

Preserve Natural Teeth With Dental Implants

Fort Worth dental implantsMissing teeth can take a toll on your appearance and self-confidence. Getting a fixed bridge is an option that many people decide upon. To anchor the pontic (artificial tooth), your dentist has to reduce two adjacent teeth, which will be used as an anchor. Instead of modifying perfectly sound teeth, consider dental implants in Fort Worth.

The main goal in dentistry is to conserve and restore missing or damaged teeth. With that in mind, getting dental implants has become the treatment of choice that most dentists prefer. Instead of reducing vital enamel from teeth that are in good condition, a titanium post is gently placed into your alveolar bone to anchor the pontic. Since titanium has the best osseointegration properties, the chance of rejection is little to none.

Your dentist will need to make sure that your alveolar bone is dense enough for the treatment. When you are found to be a good candidate for dental implants, the procedure can be speedily performed in the clinic. A small slit is made on your gums to give the post a point of entry. Local anesthetic will be given beforehand to make the area numb. When the procedure is done, you will feel only a slight discomfort.

The beauty of the dental implant procedure is that it does not damage sound enamel and dentin. You can also enjoy eating the food you love without the fear of your appliance falling off. The pontics used are sturdy and can withstand almost the same biting or masticatory forces as your natural teeth.

Dental implants are not like your usual prosthodontic appliance that requires adjustments every few years. The titanium post is durable, with proper care and regular visits to your dentist, it will last for a lifetime. Just like natural teeth, you can floss the area around it to prevent plaque build-up. With fixed bridges, you would not be able to do so.

The placement of dental implants must be performed by a licensed practitioner with experience in this field of dentistry. Invest in a boost of self-confidence by asking our experienced dentistry team more about this innovative treatment today.

September 30, 2011

Dental implants: Enjoy the healthy benefits of a complete smile

dental implants Fort WorthDo you suffer from the inability to eat, speak, laugh or enjoy life due to missing teeth or teeth so impaired that you wish you could go back in time and relive life when your natural teeth were healthy? Today you can enjoy that time again thanks to dental implants in Fort Worth.

You can start on the road to your new smile with a visit to your dentist where your general dental and medical health are evaluated to see if you are a good candidate for dental implants.  And everyone from adolescence to senior citizen can benefit from dental implants.  One of the primary determinations for candidacy is whether you’ve achieved mature bone growth .  Once determined that dental implantation is suitable for you, you can once again make plans to enjoy the healthy benefits of a complete smile.

Dental implants are a solution whether you have one or many missing teeth.  The implant itself is like an artificial tooth root that is placed in your gum tissue to support a final dental restoration or “cap”.  Once completed, the implant and restoration act much like your natural tooth.  By placing a dental implant, tooth strength is restored giving your teeth the stability to eat all the foods you love and keep your body healthy without struggling to chew.

Another advantage to dental implants is they help to stimulate and maintain jaw bone, possibly preventing further bone loss.  And today’s dental implant restorations are so lifelike that they are virtually impossible to tell from your natural teeth.  Your cosmetic dentist will match the shape and shade for your final restorations, and the appearance of the finished product will be so flawless your implants will be undetectable.

Your dental implants will require the same diligent care as you give your natural teeth … professional dental cleaning by your dental provider, along with daily brushing and flossing.  One of the leading causes of dental implant failure is the lack of proper care as infection can occur if the implant and surrounding areas are not properly cleaned.  Smoking is also a leading cause of implant failure, so it is advised that if you wish to proceed with dental implants, this is one more excellent reason to quit smoking.

Once your smile is restored you can go back and enjoy the healthy benefits you believed were forever lost.

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.

March 7, 2011

Transform Your Smile with Dental Implants

dental implants Fort WorthNo one wants gaps in their smile, especially gaps that occur due to missing teeth. Missing teeth can make you self-conscious about your appearance and afraid to smile, greatly impacting your quality of life.

There are several ways to replace missing teeth, including dentures, partial dentures, and bridges, but one popular and permanent option is dental implants.

The Dental Implant Procedure

Dental implants can be used to replace one tooth, a group of teeth, or even all of your teeth. Regardless of the number of teeth being replaced, the procedure is basically the same. A titanium screw, which takes the place of the missing tooth root, is implanted directly into the jawbone. Your implant dentist will monitor the healing of this initial process, making sure the implant bonds properly to your jawbone and that the surrounding gum heals properly.

After this, the root portion of the implant, has bonded to the bone, the implant dentist will attach your replacement tooth or teeth to the implant. Your prosthetic teeth are custom made and color matched so they will be virtually indistinguishable from the natural teeth you lost.

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Because the dental implant procedure involves surgery, there are several considerations to determine who is a good candidate for implant dentistry. Some factors that will be considered include:

  • Overall health
  • Condition of the gums
  • Medical conditions that could affect long-term healing
  • Thickness and condition of the jawbone

If you have an existing health problem, dental implants might not heal properly. In addition, if you have severe gum disease or other issues with your gums, implants might not be an option until these problems are treated.

One major factor in determining your suitability for implant dentistry is the condition of your jawbone. Implants are placed directly into the bone, so there must be sufficient bone mass in the jaw to support them. If you do not have enough bone, bone grafts or other options might make it possible for you to have dental implants.

To find out more about how dental implants can help you, please contact a dentist specializing in dental implants in Fort Worth.

November 26, 2010

Dental Implants: How Long Will They Last?

dental implant Fort WorthDental implants are becoming an increasingly popular option to replace missing teeth. These permanent replacements look and feel very much like your natural teeth. But how long do they last? If you have your natural teeth replaced with dental implants, can the implants be expected to last a good number of years, or will they eventually have to be replaced?

Expected Lifespan of Dental Implants

Though dental implants have not been in widespread use long enough to provide extremely long-term results, it is highly likely that implants will last as long as twenty to twenty-five years or even longer. As a general rule, implants in the front part of the mouth will last longer than implants that support molars, simply because the front teeth experience less stress and wear and tear than the back teeth. For your individual case, an implant dentist can give you a good idea of whether implants will work well for you and how long they are likely to last.

Factors That Reduce the Longevity of Implants

At one time, implants suffered most often from rejection problems from the patient. This occurred most frequently when bone grafts were necessary to provide a better foundation for the implants. As implant dentistry becomes more sophisticated, however, these problems have diminished. Other factors that can affect the lifespan of your implants include:

  • Existing health conditions
  • Overall dental hygiene
  • Care of implants and prosthetics
  • Health conditions that develop after implants are placed

Some health conditions that compromise the immune system can increase the possibility that there will be problems with dental implants. Improper or neglected care will also result in problems in the long run.

Overall, proper care of the mouth, teeth and gums as well as regular visits to your dentist will help ensure that your implants will last twenty-five years or longer. To find out more about dental implants in the Fort Worth area, please contact a Fort Worth cosmetic dentist.