Author: Zack Boyd

The application of dental veneers is one of the most sought-after cosmetic dental treatments, next to teeth whitening. Veneers, as you probably know, are wafer-thin, custom-made shells that are usually in the same shade or color as your teeth. These are bonded on the top surface of the teeth, resulting in a natural-looking set of pearly whites. There are two types of veneers â composite resin and porcelain.

Of the two, porcelain is more brittle; however, once bonded on the teeth, it becomes very strong and durable. It also resists stains better than resin, and replicates the natural teeth’s light reflecting properties.

Dental veneers are normally applied on people with teeth that are worn down, misaligned, abnormally spaced, chipped, broken, stained or discolored. A good dentist in Sterling, VA will recommend the best alternative, based on the extent of the damage, and the structure of the existing enamel. Your expectations are also factored into the optional treatments.

The dentist may take X-ray scans of your teeth, or dental impressions to determine if the structure of your teeth can accommodate the laminate or porcelain placements. The procedure usually involves three trips to the dentist, the first for checkups and evaluation, and the remainder for prep work and the fittings.

If your dentist determines dental veneers will improve your teethâs present form or appearance, then you will be scheduled for prep work. The placement of veneers occurs on the teeth’s surface, so the top layer of the enamel has to be shaved off prior to the fittings. The amount of enamel removed depends on the type of veneer used. Resins are thinner than porcelain; these are preferable for teeth with minimal damage or with surface discoloration. Porcelain looks very similar to real enamel, but their thickness can compromise the structure of badly damaged teeth.

Impressions of the shaved teeth are taken and sent to a dental laboratory for customization. The fabrication usually takes a couple of weeks, and your dentist will place temporary veneers to protect the shaved part from damage and sensitivity. The placements are fitted on your third visit; the dentist will clean, polish, and etch your teethâs surface, and the shape and color of the dental veneers are customized before they are attached with chemical bonding. Then the dental veneers are exposed to light until the bond hardens, at which time, the dentist makes the final adjustments to ensure a proper fit.

Veneers last for about 5 to 10 years. So if you want your veneers to last that long, you should carry on with your oral hygiene practices. Floss once a day and brush your teeth at least 2 to 3 times a day to prevent the accumulation of plaque. Treat dental veneers like you would your real teeth. Since you now have an almost perfect set of pearly whites, donât forget one important thing, and that is to flash a gorgeous smile all the time.

One of the services being offered by dentists is the installation of dental implants in Columbia, MD. A dental implant is an artificial root that serve to hold a dental bridge or a replacement tooth. As with any other surgical procedure, it may be inevitable that there could be incidences of a dental implant coming loose. Although they are designed to be 99% permanent, there are a variety of factors that may lead to an dental implant becoming loose.

Causes of Loose Dental Implants

A tooth implant is considered a failure when it becomes wobbly, mobile, or if it falls out. The following are the most common factors that may lead to the loosening of dental implants:

a. Incorrect positioning of the tooth implant.

b. Bone density and volume is insufficient.

c. Surrounding tissues are damaged.

d. Overloading (failure that happens due to unnecessary forces or pressure placed on the crown and protruding abutment).

e. Osseointegration (a process wherein the bone tissue directly binds to the tooth implant).

f. Sudden impact.

g. The dental implant gets fractured.

Procedure for Fixing Loose Teeth Implants

The first step when a dental implant gets loose is to book an appointment with the oral surgeon who placed it. Most likely, the dental implant has failed to integrate and therefore, has to undergo a four-step process.

1. The dental implant that has come loose is removed. The surrounding area is then cleansed to get rid of debris and bacteria.

2. A bone graft procedure is done to allow the empty socket to heal. This is an essential process to avoid bone recession and for sufficient bone tissue to grow.

3. After four months, the oral surgeon will check the growth of bone tissue from the bone graft. There needs to be sufficient bone tissue for the dental implant to attach.

4. If there is sufficient bone tissue, the implant is then reinstalled. Should there not be sufficient bone tissue yet, additional bone grafting will be performed to make sure that the dental implant will insert adequately onto the bone.

In some cases, it may be difficult to remove all components of the dental implant. The difficulty of implant removal will depend on the prosthetic components used, as well as the severity of the mobility of the implant. Prior to refitting the implant, patients will be prescribed with analgesics to eliminate any pain that accompanies the wobbling of a loose dental implant.

Aftercare and Recovery

Here are the steps that patients should take after getting their dental implants reinstalled.

Drink cold drinks, and avoid eating until the local anesthetic wears off. Avoid strenuous movements such as exercise, and take care to avoid hot food and drinks for the first day.

Reduce any swelling by holding ice packs onto the cheek for up to 10 minutes.

Take painkillers such as ibuprofen before the local anesthetic wears off.

If minor bleeding, swelling, and pain persists after 2-3 weeks, a visit to the oral surgeon is recommended to make sure an infection is not developing.

It’s amazing just how fast things can go wrong in life, huh? One minute you’re riding as a passenger in a car, the next you’re climbing out of a wreck. One minute you’re drinking with your friends in a bar, the next you’re being helped up after being knocked out during a fistfight. One minute you’re playing touch football with your friends, the next you’re waking up after getting hit unconscious. And all these situations can happen in an instant.

The initial shock of being involved in an accident, like the three just outlined, wear off after a few minutes. What doesn’t is the damage that those accidents incur. What if your teeth were permanently damaged in an accident like this? What would you do? Luckily today, we have dentistry that allows a dentist to, “put Humpty Dumpty back together again,” so to speak.

In many cases, this form of dentistry, known as cosmetic dentistry, can be performed soon after an accident has occurred. It is not uncommon for dentists to receive emergency calls in the middle of a night, to help a patient deal with an accident they were involved in. From tooth bonding, all the way to dental implants, if you have the resources available to have the procedure performed, you can have it done. some dentists are even willing to allow you to get on a payment plan to have the work done, if you don’t have the resources – how about that?

What many patients say, after the work is complete, is that the smile the dentist was able to create for them, is actually better than the one they originally had. Many are amazed how close friends, and even family members, are unable to recognize the work that was performed. Now of course, there is a caveat. These kind of results depend upon which type of dentist you go to. Just like regular medical doctors, not all dentists are the same. The key is to do your due diligence, and make sure you feel confident about the dentist you are going to be working with.

One of the highest forms of cosmetic dentistry are dental implants. Many people, who feel this kind of procedure is beyond their ability to pay, choose not to replace their missing teeth. This can lead to the realignment of all the teeth; and this can cause major problems down the road – some of which can include losing more teeth. Without teeth, a person’s appearance is drastically different.

Nothing will cause more confidence, and self-esteem, issues, than having to face the world with a set of teeth that cause a negative reaction. The Tooth Implant Pros have been helping patients create whole new smiles since 2013, and can help you do the same. With locations in NYC, Colorado Springs, Florida, and now Washington DC, the Pros are ready, willing, and able, to help you get back on the right side of a wrong situation.

If you live in the Washington DC area, type “dental implants washington dc,” into your favorite browser, and their information should pop up somewhere on the page. Accidents can happen at any moment, and they do, but now you have a way to make sure that your smile lasts a lifetime; and the Tooth Implant Pros can show you how.

Without a doubt, there have been vast improvements in the dental health care of Americans due to technological advances, and persistent studies of experts in the field. However, there are also many instances when tooth loss becomes unavoidable mostly due to tooth decay, gum disease and injury. When this happens, you have no choice left but to get dental implants.

This might seem like a daunting choice for some, but when you get to know and understand basic key facts about dental implants, many of your misgivings and reservations are likely to disappear.

First Things First

A dental implant is intended to replace a tooth root. Having one done can improve your appearance, speech and comfort. It will also allow you to return to your former eating habits as well as give you back your self-esteem.

Since local anaesthesia is used, getting permanent dentures would involve minimal discomfort, and the benefits afterwards are enough to make up for the mild inconvenience of the procedure.

Types of Dental Implants in Annapolis, MD

There are three types of permanent dentures: endosteal implants, artificial bone substitute implants, and sub-periosteal implants.

Endosteal Implants: The term comes from the word endosseous which means within the bone. This type of permanent denture is placed into the jaw to replace the dental root. The implants are metal, or ceramic screws, or cylinders that are placed within the jawbone.

Artificial Bone Implants: In this kind of implant, a substitute material that is based on calcium is made to fit over the jaw bone. As time passes, this substitute material bonds with the existing jaw bone.

Sub-periosteal Implants: This one is usually used for elderly people. Sub-periosteal means “on top of the bone”, and this kind of dental implant is composed of a metal framework attached on top of the jawbone and underneath the gum tissue.

Deciding What to Get

This decision is contingent on certain factors such as where the dental implant is placed, the kind and amount of bone, and the design of the tooth which the implant will support. You can talk about your options with the dentist. The more you know about the dental implant types and procedure, the less misgivings you are likely to have.

Some Last Reminders

Just like your regular teeth, your dental implants will need looking after. All you need is your regular dental hygiene practices like brushing and flossing. Regular checkups with your dentist should also be taken into consideration.

Minimizing gummy and chewy food can also be beneficial so as to avoid over-exerting the artificial tooth crown.

Before understanding the causes of tooth decay, it is first important to know the three layers of the tooth: the enamel, the dentin, and the pulp.

When you look at a healthy tooth, you will only be able to see the hard, white enamel. The dentin just beneath it is yellowish, and can be exposed if the enamel is thin or damaged. The center of each tooth contains the pulp, which is made up of nerves and blood vessels.

Bacteria is ever-present in the mouth, and they excrete acids that disintegrate the teeth, starting with the enamel, until they eventually reach the dentin, and the pulp. If left untreated, the bacteria will create a hole in the tooth, called a cavity, leading to tooth damage, otherwise known as tooth decay. The tooth decay will reach the pulp, and when it does, the tooth will become infected, and eventually be destroyed.

What Causes Tooth Decay?

Bacteria is the main cause of tooth decay. Their presence in the mouth forms plaque, which is a sticky, transparent substance that constantly forms on the gums and teeth. This plaque becomes home to the bacteria. Whenever you eat, the bacteria in the plaque will be sustained by the sugars in your food.

The more sugar the bacteria can feed on, the more acids they excrete. These acids act quickly, wearing down on your enamel within approximately 20 minutes after you have eaten. Given enough time, the acids will break down the enamel.

Certain bad habits strengthen the effects of these bacteria, and also wear out the teeth more quickly.

These are:

1. Failing to brush and floss the teeth regularly.

2. Not finding a way to cure dry mouth. Saliva is your body’s natural way of rinsing the sugars and food off the teeth, and preventing bacteria from flourishing. The causes of dry mouth are: not getting enough liquids, certain medications, and certain health conditions such as xerostomia. Constantly breathing through the mouth can also cause dry mouth.

3. Not going to the dentist for regular checkups, and professional cleaning sessions. Without professional cleaning, plaque will turn into tartar, which is a hard formation on the teeth that will cause not just further tooth decay, but gum infection as well. This can only be removed with the specialized tools used by dentists in Burke, VA.

4. Consuming foods that are rich in carbohydrates, specifically sugars.

5. Smoking, breathing secondhand smoke regularly, and chewing on tobacco. These promote gum disease as well as plaque and tartar buildup.

Once tooth decay has reached the pulp, it causes irreversible damage and unbearable pain, both of which can only be resolved by either a root canal or tooth extraction. You can prevent tooth decay by simply quitting the bad habits that cause it, and maintaining regular dental care visits.