Questions for a Cosmetic Dentist Regarding Dental Implants

As a cosmetic dentist, we can replace your missing teeth with implants.  Here are questions we are asked about dental implants and our answers to them -

Can you restore my existing dental implant if the crown is damaged?

If you already have dental implants but have damaged the crown (tooth portion) of one of them, you may qualify to have your cosmetic dentist perform a dental restoration that leaves the implanted portion alone. This is the most convenient and affordable way to address the problem. Therefore, find out if a dentist offers restorative solutions before starting the procedure.

What are the requirements to qualify for a dental implants procedure?

We place dental implants in patients for a variety of reasons. If you have any other oral health problems, these will need to be addressed first.  Since this is a surgical procedure, it is important to start the process with healthy teeth and gums.  The other qualify factor is bone density.  We will take x-rays in office to determine if your bone is dense enough for the implant to be securely placed.  If it is not, we can discuss other options such as bone grafts.

How long does the process take?

That depends on how many implants you are having placed by your cosmetic dentist.  It can take up to an hour to place each metal implant.  This is why if you are having a lot of teeth replaced, you may need to visit us several times.  Once the titanium post has been implanted, you will need to wait a couple of months for the process of osseointegration to take place.  This is where the metal and bone fuse together to provide a sturdy, synthetic root system for your new tooth.  You will not feel anything while this is taking place but waiting is important to ensure that your final tooth is as durable as a natural one would be.  When ready, we will attach the new crown (tooth) to an abutment that is secured to your implant.  This appointment will be much shorter.

What is the recovery like?

As your cosmetic dentist, we recommend that you prepare for recovery by putting soft ice packs in the freezer, buying ibuprofen, and soft foods that you can eat.  For a few days, your gums will be sore so the ice and ibuprofen will help to reduce any swelling while eating soft foods will help to prevent discomfort.   After a few days, you should begin to feel better and start to eat regular foods though you should still avoid anything sharp.  Since there is a delay between when the metal implant is placed and when the new tooth is attached, we often provide our %city% patients with a temporary denture to wear so that their smile appears intact while waiting for the procedure to be completed.

From the perspective of a cosmetic dentist are the final results like a bridge or dentures?

Be sure to ask about the final results and what you can expect for your particular situation.  Scientifically, an implant is the most secure and durable tooth replacement solution that you can find because it derives strength from the jawbone.  By comparison, a bridge relies on your other teeth to hold the bridge in place and dentures are removable which means that they can come loose. Dental implants, being permanent also look much better which is why cosmetic dentists prefer this solution.

Learn How a Sleep Dentist Can Improve Your Health

A sleep dentist can help you feel less uneasy about going to the dentist. Millions of people feel so nervous about visiting the dentist, they avoid it altogether, which leads to larger bills in the future, poor dental health, and potentially a poor overall health. Fortunately, we can help calm your nerves so you can get through your dental appointment without a problem. A sleep dentist provides conscious sedation methods that allow you to be awake during your appointment without feeling fearful or unsettled.

Sleep Dentistry

A sleep dentist provides popular mild sedatives to help patients cope with dental anxiety. A sleep dentist doesn’t actually put patients completely to sleep but instead puts you into a relaxed, calm, and agreeable state. When under the influence of these mild sedatives, you will feel happy, and you also won’t feel discomfort. In addition to mild sedatives, a sleep dentist will offer local anesthetics to prevent the site of treatment from feeling discomfort. Being sedated during an appointment will help you feel less anxious, since you will be generally happier and most likely not notice the scary noises, like drilling, or the sharp tools that you normally do.

What Sedation Calms

A sedative provided by a licensed and experienced sleep dentist can help:

• Keep you calm and relax your nerves
• Allow you to feel more confident
• Keep you comfortable for long periods in the dental chair
• Help you avoid feeling restless if you have nervous energy
• Control a sensitive gag reflex
• Keep children from feeling scared, and allow them to sit still for a long time

The goal of these sedation methods is to minimize pain, fear, and discomfort during a dentist visit. During your sedation, you will be conscious enough to respond to voice commands, so you will be able to communicate with the dentist about your feelings and if you experience mild discomfort. You will still be in control of the situation; you will just be more confident about it.

Types of Sedation

A sleep dentist can provide you with a variety of options for your sedative means. The most commonly used methods are inhalation, oral, and intravenous (IV).

Inhalation: Inhalation sedation is the mildest form, and it is administered through a mask that is placed over the nose. It is often called laughing gas, but the technical term for it is nitrous oxide.

Oral: Oral sedatives are administered through a pill or syrup. Oral sedatives are used when kids or adults are too nervous to even show up at the dentist without feeling anxious. They are also used when patients are uncomfortable with the appearance of the mask used in inhalation sedation. These medications are prescribed to be taken the night before or right before your treatment or appointment.

IV: Intravenous sedation is used the least commonly for mild cases of dental phobia. This type of sedation is administered through your veins into your bloodstream.

If you are fearful about a dentist appointment, you no longer have to be. A sleep dentist can give you more confidence and contentment during your next dentist visit.