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If you are considering dentures, how about some basics first? How about we discuss the definition of complete dentures.
If you have had all of your teeth removed, you will be looking for complete dentures, rather than partial dentures. Partial dentures are typically designed to replace only some missing teeth, not all the teeth. Complete dentures are put in place after all the teeth have been removed, replacing the extracted teeth and presenting a nice smile once again.
Complete dentures may further be defined as either conventional or immediate; you may read about or hear these terms regarding complete dentures, so let’s define them.
Conventional complete dentures are placed in the mouth approximately eight to twelve weeks after the teeth have been removed. This gives the mouth and the gum tissue plenty of time to heal and recover. They are molded and crafted uniquely for your mouth, to resemble your original teeth, with obvious flaws eliminated.
On the other hand, immediate complete dentures are crafted in advance and placed immediately after the teeth are removed. This is positive in that you don’t have to be without teeth for any period of time, saving you frustration and embarrassment. Healing of the mouth and gums occurs while the complete dentures are in place.
However, a big downside to immediate complete dentures is that they typically require more adjustments to ensure a proper fit than conventional complete dentures would. Again, this is due to the lack of a waiting period in which the bones and gums have time to heal. Also, gums will shrink over time, particularly after tooth extraction, causing further fit challenges.
As such, we would normally consider immediate complete dentures a temporary solution, placed until complete conventional dentures can be put into place, following a solid healing period. This will help ensure not only a good fit, but also a good long-term tooth replacement solution.
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Dental implants are excellent alternatives to replacing missing or damaged teeth.
The dental implant itself is often made of a rugged long-lasting material, such as titanium, and is placed into the jaw to support the replacement tooth above it. The replacement tooth will be crafted to mimic the look, color and shape of the surrounding teeth so that it blends well. Easy to maintain and long-lasting, a dental implant can be an ideal solution for missing or damaged teeth.
But are dental implants really safe?
The short answer is yes. If the dental implant procedure is performed correctly by an experienced dental professional, dental implants are safe. If the option, instead of a dental implant, is to leave the gap in your teeth or the hole in your mouth where your missing tooth once was, a dental implant is definitely the better option.
The only thing you may encounter is, over time, a degree of non-matching appearance. As you and your teeth age, your teeth may change color, become discolored, or may change shape. It is possible that over time, that your dental implant starts to look a bit less like its surrounding teeth. However, when that time comes, we have many options available to address that.
Looking for a good long-lasting, attractive solution to missing teeth? Dental implants may be a good option for you. Talk to your dental implant dentist to see if you could benefit from dental implants.
If you are tired of looking at your cracked, chipped, or stained teeth, dental veneers (including porcelain veneers) may be just what you are looking for.
Dental veneers have the unique ability to conceal your teeth’s imperfection and present and much more uniform, consistently white smile. If you have tried other options for dental repair and teeth whitening, and have not been successful, dental veneers may be the answer you have been searching for.
Your dentist’s overriding goal should be to ensure your teeth look like your natural teeth – not store bought replacements – following placement of dental veneers.
The key to an ideal set of porcelain veneers is the marrying of the proper fit from the dentist and the proper casting from the lab. The fit is critical, ensuring the veneers are not too thick, and are sized to cover each tooth properly (not too long or too short, not too wide or too narrow).
Taking the time to get accurate measurements and proper fit is step one. Working with a quality lab that consistently manufactures beautiful custom dental veneers and porcelain veneers is the next step. If everything is right in these initial steps, you will likely be delighted with your dental veneers.
Last time on our blog, we discussed the benefits of x-rays as part of a dental exam. Through the technology of x-rays, practicing professionals in general dentistry and family dentistry will be able to see inside, under, and in areas around teeth and within the gum line and jaw that they cannot see with their eyes alone. This can be very helpful in the treatment of current or approaching dental health problems.
But we are often asked: Are x-rays really safe?
Numerous studies have shown that diagnostic x-rays, such as those you receive during a dental exam performed by your general dentistry or family dentistry practitioner, are indeed safe. No data is available to show otherwise.
The fact is, most everyone is routinely exposed to radiation similar to that received with a typical x-ray. Radiation can come from naturally-occurring radioactive things around us, things we encounter every day. For example, radon gas coming up from the ground, or the sun’s rays visiting us through the ozone layer, are just two examples of radiation we may often encounter.
But, to put things in perspective, neither of these provides enough radiation in a single dose to cause concern. Similarly, the dose of radiation you get in a typical dental x-ray is not substantial, nor to be of concern. The dose of radiation you receive from a typical x-ray is similar to the radiation we encounter in a ten day period of living our normal lives. It is true that high radiation doses do cause health issues and sometimes death – but that requires a much higher dose of radiation than you would ever get in a dental x-ray.
If you have children, you will also want to keep this in mind. Children are much more sensitive to the effects of x-rays than adults are. Nonetheless, it still holds true that the routine dental x-ray your child receives in a dental exam is virtually without risk due to the low dose of radiation received – assuming of course your child has not already received some other large dose of radiation.
As you can see, the benefits of x-rays as part of providing quality dental care are incomparable – and of low risk. X-rays allow your dentist to see inside your mouth in a way they could not otherwise to help provide the quality dental care you need now, and in the coming months and years.
It seems like, before you know it, it’s time for another dental visit. But what about those x-rays? Are they really necessary in your dental exam?
Your family dentist has your best interests in mind at and between your visits. As part of that, your family dentist will take x-rays (or photographs) of your teeth during your dental exam to see what they often cannot see with their eyes. This is one of the biggest reasons to get x-rays – they help show what might not be completely visible to your dentist in a routine dental exam.
X-rays can show what’s underneath the tooth at the root level and underneath the gums, between the teeth, even inside the teeth. X-rays have the capability to see prior dental work performed on teeth, including fillings and posts for crowns. They can also show defects in teeth, such as cracks or chips that may not obvious during an exam. And let’s not forget that X-rays are particularly good at showing the beginnings of decay, that can be the start of cavities.
The frequency at which you will receive x-rays by your family dentist is typically more up to your insurance carrier these days than the recommended practices of general dentistry. Most carriers will accept once yearly x-rays, unless mitigating factors demand more frequent exams. In most cases, that should be sufficient.
Wondering what’s really going on inside your mouth? With the expertise of your family dentist and the technology of x-rays, you can find out – and many times take proactive action before it is too late.
So you’ve sent your kids off to school once again. Where did the summer go? As they are wedging themselves back into the daily school routine, you’ll need to start thinking about school pictures. They will be here before you know it! And preparing for school pictures means more than a fresh haircut and a new outfit. Check their teeth!
Depending upon your kids’ ages, this may be a challenging endeavor! But it is a requisite to good looking school pictures nonetheless. A quick look is really all it takes to see what your kids teeth look like – and potentially could look like in their school pictures.
Do you see stains on or between the teeth? Are there chips or cracks you have been meaning to get addressed, but your busy summer just slipped by? Perhaps a cavity or two you have been meaning to get filled? It’s not too late to see your Indiana dentist and get all this handled, perhaps even before school pictures happen.
A professional dental cleaning and exam is the first step to a bright smile. However, for some, if the cleaning is not doing the trick to whiten the teeth, your Indiana dentist might recommend professional teeth whitening to get teeth as bright and white as they can be. For tough stains, professional teeth whitening can be the ideal solution and really make a dramatic difference in those school pictures.
During this exam, your Indiana dentist will also check for chips, cracks or cavities that need to be addressed in your child’s teeth. These may be addressed during this visit, or a follow-up visit may be scheduled. Either way, getting these handled is the key to ensuring a long lasting healthy smile.
Your Indiana dentist might also recommend a dental sealant, to help protect your teeth between dental visits. A dental sealant can help protect teeth that may be particularly vulnerable to stains or decay. Talk with your dentist to see if this is right for your child.
Here we are at back-to-school time once again. Seems like summer just began, and now here it is almost the end of summer and school is getting ready to begin again.
If you are like most, you are busy buying school supplies, backpacks, new shoes, and school clothes. It is no doubt a busy time of year. But one thing we feel compelled to remind you of - in all this back-to-school preparedness - is to get your kids a comprehensive dental checkup, cleaning and exam! And, remember to continue to practice good dental care at home, no matter how busy life gets!
Good dental care begins with a solid routine. When your kids wake up in the morning and get ready for school, dental care should be an integral part of that morning routine. Likewise, before they retire to bed for the night, proper dental care means a thorough brushing and flossing before your kids drift off to dreamland.
Additionally, if you and your kids have not seen your favorite family dentist in a while, it’s not too late to get in before those back-to-school pictures!
You’ll no doubt ensure your kids look sharp for their sports photos and their official school pictures. But you’ll also want to ensure they have a clean, white, shiny smile too! A complete dental cleaning and exam takes very little time and the long-term benefits - not to mention the short term photographic benefits - are many!
So - as you stock-up on loose-leaf paper, pencils and markers - remember to make an appointment to get your kids teeth cleaned and checked! And continue to practice good dental care - consisting of routine brushing and flossing twice daily - at home too.
When you look in the mirror at your teeth, do you see imperfections? Cracks, chips, discolorations, uneven teeth, gaps between your teeth – all common dental imperfections.
Did you know that with today’s cosmetic dentistry you can finally rectify those imperfections in your teeth?
But don’t let the term cosmetic dentistry scare you! Not all cosmetic dentistry is grand and complex. In fact, the term ‘cosmetic dentistry’ is merely a catch-all category for dental procedures aimed at improving the appearance of your teeth.
If you see discolorations on your teeth, such as stains or yellow coloring, teeth whitening may be able to help. If you drink a lot of tea, coffee, or red wine - or you are a smoker - you might find stains on your teeth. Teeth whitening performed by your dentist may be able to bring back the bright white color you once knew.
But, if after teeth whitening, you find the improvement to not yet be to your satisfaction, dental veneers might be able to achieve the results you are after. With dental veneers, you can achieve a whole new look!
Whether you are dealing with stains and discolorations that just won’t go away, chips or cracks in your teeth, uneven teeth, or gaps between your teeth, dental veneers may be what you are looking for. Dental veneers are typically either porcelain veneers or composite/resin veneers, and are crafted to mimic the look and color you want your teeth to be. When applied on the fronts of your teeth, they give your smile a gorgeous new look!
You really don’t have to endure dental imperfections any longer! Through the wonders of today’s cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening and dental veneers, you can enjoy the smile you have always wanted.
If you have dentures and they whistle, it’s no laughing matter! In fact, many people with partial dentures or complete dentures experience whistling. And this is most unfortunate. After all, the tell-tale sign of ill fitting dentures is whistling.
When you talk, speak words that begin with an ‘s’, or breathe thru your mouth, do you hear whistling? If you do, you should call for an appointment with your dentist today, as your dentures apparently do not fit properly.
This whistling sound typically means your dentures are set improperly, creating a less than tight fit. More than likely, the teeth in your dentures are set improperly and may need to be re-set in the correct position to eliminate the whistling. This allows air to escape thru spaces where the fit is poor, causing the whistling sound.
This is a correctable problem. You may hear from other dentists that it cannot be fixed, or cannot without total replacement, but that is more than likely not the case.
