This three-part article series provides 10 fascinating dental facts that might just help you improve your daily oral health and hygiene habits.

Welcome back to this three-part article series in which dental implants specialists in New Jersey walk us through some very interesting and, at times, surprising facts about oral health and hygiene. In our previous article post, the first installment, the following were discussed:

Fact # 1: Tooth decay is the most common ailment in the United States, second only to the influenza or the common cold.

Fact # 2: You should brush your teeth for two minutes at a time, three times a day. Most Americans only brush their teeth for 38 seconds PER DAY!

Fact # 3: If you don’t floss your teeth, you’re going to bed with 35% of your tooth surfaces covered in plaque!

Pretty surprising, isn’t it? It’s enough to make one reconsider their home oral hygiene routine and perhaps take a few extra measures to keep it in good shape! Let’s continue with some more dental facts.

Fact # 4: The staggering majority of Americans’ oral health is in serious trouble.

According to the Center for Disease Control, a shocking 75% of Americans have gum disease or periodontitis. “Periodontitis is an oral ailment that is characterized by an advanced bacterial infection of the gums, the tooth roots and the underlying jaw bone,” explain dental implants specialists in New Jersey. “This disease is responsible for the loss of millions of teeth every year and is the most prevalent reason patients come to us requiring oral rehabilitation.”

The reason so many people have gum disease is quite simply because our lifestyles are not conducive to a healthy mouth. We eat the wrong foods; we drink the wrong things… we still smoke in spite of our awareness of the associated dangers. To top it all off, we just don’t put in the effort necessary to keep our teeth and gums clean and free from plaque, nor do we see our dentists frequently enough for preventative healthcare.

“Gum disease is a serious problem that is linked with other major systemic diseases,” say dental implants specialists in NJ. “You must seek treatment for oral conditions, because your mouth is connected to your body’s vital organs and systems. An unhealthy mouth can leave your general health compromised and even fatally so.”

Fact # 5: Nearly all systemic diseases share a connection with oral health.

Systemic diseases are those that involve more than just one organ or area of the body, even in the beginning stages. In fact, they usually affect the body as a whole. Patients with diabetes, for example, are far more likely to suffer from gum disease. The take-home message here is the importance of good oral health in the maintenance of whole body health. If you knew that periodontitis has been linked with diseases of the heart, respiratory system, kidneys and liver, in addition to Alzheimer’s, Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and pre-term labor, you’d probably feel a lot less comfortable about skipping brushing your teeth!

Fact # 6: Because of the above-mentioned reason, being sloppy about keeping your teeth clean can leave you at a greater risk of a heart attack!

Good oral hygiene and health can actually lower your risk of a suite of serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses, including heart attack, stroke and those mentioned in Fact # 5. Make sure you book yourself in for regular professional cleanings and check-ups, too!

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read some final fascinating dental facts provided to us by dental implants specialists in NJ, stay tuned for the final installment of this three-part article series.

This four-part series scrutinizes and dispels six of the common misconceptions people have about dental implants and dental implant procedures.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on the common myths surrounding dental implants and the procedures followed to place them. So far, dental implant specialists in New Jersey have unraveled the following popular misconceptions:

Busting Myth # 1: Dental Implants are Prohibitively Expensive

Busting Myth # 2: It Hurts to Get Dental Implants

Busting Myth # 3: Dental Implants will Eventually Need Replacing

Busting Myth # 4: It Takes Months and Even Years to Get New Teeth with Dental Implants

We’ll finish off this article series by taking a look at two final dental implant myths…

Busting Myth # 5: Dental Implants Don’t Look Like Natural Teeth

If you had to translate this myth literally, then yes… the dental implants themselves don’t resemble natural teeth because they are titanium screws. However, the implant sits below the gum line and the restorations supported by them are skillfully made to closely resemble natural teeth. When single teeth are being replaced, a ceramic dental crown is used and this material closely mimics the optical properties of real tooth enamel. When an entire set of teeth are being replaced, a prosthetic dental bridge is used, which again, is crafted from materials that mimic the appearance and function of natural teeth.

Quite simply, having had a tooth or many teeth replaced with dental implants will not be obvious, even to those closest to you.

Busting Myth # 6: There is a Restriction on How Old You Can be if You Want Implants

“This is absolutely not true,” say dental implant specialists in New Jersey. “Patients in their 80’s and 90’s have been able to receive a complete set of new teeth with dental implants. Age alone is simply not a factor.”

So, what is?

Jawbone quality and volume are a primary concern when it comes to dental implant surgery. If a patient has lost a substantial volume of bone due to atrophy, bone grafting may be necessary before they can be considered candidates for surgery. There is also a suite of illnesses and conditions that may render surgery particularly risky. These include blood-clotting disorders, rare bone disorders, unmanaged diabetes, respiratory disease and heart conditions.

Your dental implants specialist in NJ will review your medical history, take X-rays, perform a thorough clinical examination and, if necessary, speak to your treating physician to determine any and all risk factors and complications. In most cases, they can make special provisions to minimize these risks. It’s only in certain extreme cases of illness that a surgeon will opt not to operate in the interests of patient safety.

A Final Note on Dental Implants

Dental implants really do offer NJ patients with missing teeth a fantastic, long-term answer to all their dental problems. They may not rival the durability and aesthetics of your real teeth, but they come exceptionally close to it and they certainly outshine all other teeth replacement technologies. If you do ever lose one or more of your original adult teeth, your choice should be dental implants. Your only alternative should be to keep your natural teeth in beautiful lifelong condition with good oral hygiene and healthy lifestyle choices!

This four-part article series unravels some of the myths surrounding dental implants, bringing patients closer to understanding the truth about this teeth replacement technology.

In no other field of dentistry is there quite as many myths flying about as there is in implantology. People already tend to be nervous about dental treatment, so when it comes to procedures as serious as the surgery needed to replace missing teeth, stories can readily become embellished.

“My uncle said that his friend almost bled to death on the operating table!”

“My friend said that her cousin could hardly eat a thing for a whole month!”

“My brother’s wife’s mother’s step-aunt said she went in to have a tooth replaced and ended up getting her appendix out!”

All right, so these stories in themselves are embellished versions of what people generally have to say about dental implants in New Jersey, but the fact is that there is a whole heap of myths surrounding this very important dental procedure. And unfortunately, these myths can be scary and intimidating enough to prevent patients from getting the treatment they need to get their oral health back into good shape.

In this four-part article series, we shall be exploring and banishing many of the popular myths and urban legends surrounding dental implants. In doing so, we hope to bring patients closer to understanding the truth about this teeth replacement technology and about how important it is to a society in which tooth loss remains a prevalent problem.

Myth Buster # 1: Dental implant surgery is incredibly painful.

From the things people say about oral surgeons, you’d expect to be wheeled into the procedural room that has been prepared with nothing more than a pair of pliers and a bottle of whiskey to numb the pain! Fortunately, modern surgical procedures are a little more sophisticated than that! They are designed and planned to be as minimally invasive as possible with the goals of achieving the best possible outcomes with the least amount of discomfort to the patient. This is easily facilitated by the advanced diagnostic and imaging technology used by oral surgeons today.

Modern Surgical Aids and Technology

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT scanning) enables oral surgeons to diagnose problems and plan treatment in great detail even before a patient has come in for surgery. Sophisticated computer imaging software is able to recreate a virtual 3D layout of a patient’s jaw and dentition, thus allowing oral surgeons to determine the best possible treatment plan: one that is extremely accurate, comes with a low risk of complications and requires minimal incisions and sutures. This means that modern dental implant procedures are quick, predictable and typically involve minimal discomfort!

Also, in addition to using local anesthetics, most patients are sedated prior to surgery, so they typically won’t feel or remember a thing from their procedure. Any post-operative discomfort can be effectively managed with a prescription (narcotic) pain reliever or, as in most cases, with simple over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol or Advil.

What do real life patients have to say?

90% Experience minimal or even no pain at all when having dental implants placed. In fact, many people ask: “When is the pain going to start?” The bottom line is: In the hands of a qualified and experienced oral surgeon, pain and discomfort should be kept to an absolute minimum. Dental implants NJ are not extremely painful to have placed. In fact, in most cases, they hardly hurt at all!

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To see more popular dental implant myths in New Jersey busted, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series!

This four-part article series unravels some of the myths surrounding dental implants, bringing patients closer to understanding the truth about this teeth replacement technology.

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on the common myths and misconceptions surrounding dental implants in NJ. From Part 1 to Part 3, we’ve examined and dispelled the following four myths:

1. Dental implant surgery is incredibly painful – Modern procedures are minimally invasive and pain is easily managed with local anesthesia/sedation and post operative prescription or over-the-counter painkillers.
2. Dental implants are very expensive – The benefits of dental implants are unrivalled by any other teeth replacement technology. Teeth and bridges affixed to them can also last 20, 30 years and longer without restoration or additional expenses, thus making them one of the most cost-effective solutions available.
3. It takes forever to get new teeth with dental implants – New implant supported crowns and bridges are often “immediately functional” and can be placed the same day as the implant surgery.
4. Dental implants are difficult to look after – They require the same maintenance and cleaning effort as natural teeth.

In this, our final post, we shall examine two last dental implant myths. It has been the purpose of this four-part series to bring patients closer to understanding the truth about the dental implants and their benefits as the most sophisticated teeth replacement technology on the market!

Myth Buster # 5: I’m too old to get dental implants.

There is really only one factor that can prevent a patient from becoming a candidate for dental implants in New Jersey… and that’s their general health. Skilled oral surgeons can, in most cases, work around conditions such as diabetes or blood clotting disorders, although this sometimes requires a great degree of planning, along with consulting with your medical doctor(s). However, there are certain conditions, which you can discuss with your surgeon that may prevent you from being a candidate.

Age itself is certainly not considered a factor. Experienced implant dentists have given patients in their nineties a brand new set of implant-supported teeth! Even if you’ve been a denture wearer for many years and have been told by your dentist that you’re not a candidate for dental implants, there are possible solutions. The “All-on-4TM” protocol has revolutionized the field of fixed oral rehabilitation by enabling oral surgeons to give patients a brand new set of teeth almost always without the need for bone grafting first. This procedure was traditionally required for patients who had long worn dentures and subsequently presented with advanced bone loss in the jaw.

So, you see, age really isn’t a concern. Your overall health is, but you’ll never know unless you first speak to an oral surgeon about dental implants in NJ!

Myth Buster # 6: Dental implants come with too many side effects.

The side effects, risks and complications that come with dental implants are typical of ANY dental surgery involving incisions and sutures. Patients can experience localized discomfort, swelling and bruising and a heightened risk of infection in the days following surgery. In some cases, complications can and do occur, although the incidence of this has become less and less over the years with the advent of sophisticated Cone Beam CT imaging and computer software aids and guides.

This does not mean that every single one of these side effects is going to happen to you. Most patients report hardly any pain and discomfort in the days following their surgery. Almost 90% of all dental implants patients in New Jersey return to work the day after their procedure. While there are certain risks involved, qualified and experienced oral surgeons do everything possible to keep these to a minimum. Furthermore, if you comply with their strict instructions for post-operative care, you’ll further lessen your chances of having any adverse effects.

This two-part article series explains how All on Four dental implants surpass the solutions provided by removable dentures by addressing the problems denture-wearers frequently complain of.

There are currently tens of millions of people in the United States that struggle on a daily basis with the crippling challenges associated with removable dentures, or, as they are colloquially known, false teeth. To these people, the advanced and non-removable solutions made possible by All on Four dental implants NJ are truly the stuff of dreams. Imagine not having to remove your teeth after every single meal to clean them. Imagine being able to taste your food properly. Imagine not living in the perpetual fear of your dentures making an ostentatious leap out from between your lips, splashing clam chowder on your neighboring diners. Imagine not having to EAT clam chowder every night!

If you had to ask denture-wearers about what has caused them regret with regards to their teeth replacement choices, you will find not one, but many constant challenges. At the end of the day, living with dentures requires one to endure many struggles and to cough up additional money for certain repeated expenses. In this two-part article series, we explore some of the frequent complaints made by denture wearers and how All on Four dental implantsNJ can and do address these issues.

Removable Dentures, Permanent Problems: What Patients Say

“Removable dentures push down and rub against my gums making them so sore and uncomfortable. I actually prefer to eat without them; at least that allows painful spots to heal.”

One of the biggest problems with false teeth is that they rest upon the gums covering the jaw bone ridge. Instead of transferring all the forces and pressures associated with eating directly to the jaw bone, as is the case with natural teeth and dental implants NJ, they transfer these forces to the soft and vulnerable gums. This understandably causes the gums to become irritated, inflamed and sore. Moreover, because patients wear dentures for most of the day, these sores aren’t given a chance to heal properly leading to chronic pain and discomfort. Problems such as these are aggravated by ill-fitting dentures.

The Difference with All on Four Dental Implants NJ:

All on Four dental implants NJ, which are inserted directly into the jaw bone, are used to provide support for a customized prosthetic dental bridge. This means that, just like your natural teeth, the bridge transmits all the eating forces directly into the jaw bone. The bridge supported by the dental implants NJ doesn’t cause any damage, discomfort or irritation of the underlying soft tissue in the mouth, making eating, speaking and smiling far easier.

“I have to remove my dentures to clean them all the time. This can be very awkward when I’m out to dinner with friends. This is not even to mention the fact that I have to remove my teeth at night. I hate the way it makes me look”

Choosing removable dentures as your tooth replacement technology also means shouldering the associated responsibilities. And one of these responsibilities is keeping them clean. Taking them out to brush them after meals and at nighttime may be an inconvenience, but there are alternatives.

The Difference with All on Four Dental Implants NJ:

All on Four dental implants NJ are used to support a non-removable dental bridge that is kept permanently in the mouth. This means that your teeth cannot be removed and are in fact looked after and cleaned just like natural teeth; with regular brushing and flossing. With All on Four dental implants NJ, you don’t have to remove your teeth before you go to bed at night.

“I try to keep my dentures clean, but after half-an-hour I know my breath is less than acceptable.”

Another problem frequently experienced by denture-wearers is halitosis caused by the accumulation of food, saliva and bacteria in their dentures. This is in spite of one’s efforts to clean them regularly.

The Difference with All on Four Dental Implants NJ:

All on Four dental implants NJ offer a tooth replacement alternative that does not harbor food and foul-smelling bacteria. Kept clean with regular brushing and flossing, halitosis should be a thing of the past!

All on Four Dental Implants NJ: Stay Tuned

To read more information on how All on Four dental implants NJ surpass removable dentures as a tooth replacement technology, stay tuned for the final installment of this two-part series.