In this two-part article series, we will be explaining exactly what dental implants are, how they work, what the procedure entails and why they are the superior solution to replacing missing teeth.

Due to a great variety of reasons, people living in the United States are often faced with the reality of losing one or more of their natural teeth. Whether the cause is accidental trauma received to the face or an advanced oral bacterial infection (periodontal disease), the fact remains: a missing tooth or teeth can be an eyesore, not to mention a grave oral health risk.

In this two-part article series, we will be explaining the ins and outs of dental implant technology. With the help of a dentist in Silver Spring, we will clarify why dental implants are by far the most sophisticated and effective solution to missing teeth today’s dental healthcare professionals have to offer.

Dental Implants: What Are They?

Dental Implants are teeth replacement contraptions that look like tiny metal screws. They are in fact constructed from titanium, which is strong, durable, lightweight, stable and non-corrodible. Titanium is also used because it is 100% biocompatible and supports a biological bonding process known as ‘osseointegration’. This discovery was made in the 1950’s by Swedish professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark together with his clinical research team: a discovery that has constituted a very important breakthrough in modern dentistry and orthopedic surgery.

Dental Implants: How Do They Work?

If you are suffering from tooth loss or a failing tooth root, the implant site will be cleared and surgically prepared for dental implant insertion. Once your dentist has successfully inserted the titanium implant and attached a temporary ceramic dental crown, you will be allowed to go home and recover. Over the next few weeks and months, the bone will heal around the implant and bond to its surface. While ‘osseointegration’ is underway, your Silver Spring dentist will provide you with a provisional crown or bridge, so that you don’t have to feel self-conscious about a broken or gappy smile.

Once you have healed, the implant will provide the necessary foundation for the placement of your new permanent ceramic tooth crown or customized bridge. These are constructed from durable ceramics and resin materials, which enable them to look and function like healthy, natural teeth. Furthermore, they will be virtually indistinguishable in appearance from the tooth or teeth they are replacing. Your new dental implants will not only leave you with a fully functional bite, but you will enjoy the benefits of a much-improved smile and all the confidence that brings!

Wrapping Things Up: Stay Tuned for Part 2

Dental implants come with a generous list of benefits and advantages that should not be ignored. The incredible science that goes into the manufacturing of dental restorations, dental implants and the procedures followed to place them enable the dentist in Silver Spring to provide patients with replacement teeth that can last a lifetime if looked after properly.

In this article we explained exactly what dental implants are and how they work. Stay tuned for the second installment of this article series, when we will give you the benefits and advantages of dental implants and explain why thousands of Americans have made the smart teeth replacement choice.

This article explains the detrimental effect smoking has upon the health of your teeth and gums.

There really is very little doubt about the fact that smoking, or any form of tobacco use, is terrible for your health. Dentists in Silver Spring and other health organizations are constantly warning the public against the dangers of this habit. The problem about advertisements against smoking is that it tends to highlight the long-term ramifications of tobacco-use, such as lung cancer and heart disease. As a result, the warning signs tend to be ignored, especially by young smokers who feel as though they have their whole lives to quit.

“I’ll quit smoking before I get old enough to fall sick from it.”

“I’ve only been smoking for a few years. Not enough to kill me yet!”

“I don’t plan on being a lifelong smoker, so I’ll be safe.”

Aside from the fact that these sentiments are completely illogical, smoking has a variety of undesirable effects on the body that manifest themselves in the short term. And in no other area are these effects more visible than in the health of your teeth and gums.

The Effects of Smoking on Your Oral Health

Smoking, by its very nature, is a counter-intuitive addiction for us to develop. It tastes awful, it makes you stink like an ashtray and it dictates your day-to-day behaviors to quite a large extent. Our bodies were not designed to be able to inhale smoke; otherwise we would have evolved with some kind of inbuilt filter! Instead, we suffer through the addiction, hating ourselves when we do smoke and feeling miserable when we don’t.

The psychological effects of smoking aside, this addiction takes a terrible toll on the health of your teeth and gums:

• “Dry Mouth”: Smoking causes xerostomia or “dry mouth,” a condition marked by the slowed production of saliva in the mouth. Saliva is an important natural defense against bacteria, so those who suffer from dry mouth are more susceptible to cavities, tooth decay and gum disease.

• Soft Tissue Inflammation: Smoking burns and irritates the soft tissues in the mouth, causing the gums, tongue, palate and buccal lining (inner cheeks) to become inflamed and sensitive.

• Tooth Discoloration: The nicotine and other chemicals in cigarette smoke seep into the tiny pores in your dental enamel, causing the teeth to become stained and discolored. In the long run, this can have a devastating effect on one’s smile aesthetics.

• Slowed Healing: Tobacco-use causes a squeezing of the blood vessel of the gums which restricts the amount of oxygen rich blood getting to the right place at the right time. This causes damage because this area won’t get enough blood and not having the right blood supply retards the natural healing processes in the mouth. This not only increases a person’s risk of developing oral infection or disease, it also compromises their ability to fight it off and heal properly. Patients requiring dental surgery – especially dental implants – are warned by the dentists in Silver Spring Maryland to cease smoking in the weeks beforehand as it can substantially lower the chance of success.

• Gum Disease and Oral Cancer: Tobacco-use is one of the greatest causes of gum disease and oral cancer. Both are serious conditions that, unless diagnosed early and treated, are potentially fatal.

A Final Note from Dentists in Silver Spring Maryland

It’s not an easy undertaking for anyone, but quitting is the only way you can improve your chances of living a long, healthy and happy life. Find out what it is you need to kick the habit today and DO IT.

In this two-part article series, we take a comprehensive look at dental implants. We explain what they are, how they work, what the treatment entails and what benefits and advantages they come hand-in-hand with.

Millions of Americans deal with tooth loss on any given day. This unfortunate situation may be the result of poor dental habits, accidental trauma or general wear-and-tear. Our teeth offer more than just an important visual purpose; we require teeth in order to converse and articulate correctly. Furthermore, our teeth necessitate the very basic but indispensable function of chewing food. This is why when presenting with tooth loss you should consider the best possible solution for replacing your teeth with long-lasting, 100% functional and beautiful teeth. A Silver Spring cosmetic dentist explains that there simply is no better solution for dealing with tooth loss than dental implants. In this two-part article series, we will be providing you with a comprehensive explanation of what dental implants are and what benefits and advantages they offer.

Dental Implants: What Are They?

Dental implants have come into view as the best resolution modern dentistry has to offer patients who have lost one or more or even all of their natural teeth. These smart devices in effect serve as self-supporting synthetic tooth roots. Dental implants are constructed from the exceedingly resilient, lightweight and non-corrosive metal, titanium. In the 1950’s, Swedish professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark along with his clinical research team discovered that titanium is able to support a biological fusion process termed ‘osseointegration,’ during which bone tissue bonds with the surface of the metal. Discovering this breakthrough has provided the perfect solution for creating a fixed and non-removable tooth root that could remain permanently rooted in the jawbone. It also contributed enormously to the field of orthopedic surgery.

Dental Implants: Why Are They Superior?

At the end of the day, technology will always be in a process of evolution. Currently, dental implants are at the top of the innovative food chain when it comes to replacing missing teeth. Traditional dentures are fast becoming an option of the past. A dentist in Silver Spring explains that dental implants offer a far more efficient and beneficial solution for the treatment of missing teeth and the placement of new teeth. Dental implants have demonstrated to be far better in function, appearance, comfort, health and lifetime in contrast to other options available, such as traditional removable dentures and dental bridges.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

• “Your new teeth will work, appear and feel like healthy natural teeth,” says a Silver Spring cosmetic dentist. This means that you can return to life as normal and enjoy your new teeth in exactly the same way that you did your natural, original teeth.

• Modern dentistry utilizes sophisticated computer imaging software and 3D virtual scanning technologies that allow oral surgeons to place dental implants using techniques that involve minimal discomfort. This results in incredibly successful surgeries and a much shortened recovery period, too.

• “Dental implants are rooted in the bone of the jaw. This means that they do not require support from surrounding teeth and gums like dentures or dental bridges do,” says a Silver Spring cosmetic dentist. “For this reason, dental implants do not typically cause irritation or inflammation, nor do they inflict damage or discomfort on the surrounding teeth or gums.”

• Since our teeth play an important role in our articulation and speech, dental implants help in reinstating correct interface between the teeth, tongue and lips during speech.

• Your dental restorations will be modeled and crafted to fit perfectly and resemble your natural, original teeth, giving you the confidence to eat and smile with self-assurance.

Stay Tuned

Join us for the second article of this two-part series where we will be looking a little closer at dental implant treatment. We’ll also provide further reasons why dental implants are the best solution for missing teeth!