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Dental FAQs

Dental FAQs

Dentistry is the branch of healthcare dedicated to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disorders and diseases of your teeth, mouth, gums, and jaw. Dentistry also has different specialties and subspecialties focusing on different conditions of your mouth.

People often make the mistake of not visiting the dentist regularly because they do not know its importance. Visiting the dentist at least twice a year is a must because it helps with the following:

  • Keeps tooth decay at bay
  • Kills any bacteria that causes bad breath
  • Protects you from gum disease – which can lead to bone loss
  • Makes your teeth stronger
  • Helps maintain the color of your teeth
  • Keeps or enhances your beautiful smile
  • Boosts your confidence

Your teeth may not show any visible signs of damage, but it is vital that you see a dentist regularly. Know that any damage, even if it’s small, can cause serious complications in the future. Visiting the dentist has a lot of benefits. They can suggest dental procedures that can help with the overall health and appearance of your mouth and teeth.

When choosing the right dentist for you and your loved ones, it is vital to consider many factors including the following:

  • Is the dentist licensed to perform dental procedures?
  • Does the dentist explain the benefits and risks of the dental procedure?
  • Did the dentist take the time to assess your medical and dental records?
  • Does the dentist explain why you need to spend this amount of money for the dental procedure?
  • Is the dentist’s office near and accessible?
  • Is the dentist’s office clean and orderly?
  • Are the dental appointments hassle-free?

These are only a few and you should know that you can ask your dentist anything to put your mind at ease. It is best to choose a dentist that you’re comfortable with because going to the dentist is a life-long commitment.

The American Dental Association recommends that dental checkups are done every 6 months. Here are ways to take care of your teeth in-between visits:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day.
  • Don’t forget to brush your tongue.
  • Don’t skip flossing.
  • Refrain from bad oral habits, including chewing hard foods, smoking, teeth grinding, and more.

This is one of the most common enemies of your teeth. Cavities are small holes that occur inside the tooth because of tooth decay. Cavities are common in children, teenagers, and seniors. If left untreated, cavities can eat the enamel of your teeth resulting in toothache, infection, or worse, tooth loss. All you have to do is brush your teeth at least twice a day to keep cavities away.

A dental filling is done to restore the shape and function of a tooth that has been damaged by tooth decay. There are different types of fillings, including gold, silver, composite, and porcelain. If you’re planning to have this procedure done, you can ask your dentist for the best option.

People sometimes get too lazy to brush their teeth. However, the American Dental Association highly recommends brushing your teeth twice a day. When you make this a habit, you can guarantee that you’ll have fresh breath, healthy gums, and healthy teeth. Your dentist might recommend that you use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.

It is recommended to change your toothbrush every three to four months. It is necessary to make sure that it is still cleaning your teeth and mouth effectively. You can rinse your toothbrush with hot water to kill any germs and bacteria. If you are using an electric toothbrush, make sure to read the instructions to know when to change toothbrush heads. Also, people with gum disease are recommended to change their toothbrush more frequently than usual – about four to six weeks. This is to prevent bacteria from spreading.

Gum disease or periodontitis is a gum infection that can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. This can begin as gingivitis or gum inflammation. The good news is that this is preventable. You just need to practice good oral habits and avoid things that can damage your teeth. Here are the common signs and symptoms of periodontitis:

  • Swollen gums
  • Bad breath
  • Blood when brushing or flossing
  • Loose teeth
  • Receding gum line
  • Extreme sensitivity of tooth and gums

The answer is a gigantic YES! Your teeth are more prone to cavities and bacteria because there are areas of your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. That’s why it is vital that you don’t skip a dental visit.

Implants are the best option if you need a replacement for any missing tooth. You can also opt for this if you are not a fan of dentures. If you are hesitant to get dental implants, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. However, your dentist will conduct a proper assessment to know if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants.

A smile makeover is a comprehensive set of procedures for enhancing the overall look of your teeth. Depending on the condition of your teeth, one or more cosmetic procedures will be done including the following:

  • Teeth Whitening
  • Invisalign
  • Dental Implants
  • Dental Bonding

When you opt for a smile makeover, your dentist will come up with a unique course of treatment to address your specific needs. You will definitely have the smile you desire.

If you plan to have a dental appointment, just give us a call and we’ll schedule your dental visit. If you are a new patient, we will assist you throughout the process. We, at Century Dental, are dedicated to providing quality oral care to everyone.
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Initial Dental Implant Consultation

To start things off, you’ll meet our dentists for a brief consultation. This visit lets us confirm your smile goals, oral health history, and other relevant procedure factors. We’ll then use those details to see whether dental implants suit you and adjust your final treatment plan.

If you don’t initially qualify for treatment, please don’t worry. You can become a good implant candidate later through extra dental work – gum disease therapy, tooth extraction, etc. Such services would strengthen your mouth enough to support dental implant posts.

Dental Implant Surgery

Should we approve, you’ll undergo dental implant surgery after your consultation. Our team performs this step in-house, so you’ll benefit from our dentists’ advanced skills and expertise. To that extent, you can trust that you’ll have fantastic treatment results.

The actual implant surgery will feature the following:

  • Anesthesia – We’ll first numb your treatment site with anesthesia. That way, you won’t feel any pain during care; the most you’ll sense is slight pressure.
  • A Minor Incision – Once the anesthesia takes effect, we’ll make an incision in your gums. Doing so creates space in your mouth for the implant post.
  • Implant Placement – Our team will rely on advanced tools and methods to place your implant post.
  • Gum Closure – After placing your implant, we’ll carefully close your gum incision. We’ll then set a cap over your new post to wrap things up.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

Our team will deliver your implant’s final restoration at your treatment’s end. For this work, we’ll set a dental prosthetic that “matches up” with how many teeth you’ve lost. It could be a dental crown, dental bridge, or implant denture, depending on your case.

The fitting of this restoration shouldn’t take a long time. Once we’ve applied dental cement to your abutment, we’ll just make last-minute changes to ensure the post fits well. You’ll then be ready to head out and enjoy your newly-restored smile!

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Soon after placement, your dental implant(s) will start to fuse with your jaw. This process – known as osseointegration – takes roughly 4-6 months and keeps your posts rooted. In other words, it ensures that your new “tooth” becomes a permanent part of your mouth.

You’ll attend a follow-up surgery once implant fusion ends. At that time, we’ll place an abutment (i.e., a metal connector) on your implant post. We’ll have a lab craft your final restoration while you recover from this abutment work.

Day-to-Day Benefits

With the implants firmly anchored to your jawbone, you can have a nutritious diet of fibrous fruits and vegetables without worrying about your restoration slipping out of place. This design also gives dental implants more strength than other options, allowing you to eat all your favorite foods, even if they’re crunchy or tough!

Dental implants’ superior stability has one more advantage: you’ll be able to talk more smoothly and enunciate clearly – without needing to rely on adhesives or frequent adjustments.

Health Benefits

Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option for your oral health. This is thanks to the implant post, which will support your jawbone much like a natural dental root. The biocompatible materials encourage the bone to grow around your implant, preventing bone loss and the complicated bite and jaw issues that often result from it.

Although dentures and bridges aren’t exactly complicated to take care of, dental implants fit into your dental socket just like a natural tooth. This means oral hygiene will also be simple, making it easier for you to get a thorough clean and prevent problems like cavities and gum disease.

Long-Term Benefits

Since dental implants help preserve the shape of your jawbone, they’re also great for maintaining your youthful appearance. Tooth loss can cause the skin around your oral cavity to appear sunken over time, but dental implants will keep your facial structure nice and supported.

The best part about these benefits is that you can expect to enjoy them for many years to come! Dental implants can last for an impressive 30 years or more with proper care, providing you with superior oral function for an entire lifetime. You’ll appreciate the convenience and longevity of this restoration, and your wallet will appreciate the cost-effectiveness!

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Practically any adult who is in generally good health can receive dental implants, but you’ll need to meet with us for a consultation first just to be sure. Certain health conditions can make dental implants more likely to fail, which is why we’ll need to examine your mouth and review your medical history. In most cases, you’ll need to have three key qualities to be considered a dental implant candidate:

  • Good general health – You should be in good enough overall health that you’re able to undergo a minor surgical procedure.
  • Great oral health – Gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health issues could compromise the success of your new teeth, so they must be addressed beforehand.
  • A strong jawbone – Without enough jawbone density, the implant posts won’t have a sturdy foundation to merge with. If you’ve suffered from jawbone loss, we can recommend a bone graft, which adds bone material to the area to strengthen it.

Once your dental implant dentist in Granby has deemed you fit to move forward with the treatment, you can collaborate on a tooth replacement plan based on the number of pearly whites you’re missing.

Missing One Tooth

For just one lost tooth, a single dental implant post is positioned vertically in the socket, and a prosthetic dental crown is placed on top, completely replacing the missing tooth from root to crown. This treatment eliminates the need to reduce the teeth that are located on either side of the gap, making it the healthier option when compared to a traditional dental bridge.

Missing Multiple Teeth

If you are missing multiple teeth throughout the upper or lower arch, or you’re missing several teeth in a row, we can place just a few dental implants to secure a partial denture or bridge. Instead of clasping or being bonded onto healthy teeth, these restorations directly attach to the implants, giving them far more security and longevity. They also don’t wear down the structure of your remaining teeth like conventional solutions do.

Missing All Teeth

Even those who have no natural teeth left can benefit from dental implants. In fact, with four to six strategically positioned dental implants, a full denture can restore significantly more biting power than dentures alone and enable you to have a high quality of life again. Many of our patients with implant dentures claim that their new teeth look and feel exactly the same as their natural ones!

Learn More About All-on-4 Dentures

Types of Dental Implants

When preparing to undergo dental implant placement, the type of restoration you need will determine how many implants you will receive.

  • Single Tooth– A dental crown will be created and placed on top of a single dental implant that will be surgically placed into your jawbone to replicate the original tooth structure.
  • Multiple Teeth– We will place what is known as a fixed bridge on top of two dental implants, which will be inserted into the outer sockets to create a stable foundation for your restoration.
  • All Teeth– The most expensive dental implant is an implant denture. This custom creation looks just like a traditional denture, but instead of sitting on your gums and using your natural suction to remain in place, it will be secured onto an average of four to six implants.

What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?

Each phase of treatment will incur its own costs. The first step is to schedule an initial consultation with us to determine if you are a qualified candidate. During this appointment, we will take digital images of your oral and facial structure and determine if your jawbone is dense enough to support your implants and restoration. If so, you will be given the green light to move forward with the procedure. If not, you will likely need to undergo a bone graft or sinus lift to strengthen the weakened areas of your bone.

The actual surgery will occur in-house by our team of professionals and will require anesthesia and/or sedation to ensure you are comfortable throughout the process. We will make small incisions in your gums before placing each implant into its designated area. You will then return home to heal for three to six months to allow the osseointegration process to occur.

Once you are fully healed, you will return to receive your metal abutment, which is the attachment that connects the implant to your restoration. Finally, your custom-made prosthetic will be secured into place, allowing you to see a full, complete smile that is beautifully blended and healthy.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

If you were to review the testimonials of previous patients, you would quickly understand why dental implants are worth the investment. Yes, they do require substantial upfront costs; however, when you consider the various benefits (i.e., functionality, permanence, longevity, easy to maintain, and improved oral health), it is hard to consider any other option.

Ultimately, the decision is yours, but if you want a restoration that is designed to last decades or longer and will give you better oral health and a beautiful, fully restored smile, you can’t go wrong with dental implants.

Will Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Depending on your plan, your insurance may or may not cover the cost of treatment. While it is possible that they will agree to pay for certain aspects of treatment (i.e. consultation, anesthesia, custom restoration), they may not cover the cost of the actual surgery. This is why it’s necessary to speak with a representative from your insurance company before agreeing to move forward with treatment. Our team will be happy to work on your behalf if you prefer, getting the answers you need to make the right decision about your dental health.

We will also be happy to go over financing options to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses and help you stay within your budget.

There are several other procedures that can be done in a dental office.

Most of them fall under cosmetic dentistry like teeth whitening, veneers, crowns, bridges, and more. Call us at Century Dental for more information.

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