Replace Missing Teeth With Dental Implants

If you would like to replace missing teeth, dental implants may be a good option for you. Many people have teeth that are lost due to injury or disease. Missing teeth can affect your ability to chew properly or speak properly and can cause the teeth surrounding the space to shift. Bone loss can also occur around the missing tooth and may cause remaining teeth to become loose over time. Loss of teeth and bone can cause your face to sag and give the appearance of looking older. Dental implants are an effective way to replace missing teeth, improve your health and help you start smiling again!

The benefits of dental implants include:                                   

• Blending in with your other teeth for a natural look
• Implants are a secure and stable replacement for one or more missing teeth
• Replaces missing teeth without damaging the healthy surrounding teeth
• Can be used to help stabilize a loose, uncomfortable denture
• Excellent long-term option for restoring your smile
• Implants can last a lifetime with proper home care and regular dental visits

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium and other materials that are compatible with your body. The implant is surgically placed into your jaw, and after a period of time for healing, the replacement tooth (implant crown) is placed on top of the implant.

 

The dental implant process generally takes three steps:

• Placement of the dental implant
• Healing
• Placement of the restorative tooth or teeth

 

Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth or multiple teeth. Dental implants are used to support a bridge or denture when multiple teeth are missing. An implant supported denture helps to stabilize the denture and allow you to bite and chew naturally.

 

The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for a dental implant is by calling our office at 541-343-8527 for a complimentary implant consultation. Generally, if you are in good health and your jaw can support an implant, this treatment is a good option to replace your missing teeth.

 

 

Start the New Year with a Healthy Smile!

How long has it been since your last dental exam and cleaning? Preventive dental care is an important part of a goal to help you keep your healthy smile to last a lifetime. Dr. Stephenson recommends regular cleanings and exams for all adults and children. The interval between cleanings is usually between 3 and 6 months, depending on the rate each patient accumulates plaque or calculus, and the level of inflammation or bleeding present. The interval between periodic exams is usually once per year.

Adults over 35 lose more teeth to periodontal (gum) disease than to decay. The best way to prevent periodontal disease is to have professional cleanings on a regular basis and to practice good oral hygiene with daily brushing and flossing techniques that are recommended by Dr. Stephenson and your hygienist. Good oral hygiene can also help promote a healthier life. Recent studies strongly suggest a link between the bacteria that causes periodontal disease and some systemic diseases. For your continued health and wellness, it is very important to complete any recommended periodontal treatment as soon as possible. Our well-trained, professional hygienists are dedicated to your comfort and helping you maintain a healthy smile.

Happy Halloween!

It's that time of year again for Tricks and Treats! We like treats as much as everyone else does, and we want to remind patients of all ages that a healthy smile can include snacks in moderation as long as you brush, floss and have regular dental check-ups.

We love children in our family dental practice. Ideally, we would like to see them for a "first visit" as early as possible. The American Dental Association encourages parents to take their child to the dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than the child's first birthday. We want to make dental visits fun for your child and will plan to give them a great first dental experience. The best compliment we can receive is hearing from parents how much their children look forward to coming in to see Dr. Bob, having their teeth cleaned and checked, and visiting the treasure box after their appointment. It sets a happy and positive feeling for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Here are some children's dental health tips to remember:

• Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease
• Schedule your child's first visit by their first birthday
• Have your child use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste when brushing
• Consider fluoride supplements for your child if your water isn't fluoridated
• Children should brush twice a day and after snacks
• Cleanings, fluoride and dental exams are recommended every six months
• Ask us how sealants may help prevent cavities
• Start healthy habits early with regular brushing, flossing and dental visits

We hope everyone has fun and safe Halloween!

New Dental Health Recommendations for Children

February 10, 2014

Article courtesy of the ADA

ADA Uses Fluoride Toothpaste to Fight High Cavity Rate in Children

CHICAGO, Feb. 10, 2014 — To fight cavities in children, the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs (CSA) is updating its guidance to caregivers that they should brush their children’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste as soon as the first tooth comes in. This new guidance expands the use of fluoride toothpaste for young children.

To help prevent children’s tooth decay, the CSA recommends that caregivers use a smear of fluoride toothpaste (or an amount about the size of a grain of rice) for children younger than 3 years old and a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste for children 3 to 6 years old.

"For half a century, the ADA has recommended that patients use fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities, and a review of scientific research shows that this holds true for all ages," said Edmond L. Truelove, D.D.S.,  chair of the Council on Scientific Affairs. "Approximately 25 percent of children have or had cavities before entering kindergarten, so it’s important to provide guidance to caregivers on the appropriate use of fluoride toothpaste to help prevent their children from developing cavities."

Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease with more than 16 million children suffering from untreated tooth decay in the U.S, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Oral disease causes children to miss 51 million school hours and their parents to lose 25 million work hours annually. Additionally, oral disease disproportionately affects children from low-income families and these children have almost twice the number of decayed teeth that have not been treated by a dentist as compared to others in the general population.

CSA previously recommended using water to brush the teeth of children younger than 2 years old and to brush the teeth of children 2 to 6 years old with a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste. CSA updated the ADA’s guidance based on a review of scientific evidence.

The report, "Fluoride toothpaste use for young children," and the results of the systematic review, "Fluoride toothpaste efficacy and safety in children younger than 6 years," are published in the February 2014 issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.

The new guidance is intended to provide children with the full benefit of cavity protection while limiting their risk of developing fluorosis, which is a mild discoloration of teeth usually appearing as faint lines. Based on a systematic review of the evidence, CSA concluded that using just a "smear" of toothpaste for children younger than 3 years old and a pea-size amount for children 3 to 6 years helps prevent cavities and is less likely to cause fluorosis. Children should spit out toothpaste as soon as they are old enough to do so.

The ADA encourages caregivers to take their child to the dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than the child’s first birthday.

About the American Dental Association

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit www.ada.org. For more information on oral health, including prevention, care and treatment of dental disease, visit the ADA’s consumer website www.MouthHealthy.org.

 

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The Health Benefits of Chocolate!

 

Written by Dentistry Today Tuesday, 06 August 2013

There is good news for chocolate lovers: new research indicates that chocolate could be considered a “super food,” joining the ranks of blueberries and broccoli. It can even fight tooth decay.

Chocolate is produced from cacao, which contains powerful concentrations of polyphenols, flavonoids, and antibacterial properties.

Researchers stress that these benefits apply only to dark chocolate – not milk chocolate – and the higher the natural concentration of cacao, the better.

Some health benefits of chocolate as a super food are:
Fight tooth decay • Because of cacao’s antibacterial properties, dark chocolate may significantly reduce the incidence of plaque, bacteria, and tooth decay.

Better cardiovascular health
• Cacao is rich in polyphenols, a molecule that can significantly improve cardiovascular health by increasing the bioavailability of nitric oxide, which leads to improvements in blood pressure, insulin resistance, and blood lipid levels.

Lower risk of diabetes
• Thanks again to polyphenols, researchers found that individuals who consumed about 40g of dark chocolate daily cut their risk of developing diabetes in half.

Lower body fat percentage
• Antioxidants in dark chocolate reduce inflammation and help alleviate the production of the stress hormones that would otherwise cause weight gain.

Improve mental well-being
• Cacao can promote feelings of calm, clarity, and bliss by stimulating the production of phenethylamine while regulating serotonin.

Other benefits include increased mental clarity and improved management of stress.

Dental Implants can save money, boost quality of life!

Written by Dentistry Today Monday, 08 July 2013 20:32
Dental implants may provide the best way to avoid emptying one’s bank account.A new report in the International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants demonstrates the ways in which dental implants are a beneficial alternative when compared to conventional tooth replacement treatment.
The report stems from a comprehensive review of all studies published in the English language from 2000 though 2010. The total ended up being 14 studies on the matter.
There were numerous specific findings that came from the study. The first of which was that for single-tooth replacement, implant-based solutions were cheaper than traditional tooth-borne prostheses.
There were also higher initial costs for implant-borne solutions for patients with full dentures. The consensus, however, based on most studies was that dental implants are a long-term, cost-effective treatment option. For older edentulous patients, they were ok with paying for dental implants. There was also a movement for raising the overall level of quality of life based on oral health, which coincided with lower healthcare costs.
The goal of this study was to put all of the recent information on this matter into one study that could end up being the study of record on this matter. Based on the places in which the study appears, the goal has been achieved.