Dentures Vs. Dental Mini Implants

     For adults with missing teeth, the decision to repair the problem is usually an easy one. However, which solution to choose may not be. Whether to have dentures made or dental mini implants inserted can sometimes boil down to price and the perceived ease of the installation procedure. The truth is the difference between dentures and dental implants is like night and day.

     To begin with, dentures have no anchors in the mouth. They are attached on top with adhesives and suction formed by the plate at the top of the mouth, and for bottom dentures there is no suction. In either case, movement by the facial and mouth muscles – lips and cheeks on one side and the tongue on the other – is inevitable. They will and do slip and slide while chewing, talking or making any kind of mouth movement.

     Because of the physical presence in the mouth, dentures often affect the taste of food, thereby lessening the enjoyment. In fact, many foods cannot be eaten by denture wearers, such as apples, pizza, salad, corn on the cob, steak, peanut butter and jelly, bagels, carrots, subs.

     Something as simple as a sneeze, a cough or a laugh can actually cause the dentures to fall out of your mouth. Such results can be very embarrassing in social situations and keep some people from going out in public.

     On the other hand, dental mini implants feel like real teeth. They act and look like real teeth and let people speak and eat with real confidence.

     Dental mini implants can end a denture wearer’s suffering in one day. With proper homecare, implants and dental mini implants can last a lifetime. Because mini implants maintain the jawbone, the facial features won’t change, which only adds to one’s self-confidence.

     With dental mini implants, an individual won’t have to forgo the foods they love. Instead of having to rely on soft foods, they can eat whatever they want. Dental mini implants allow a person to eat a well balanced diet thereby improving their nutrition. In fact, studies have shown people with dental implants, dental mini implants or their natural teeth live 10 years longer than people with dentures.

     So what are you waiting for? Call a dental mini implant specialist today and then plan your next picnic!

     For information about other dental topics visit DrTav.com

Dental Mini Implants vs. Traditional Dental Implants

There’s a lot of talk on the internet about dental implants and dental mini implants. When you’re looking for answers about which to choose, it can be pretty confusing. But there are very real
differences between traditional dental implants and dental mini implants. Let’s review what differentiates one from the other.

Right from the start let's make it clear that both types of implants are designed to provide a cosmetic and fully functioning replica of your original teeth or tooth. They both have essentially two elements: the device that is embedded into the upper or lower bone and the crown that is designed specifically for each person so as to fit aesthetically within their mouth. And that's where the similarities end.

Dental mini implants reflect a significantly less invasive procedure. Traditional implants involve incisions and stitches and use a truly surgical procedure requiring the separation of the gum from the bone in order to create the proper surface and receptacle for an implant device. Dental mini implants are put into the bone through the gum without the need for sutures. As a result, the recovery time is only 7-10 days for dental mini implants versus 2-4 months for traditional implants.

Also, because of the more simplified procedure, dental mini implants have less risk of causing infections; and there are no screw or cement to get loose requiring dental repairs. In additon, the process for dental mini implants can be done in a single session with your implant dentist.

Finally, because of the ease and speed with which dental mini implants are inserted, oftentimes they are used as excellent cosmetic transitional treatments while waiting for traditional dental implants to be designed, prepared and integrated as part of the jaw. Dental mini implants are not for everyone, so you have to have a personal evaluation to see if they are best to suit your needs.

Oh, and the best part is the cost of dental mini implants is less than 25% of traditional implants; another reason to consider dental mini implants vs. traditional dental implants. 

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7 Benefits Of Dental Mini Implants

Dental mini implants replace the entire missing tooth from root to
crown, which is the reason that implants look, feel and function like natural teeth.

The benefits of using dental mini implants are numerous and address both the physical as well as the mental aspects of a patient suffering from the loss of teeth.

Here are seven specific benefits of dental mini implants:

1. By replacing the root portion of the tooth, you are preserving the jawbone. When teeth are missing, the bone that once integrated with the root begins to melt away or deteriorate. The presence of having the root in place (original or implant), stimulates the bone around it thereby supporting circulation and strengthening the bone.
   
   
2. The restoration of your appearance and self-confidence improves the overall quality of life.
   
   
3. The positive effect the dental mini implant has on your jawbone helps to preserve the integrity of the facial structure. By preventing the reabsorption of the bone which would occur without the implant, the face will not suffer from a severe deformation of the facial features.
   
   
4. By using implants instead of other treatment choices such as
   bridges, the teeth on either side of the implant are not impacted
   in any way. With the use of a bridge, the teeth on both sides
   need to be ground down to allow for the bridge to be cemented
   in place. This healthy tooth structure can never be replaced and
   the long-term health of these teeth is compromised.
   
   
5. Partial dentures have clasps that hook onto the adjacent teeth.
   With such anchoring, as the dentures rock back and forth, an
   inevitable characteristic of partial dentures, the anchor teeth receive
   undo pressure resulting in a loosening which compromise their
   integrity.
   
   
6. Oral care of dental mini implants is much easier than any other
   treatments and only as rigorous as caring for your natural teeth.
   
   
7. Finally, choosing dental mini implants over other treatments for
   missing teeth eliminate the need for denture adhesives, allow for
   you to eat an unencumbered diet improving your nutrition, and
   eliminates the fear of being embarrassed when eating, laughing
   or just talking. Your new dental mini implants are secure, natural
   looking and as good as new.

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Considering The Dental Implant Option?

Did you know that as many as 100 million Americans have lost at least one tooth? As you might expect, most of these people really begin to value their own, original, healthy teeth. And they are usually excited to learn that dental implants can offer them artificial teeth that look very natural and feel remarkably secure.

Whether you have full or partial dentures or are just missing teeth, dental implants may be an option for you.  As a means of attaching natural-looking teeth directly to the jaw, implants can replace one or more teeth, provide support for a bridge or be used to attach a full denture for either retention or support.

At this time, there are two types of implants that are considered safe and effective by the American Dental Association. These are endosteal and subperiosteal implants.

To determine which type of implant to use, our practice first looks at the patient's jawbone. The jawbone must be able to support the implants, and both the quantity and the quality of bone must be taken into consideration.            

Endosteal implants act like a metal "root" and are implanted directly into the jawbone. When the jawbone is thick, a cylindrical endosteal implant is used. When the jawbone is thin, a slender, plate-type implant is recommended.

Unlike an endosteal implant, subperiosteal implantation does not go directly into the jawbone.  Instead, a metal framework is inserted onto the jawbone and under the gum tissue. This approach is used when the jawbone has an inadequate amount of bone available for endosteal implantation.

Patients who are candidates for subperiosteal implants usually have been lacking some or all of their teeth for several years and there is not enough bone to support their denture without pain.

The jawbone itself can also be changed or augmented to create a foundation for the implant or implants needed by the patient. To a great extent, the choice of removable or non-removable replacement teeth by the patient will dictate the kind of implants used; and the type of implant, in turn, is usually the determining factor regarding whether or not augmentation of the jawbone is necessary.

A thorough dental evaluation including a clinical examination of your teeth, radiography (x-rays) and a complete medical history is required to determine if you would be a good implant candidate.

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What Type Of Care Is Required For Dental Implants?

Once you have had your dental implants you want to make sure you protect your investment in your health and the time and money you’ve invested, too. It’s essential you understand that the gums and the bone that your dental implants sit in, are the foundation of your smile. The area around the gumline of your implants must be kept clean daily and regularly professionally.

Your dental implants aren’t subject to dental decay, but they are at risk of gum disease in the same way your natural teeth are at risk of gum disease. We recommend that you floss daily. You can also clean the teeth with brushes that fit in the spaces between the teeth. These are called interproximal dental brushes. Brush for approximately 2 minutes twice daily with a soft toothbrush. We also recommend using the Hydrofloss once daily. At night before you go to sleep, or in the evening after you’ve eaten your last meal, are the best times to use a Hydrofloss. The Hydrofloss is a dental irrigator and in the head of the irrigator tip is a magnet that changes the polarity of the water. This change in polarity interferes with plaque bacteria, the cause of gum disease, sticking to the teeth and building up at the gumline.

Research has taught us that the plaque that grows at the gumline has a specific pattern of growth. The bacteria form what are called colonies and with time, the colonies of bacteria become more mature and more destructive. Research has shown that the optimum time period to break up the bacterial colonies is at 3 months. Therefore, it makes sense that to give yourself and your dental implants optimum protection, the most favorable time interval between professional dental cleanings is 3 months. In this way, if there are any bone-destroying bacteria present, the professional cleaning is disrupting the bacterial colonization so that it has to start all over again. This helps stop the establishment and progress of any gum disease.

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Are You A Candidate For Dental Implants?

If you face the loss of one or several teeth or if you’re dissatisfied with dentures or other options available to you, dental implants may be right for you. After a thorough dental evaluation you’ll know if you are a candidate for dental implants.

Many people wonder if they are a candidate for dental implants. It may surprise you, but most people who are missing some or all of their teeth, or who are facing tooth loss, actually are candidates for dental implants.

The basic characteristics of a dental implant candidate is that they have general good health. For our more senior patients, there’s no concern about the additional aches and pains of the golden years preventing you from having dental implants. Even patients with diabetes can have dental implants if they are controlled diabetics. Patients taking blood thinners can have their dosages and the timing of their medication adjusted to accommodate the dental implant procedures. People who have had cancer and received either radiation or chemotherapy have to wait one year before they are candidates for dental implants. People who have Aids or women who are pregnant aren’t candidates for dental implants. It’s easy enough to wait until after the baby is born to have dental implant procedures.

The dental implant candidate must have healthy gums in order to proceed with dental implants. Also, there needs to be sufficient underlying jawbone to support the implants. However, even for patients who don’t have sufficient jawbone, and aren’t candidates for routine dental implant bone grafts, there are advanced bone grafting procedures that can be performed that use bone from the patient’s hip to replace missing jawbone.

The final characteristic for being a candidate for dental implants is to have a good attitude to ensure that you follow through with vital oral hygiene habits.

For information about dental implants, mini dental implants or other dental topics please visit DrTav.com

   

   

What Are The Benefits Of Dental Implants?

Because dental implants are designed to fit the structure of your natural teeth, they provide a highly stable support to replace one or more teeth without affecting adjacent teeth. Dental implants can support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture. An additional benefit of dental implants is that they provide support for a denture, making it more comfortable and secure.

Because dental implants function like natural teeth, your confidence will be renewed. The days of being embarrassed to speak and laugh in social settings are over. With dental implants you also experience improved biting pressure. Healthy teeth are able to absorb over 500 pounds of biting pressure per square inch. Dental implants can often restore the amount of pressure that can be withstood compared to the same level of healthy natural teeth. Now, with dental implants you can enjoy eating foods that you haven’t been able to eat for years. Imagine enjoying salads or biting into an apple or enjoying a big juicy steak!

Because your replacement teeth are securely anchored to your jawbone, they can’t slip or slide like unsecured dentures can. Dental implants don’t sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth, so more of your own teeth are left untouched, a long-term benefit to your health.

Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth.  Because implants integrate into the structure of your jawbone, they can help prevent bone loss and gum recession. With proper oral care and regular dental visits, implants can last a lifetime.

For information about dental implants and other dental topics, please visit DrTav.com