Implant surgery is a fairly complex procedure that involves placing artificial tooth roots directly into the jawbone. Your implant dentist will want to use a local anesthesia for your own comfort. Be sure to talk to your dentist about what type of anesthesia is best for your individual circumstances.

What’s Involved in Implant Surgery?

If you’re having traditional implant surgery, each missing tooth will be replaced with a single artificial root. These roots resemble screws and are made of titanium or a titanium allow. Titanium is the ideal metal for implants because bone will bond with it, creating a strong, integrated foundation for your replacement teeth.

Placing the dental implants involves making an incision in the gum tissue, then setting the implants into the jawbone. It is necessary to use anesthetic during this procedure to minimize the discomfort. In most cases, a local anesthetic is sufficient. This may or may not be combined with sedation, depending upon your preferences.  [pullquote]Be sure to talk to your dentist about what type of anesthesia is best for your individual circumstances.[/pullquote]

Types of Anesthetic for Implant Surgery

Your implant dentist will help you determine the best way to approach anesthesia during your implant procedure. If you are only having a few implants placed, a local anesthetic might be sufficient. This can be combined with oral or intravenous sedation to make you more relaxed and comfortable. Nitrous oxide is also a common choice for sedation during surgery.

If you’re having several implants placed, such as all your top or bottom teeth, your dentist might prefer to use general anesthesia. This is because the surgery will be more extensive and take longer than it would with only a few implants. Be sure to discuss the risks and side effects of general anesthesia before your surgery.

Dental implants involve surgery and a healing process, but they are an excellent choice for tooth replacement. They are the most natural-looking and -feeling prosthetic teeth and since they’re implanted directly in the jawbone, they ensure your jawbone will remain healthy, rather than atrophying as often occurs in patients with dentures.

Contact the dental office of Jeffrey the doctor to learn more about dental implants today.

If you’re unhappy with your smile, a smile makeover can make you feel dramatically different about your appearance. Your cosmetic dentist will help you pick a combination of procedures to correct issues with your teeth and give you a bright, beautiful smile.

How a Smile Makeover Works

There are a number of cosmetic dentistry procedures available to help perfect your smile. A smile makeover is a set of procedures chosen specifically for you. You’ll consult with a cosmetic dentist to talk about how you’d like your teeth to look, then decide together what procedures to use to give you the smile you want. Once you’ve made these decisions, you’ll schedule an appointment or a series of appointments to have this cosmetic work done. In many cases, procedures can be combined into one visit, saving you time and money.

When you consult with your dentist, be sure to be clear about your goals. The more detailed you are, the better your dentist will understand your needs, and the more likely you are to be happy with the final results. Also be sure to look at some before and after pictures of treatments provided by your dentist of choice.

Choosing Your Smile Makeover

The procedures you choose for your smile makeover depend upon the problems you have with your teeth and how you’d like your smile to look when you’re finished. Some common procedures used in smile makeovers include:

• Teeth whitening
• Dental bonding
• Porcelain veneers
• Dental implants

If you have stained teeth that are chipped or broken, you might consider teeth whitening and dental bonding. Missing teeth combined with teeth that are misshapen or have pitted surfaces can be treated with a combination of dental implants and porcelain veneers. A “narrow” smile with discoloration responds well to teeth whitening treatment combined with veneers to whiten and widen your smile. If your dentist offers treatment like Invisalign for crooked or misaligned teeth, or treatments for a “gummy” smile, these, too can be included in your smile makeover.

Call our office to schedule your appointment to discuss your smile makeover options today.