Tooth loss doesn’t always affect a number of teeth. Sometimes only a few teeth are lost, or even a single tooth can be broken, dislodged, or damaged by decay to the point where the tooth must be removed.

When you lose a tooth, there are several options for replacing the missing tooth. In the past, teeth were often replaced with a fixed partial denture, also known as a bridge. Today, patients who need to replace a single tooth have the option of using a dental implant.

How a Bridge Works

A dental bridge uses neighboring teeth to anchor the replacement tooth. Placing a bridge always requires the neighboring teeth to be restructured to accommodate the portion of the bridge that anchors the replacement tooth. In a traditional bridge, these teeth are extensively reshaped to make room for crowns. The crowns then support the replacement tooth in between the teeth that receive the crowns.

Less invasive types of bridges use metal strips to attach the replacement tooth to neighboring teeth. These strips are bonded to the teeth with a special resin. This type of bridge requires less modification to the neighboring teeth.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Unlike bridges, dental implants do not require modification to healthy teeth. An implant dentist can place a single implant in the space left behind by the missing tooth. Implants are permanent, and replace not only the chewing or biting surface of the tooth but also the tooth root. The titanium screw that takes the place of the missing tooth root bonds to the jawbone, allowing it to stimulate bone growth so the jawbone does not deteriorate.

Using an implant to replace a single tooth allows the tooth to be replaced without altering any other teeth. The implant is permanent and will last many years.

Implants are generally placed in a two-step process. First, the tooth root is implanted and given time to heal and bond to the bone. After this healing interval, the visible portion of the tooth is added. The replacement tooth is custom made and color-matched to your remaining teeth.

For information about how a single tooth can be replaced with a dental implant, please contact Dr. Bernard Jin, a dental implant dentist serving Vancouver.

Dental crowns have been used for many years to help repair cracked teeth or to strengthen a tooth that has undergone a root canal. Crowns are also used for cosmetic applications.

The decision to use a dental crown is based upon the need of the individual patient and the condition of the tooth in question. In some cases, less invasive approaches can be used instead of crowns. It is important to consult with our dentist serving Cheeseman Park to determine whether or not your individual situation can be best treated with a dental crown.

Uses of Dental Crowns

Crowns are used less often now than they have been in the past, but are still common for certain conditions or problems. For example, at one time crowns were commonly used to cover severely discolored teeth, but now porcelain veneers, which require much less alteration of the tooth, are used more often. Today, the most common uses of dental crowns include:

• To repair a tooth that has been severely cracked
• To anchor a traditional bridge
• As part of a root canal procedure

Crowns can be made of metal, metal covered with porcelain, or of porcelain or another tooth-colored material. Crowns made of metal are more often placed on the back teeth, where chewing subjects them to high levels of pressure. For front teeth, porcelain materials are more commonly used.

How Crowns Work

A tooth must be restructured to make room for a crown. Typically, the dentist grinds the tooth down to a peg shape, over which the crown is fitted. Crowns are custom made from molds formed from the reshaped tooth. Your dentist will place a temporary crown while the custom crown is manufactured in an off-site lab. This temporary crown is then removed, and the permanent crown put into place. The dentist makes any necessary adjustments to the permanent crown to be sure it is comfortable and is shaped properly to accommodate your bite. When this process is complete, the crown gives you back a strong, serviceable tooth and a smile you can be proud of.

Obtaining adequate and timely preventive dental care, including regular exams and cleanings, will help you to achieve optimal oral health. Preventive care can also be cost-effective, helping the patient to avoid complex, expensive treatments for more advanced oral diseases.

Most preventive care is painless. The process begins with an extensive cleaning, generally performed by a dental hygienist, in which any accumulated plaque and tartar are removed from the teeth and gums. You should schedule dental cleanings every six months to keep plaque and tartar at bay. The bacteria found in plaque can promote decay and gum disease if it’s not removed from the mouth regularly.

After your teeth have been cleaned, the dentist will examine them visually for any obvious signs of decay or disease. Periodically, your dentist also will take x-rays, which offer better views of the teeth and bone, to determine if you have any concerns that are not visible to the naked eye.

Preventive care is not limited to the dental office. Your home oral hygiene habits go a long way toward maintaining your oral health. Brushing and flossing help to mitigate the buildup of plaque and bacteria. It’s virtually impossible to prevent that accumulation completely, though, which is why it is still important to get regular cleanings regardless of how dedicated you are to brushing and flossing.

If you get regular preventive care, you can limit the effects of tooth decay and gum disease before they lead to bone loss, which can be an outcome if these conditions go untreated.

The benefits of preventive dental care aren’t restricted to the mouth, either. Advanced gum disease has been linked to other problems throughout the body, such as diabetes, heart disease and pre-eclampsia.

Technological advances in dentistry are helping patients keep their natural teeth throughout their lives, and preventive dental care is an important part of that process. It is important to schedule regular appointments with a dentist serving Washington Park to protect and promote your oral health. Contact our dentistry team today to receive the dental care you deserve.

Dentures serve as a replacement for missing teeth, but they do not last forever. Normal wear and tear can erode the chewing surfaces. In addition, the jawbone begins to change shape when teeth are lost. As bone tissue diminishes, the shape of the jaw changes so that dentures no longer fit properly. You should have your dentist evaluate the fit of your dentures on a regular basis, and have them refitted or replaced per his recommendations.

Dental implants, by contrast, provide a permanent replacement for your missing teeth. They also provide a replacement for the tooth root, so that the tissue of your jawbone continues to regenerate. Unlike dentures, which can move and shift in the mouth, dental implants remain stationary. Another benefit of dental implants is that they do not have to be removed for cleaning.

If you are missing one or more teeth, dentures or a traditional bridge might be a good option for you, but be sure to ask us about the possibility of dental implants instead. If you are a good candidate for implants, we can provide a permanent solution to your lost teeth—one that will keep your teeth looking and working just like your natural teeth, as well as maintaining the health of your jaw. Also, if you have been wearing dentures and would like to find out about implants, we can help you determine if implants are a good choice for you.

If you do not have enough bone mass in your jaw to support implants, bone grafts can help supply the necessary foundation. A consultation regarding implants versus dentures in our Coquitlam dental office can help you make an informed decision about the best long term choice for you.

Athletes are particularly susceptible to dental trauma and injury. Hard contact to the mouth can dislodge teeth and even result in broken facial and jaw bones. According to the Academy of Sports Dentistry, all athletes in contact sports and even those in individual sports with a risk of dental trauma, such as rollerblading, should wear mouthguards to prevent oral injury.

For high school athletes in certain sports, including football, ice hockey, men’s lacrosse and field hockey, mouthguards are mandatory. Governing bodies for collegiate athletics may also have policies requiring mouthguards.  Adults who participate in recreational sports typically are able to choose whether to wear a mouthguard, and any concerned dentist would highly encourage them to do so.

When an athlete suffers an injury to a tooth, a root canal or some other extensive procedure may be necessary to save a damaged tooth, assuming that it can be saved at all. Mouthguards prevent injury by absorbing and dissipating forces from a strike to the teeth or jaws. The benefits of mouthguards are well-documented. In addition to protecting the teeth and jaws from injury, some research suggests that mouthguards can decrease the severity of concussions.

While over-the-counter mouthguard options are available, including stock or boil-and-bite guards, the best protection is offered by custom-designed mouthguards. Our downtown Denver dentist can take molds of your mouth and send those molds to a dental laboratory that will create a mouthguard that offers a close fit to your mouth’s structure. Even a boil-and-bite guard, which has a brief window for proper shaping, can’t offer the same secure fit presented by a custom-designed device.

Some athletes express reluctance about wearing mouthguards for a variety of reasons. Those individuals should re-consider. A well-fitted mouthguard is comfortable and does not interfere with breathing. When worn properly, mouthguards have no effect on performance, although many athletes cite that as a concern for not wearing them.

If you are an athlete who has not been wearing a mouthguard, visit your dentist soon to get fitted for one. It will help you protect your teeth, oral soft tissues and jaws and give you peace of mind.

Missing teeth can occur due to numerous factors, including injury, decay, gum disease, and natural wear and tear. When teeth are lost or must be removed, you and your dentist must make a decision about how to replace them.

Options for Replacing Teeth

There are two main options for replacing missing teeth: dentures and dental implants. Though dentures have been used for literally hundreds of years, new technology has made possible dental implants that can replace not only the chewing and biting surfaces of your teeth but also the tooth root.

Dentures, including bridges and other options for replacing one or two teeth, only replace the visible portion of the teeth. They rest directly on the gums, sometimes leading to irritation and discomfort. By contrast, dental implants are placed directly into the jawbone, where they function just as a natural tooth would.

The Dental Implant Process

The dental implant process typically occurs in two stages. First, the implant dentist places the root portion of the implant in the jawbone. In some cases, this is preceded by bone grafts or other treatment to ensure there is enough bone tissue to support the tooth root.

The root portion of a dental implant is made of titanium, a metal that naturally bonds to bone. It takes a few months for this bonding process to finalize, during which time the titanium and the bone of the jaw bond in a process called osseointegration. The bonding of the titanium to the bone will help ensure that your jawbone is stimulated during chewing after your implants are completed. This stimulation encourages the bone tissue to grow, so that your jawbone remains strong and healthy.

After the root portion of the implant has healed sufficiently, the implant dentist will affix the visible portion of the implants. These prosthetic teeth are custom-made and color matched so that they are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. Once the entire procedure is complete, you will have a full set of functional teeth that look and feel just like the teeth you lost.

For more information about dental implants in the Burnaby area, please contact our office for a consultation.

In many ways, a general dentist is like a primary care physician. Your general dentist provides your routine dental care, including semiannual exams and cleanings, which is important for maintaining good oral health.  The general dentist can also perform some more advanced procedures, and serves as the first line of defense in preventing complex conditions that require more extensive oral care.

A general dentistry practice is capable of handling a wide variety of procedures, ranging from cavity fillings to root canals. All of those services are provided in an outpatient setting in the dental office, and the dental care team takes care to make the experience as comfortable as possible for the patient.

Preventive care is an important component of general dentistry. Regular exams and cleanings are the first step in avoiding issues like gum disease and advanced tooth decay, which can have negative effects on your oral and overall health. Your dentist will also recommend a home care regimen, including daily brushing and flossing, which will complement the work done in the dental office.

Your general dentist will also use diagnostic tools that help identify any problems that need to be addressed. When you visit the general dentist, be prepared to get x-rays, which can show decay or other issues with the teeth, jaws and bone.

It is also important to establish a relationship with a general dentist in case you ever need specialty care. Your general dentist is familiar with other practitioners in the region and can recommend a specialist, such as a periodontist, if the need ever arises.

If you are looking for a dentist in the Capitol Hill, CO area, contact our office today to schedule a consultation.

One of the most common complaints of denture wearers in Vancouver is that the dentures frequently slip or become loose. Fortunately, there’s a better solution for these patients—implant supported dentures. Here are answers to the questions that patients often ask about implant-supported dentures.

Q: What are implant-supported dentures?

A: This tooth replacement technique takes advantage of modern dental technology to improve on the traditional denture. Implants, which look like small titanium screws, are placed into the jaw then fitted with clip attachments, which, in turn, secure dentures in the mouth.

Q: Can implant-supported dentures help to preserve my jaw bone?

A: Yes. The implants replicate some roots of the missing teeth, which makes erosion of the underlying jaw bone less likely. Regular dentures, on the other hand, do not have any structures that anchor the jaw bone, which can wear away over time through a process known as resorption.

Q: Do implant-supported dentures keep their fit over time?

A: With regular dentures, as the jaw bone erodes and its shape changes, the dentures slowly lose their fit. Because the implants prevent some of the resorption, the jaw’s shape remains more stable with implant-supported dentures and the fit is more consistent over time.

Q: Do implant-supported dentures need to be cleaned daily like regular dentures do?

A: Yes. Tiny pieces of food can still get trapped between the implant-supported denture and the gum, and the appliances still can accumulate tartar. You need to remove implant-supported dentures each day to clean them just as you would with regular dentures.

Q: How long does the treatment process for implant-supported dentures last?

A: After the implants are placed, they typically need to take four to six months to heal before the clip attachment can be added. During the healing phase, the dentures can be worn in the conventional manner.

If you are a denture wearer who is frustrated by the fit (or lack thereof) of your dentures, check with your dentist to see if you are a candidate for implant-supported dentures.

In the past, people who were missing all of their teeth were resigned to struggling with uncomfortable dentures that often slipped out of place. Now, the Teeth to Stay—All in 1 Day!_© technique offers dental implant patients in Vancouver an option to replace their missing teeth with permanent arch of artificial teeth that is anchored to the underlying bone with four titanium dental implants.

With the assistance of specialized computer software, the implant dentist is able to plan all of the surgery’s details, such as the location of the implant placement and the design of the artificial dental arch, in advance of the procedure. The minimally invasive implant surgery then can be completed in a single office visit, and the recovery time is drastically reduced in comparison to traditional implant placement.

Sometimes denture wearers are told they don’t qualify for implants or that they will need a bone graft because of significant bone loss. The Teeth to Stay—All in 1 Day! involves just four dental implants, which can be angled underneath the gum to fit into the available bone.

The implants typically are placed toward the front of the jaw where bone remains intact, so most patients do not need to undergo the bone graft procedure in advance of the implant placement. Except in cases of extremely advanced bone loss, nearly all denture wearers are candidates for Teeth to Stay—All in 1 Day!. However, some medical conditions may prevent a patient from being an immediate candidate for the procedure. It is best to check with your implant dentist to see if you qualify for Teeth to Stay—All in 1 Day!