Dental implants are the best restorative choice for replacing a tooth that is missing. Whether the tooth has come out due to some kind of facial trauma or an infection or other issue, dental implants are the solution. The real difference in quality between a dental implant and other restorations such as bridges lies in the fact that the dental implant is placed directly into the patient’s jawbone, eventually fusing there through a process known as ossification.
Over time, ossification provides the kind of tooth base that is only seen elsewhere in natural teeth. When a dental implant is successful, it is as secure and as natural looking as a patient’s own original teeth; however, in some cases, dental implants fail. Sometimes they fail repeatedly. What’s causing these dental implant failures? Here are some potential causes.
Sometimes the implant doesn’t fuse with the bone and the bone shrinks away from the implant, leading to implant mobility or even the implant falling out. Patients who have weak bones due to age, osteoporosis, years of being edentulous (toothless) or another medical condition will find dental implants more challenging. If you’ve been having issues with failure to ossify, your dentist might recommend a bone graft to rebuild the jawbone to a healthy level so that dental implants can properly fuse.
In other cases, persistent infection may result in repeated implant failure. Signs of infection are continuous bleeding, swelling at the implant site or acute inflammation of the gum tissue at the implant site. Pus may be evident, or a bubble might appear on the gumline. Some health issues such as diabetes, auto-immune disorders or treatments like cancer therapies can weaken the immune system and leave the implant site vulnerable to infection. Your dentist might prescribe antibiotics or recommend you see an endodontist for a root canal treatment.
If you’re concerned about your dental implant, talk to Meadowbank dentist Dr. Anju right away. Find out what steps you need to take to ensure that your dental implants are successful.
If you live in the Ryde, Campsie, Kogarah, and Haymarket area contact us today
How much do you really know about your mouth? Most people understand basic brushing and flossing, but they may not realize the myriad of factors that influence dental health. Knowing how your lifestyle impacts your teeth and gums can help you make the best choices to protect your smile.
True or False: You don’t need to floss every day.
Answer: False. Brushing alone won’t protect your mouth from decay or gum disease. Floss gets hard-to-reach areas, cleaning out the plaque and bacteria that wreak havoc on your oral health.
True or False: Taking care of your tongue is important, so you should brush it regularly.
Answer: True. The tiny bumps on your tongue called papillae trap food and bacteria, which can cause bad breath. Brushing twice a day will keep your breath smelling great.
True or False: Soft drinks and sports drinks don’t damage teeth.
Answer: False. These beverages, as well as red wine and fruit juices, can lead to enamel erosion. It’s best to stick with water, but if you consume these drinks, rinse your mouth when you finish.
True or False: It’s okay to put your baby to bed with a bottle of juice or milk.
Answer: False. When you let your baby or toddler fall asleep with anything but water, you increase the risk of baby bottle tooth decay. This condition occurs because of prolonged bottle feeding, usually during sleep. Young children don’t have good plaque removal, so these beverages provide a breeding ground for bacteria.
True or False: Fluoride reduces decay 20 to 40 percent.
Answer: True. Drinking water with fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and also reduces the amount of acid that the bacteria in your mouth produce. Since fluoride was added to the drinking water supplies across the country, childhood cavity rates have dramatically dropped.
Schedule a dental cleaning appointment today at our Ryde, Campsie, Kogarah, and Haymarket dentists offices.
Dental crowns and bridges were originally made to fix terribly damaged or missing teeth. No matter how your teeth have been damaged, crown and bridge restorations can help to restore your beautiful smile.
Even one missing tooth can cause surrounding teeth to shift and create a crooked smile. Missing and broken teeth can also cause problems speaking and chewing. One of the best options for restoring function and improving the aesthetics of your smile are dental crowns and bridges.
Crowns are placed over a tooth to help restore form and function when a traditional filling is not sufficient to do the job. A bridge works to replace missing teeth. There are several options for the type of bridge that is placed, depending on your specific situation. Crowns and bridges can be made of natural looking tooth-colored material, metal, or some of both.
Crowns improve the look of your smile, improve the function of your teeth, and help restore your overall oral health. A crown can be used to repair and protect a tooth with old, broken-down fillings as well as to replace older, metal crowns. Crowns are also used to protect the existing tooth structure following root canal treatment.
Bridges are used to fill the space of missing teeth, to keep the remaining teeth from shifting and causing changes in the jaw and facial structure. Bridges are also used as an alternative to removable dentures. Bridges can be supported by either natural teeth or dental implants, and improve both the look and function of your smile.
If you are suffering from missing or damaged teeth, consult with your dental professional to find out more about how crowns and bridges can improve both the beauty and function of your smile.
If you need a dentist in Ryde, Campsie, Kogarah, and Haymarket contact us today