Implants are restorations that enable a person to regain a tooth that they lost. Implants are great for aesthetic reasons and for functionality.

Placing implants is rather simple depending on thickness, width and length of bone at the implant site. Ideally there should be enough bone at the site to surround the implant for the implant to integrate with the bone. This will provide a good anchor for the final restoration. If there is not enough bone the surgeon may opt to place more bone at the implant site and allow for that to heal before placing the implant.

Once the implant is placed it takes about four months for the implant to integrate with the bone. The surgeon will test the integration and then place an abutment on top of the implant. This abutment is used by the general dentist to fabricate the final restoration (crown).

The process of implant surgery to the final restoration can be completed within 6 months. Tests for bone width and height have to be completed prior to implant placement for implant consideration. Temporary prosthesis such as temporary dentures or crowns also have to be implemented during implant healing so that the patient doesn’t compromise on function or aesthetics. Patients think that they will be toothless throughout the procedure but that is rarely the case. Patients will almost always wear a temporary crown or denture to fill in the gap.

Implants do cost quite a bit more than a conventional bridge or denture because it’s not covered by most insurances. However the cost benefit in the long run is much better than restoring a toothless space with bridges or dentures. The functionality and aesthetics are much better with an implant than bridges or dentures. Bridges are great restorations for replacing a missing tooth but functional wise you’re asking two teeth to chew for three teeth. If the gum and bone surrounding the two anchor teeth are compromised then keeping a bridge in the mouth is problematic as the bridge goes through it’s normal wear and tear. Bridges as with all crowns have margins that are easy to decay if not well maintained through good oral hygiene. Whereas if an implant is placed in the space it functions as it’s own tooth. The adjacent teeth can remain intact without placing crowns on them to hold a bridge so oral hygiene is much better with implants.

If you have any questions talk to your dentist for more information about implants and the pros and cons of having them. You can always drop me a line at drjane@janevaldedds.com.

Happy Smiling!

June is the most popular time for weddings. Most brides are excited that their wedding day is approaching. If you’re thinking of something to give as a wedding gift, why not give the bride a whitening procedure done at a dental office. They will appreciate it and their smile will look bright and beautiful for her wedding day.

Whitening teeth is the least expensive and least invasive procedure you can possibly do to aesthetically enhance your smile. Most whitening procedures done in the dental office can be completed in about an hour while a whitening procedure done at home takes a few days to complete. There are pros and cons to doing in-office or take home versions but the results can be fantastic.

For both methods, sensitivity is the number one side effect. The teeth are made of dentinal tubules (microscopic tubes that line the teeth and take in water and other environmental factors from the mouth). When a tooth goes through a whitening procedure the dentinal tubules are essentially scrubbed clean and the ends are opened up to let light in, thus the tooth looks whiter. However, since the ends are opened up, water and other stuff can get inside the tooth causing the tooth to become more sensitive than usual. If sensitivity is really bad patients should stop the whitening, rest and take ibuprofen. Patients can continue with the whitening but use a less concentrated whitening formula and the teeth should have less time contact time with the whitening gel.

I actually like the combination of whitening the teeth in the dental office with the take home method as a backup. The nice aspect of whitening at home is that the patient can control how much whitening he/she wants. It’s not as sensitive too because the whitening gels are less concentrated than the in-office gels. The in-office whitening procedure’s true advantage is that it’s fast and instant.

For brides and anyone else who wants to whiten their teeth be aware of the time involved in doing a whitening procedure. The ideal is to do the in-office procedure about a month from your wedding day and then do touch ups after a couple of weeks. Your smile will look fabulous. Talk to your dentist about teeth whitening and schedule an appointment for a beautiful smile.

Dental school was stressful and I remember coming up with entertaining ways to study. I also taught dental students for a few years after I graduated and one year my group of students wanted to win a contest to be able to attend an exclusive aesthetic dentistry seminar. So, they came up with a rap and performed it in front of their entire class. Needless to say my group won and we were able to attend the seminar. I still have fond memories of that group and I got a chance to learn valuable lessons and tips of aesthetic dentistry and smile design during the seminar.

Click here to view a couple of dental students rapping about dental hygiene. The funny aspect of the video is that they recorded the video in the library so they pretty much whispered the whole rap. Talk about studying. Dentistry and brushing your teeth can be fun!

Dentistry has many disciplines, from pediatric dentistry to endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery and prosthodontics. For most of us general dentists we limit our practice to what we feel comfortable performing. As an example, I like doing root canals for patients because I want to relieve them of their pain and/or I want to make their tooth last longer in their mouth. There are certain teeth I prefer to treat and the teeth that I think will be more difficult, I refer to a specialist.

Why do I refer? Because sometimes the treatment plan needs extra eyes to help guide it and also the situation may call for more expertise so as to not harm the patient. There is a reason I refer impacted 3rd molars because oral surgeons are better trained at performing the surgery and I want to limit the discomfort a patient can feel during the procedure.

But it’s more expensive to see a specialist. Yes it is but it’s also better for your overall health and treatment in the long run. Most specialists take dental insurance and will work with the patient in terms of payment plans.

Why can’t I just go to a general dentist that will do specialty work? You can but in a lot of cases the work has be redone by a specialist. Again in the long run seeing a specialist is better for treatment and overall health.

Click here to see a list of recognized American Dental Association dental specialties.

If you have any questions you can email me at drjane@janevaldedds.com

Oral cancer has been associated with smoking and drinking but recently is on the rise due to the human papilloma virus. Visit your dentist regularly to receive head, neck and intraoral examinations so you can spot and treat any disease early. Click here to read more about oral cancer and what you can do to safeguard yourself from the disease.