Dental Implant Surgeons Address the Gum Disease Scourge Affecting So Many Sun City West Residents, PART 1

In this four-part article series, a panel of dental implant surgeon provides us with an in-depth understanding of gum disease, which is one of the most common illnesses affecting American society today. 

Gum disease is one of the most common ailments affecting the residents of Sun City West and, in fact, the entirety of North America. According to the Center for Disease Control (the CDC), a staggering 8 out of 10 Americans have gum problems, which may range from mild gingivitis to severe periodontitis. Both are forms of gum disease that, without treatment by a trained dental professional and improved oral hygiene, could eventually lead to tooth loss.

Many of the key problems behind these statistics are bad lifestyle choices like drug abuse, smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. But the predominant culprits are simply ignorance and a lack of proper oral hygiene. You don’t need to lead a hedonistic lifestyle to develop gum disease and many Sun City West residents have learned this the hard way.

And so, in an effort to abolish ignorance, this four-part article series is geared at helping our readers better understand gum disease: what it is, what it’s caused by, the various symptoms we should all be on the lookout for and what treatment entails. Our advice is supplied by some of Sun City West’s most respected dental implant surgeons, who routinely address the damage done by this nefarious dental health issue.

Without further ado, let’s get started with the first question on everybody’s lips…

How Do I Know If I Have Gum Disease?

All too often we leave medical conditions and problems until we can no longer tolerate the symptoms. By this stage, of course, the problem has likely become advanced and more complex and costly to treat. This is precisely the case with gum disease, which initially may not present with very painful or obvious symptoms.

“Many of the patients we treat for gum disease only actually book an appointment with their dental healthcare professional after the disease has become advanced,” explains a Sun City West dental implant surgeon. “This is because gum disease seldom causes pain or discomfort in its early stages. It can quite easily be ignored and because most people don’t go for their bi-annual dental appointments as they should, the disease goes undiagnosed and untreated for far longer than it should.”

The first step in combatting gum disease is spreading awareness of its symptoms, which – you’ll be surprised to learn – are far more common than we’d like to think. In fact, chances are you may have (now or in the past) been personally acquainted with one or more of them…

The Symptoms of Gum Disease

And so, to answer the question stated above, you may have gum disease if you have noticed one or more of the following symptoms:

•    Gums that are red and inflamed: healthy gums are pink in color.

•    Swollen gums that may appear to be encroaching on the crowns of the teeth, making them look smaller and shorter.

•    Gums that bleed easily when brushing, flossing or even biting into tough, fibrous foods.

•    The appearance of a swollen “tear-drop” shaped bulb of gum tissue between each tooth.

•    Persistent bad breath (halitosis) that returns shortly after brushing.

•    The visible appearance of yellowish or even grey deposits of plaque, tartar and other calculus on and between the teeth.

In the advanced stages of gum disease, some of the following additional symptoms may become evident:

•    A persistent foul taste in the mouth that returns shortly after brushing.

•    Moderate to severe tooth discoloration.

•    The unnatural recession of the gums from the crowns of the teeth, possibly even exposing the roots of the teeth, which can lead to tooth sensitivity.

•    Tender, sensitive gums.

•    Oral lesions and sores that come and go.

•    Teeth that feel loose and ultimately, tooth loss.

“We want everyone to know that without treatment and an improvement in lifestyle and oral hygiene, gum disease will cause you to lose all of your natural teeth,” warns our panel of Sun City dental implant dentists.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To find out more about gum disease and why it poses such a health risk to Sun City West residents, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series.

Dental Implant News for Arizona: The 14 Benefits of Dental Implants, PART 2

This three-part article series explains the top 14 benefits of dental implants as a fantastic solution to single and multiple tooth loss, as well as edentulism.

Welcome to the second installment of this three-part article series on the many incredible benefits of dental implants as a teeth replacement solution. In Part 1, we spoke to a panel of dental implant surgeons in Arizona, who presented the following five benefits:

1. Dental implants are permanently anchored in the jawbone, providing patients with fixed, comfortable and non-removable teeth.

2. Dental implants preserve jawbone health, promoting long-term oral health and one’s youthful facial contours.

3. Dental implants have a better cosmetic outcome, giving patients a more beautiful and natural-looking smile.

4. Dental implants improve confidence and self-esteem, which has a dramatic impact upon all aspects of a patient’s life, especially socially.

5. Dental implants improve psychological health and often inspire patients to improve upon other areas of their life.

The 14 Benefits of Dental Implants, Continued…

6. Dental Implants Increase Chewing Function

“Because a patient’s new tooth or teeth are supported by the jawbone, as is the case with natural healthy teeth, they will find it much easier and more comfortable to eat,” explains Sun City dental implant surgeon. “Dentures are supported by the gums, which can make mealtimes a painful experience, since your gums were never intended to help you eat. Dental implants improve bite function and strength and this permits patients to enjoy most of their favorite foods.”

7. Dental Implants Increase Oral Comfort

With your new teeth being supported by the jawbone and not by your gums, which can become inflamed and painful as a result, patients will find that dental implants feel far more natural and comfortable. This also creates a sensation of responsiveness in the mouth – as though you can feel your teeth when you bite down – and this is something removable dentures and similar dental appliances cannot mimic.

8.    Dental Implants Improve Speech and Enunciation

“Because your teeth are anchored in your mouth and don’t move and slip around when you talk, you’ll find speech and clear enunciation far easier,” says a Arizona dental implant dentist. “Imagine trying to talk with a bulky plastic set of teeth in your mouth: your speech can become quite muddled. Dentures also have the nasty habit of clicking when you open and close your mouth, so dental implant patients can look forward to clear, concise and confidence speech.”

9. Dental Implants Support Facial Structures to Reduce Prematurely Aged Appearance

When you lose teeth, the supporting jawbone tends to atrophy and waste away. This causes the loss of support of the facial skin, which can sag, sink in and wrinkle as a result. Because dental implant facilitate excellent jawbone health, they maintain good support for the facial structure and tissues, which in turn helps to prevent premature aging.

10. Dental Implants Have a Better Success Rate Than Alternatives

“Single dental implant procedures typically have a 98% success rate, while full mouth reconstruction comes in at 95% over a period of 10 years,” says a Sun City dental implant surgeon. “This is a fantastic success rate for any procedure and, given that implants can also last decades to a lifetime if looked after properly, is without competition from any teeth replacement alternative.”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

Stay tuned for the final installment of this three-part article series to find out about more amazing benefits of dental implant technology.

“All-on-4” Dental Implants: Newer Procedure LESS Expensive Than Older Predecessors, PART 3

This five-part article series explains how the newer “All-on-4” dental implant protocol manages to vastly undercut the cost of more traditional techniques for full mouth reconstruction.

 Previously, in many cases, patients would schedule an appointment with a dental implant surgeon desperate for an alternative solution after wearing partial or full removable dentures for many years. What they wouldn’t realize is – as a consequence of denture wearing - just how extensive the damage to their jawbone is and that this would typically require an additional surgery to correct before they can even be considered for implants.

Welcome to the third installment of this five-part article series on how the “All-on-4” dental implant protocol makes it possible for Sun City residents to save tens of thousands of dollars on the cost of a beautiful new set of permanent teeth! The opening paragraph is an excerpt from Part 2, which leads us nicely into the second way the “All-on-4” technique saves patients an incredible amount of money. Let’s jump right in…

The “All-on-4” Saves Patients on the Cost of Bone Grafting Surgery

One of the greatest problems associated with wearing dentures is jawbone atrophy. As we can see in the picture above, over time, the jawbone physically wastes away and this happens because the patient no longer has natural tooth roots to stimulate it and maintain its bulk and strength.

Few Sun City residents understand this very important fact when they have their failing dentition replaced with removable dentures, but your tooth roots play a fundamental role in keeping your jawbone healthy and strong. By transmitting the eating forces into the underlying bone, they help to keep it “exercised”. Bone tissue, just like muscle tissue, needs this stimulation to stay strong, or else it just becomes resorbed by the body in a process called “atrophy”.

This brings us to a crucial problem faced by patients and dental implant surgeons in Sun City:

As it was explained in the opening paragraph, in many cases, patients would have worn dentures for such a long period of time that their jawbones would have deteriorated too much for traditional dental implant procedures to be considered viable treatment options without first performing a bone grafting procedure. And so, the first step in treatment would involve a terribly invasive, painful and costly surgery and a lengthy recovery period before a patient could even begin thinking about getting dental implants.

Thankfully, this all changed with the advent of “All-on-4” dental implants, which was specifically developed by Dr. Paulo Malo and his team to overcome this hurdle in the treatment of edentulous (toothless) and near-edentulous patients.

The “All-on-4” Difference: Strategic Implant Layout Avoids Need for Bone Grafting

With the “All-on-4,” the layout of dental implants is carefully determined so as to maximize the support offered by the available jawbone volume, even in patients who have been wearing dentures for many, many years:

• Two implants are inserted in the front portion of the jaw, where the bone is more resistant to atrophy and is therefore typically bulkier.

• Another two implants are inserted at an angle towards the back of the jaw and this angulation provides them with greater stability and support.

Together, these four implants are almost always sufficient to provide a rigid platform to which a customized dental bridge can be attached.

What this means is that most denture-wearing Arizona residents can be considered candidates for “All-on-4” dental implants, which enables them to get a beautiful new set of teeth without the need for costly bone grafting surgery beforehand. This saves these people a lot of pain and many thousands of dollars! It also eliminates the several months of recovery that are needed before the implants can be placed.

Overcoming the need for bone grafting surgery is a major benefit offered by “All-on-4” dental implants and it’s one of two reasons full mouth reconstruction is possible in just one surgical appointment! We’ll explore the second reason in Part 4, coming next week…

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To find out how else “All-on-4” dental implants can save Sun City residents tens of thousands of dollars on the cost of beautiful new teeth, stay tuned for the fourth installment of this five-part article series coming next week.

Dental Implant News Sun City: Newer Implant Protocol LESS Expensive Than Older Predecessors, PART 1

This five-part article series explains how the newer “All-on-4” dental implant protocol manages to vastly undercut the cost of more traditional techniques for full mouth reconstruction.

The introduction and subsequent refinement of a new dental implant protocol known as the “All-on-4” has revolutionized the field of full mouth reconstruction, not only for the implant surgeons who provide Sun City residents with new teeth, but also for the patients themselves! Thanks to the incredible features of this newer procedure, patients can get new teeth in one day, with only one surgery and at a cost that undercuts traditional dental implant protocols by tens of thousands of dollars.

In this five-part article series, we’ll be taking a closer look at the rationale behind the cost of dental implants, how the “All-on-4” works and how it manages to save patients such an incredible amount of money on the cost of new permanent teeth.

Primary Patient Concern: The Cost of Dental Implants

Just ask any Sun City resident who needs a tooth, several teeth or even ALL of their natural teeth replaced: their greatest concern with undergoing a dental implant procedure is the size of the dent it’s going to leave in their bank account. Since the introduction of dental implants to the mainstream market many decades ago, they have been the more expensive of the teeth replacement options provided by cosmetic dentists in Arizona.

This is not only because the materials dental implants are made of cost more than those that go into the fabrication of conventional bridges and removable dentures, but also because their placement requires extensive treatment planning, surgery, many X-rays and a lot of expert’s time. And even though the outcomes of dental implant surgery are infinitely better than those provided by older teeth replacement technologies, many patients would turn down the chance to have permanent teeth again, simply because they felt they couldn’t cover the costs.

That all changed with the introduction of a new dental implant procedure in the early 1990’s…

A Little Bit About the “All-on-4”

After many years’ worth of hard toil, seemingly endless research and clinical trials, Dr. Paulo Malo and his team of clinicians finalized the design behind a dental implant protocol that would forever change the field of fixed oral rehabilitation. They called it the “All-on-4” and its features made it possible for specially trained Sun City dental implant surgeons to overcome the many challenges that faced the older implant techniques. It was these capabilities that made dental implant surgery:

• Much quicker

• Much safer

• Less painful

• Less expensive

How it works is simple (see diagram)…

Only four dental implants are gently inserted into predetermined sites in the jaw. These implants are used to provide a strong and sturdy platform for a custom-fabricated dental bridge, which looks, functions and feels like a complete set of natural teeth. The implants aren’t visible at all when a patient smiles: just the extremely life-like teeth, thereby providing patients with new, non-removable teeth with which they can eat, speak and smile with absolute confidence!

Understanding the basics of how the “All-on-4” works provides you, the reader, with the context you will need to appreciate how this protocol saves patients such an incredible amount of money. We’ll begin looking at that next week…

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To find out how “All-on-4” dental implants can save Sun City residents tens of thousands of dollars on the cost of beautiful new teeth, stay tuned for the second installment of this five-part article series coming next week.

Dental Implant News for Sun City: What Your Dentist Can Tell About Your General Health, PART 1

This two-part article series explains the signs and symptoms your mouth could exhibit when your body suffers from stress, illness or disease.

No one expects much to be revealed about their lifestyle, standard of living or general health when they go to the dentist for a standard check-up. But according to Sun City dental implants surgeons, the state of your teeth and gums tell dental healthcare professionals a whole lot about how healthy you are! Your mouth is your body’s more important ingress and so, it stands to reason that if your mouth is diseased, the rest of your body is far more susceptible to infection and disease, too.

In this two-part article series, we shall be exploring the link between our oral health and our general health and the many diseases and conditions an ailing mouth may indicate. By responding quickly to these signs, potentially fatal diseases can be diagnosed and treated in their beginning stages, thereby vastly improving your chances of a complete recovery.

Let’s begin…

Worn, Ground Down Teeth

"Topviewtooth". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The picture shown above provides a bird’s eye view of a tooth that has been so eroded and ground down that the structure of the tooth beneath the dental enamel has been revealed. Here we can see the softer, yellow dentine and the pulp chamber, where the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels are contained. You can even see vertical cracks and fractures where the tooth structure has given in to stress.

“The incredible damage this patient has done to his or her teeth has resulted in the need for most of them to be extracted and replaced with implants,” says a Arizona dental implant surgeon. “The condition that can lead to this kind of damage is termed Bruxism and unless you are diagnosed and fitted with a mouth guard to wear at night or when you most often grind your teeth, you could completely destroy your dentition.”

What Does Bruxism Reveal About Your General Health?

The precise cause of teeth grinding and jaw clenching are not known, but these habits are believe to be associated with a stressful lifestyle and typically present in patients who are anxious and who struggle to cope with stress. As such, with only a brief examination of your teeth, dental implant surgeons in Sun City can tell just what kind of lifestyle it is you lead and how well you are coping with the levels of stress you experience on a daily basis.

What’s unnerving about Bruxism is that it’s a condition that typically strikes at night whilst you’re asleep! How can you control this damage if you aren’t even conscious about doing it? You can’t control the compulsion to grind your teeth and clench your jaw, especially if it’s nocturnal. What you can do is have a retainer custom fitted, which you wear to bed every night. This will help to prevent the extensive damage Bruxism can do to the biting surfaces of your teeth.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To find out more about what dental implant surgeons can tell about the general health of Arizona residents from the state of their mouths, stay tuned for the second half of this two-part article series.

Dental Implants- Ensuring New Teeth with a New Smile

With the advent of modern dentistry techniques, now patients with missing teeth can find relief with new and permanent teeth, also known as dental implants.

Are you missing some or all of your teeth due to tooth decay or an injury? Having missing teeth puts a person in a very stressful situation and results in social embarrassment, which is difficult to endure. A patient with missing teeth not only loses his or her chewing ability but also the visual appearance. As a result of it, the victim loses the self-confidence to lead the same life as before.

While most people opt for dentures and bridges as inexpensive alternative to replace missing teeth, these solutions are temporary and increase the stress level of the patient. This is because, dentures look unattractive, drop out while laughing and speaking, require messy adhesives for cleaning and result in bone loss.

Teeth implants in Arizona – An effective and reliable solution

Teeth implants are effective alternatives for replacing missing teeth and enhance the facial features of the person. These natural looking teeth neither cause a slur nor drop out while speaking – however, they doincrease the eating ability of patients.

Teeth implants in Arizona – An effective and reliable solution

Dental implants or artificial teeth are made of titanium and are surgically inserted into the jawbone.

Considered as ideal options to replace missing teeth, dental implants can treat teeth that might have been broken, lost or chipped due to tooth decay, gum disease, accidental injury, chronic disease, root canal failure, or aging.

Dental implants are artificial teeth but provide you the comfort of natural teeth by appearing and functioning much like natural teeth. Once the dental implants are placed into your teeth, you may even forget that you ever had missing teeth. Since implants look and function like natural teeth, these require the same dental care as real ones. With regular brushing, flossing and periodic check-ups you can ensure the success of your implant treatment.

The long-lasting implants neither drop out nor cause irritation. Instead, these enhance your self-confidence giving you a ray of hope to lead a confident life.

Benefits of dental implants in Mesa

While dentures and bridges provide a short term solution for missing teeth, dental implants offer a permanent solution and can provide you a better ability to chew your favorite food items. In addition, implants do not require any kind of alteration to the already existing teeth. As most of your teeth remain untouched during a single implant surgery, dentists ensure that all of your 32 teeth remain healthy and secure.

Get a long-lasting solution for your missing, broken or chipped teeth. Restore your smile, speaking efficiently and gain confidence with dental implants in Mesa.

Dental Implants – A look at the Procedure

Implants made of titanium function much like natural teeth and are permanently attached to the jawbone. This process requires a surgical procedure which includes advanced dentistry techniques and ensures a permanent relief to people facing problems with their missing teeth.   

Having a full set of teeth is a natural pleasure and losing even a single tooth can cause many issues. The only way to keep teeth healthy is by providing good oral care to them. However, anyone can lose teeth due to several reasons such as tooth decay, chronic illness, ageing, gum disease and more.

Sometimes people lose teeth due to various oral hygiene issues as well for which people opt for bridges and dentures. However, according to dental experts, dental implants are the most effective treatments to replace missing teeth and ensure excellent results to every candidate.  

Dental implants in Chandler

                                             

Implants made of titanium function much like natural teeth and are permanently attached to the jawbone. This process requires a surgical procedure which includes advanced dentistry techniques and ensures a permanent relief to people facing problems with their missing teeth.    

The advantages of getting teeth implants in Arizona over bridges

·  Implants do not cause any sort of irritation after the procedure and teeth look the same as natural teeth.  

·  When a bridge retires there is at least loss of either one or even more teeth supporting the bridge. However, dental implants do not ever cause loss of more teeth.  

·  During the implant surgery, there is no alteration required for adjacent healthy teeth.

The advantages of implants over dentures

·        Implants prevent bone loss.  

·        Implants do not need cleaning with messy adhesives.

·        Implants allow the chewing of your favorite food items.  

·        Implants restore the natural charm on the face.

·        Implants are permanent.

·     Implants prevent shrinkage of jawbone enabling people look younger than their age.  

 Dental implants- The actual procedure  

The dental procedure is described to you prior to the surgery by your dental specialist. The professional dentist would aid you in determining the exact placement of the new teeth. According to your particular dental needs, your family dentist would suggest to you the most suitable procedure such as:   

·  Single tooth replacement- If you have lost a single tooth in your jawbone, you would be recommended for a single-tooth implant procedure.  

·    Multiple teeth replacement- If you have more teeth that are missing, then you may be a candidate for an implant supported bridge.  

·    All on four teeth implants- If all of your teeth are lost then your dentist would certainly recommend you consider the All on four as a dental implant solution.

Implant surgery is less painful and mild anesthesia is given to you prior to the treatment ensuring that you are able to receive the treatment with comfort.

Are you a suitable candidate for dental implants in Chandler?  

Anyone can receive a dental implant treatment except in some cases:

·        If you are a pregnant woman

·        Infants and small children

·        If your jaw bones are  not fully developed

·        If you are a chain smoker

·        If you have a critical medical illness

·        If you grind or clench your teeth often 

If you are planning for a dental implant treatment, search the web and book an appointment with a reputable dentist who can offer you the most suitable teeth implants in Arizona.

A Brief Introduction to Dental Implants

Made with titanium, teeth implants are fixed in the upper and in the lower of the mouth of the patient. These are placed without altering the adjacent healthy teeth ensuring the good oral health of the 32 teeth.

What Are Dental Implants?

Teeth Implants are typically ‘anchors’ which look like screws or cylinders. These artificial teeth are the ideal replacements for people who have lost teeth owing to several reasons such as a chronic illness, accidental injury, poor lifestyle choices, tooth decay or gum disease.

 People with missing teeth generally switch to traditional alternatives such as dentures and bridges however, with these they lose the ability to chew foods, smile or speak. With implants, you can chew food items of your choice, smile confidently without any fear of embarrassment and speak in social gatherings.

 Made with titanium, teeth implants are fixed in the upper and in the lower of the mouth of the patient. These are placed without altering the adjacent healthy teeth ensuring the good oral health of the 32 teeth.

Dental implants in Mesa are designed to provide long-lasting results. According to medical researches, many people have been benefited with implant treatments and they do not find any complications in chewing their food items. As implants look and feel like natural teeth, these enhance the overall visual features of a person restoring his or her natural charm.

Factors responsible for the long-term success of dental implant procedures

              

There are various factors that determine the long-term success of dental implants including the quality of the jawbone, experience of the dental specialist and quality of the implant itself.

When the quality of bone is better, an implant treatment has a greater chance of success. If the experience of the dentists is rich, the implant procedure can indeed be long-lasting.

If there is any manufacturing defect in the crowns or implants, then even the most successful dental implants may have a failure.

How many times you need to get your implants examined?

The success of any dental implant procedure is basically dependent upon on how you care for them after the treatment on a regular basis. As implants look and function like real teeth, these require the same maintenance such as daily brushing and flossing.

Along with daily brushing and flossing, you must get your new teeth cleaned professionally by your family hygienist and also get them tested by your dentist specialist on a periodic basis. Taking good care of your original teeth will help you avoid having to go for teeth implants down the road

 

You can get back into your normal life soon after the implant surgery which is not at all painful. For instance, you can go back to your office, start eating your favorite foods, start going for dance classes, and carry on with your sports and more, unless there is any kind of pain in the implants; in which case you should just rest until you feel better.

After the implant treatment, you can find:

• Restored smile and confidence  
• Enhanced overall appearance
• Enhanced comfort level
• Improved speech
• Enhanced efficiency to chew foods  
• Enhanced overall facial features
• Enhanced quality of life

If you are suffering from tooth loss for a long period of time, considering dental implants in Mesa is an advisable solution to revamp your life. 

Dental Myths and Misconceptions Busted by Sun City Dentists, PART 3

This four-part article series sets out explaining and dispelling the many common myths and misconceptions surrounding oral health and hygiene and certain dental procedures.

Welcome back to our four-part article series in which we get Sun City dentists to explain and bust the various myths and misconceptions surrounding oral health, hygiene and dental treatment. In our previous article post, the second installment of the series, it was explained that it’s not sugar that causes cavities per se, but rather oral bacteria. These tiny critters feast upon the sugars left behind in your mouth after a meal and their subsequent proliferation and nasty excretions lead to cavities, decay and gum disease. It was also explained that osteoporosis, while a disease that affects the bones, can also lead to tooth loss, which is why proper nutrition and the correct medical management are so important.

Let’s continue busting the myths!

Dental Myth # 5: Using toothpicks actually causes the gaps between your teeth to become wider.

The Facts: “There are only two things we really want patients to know about toothpicks,” say Sun City dentists. “One... that using a toothpick after a meal should NOT replace brushing and flossing; toothpicks are there to clean bits of debris out from between your teeth to relieve discomfort and to prevent you from embarrassing yourself. Two... you must be careful not to injure your gums when poking about between your teeth. Toothpicks are quite sharp and you can actually make yourself bleed.”

Beyond these two points, there is nothing more to be said. Toothpicks do not widen the gaps between your teeth. How can they? They’re made of soft wood and your teeth are made out of the strongest substance in your body! Your teeth are also rooted firmly in your jaw, so it’ll take more than a toothpick or even a lifetime’s worth of toothpicks to affect their positioning.

Dental Myth # 6: If your breath smells bad, it means you’re not brushing properly

The Facts: “True, bad breath is most commonly the result of poor brushing habits and sloppy oral hygiene, but not always,” say dental implants specialists in Sun City. “Bad breath can actually be an indicator of systemic disease, such as diabetes. It can also be caused by the food you eat, respiratory tract infections and certain habits, such as smoking and drinking (alcohol).”

In the case of diabetes, the common side effect of halitosis is a result of the body burning fat instead of sugar for fuel (since diabetics, who do not produce enough insulin, are unable to process glucose). The byproducts of fat being burned are ketones, which are either expelled from the body via the bladder or via respiration. Unfortunately, ketones don’t smell very nice, which explains the halitosis.

The Solution: If you suspect that you may suffer from chronic bad breath, the best thing you can do for yourself is schedule an appointment with your Sun City dentist. Explain to him or her your problem and they will look closely for the cause. If your teeth and gums are in good condition and you maintain a high standard of oral hygiene, you may need to go see your doctor for a more accurate diagnosis. If you are a diabetic, you will need to use extra care in looking after your teeth and perhaps carry around some sugar-free chewing gum for those up-close-and-personal social situations.

Stay Tuned

To read more dental myths and misconceptions join us next week for the final installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of Sun City dentists.

Your Questions, Fears and Anxieties Addressed! Everything You Wanted and Needed to Know About Dental Implants in Sun City, Arizona, PART 1

This article, part 1 of 4, answers some of the questions frequently asked about dental implants and having dental implants placed.

Dental implants in Sun City are widely acknowledged to be the best tooth replacement solution that modern dental science can offer patients presenting with single and multiple missing teeth. Decades of research has been dedicated to the development of dental implant products and placement protocol so that today, skilled and qualified dentists are able to provide patients with new teeth that look, function and feels like the natural teeth they lost. Considering this, and the fact that the tooth loss and gum disease are dire health issues that still plague our society, it is important that everyone understands what dental implants in Sun City are and how they work. And so, this four-part article series seeks to address all the myriad of questions, fears and anxieties that are expressed by patients seeking teeth replacement in Arizona. Armed with this valuable education, you can then make a decision that will ensure the long-term health of your beautiful smile.

Question: What Are Dental Implants in Sun City?

Answer: Dental implants in Sun City consist of three separate components that are all fitted together during the placement surgery to form a singular replacement tooth. The base component consists of a tiny titanium screw that is carefully fabricated to fit into the socket/s left bare by a missing tooth or teeth. Once the screw has been placed in the jaw, an abutment is attached to the top of it and this is used to firmly secure a ceramic tooth crown or prosthetic bridge in place. The latter part is what is visible above the gumline and thanks to some incredibly sophisticated computer software and machinery, is made to be virtually indistinguishable from any natural and healthy tooth! This is why dental implants in Sun City offer the best aesthetic solution when it comes to teeth replacement in Arizona.

Question: Are Dental Implants in Sun City Expensive?

Answer: Unfortunately, owing to the skills and resources that go into their manufacture and surgical placement, teeth replacement in Arizona is not inexpensive. However, if you consider what you are receiving with dental implants, quite the opposite can be said actually! If your doctor told you that you required a new heart valve, could you put a price tag on your life? Would you insist on a bit of plastic piping because it is cheaper than the medical products you were being offered? Of course not! You don’t mess around with your heart, regardless of the cost. Well, the fact of the matter is that the same applies to your oral health and dental implants in Sun City. Dental implants in Sun City offer the most comprehensive and long term solution to missing teeth in Arizona. So while they may represent an initially greater investment than other technologies, such as dental bridges and removable dentures, in the long run they are far more advantageous. By making that investment you are receiving:

• Restored smile aesthetics.
• Bite functionality.
• Ability to articulate properly in speech.
• Reduced risk of bacterial infection and gum disease.
• Preserved jaw bone health.
• Self-confidence.

Stay tuned for the second installment of our four-part article series on everything you wanted and needed to know about dental implants in Sun City and teeth replacement in Arizona!

A Definitive Look at Dental Implants in Sun City

This article provides an introductory look at dental implants: what they are, how they work and the historical discovery that made the science of implantology possible.

Dental Implants in Sun City: Tooth Loss in the United States

Teeth can go missing or become irreparably cracked, damaged and decayed for any of a number of reasons. While we seldom think of our teeth as something we may have to go without some day, the reality of the situation is that a great number of us will. According to the American Dental Association, more than 20 million people in the United States are completely edentulous and don’t have a single original adult tooth left in their mouths. A further 100 million people have lost between 11 and 15 of their original teeth, which makes it easy to appreciate how much of a gift a full set of healthy pearly whites really is! In fact, according to the statistics on teeth replacement in Arizona, chances are that you yourself have lost a tooth or two. The good news is that ceaseless advances in medical science and technology have made it possible for you, and the millions of people like you, to receive fully functional and highly aesthetic teeth replacement in Arizona…

Dental Implants in Sun City: What Are They?

Dental implants in Sun City offer a fantastic solution to single and multiple missing teeth. They are essentially free-standing artificial ‘tooth roots’ that are carefully placed in the prepared socket/s left bare by the missing tooth or teeth. The base component of dental implants in Sun City looks like a metal screw and is in fact fabricated from the extremely strong metal titanium (also used to make professional tennis racquets and space craft!) But what really makes titanium a perfect candidate for teeth replacement in Arizona is that it is capable of ‘osseointegration’.

Dental Implants in Sun City and Osseointegration

In 1951, Swedish orthopedic surgeon Per-Ingvar Brånemark made the discovery that essentially made dental implants in Sun City possible. The discovery was the ability of titanium metal to fuse with bone; a process termed ‘osseointegration’. Now, exactly 60 years later, dental implants in Sun City offer a comprehensive, long term, functional and aesthetic solution to single and multiple missing teeth. The incredible benefits offered by teeth replacement in Arizona using this technology are owed largely to the phenomenon that Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered. Because titanium metal can form a biological bond with bone, dental implants in Sun City can be placed in pre-drilled sockets in the jaw where – with healing – they will become permanently ‘rooted’. This enables them to function just like a natural and healthy tooth root by:

1. Providing stimulation to the underlying jaw bone and in doing so, preventing the tissue from atrophying,

2. Providing strong support for a durable and aesthetic ceramic tooth crown, which replaces the chewing, biting and/or grinding function of the tooth,

3. Providing teeth replacement in Arizona that is completely comfortable and feels like a natural tooth.

Dental Implants in Sun City: A Final Note

The discovery of osseointegration led to the conception of a dental field that is now capable of offering comprehensive solutions to patients that have lost one or more of their pearly whites. As it was initially discussed, teeth can and do go missing and need replacing for a great number of reasons. Now, thanks to dental implants in Sun City, the effects of a lost or severely damaged tooth (or teeth) need not take a toll on our quality of lives and our quality of smiles!

Promoting Excellent Oral Heath with Dental Implants in Sun City

This article explore the three ways in which dental implants benefit a patient’s health: they prevent (1) bone atrophy from setting in, (2) the destabilization of the dental arch and (3) bacterial infection.

Dental Implants in Sun City: Introduction

Dental implants in Sun City offer patients a comprehensive, non-removable and long-term teeth replacement solution to single and multiple missing teeth. While we would like to consider our pearly whites to be a permanent anatomical feature, they are in fact not. The inexorable marching on of the years combined with repeated exposure to damaging agents, bacteria and general wear-and-tear can result in a tooth or several teeth becoming so damaged and/or decayed, that they require replacement. What puts dental implants in Sun City a cut above traditional teeth replacement techniques is that they replace teeth from the root to the crown. In order to better understand this, let’s explore the oral health benefits offered by these ingenious dental devices.

Dental Implants in Sun City: Preventing Atrophy of the Jaw Bone

Traditional teeth replacement techniques generally involve the fitting of removable partial or full dentures (or false teeth), which fit over the gums. While they enable patients to eat and look like they have a full set of teeth, they do nothing to promote the health of the underlying jaw bone. Your tooth roots provide more than just an anchor for the crown – the part that is visible above the gum line. Through the natural mechanical forces associated with eating and chewing, they stimulate blood flow to the underlying bone tissue; keeping it healthy. When a tooth falls out due to gum disease or decay and is left without replacement, the loss of this important stimulation causes the bone tissue to start atrophying. When this dying bone becomes re-absorbed by the jaw, the subsequent loss of volume results in that aged and sunken appearance we traditionally associate with the denture-wearing elderly. Dental implants in Sun City prevent this from happening entirely because they replace the source of stimulation provided by the missing tooth’s root as well as the functional and aesthetic crown used for eating.

Dental Implants in Sun City: Promoting Dental Stability

Another important reason why dental implants in Sun City promote excellent oral health is that they help to provide support for the adjacent teeth. Without this, these teeth would become unstable and begin to shift in to fill the gap/s left by the missing tooth or teeth. Since every tooth in your dental arch relies upon its neighbors for support, dental implants in Sun City prevent a ‘domino effect’ of instability from passing from one tooth to the next. And this would require you to receive far more extensive and costly procedures to rectify in the long run!

Dental Implants in Sun City: Reducing the Risk of Infection

When a tooth or several teeth are lost, the gingival sulci (or tooth sockets) become extremely vulnerable to bacterial colonization. Because these exposed sockets are generally quite sensitive, it is difficult for you to keep them clean with brushing and flossing. They also trap bits of food, which bacteria thrive upon. Having dental implants in Sun City placed immediately after a tooth is lost to any of a variety of causes dramatically reduces your risk of contracting a bacterial infection.

Final Note

For all the reasons mentioned above, it is imperative that you seek the immediate attention of your dentist should you lose one or more of your pearly whites. Waiting or ignoring the problem only increases the extent of the damage done through bone atrophy and dental instability, as well as the risk of developing an incredibly painful abscess as a result of infection.