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.

A Specialist Presents 6 Shocking Facts You Didn’t Know About Gum Disease PART 2

This two-part article series presents some pretty scary facts about a common disease many Arizona residents have, but don’t even know it: gum disease.

Welcome to the second half of this two-part article series on gum disease and the six surprising facts many Arizona residents didn’t know about this prevalent ailment. In Part 1, the first three facts were discussed and they were:

Fact 1: According to the CDC, 80% of Americans present with some stage of gum disease, whether it’s gingivitis or full-blown periodontitis.

Fact 2: Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease and is characterized by bad breath, inflamed and swollen gums and gums that bleed when brushed and flossed.

Fact 3: If you don’t go to your dentist for gum disease treatment, you WILL ultimately lose all of your natural teeth.

Let’s take a look at the final three facts about gum disease…

 Fact 4: Gum disease is often left untreated because it doesn’t typically cause patients any pain.

Most of the time, Arizona residents will wait out an illness, rather than spend any money seeing a doctor. However, the number one symptom that provokes patients to seek medical attention is pain and this is the problem with gum disease: it doesn’t usually cause any!

“Gum disease can cause your gums to be uncomfortable, to bleed easily and to feel a little tender when brushed, but this discomfort is rarely enough to compel patients to see the dentist for professional treatment,” says a gum disease specialist. “Without urgent symptoms from which patients need relief, gum disease can be left without treatment for many years, by which stage the damage can be irreparable.”

Remember, avoiding the doctor out of a concern for cost might work with the common cold, avoiding professional treatment for dental problems does not. You will only end up with more extensive damage and more expensive bills. 

Fact 5: Gum disease puts you at risk of a suite of serious illnesses, including heart, respiratory, liver and kidney disease.Your mouth is the portal through which your body receives it’s life-giving air and nutrition, so if it heavily diseased and infected, what do you think’s going to happen to the rest of your body?

“There is a great volume of scientific literature on the connection between oral health and general health and as far as gum disease is concerned, there are some greatly alarming truths for patients to come to terms with,” says a gum disease treatment expert. “For instance, patients with gum disease are at a far greater risk of developing diabetes and heart disease than those who have healthy gums. A greater prevalence of liver and kidney disease and respiratory disease are also linked with a chronically unhealthy mouth.”

So, neglecting to look after your teeth and gums isn’t only a death sentence for your smile, it could literally be a death sentence for you too!

Fact 6: Gum disease is easy to prevent, but it has devastating effects if left without treatment.

And so we can see from the fact that gum disease (1) shares a relationship with a host of potentially fatal systemic diseases and (2) can totally destroy your smile if left without treatment that this ailment is indeed truly devastating. The good news is it’s easily preventable and treatable. It’s only in cases of profound neglect and ignorance that gum disease is left to inflict the full caliber of damage it’s capable of.

So, be sure to brush and floss thoroughly every day and see your dentist and oral hygienist at least once every six months for a dental check-up and cleaning!

6 Shocking Facts You Didn’t Know About Gum Disease, PART 1

This two-part article series presents some pretty scary facts about a common disease many Arizona residents have, but don’t even know it: gum disease.


Chances are you’ve heard of gum disease, whether it’s from your dentist, the warnings on the back of a packet of cigarettes or from a friend or relative who’s received a diagnosis for it. And while you may be aware that gum disease makes your teeth rot, your breath smell and your smile look positively awful, most Arizona residents know little else about the disease that’s ravaging the state’s oral health.

That all changes in this two-part article series, in which an experienced gum disease specialist explains six really important facts we didn’t know – but should know – about gum disease. Let’s begin!

Fact # 1: 8 Out of 10 Arizona residents have gum disease

This may sound like an exaggeration - after all, you wouldn’t say the majority of the people you share your life with have rotten teeth! But according to the Center for Disease control, as much as 80% of the population suffers from some degree or stage of gum disease. This is a shocking statistic that really brings home how staggering our neglect for good oral hygiene and routine preventative care is.

“If your gums bleed when you brush or floss them and if they’re red and swollen, as opposed to pink and firm, then you may have gum disease,” explains a treatment specialist in Arizona. “You may not have full blown gum disease, but you may certainly be suffering from the beginning stages known as gingivitis. It’s not normal for gums to bleed when you brush or floss them: that’s a sign of infection.”

Fact # 2: Gingivitis marks the beginning stages of gum disease

Many toothpaste ads boast their ability to fight the germs that lead to gingivitis, so the word means something to most Arizona residents. But did you know that gingivitis is actually the beginning stages of gum disease and is marked by a bacterial infection of the gums surrounding the teeth?

“Gingivitis is an infection of the gums caused by prolific bacterial activity, which is typically brought on by a lack of oral hygiene and routine professional healthcare,” says a gum disease treatment expert. “Frequent and thorough brushing and flossing and twice-yearly visits to the dentist are crucial for preventing the progression of gingivitis to full-blown gum disease, at which stage it becomes known as periodontitis.”

Fact # 3: Gum disease can cause you to lose ALL of your teeth

Most Arizona resident who have lost all of their teeth and who now wear dentures, had to have their natural teeth extracted because they had gum disease, which they ignored for many years.

“This is not a condition that goes away on its own,” says a gum disease specialist. “You’ve got to receive professional care and you’ve got to change your oral hygiene habits and lifestyle.”

The message is simple: if you don’t receive prompt gum disease treatment, you WILL ultimately lose all of your teeth!

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To find out more shocking facts on gum disease, stay tuned for the second half of this four-part article series.

Dental Implant News for Phoenix: What Your Dentist Can Tell About Your General Health, PART 2

Welcome to the second half of this two-part article series on what dental implant surgeons in Phoenix can tell about your general health from the state of your teeth and gums. Previously, in Part 1 of the series, a condition known as “Bruxism” was explained to us. This condition is marked by teeth grinding and jaw clenching, particularly at night, and presents with advanced erosion and fracturing of the biting surfaces of the teeth.

What Bruxism may tell your dentist is that you lead a stressful lifestyle and/or struggle to cope with stress. The best solution to this condition is to have a custom mouth guard fitted, which you should wear to sleep at night or when you are most aware of grinding your teeth. This will help to prevent the terrible damage teeth grinding can do to your gnashers.

Let’s now take a look at a symptom that could indicate the presence or higher risk of a suite of really nasty diseases…

Swollen, Inflamed Gums

Healthy gums are pink in color and are firm to the touch. If yours look angry, inflamed, swollen and spongy, your health could be at serious risk.

“Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease and it’s cause by a bacterial infection of the gums,” explain dental implant surgeons in Arizona. “This, in turn, is typically caused by poor oral hygiene, an unhealthy diet and by habits such as smoking and alcoholism.”

Left untreated, gingivitis can lead to advanced gum disease – periodontitis. And according to ample medical literature there is a very clear link between periodontitis and the following medical conditions…

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Respiratory disease
• Osteoporosis
• Kidney and liver disease
• Low birth weight and premature babies
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis

This makes sense when you consider that everything that goes into your body – be it air, water or food – makes its way first through your mouth. Therefore, it stands to reason that if your mouth is severely infected with bacteria, your stomach, kidneys, liver and lungs will also all be constantly exposed to infection.

This is precisely why dental implant surgeons in Phoenix refer to gum disease as a systemic disease – it affects the body as a system and can put all of your major organs at risk.

Ulcers and Oral Sores

Mouth sores and small ulcers are perfectly normal – they happen, but it’s usually because you’ve accidentally bitten down on your inner cheek, lip or tongue. When these sores don’t go away for an extended period of time, or when they recur, it could be a sign of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is typically a sexually transmitted infection, or they could indicate oral cancer.

“If a dental healthcare professional spots any suspicious-looking sores, lesions or ulcers, he or she will perform a quick and painless biopsy and send the tissue off to a laboratory for closer inspection,” says a dental implant surgeon in Phoenix . “The treatment will depend on the outcomes of the test.”

A Final Note

The earlier you have an ailment diagnosed, the quicker it can be treated, which is why frequent dental appointments constitute such an important part of your lifelong general healthcare regime. Unbeknownst to many Phoenix residents, there is a whole lot the dentist can tell about your standard of health and quality of lifestyle just from the appearance of your teeth, gums and oral soft tissues.

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.

10 IMPORTANT THINGS YOUR SUN CITY DENTIST WANTS YOU TO KNOW, PART 2

This four-part article series presents 10 things every dentist would like their patients to know, from avoiding garlic before an appointment to the truth behind several myths and misconceptions about dental health.

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on all the information tidbits every Sun City dentist wants their patients to know and appreciate. Previously, in Part 1 of the series, we covered the following two items:

# 1: Dental X-rays aren’t dangerous; they’re necessary.

 
# 2: Your smile (and therefore dental health) is one of the first things people notice about you.

Now, let’s move on to the next two items…

Item # 3: Your dentist won’t necessarily tell you that you have bad breath; you have to ask.

Many Sun City residents believe their dentist would tell them if their breath was bad and therefore, if they’ve come out of a dental appointment without being told, they’re in the clear. This isn’t always true…

“We won’t pointedly tell a patient that they have bad breath,” says one Sun City dentistry professional. “What we will do is highlight the presence of any tooth decay and/or gum problems and we may encourage you to brush and floss more frequently and thoroughly. If we find your oral hygiene to leave much to be desired, then you can probably assume you suffer from halitosis.

“If, however, a patient asks us about the quality of his or her breath, we will be honest. We just don’t want anyone to assume that we would tell him or her that their breath smells bad, because we try to keep things professional in the office. Plus, you’d be surprised how much offense some people can take. The last thing we want to do is embarrass our patients, because it could deter them from future dental appointments. This would prove to be a major problem for their dental health, because routine preventative care is necessary.”

Item # 4: What might look good on your favorite celebrity smile might not suit you.

“We get a lot of patients coming in with a picture of their favorite celebrity, asking to get their teeth done to look just like them,” says a Sun City dentist. “First of all, what these patients fail to take into account is that their face shape and proportions might not necessarily suit the set of teeth belonging to that particular celebrity. There are a great number of considerations that need to be made before we can simply design a patient a new set of teeth: either through porcelain veneers, crowns or even dental implants.

“Secondly, the dentist’s office doesn’t work like a hair salon and while your hair will grow back and color will fade, the work we do on your teeth is permanent. A lot of careful planning and work goes into designing a patient a beautiful new smile, so please manage your expectations. You may walk out of our office with gorgeous teeth, but don’t expect to walk out looking just like Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt.”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

Stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series to find out more important facts our Sun City dentistry professionals wish we all knew.

10 Important Things Your Sun City Dental Professional Wants You To Know, PART 1

This four-part article series presents 10 things every dentist would like their patients to know, from avoiding garlic before an appointment to the truth behind several myths and misconceptions about dental health.

When it comes to the health of our teeth, there is a staggering amount of ignorance abound. All we really know is that we’re meant to brush them twice a day, but beyond that, little else. Occasionally we might visit our Sun City dental healthcare professional for a check-up if we’ve noticed anything wrong, but on the whole there is a great big gaping hole in our appreciation for good oral health and hygiene.

And so, in this four-part article series, Sun City dentists will be explaining 10 different things they wish all their patients knew. These information tidbits range from important facts we should know about dental health to the kind of appointment etiquette we’d all appreciate if we were dentists, too. At the end of the day, dentists are humans and we should learn to take our oral health as seriously as they do.

Let’s begin!

Item # 1: Dental X-rays aren’t dangerous; they’re necessary.

“So many patients turn down an annual dental X-ray because they are frightened it might cause cancer,” says one dentist in Sun City. “The reality is, just one hour in the sun exposes you to far more radiation than a set of dental X-rays and yet you don’t shy away from the beach. What you should be worrying about is what ailments, infection or decay might lurk beneath the surface of your gums, between your teeth or in your jawbone and what might happen if they remain undetected by X-ray.

“This diagnostic technology is so important in the early detection and treatment of a great variety of oral ailments. Even our highly trained eyes can’t always pick up on health issues, especially if they are located underneath the gums or inside your teeth. Early detection and treatment not only prevents permanent damage to otherwise healthy teeth; it also saves you a whole lot of money on the cost of advanced treatment for problems that have become severe due to neglect.”

Item # 2: Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you.

According to several studies and polls, your smile – and therefore, indirectly, the health of your teeth and gums – is one of the first things people notice about you. Your eyes are the first, teeth the second and hair the third. Yet, in spite of the important role your smile plays in making first impressions and in communication and social interaction, Sun City residents spend far more money on their hair than they do their teeth.

“All you need to spend money on to really care for your teeth is a professional cleaning by an oral hygienist twice per year and a dental check-up once per year,” say Sun City dentists. “If you’ve had gum problems in the past, it’s better that you see your dentist twice per year. This is, of course, in addition to the obvious toothpastes, floss and toothbrushes. It’s not a lot of money to spend on something that is of extraordinary importance to your social confidence, quality of life and ability to eat and speak properly. Yet so many people neglect their teeth.”

Stay Tuned for Part 2

Stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series to find out more important facts our Sun City dental healthcare professionals wish we all knew.