Tooth Replacement Options

Not a single person wishes to lose their healthy teeth and have to look into replacement options, but mishaps and injuries are an unfortunate factor of life. Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry options have made fantastic strides in recent history, making teeth replacement a possible option for many people. Gone are the days of those loose fitting, flapping dentures; many people are able to obtain dental implants to produce a healthy smile without having unpleasant incidents with their dentures. One constraint of dental implants has been patients whose bone structure is either not big enough or damaged to sustain the depth essential for post implantation. The most recent dental news, however, shows an excellent effectiveness in shorter dental implant posts, giving a solution to people whose bone size recently disqualified them.

As far as teeth replacement procedures go, most NY dental professionals would concur that implants are more advanced than other procedures. Moving dentures may cause eating complications, pinch the gums and cause pain, and in some cases interfere with speech, all issues that are fixed with dental implants. NYC residents have found that implants are significantly more comfortable, look much better, and offer them a boost in self-esteem.

Another significant advantage of dental implants could be a better mouth. Other alternatives usually call for bridges to existing teeth, which probably involves grinding to minimize the dimensions of one’s teeth to make the bridge more effective. Bridges also reduce access to the individual teeth for proper cleaning. Dental implants are designed to stand alone, making it very easy to clean between the dental implants and existing teeth. The result is improved gums, less tooth decay, and better smelling breath. Obviously, you likewise don’t have to stress over misplacing your implants!

With the most current dentistry news, the advantages of dental implants are available to a wider number of people. Research conducted on 6,193 short implants showed a comprehensive effectiveness of 99.1 percent. Success in implants involves bone tissue sticking to the titanium posts and gum bonding. Bone adherence has been thought to be troublesome for people with intensive jaw atrophy or bone loss, but these studies show that even these patients can be helped by dental implants.

Most of these studies were geared toward the use of dental implants as a short-term procedure, yet the study successes show long-term treatment may very well be an excellent option. If you have previously been disqualified from getting dental implants, or if you’ve been putting off some much needed treatment on your teeth, now’s a good time to speak with your cosmetic dentist. New york city is an excellent place to receive the latest in dental treatments.

The Relation Between Gum Disease and Your Health

We’ve been discussing a lot about cosmetic dental work over the holidays, but a bit of news turns our attention to some critical health issues. Inadequate gum health may not just enhance your risk of needing dental implants. NYC residents should be aware of research from Yale University that links gum disease to a larger incidence of pneumonia. Oral health, particularly the health of the gums, has long been connected with various health issues in other parts of the body, including heart disease and diabetes, but this latest dental news reveals that there’s a connection between the mouth and pneumonia.

How does gum health relate to pneumonia? Well the easy explanation is the fact that bacteria in the mouth are breathed into the lungs from the throat, infecting the lungs and causing respiratory illness. This link between oral health and respiratory disease has been established for several years. The science behind it is a a bit more complex, but the basics should be adequate to motivate all of us to take excellent care of our gums. Diseased gums harbor a host of numerous bacteria which can be absorbed into the bloodstream, but they can also be inhaled into your lungs. Dr. Samit Joshi of Yale University suggests that changes occurring in oral bacteria can increase the susceptibility to acquire pneumonia. Increasing symptoms of gum disease are a source of that bacteria change.

Leading British dentists are warning individuals about the risk, pointing to several studies linking oral health and respiratory disease. Both the elderly and the young are especially at risk, and their gum health should be monitored closely. CEO of the British Dental Health Foundation offers some advice:

• Brush teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste
• Reduce sweet food and drink intake
• Visit a dentist regularly

Sound advice for any situation, but winter months presents a greater cocktail of respiratory germs, with more people locked indoors, and colds and flues on a higher level of incidence, so extra vigilance is a great idea. Things to look for include bleeding from the gums during regular brushing, bad breath, frequent mouth infections, or loose teeth. These are all signs of gum disease, that could contribute to pneumonia.

According to the CDC, pneumonia accounts for about 17.3 deaths per 100,000 people in the United States, so keeping track of your oral health and the oral health of your loved ones is not just about pretty teeth, it’s about protecting lives.

Smile Makeovers for the New Year

As the old year comes to a close and we prepare to ring in the new, why not consider ringing in a new smile for the New Year? Chipped, stained, misshapen, and missing teeth can all be corrected through prosthodontic procedures. And while the name sounds daunting, these procedures are simply those done by a trained professional to restore stunning good looks to your pearly whites. Prosthodontic procedures are those that involve diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the function, comfort, appearance, and health of your mouth. Many of these procedures have become very popular, involve little risk, and have stunning results. We’ll discuss a few of these procedures here, so you can begin to make plans for a stunning smile.

Porcelain veneers are a relatively easy and inexpensive solution for stained, misshapen, or chipped teeth. One of the best things about veneers is that they can usually be applied without anesthesia. Veneers can even be used to remove unwanted spaces, and correct crooked teeth.  Veneers are made from an impression done by your Dental Life professional, and are then glued to your teeth. Veneers will not stain, and are very strong and durable, lasting from ten to fifteen years. Porcelain veneers have been popular with celebrities who need a quick smile makeover.

If your teeth are good looking except for stains and yellowing, then a simple teeth whitening procedure may be your best smile makeover option. While there are many over-the-counter, do it yourself type products available, professional teeth whitening is much more effective and long-lasting. Also, beware of salon-type teeth whitening services, not all whitening products are created equal, and many operating these types of shops do not have the professional training equivalent to that of a cosmetic dentist. Manhattan area residents should choose their teeth whitening options carefully. It is always a good idea to consult with a professionally trained dentist for the safest and most effective whitening methods.

Obviously a little higher on the price range, dental implants are not as expensive as they used to be, and have improved dramatically in technology. Implants are a great option when missing teeth are involved. Nothing is worse than dealing with dentures to replace those missing teeth, and a well done implant can finish off that smile without any embarrassing slips!

Other options include tooth bonding, contouring and reshaping, fillings, bridges, crowns, and caps. Really, the path to a beautiful smile may be much easier than you think. Whether you need your teeth whitened or need some dental implants, Dental Life has the perfect solution for your mouth.  Maybe a smile makeover is just what Santa ordered for the New Year!

Shrinking Jaws: Fact or Fiction?

Whether we like it or not, every one of us faces the effects of aging on our bodies. Hair thins and whitens, taut muscles sag, wrinkles appear; but did you know that your jaw shrinks as you age? A study released by the Faculty of Dentistry at Malmo University is circling dentistry news and reveals that jaws do reduce in size, causing teeth crowding in seniors. Surely another sign of aging is not what we all wanted to hear!

The study was a fascinating one. Dental students in their twenties had molds taken of their teeth. Researchers repeated the molds in ten years, then again a full forty years after the first sample was taken. Comparison of the three different molds showed that the jaw size had indeed shrunk in that forty year time span. The lower jaw was affected more than the upper, and the shrinkage occurred whether or not the individuals had their wisdom teeth removed. Manhattan cosmetic dentist professionals are taking special note of this study because of the effect jaw shrinkage can have on the bite of their patients.

So, how does this bit of dental news affect you? Regardless of your age, the inevitable effects of aging are already at work on your body. When you consider having cosmetic dentistry work done, it is important that you discuss jaw space issues with your dental professional. While continuous shrinking of the jaw is normal, dental reconstruction is not a natural occurrence. However, with proper planning, qualified dental professionals can still perform procedures that will enhance your smile, preserve the longevity of your bite, and give you more confidence.

A key to maintaining jaw size is dental implants. NY dentists have long recognized the value of replacing missing teeth with dental implants. If space from missing teeth is allowed to remain, atrophy of the jaw and gum tissue begins to accelerate the otherwise normal rate of jaw shrinkage. Removable dentures allow the atrophy continue, accelerating the rate of shrinkage. Most of us have probably seen an older person struggling with a denture that has become too large due to shrinkage in the mouth. This is due both to the normally occurring shrinkage of the jaw, but also to the accelerated shrinkage caused by missing teeth. In contrast, titanium posts used for dental implants are actually interpreted by the body as the bone of a natural tooth, reducing the risk of natural bone loss around the implant. Dental implants actually become a great tool to help reduce the effects of aging on your jaw.

When you start to think of the effects of aging, trusting the care of a dental professional can give you a healthy mouth for many more years of enjoying delectable meals with friends and family. Jaw shrinkage is not something to fear, but instead to face with confidence, knowing the options before you. Dental implants are no longer a luxury, but a means of keeping you smiling for your grandchildren and others you care about.

What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?

* Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.
* Improved speech. With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your teeth might slip.
* Improved comfort. Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
* Easier eating. Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
* Improved self-esteem. Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.
* Improved oral health. Dental implants don’t require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving your long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
* Durability. Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
* Convenience. Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing your dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep your dentures in place.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. They are made of titanium, similar to the metal that is used in artificial hips or knees.