My Blog
There are plenty of options today for replacing missing teeth, including dental implants. But if the teeth have been missing for some time, complications can arise that limit your restorative options.
The most consequential possibility is bone loss. Bone has a life cycle: old cells dissolve (resorb), and are then replaced by new cells, stimulated to grow by the forces applied to the teeth during chewing. But the bone won't receive this stimulation if a tooth is missing — so growth slows down, which causes the bone volume to diminish with time.
Another complication can occur involving other teeth around the open space. These teeth will naturally move or “drift” out of their normal position into the missing tooth space. As a result we may not have enough room to place a prosthetic (false) tooth.
If either or both of these complications occur, we'll need to address them before attempting a restoration. Bone loss itself could eliminate dental implants as an option because they require a certain amount of supporting bone for correct placement. Bone loss could also make correcting misaligned teeth difficult if not impossible.
It might be possible, though, to regenerate lost bone with a bone graft. The graft is placed, sometimes along with growth stimulating substances, within the diminished bone area. It then serves as a scaffold upon which new bone can form.
If the bone becomes healthy again, we can then attempt to move any drifted teeth back to where they belong. Besides braces, there's another treatment option especially popular with adults: clear aligners. These are a series of removable, clear plastic trays that, like braces, exert gradual pressure on the teeth to move them. Patients wear each individual tray for about two weeks, and then switch to the next tray in the series to continue the process.
Unlike their traditional counterparts, clear aligners can be removed for cleaning or for special occasions. More importantly, they're much less noticeable than traditional braces.
Once any problems with bone health or bite have been addressed and corrected, you'll have a fuller range of options for replacing your missing teeth. With a little extra time and effort, you'll soon be able to regain a smile you'll be proud to display.
If you would like more information on dental restoration, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.
For anyone missing a tooth, they know the experience is less than fun. You may be feeling uncomfortable when it comes to talking or .png)
even eating. You might even avoid smiling. Fortunately, with the help of dental implants in Pasadena, CA, from Dr. Peter Cooper, your smile can be restored with ease. These restorations will look and feel like your natural teeth.
About Dental Implants
Many individuals are embarrassed when it comes to spaces in your mouth where teeth are missing. Some people lose teeth due to decay, injury or periodontal disease, a gum infection of the gums and the bone surrounding teeth. Whatever the reason for the tooth loss, dental implants feel more natural than dentures and other types of dental restorations.
If you want a dental restoration like dental implants in Pasadena we are here for you. Dental implant surgery consists of an artificial tooth root that is fused into your jawbone to provide a secure base for the artificial dental crown being placed. For those missing many teeth, several implants may be used as a base to support an implant-supported denture.
Throughout the entire process, you will work with our professional dental team. Total treatment time will vary from patient to patient. To learn whether you are a good candidate for dental implants, you will be given a dental evaluation that includes an exam and dental and medical history. For those with ongoing medical conditions such as diabetes, blood tests will be required to determine whether or not you will be able to heal properly to withstand the implant process.
Each patient is evaluated and given a personalized treatment plan that fits their needs. To learn more about dental implants in Pasadena, CA, and to schedule an appointment with our professional team, call us today at 626-796-1241.
Ever since childhood, when her career as a model and actress took off, Brooke Shields has enjoyed worldwide recognition — through advertisements for designer jeans, appearances on The Muppet Show, and starring roles in big-screen films. But not long ago, that familiar face was spotted in an unusual place: wearing a nasal anesthesia mask at the dentist's office. In fact, Shields posted the photo to her own Instagram account, with the caption “More dental surgery! I grind my teeth!” And judging by the number of comments the post received, she's far from alone.
In fact, researchers estimate that around one in ten adults have dental issues that stem from teeth grinding, which is also called bruxism. (Many children also grind their teeth, but it rarely causes serious problems, and is often outgrown.) About half of the people who are teeth grinders report problems like persistent headaches, jaw tenderness and sore teeth. Bruxism may also result in excessive tooth wear, and may damage dental work like crowns and bridges; in severe cases, loosened or fractured teeth have been reported.
Researchers have been studying teeth grinding for many years; their findings seem to indicate that it has no single cause. However, there are a number of factors that play a significant role in this condition. One is the anatomy of the jaw itself, and the effect of worn or misaligned teeth on the bite. Another factor relates to changes in brain activity that occur during the sleep cycle. In fact, nocturnal (nighttime) bruxism is now classified as a sleep-related movement disorder. Still other factors, such as the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs, and a high level of stress or anxiety, can make an individual more likely to experience bruxism.
What can be done for people whose teeth grinding is causing problems? Since this condition may have many causes, a number of different treatments are available. Successful management of bruxism often begins by striving to eliminate the factors that may cause problems — for example, making lifestyle changes to improve your health, creating a soothing nighttime environment, and trying stress-reduction techniques; these may include anything from warm baths and soft music at bedtime, to meditation and mindfulness exercises.
Several dental treatments are also available, including a custom-made occlusal guard (night guard) that can keep your teeth from being damaged by grinding. In some cases, a bite adjustment may also be recommended: In this procedure, a small amount of enamel is removed from a tooth to change the way it contacts the opposite tooth, thereby lessening the biting force on it. More invasive techniques (such as surgery) are rarely needed.
A little tooth grinding once in a while can be a normal response to stress; in fact, becoming aware of the condition is often the first step to controlling it. But if you begin to notice issues that could stem from bruxism — or if the loud grinding sounds cause problems for your sleeping partner — it may be time to contact us or schedule an appointment. You can read more about bruxism in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Stress and Tooth Habits.”
Dental implants are considered the best tooth replacement option available. An implant replaces the root of a tooth and allows for the replacement of the crown via attachments or abutments. They not only look like a real tooth, they function like one too.
Implants, though, for some are a significant investment and may be well beyond a person's financial means if they've experienced a sudden tooth loss. For that reason, many opt for a less expensive tooth replacement option like a removable partial denture.
Later when they can afford it, a person might consider an implant. But this could pose a complication. When a tooth is missing for some time, the underlying bone doesn't rejuvenate normally because it no longer receives stimulation from the tooth. Over time, the amount of bone may diminish. Restorations like dentures can't stop this bone loss and actually aggravates it.
For proper positioning, an implant requires a certain amount of bone volume. So, it's quite possible when the time comes to replace the old restoration with an implant that there may not be enough bone available.
We may be able to overcome this bone loss with bone grafting and regeneration. A specialist such as a periodontist or oral surgeon accesses the area surgically and inserts bone graft material, usually processed material that's completely safe. Properly placed, the bone graft serves as a scaffold that, along with growth stimulators, encourages bone cells to grow.
When the bone grafting has healed enough, we're then able to place the implant. Once imbedded in the bone, one of the implant's unique qualities comes into play. The imbedded post is made of the metal titanium, which is not only bio-compatible with body tissues, it also has an affinity with bone. Bone cells will easily grow and adhere to the implant surface. This further boosts bone growth in the area and strengthens the implant's hold.
These extra procedures to build back lost bone do add to the cost and time for installing an implant. But if you're ready for a more permanent restoration for a missing tooth — not to mention better bone health — the extra time and money will be well worth it.
If you would like more information on dental implants, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.
Magician Michel Grandinetti can levitate a 500-pound motorcycle, melt into a 7-foot-tall wall of solid steel, and make borrowed rings vanish and reappear baked inside bread. Yet the master illusionist admits to being in awe of the magic that dentists perform when it comes to transforming smiles. In fact, he told an interviewer that it’s “way more important magic than walking through a steel wall because you’re affecting people’s health… people’s confidence, and you’re really allowing people to… feel good about themselves.”
Michael speaks from experience. As a teenager, his own smile was enhanced through orthodontic treatment. Considering the career path he chose for himself — performing for multitudes both live and on TV — he calls wearing an orthodontic device (braces) to align his crooked teeth “life-changing.” He relies on his welcoming, slightly mischievous smile to welcome audiences and make the initial human connection.
A beautiful smile is definitely an asset regardless of whether you’re performing for thousands, passing another individual on a sidewalk or even, research suggests, interviewing for a job. Like Michael, however, some of us need a little help creating ours. If something about your teeth or gums is making you self-conscious and preventing you from smiling as broadly as you could be, we have plenty of solutions up our sleeve. Some of the most popular include:
- Tooth Whitening. Professional whitening in the dental office achieves faster results than doing it yourself at home, but either approach can noticeably brighten your smile.
- Bonding. A tooth-colored composite resin can be bonded to a tooth to replace missing tooth structure, such a chip.
- Veneers. This is a hard, thin shell of tooth-colored material bonded to the front surface of a tooth to change its color, shape, size and/or length; mask dental imperfections like stains, cracks, or chips, and compensating for excessive gum tissue.
- Crowns. Sometimes too much of a tooth is lost due to decay or trauma to support a veneer. Instead, capping it with a natural-looking porcelain crown can achieve the same types of improvements. A crown covers the entire tooth replacing more of its natural structure than a veneer does.
If you would like more information about ways in which you can transform your smile, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about the techniques mentioned above by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Teeth Whitening,” “Repairing Chipped Teeth,” and “Porcelain Crowns & Veneers.”
This website includes materials that are protected by copyright, or other proprietary rights. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use, as defined in the copyright laws, requires the written permission of the copyright owners.
Pasadena Dental Implants
Pasadena, CA 91101
Our Blog
Archive:
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- May (6)
- Are You at Risk for Oral Cancer?
- Helping Residents of Pasadena Understand Oral Surgery
- Braces: A Rite of Passage Even for Hollywood Kids
- Dental Implants for Pasadena, CA Residents: The Best Restorative Option for Missing Teeth
- The Periodontal and Systemic Connection: Keep Your Teeth Healthy and Your Heart will Thank You
- Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
- 2013
Tags
- Welcome (1)
- celebrity smiles (45)
- root canal (2)
- cosmetic dentistry (9)
- teeth whitening (5)
- chipped tooth (1)
- periodontal disease (5)
- gum disease (11)
- porcelain veneers (2)
- dental injury (3)
- dental emergency (2)
- mouthguard (2)
- dental implants (20)
- dentures (2)
- Periodontal Health (1)
- braces (4)
- oral cancer (1)
- oral health (12)
- pediatric dentistry (2)
- teething (1)
- bridgework (1)
- nutrition (5)
- medication (1)
- aspirin (1)
- dental implant (1)
- dental insurance (1)
- bonding (2)
- bacteria (1)
- diabetes (1)
- sealants (1)
- TMD (2)
- toothache (1)
- tooth decay (3)
- oral hygiene (8)
- Gum Grafting (1)
- tmj (1)
- wisdom teeth (3)
- Loose Teeth (1)
- dental exam (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- Corrective Jaw Surgery (1)
- crowns (3)
- orthodontics (2)
- dental care (1)
- Periodontist (1)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- medicine (1)
- dental injuries (2)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- Scaling and Root Planing (1)
- smile makeover (1)
- smoking (1)
- oral surgery (3)
- restorative dentistry (3)
- pediatric care (1)
- gummy smiles (1)
- mouthguards (1)
- sleep apnea (1)
- snoring (1)
- x-rays (1)
- orthodontic treatment (1)
- retainers (1)
- dry mouth (1)
- anesthesia (1)
- bad breath (1)
- fillings (1)
- thumb sucking (1)
- bone grafting (1)
- teeth grinding (1)
- missing teeth (1)
Categories:
