Hormone changes—namely decreasing estrogen—in the body can impact a woman’s entire
body, including the oral cavity. Can menopause impact dental health? You might be surprised
to know that your teeth and gums may experience some changes with the onset of menopause.

Menopause May Cause Dry Mouth

Low levels of estrogen in the body can dry out mucous membranes, including the mouth.
Although not every woman will have dry mouth after menopause, some will experience
noticeable dryness that can impact chewing, swallowing, and speaking.

Dry mouth also affects tooth enamel. Saliva helps to protect our teeth from harmful acids and
bacteria. When the mouth is dry, bacteria are more likely to attack and damage tooth enamel,
which can lead to sensitive teeth and tooth decay.

Fortunately, staying hydrated can help, but visit your dentist if you’re worried that dry mouth is
impacting your smile!

Osteoporosis Can Affect Alveolar Bone

Estrogen doesn’t just help to keep the mucous membranes of the body moist—it also helps to
protect bone density. With a lack of estrogen in the body, menopause can often put women at
risk to experience osteoporosis, a condition in which bones can become thinner and more likely
to break.

However, osteoporosis can affect alveolar bone as well, which is the bone that helps support
teeth in the jaw. If alveolar bone becomes less dense, it can lead to loose teeth and even tooth
loss.

Getting regular checkups with your dentist can help detect any changes such as loose teeth to
help stop loss of bone density and protect your smile (and your body)!

Women May Experience an Increased Risk of Gum Disease After Menopause

Although menopause isn’t likely to cause gum disease, it can worsen existing gum disease. With
nearly half of all American adults having some form of gum disease, many people are living with
gum disease and don’t realize it.

Since menopause can lead to other oral cavity changes such as dry mouth, gum disease may get
worse with menopause. The gums may become more red and begin to pull back from the teeth,
causing tooth sensitivity and gum infections.

Gum disease can also contribute to loose teeth, so if you’re experiencing osteoporosis along
with gum disease after menopause, you may be at a higher risk for tooth loss. Gum disease can
be treated and even reversed, so talk with your dentist about your risk for this condition at your
next appointment.

Menopause brings many changes due to hormonal shifts in the body that end menstruation,
some of which may affect the oral cavity. However, you can keep your teeth and gums healthy
as you transition into menopause by visiting your dentist to take the best possible care of your
smile!

The post Can Menopause Impact Dental Health? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Before you can receive a dental implant, you’ll need to have a consultation with your
professional dentist. During this meeting, your dentist will take x-rays to determine the exact
position of your missing tooth as well as examine the bone density of your jaw.

Only people who have adequate bone in their jaw are candidates for dental implants; however,
you may qualify for a bone graft to help build up your jaw bone to receive the implant.

Your dentist will also examine your oral health. Proper oral health and hygiene is essential for
the healing and longevity of a dental implant. People who smoke or have poor oral health may
not qualify for the procedure.

Next: Implanting the Post

If your dentist has found that you’re a candidate for dental implants and has thoroughly
discussed the procedure with you, your next step will be to have the titanium post—the
foundation for your dental implant—inserted by an oral surgeon.

Thanks to digital x-rays, your oral surgeon knows precisely where to place your dental implant
to maximize the chances of success for your restoration. Implanting the post is a surgical
procedure, and it’s important to be sure about dental implants before you take this step. Once
the post is implanted and healed, it’s very difficult if not impossible in certain cases to remove.

Then: Healing Time

The titanium post that constitutes the support for your future dental crown will need to heal
for a period of approximately 4-6 weeks to ensure it’s strong enough to support the dental
crown. Healing time may vary from person to person and will depend on your unique oral
health and immune system.

In the meantime, you may receive a temporary dental crown from your dentist to hold the
place of the future dental crown. Be sure to follow your surgeon’s instructions for healing and
follow up with your dentist as needed.

Last: Getting Your Crown

Your dental crown is specifically made to fit your smile and to match your existing teeth. It’s
sturdy, functional, and with the right care, has the potential to last up to fifteen years. This is
the final restoration to make your dental implant come to life!

The placing of the crown completes your dental implant—you can now enjoy your beautiful
new smile for years to come, with the right care, of course!

If you’re considering dental implants, schedule a consultation with your dentist to first
determine your candidacy. Dental implants are excellent restorations for patients with missing
teeth, so don’t hesitate to discuss your dental implant options with your dentist today!

The post Ask the Dentist: How Do Dental Implants Work? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The traditional process for dental implants can take months. If you’ve been living without teeth
for any length of time, you know how important it is to have your smile restored as quickly as
possible. Can dental implants really be done in one day? Actually, they can! Let’s talk about
same-day dental implants and what they mean for you.

Crown Restoration Is Completed at the Office

3D CT scan technology enables your dentist to make your temporary crown restoration right
there at the office on the day of your dental implant procedure. Although this crown will look
just like your natural teeth, it still qualifies as a temporary solution—until your implant fuses
with the bone in your jaw, your permanent crown can’t be placed.

However, you’ll still get to leave the office that day with a temporary restoration that won’t
have anyone second-guessing your smile. You’ll have a brand-new dental implant and a crown
to top it off, making your dental implants essentially a one-day procedure!

How Are Same-Day Dental Implants Different?

Same-day dental implants aren’t any different from traditional implants. They both require
detailed x-rays for accurate placement, an experienced dentist or oral surgeon, and they both
need time to fuse with the bone in your jaw to be permanent. Since you’ll be getting your
crown and dental implant on the same day, your dentist will need to be sure your dental
implant can healthily support the crown.

Once your dental implant heals and your permanent crown is placed, there’s virtually no
difference between same-day dental implants and traditional dental implants that take months
to complete. Of course, you’ll still need an initial consultation and a follow-up appointment in
addition to the appointment to permanently fix your crown, so keep these visits in mind!

People Who Qualify for Same-Day Dental Implants

The criteria to qualify for same-day dental implants isn’t all that different for traditional dental
implants. You’ll need to have a healthy mouth in order to facilitate proper healing of the
implant. This element is even more important since the entire process will be completed in a
day. You’ll need to have a healthy and strong mouth to qualify. You’ll also need to have enough bone in your jaw to support the implant until your permanent crown is placed. Since your temporary crown will be installed that same day, it’s imperative that your jawbone can support the restoration until you get your permanent crown.

Your dentist can let you know if you qualify for same-day dental implants during your consultation.
Are you in need of a tooth replacement but don’t want to wait months for a dental implant?
Ask your dentist about same-day dental implants. You just might qualify for this procedure and
best of all, you’ll have a gorgeous new smile that same day!

The post Can Dental Implants Be Done in One Day? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

First, x-rays will be taken to see if your bone loss is significant enough to prevent you from
getting traditional dental implants. From there, a treatment plan can be discussed to determine
how to restore your beautiful smile! Here’s what can be done if you’re lacking jaw bone to
support dental implants.

Bone Grafting

If your dentist finds that you are missing a significant amount of bone in your jaw that would
more than likely impact the success of your dental implants, he or she may suggest bone
grafting.

Bone grafting is a procedure where bone is taken from a different area of your body and
applied to your jaw, where it’ll heal for 4-6 months until it’s strong enough to support your
dental implant. Your oral surgeon may also offer a synthetic material that can be used in place
of actual bone, and may help speed up the process.

After your bone graft is complete, your jaw should now be able to support regular dental
implants without any problem. You and your dentist or oral surgeon can decide if this is the
right option for you.

All-on- Four Dental Implants

If you lack bone in your jaw and are missing most of your natural teeth, you may be able to
consider all-on- four dental implants. This is a procedure where only 4-6 dental implants are
placed in your jaw in places where there would be enough bone to support the implants.

After these implants heal, your dentist will construct a bridge that will be permanently attached
to the dental implants. These are not the same as dentures and will not be able to be removed.
All-on- four dental implants provide the sturdiness of regular dental implants with only a few
implants placed.

If you’re in need of a full set of teeth but are worried about your bone loss, talk with your
dentist to discover if all-on- four dental implants would be an option for you.

Mini Dental Implants

You may be able to qualify for dental implants without getting bone grafting with mini dental implants. These are a smaller, more compact version of traditional dental implants that are typically used for the front teeth or incisors. Even if there’s not enough bone to support regular dental implants, your dentist may suggest mini dental implants. Other than their size, mini dental implants aren’t much different than regular dental implants. You may not be able to use these for certain missing teeth, such as molars, but you and your dentist can discuss if mini dental implants are an option for you based on your unique smile!

Are you worried that you won’t be able to get dental implants because of bone loss? Schedule
an appointment to talk with your dentist today about dental implants to discuss your options.
From mini dental implants to bone grafting and all-on- four implants, you can get the smile of
your dreams without compromising!

The post I Have Bone Loss, Can I Still Get Dental Implants? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

From the day of to weeks later, here’s a general timeline you can expect for your wisdom tooth
extraction sites to heal.

Immediately After: 1-3 Days of Soreness

After the procedure, blood clots will form over the surgical site and protect your wisdom teeth
sockets until they heal. Many people choose to have their wisdom tooth extractions done on a Friday so that they can
rest the weekend. This is sound logic, as most people can generally expect about 1-3 days of
soreness following the procedure. The pain is usually controlled with medication that you’ll
receive from your dentist.

You should ideally plan at least 2 days to rest without working or any intense activity after the
procedure. This includes any moderate to intense exercise. Your oral surgeon can let you know
more about what to expect based on your particular case.

Weeks Later: On Your Way to Healing

You still need to take it easy when it comes to brushing and chewing even after the soreness
subsides and you resume your regular activities.

It could take up to 3 weeks for the softer tissues to completely heal and for your mouth to feel
close to normal again. This will vary from person to person, based on factors such as your
health, age, and if your dentist needed to remove more bone or tissue than normal during your
procedure based on the position of your wisdom teeth.

Some people may still experience soreness a week after the procedure, so don’t be alarmed. Be
sure to speak with your oral surgeon about what you should expect. There will also be signs to
look out for, such as if your pain or swelling gets worse or if you notice any signs of infection.
Always call your dentist or oral surgeon with any questions you may have!

Months Later: Bone and Tissue Rebuild

Finally, once your discomfort is gone and you can eat, drink, and brush normally, your mouth
will heal itself from the inside. Now that your surgical site is mostly healed and your sutures are
dissolved, the bone and tissue will rebuild itself and your mouth will be completely healed. This
usually takes a minimum of 6 weeks and up to 6 months.

Don’t worry—you won’t feel a thing while your body ensures that your jaw bone is totally
healed and you can enjoy life without the worry of wisdom teeth!

To sum up, you can expect roughly 3 days of mild discomfort after your procedure, with up to
2-3 weeks being normal for the inner tissues to heal. You can expect your bone and deep
tissues to completely heal after a few weeks and up to a few months. Your wisdom teeth
recovery will be much faster than you think, and you’ll be back to normal again before you
know it!

The post How Long Will My Wisdom Tooth Removal Take to Heal? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Because of the lost bone in your jaw over time, dentures can become loose and not fit properly. When this happens, your dentures begin to rub in places that they didn’t before. This can cause sore areas in your mouth from the improper fit. If left untreated, this can cause inflammation and even infections in the mouth. When your dentures become uncomfortable and begin to rub in your mouth, it’s time to visit your dentist!

Gastrointestinal Problems

When dentures no longer fit snugly in your mouth, you can begin to have problems chewing. Loose or ill-fitting dentures don’t make it easy to chew food. You begin to chew food less thoroughly. When this happens, you can have stomach problems resulting from food that’s not been chewed enough. When your stomach needs to digest these larger food particles, indigestion can result.

Headaches

Your dentures shouldn’t cause you any pain. If you find that your dentures don’t fit the way they used to, you could begin having headaches. The wrong fit can cause your bite to change in addition to your chewing habits. This could create tension in areas where there wasn’t tension before, as your jaw and teeth may be compensating for the ill-fitting dentures. If you begin having dull headaches or earaches, talk to your dentist!

Trouble Speaking

When your dentures just don’t fit right, speaking can feel like a chore. You may mispronounce words or be anxious about your dentures looking askew in your mouth. Our teeth help us to pronounce words correctly and smile with confidence. When your dentures aren’t fitting correctly, you may hide your smile or avoid speaking because of anxiety or fear.

What Can You Do?

If you notice any type of change in your dentures, it’s time for a visit to your dentist! Since people who wear dentures are susceptible to jaw bone loss year after year, it’s inevitable that your dentures will change. The only way to retain your facial structure in addition to your jaw bone after losing teeth is to take advantage of dental implants. Dental implants actually encourage new jaw bone growth and never need to be replaced or changed thanks to their sturdiness and similarity to your natural teeth!

Talk to your dentist about changes in your dentures or the benefits of getting dental implants. You may even be a candidate for all-on- four dental implants, where a denture is adhered to only four dental implants in your mouth rather than getting dental implants to replace all of your teeth. Dentures can be challenging because they change over time—talk to your dentist about what you can do today!

Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post Avoid the Impact of Ill-Fitting Dentures appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Inhibit Tooth Decay

Tooth decay can eventually lead to loss of your teeth, which is something that can happen if you’re not getting enough calcium and vitamin D. While our teeth are not strictly bones, they are made up of both hard and soft tissues that need to be nourished with vitamins and minerals. Tooth decay can result in the loss of some of the harder tissues on our teeth, therefore leading to infection and eventually tooth loss. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D can help you prevent tooth decay.

Help Decrease Inflammation

Vitamin D has been shown to be a big helper when it comes to keeping inflammation down in your mouth. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, can lead to inflammation that involves your gums turning red, pulling back from your teeth, and bleeding. Vitamin D is an important vitamin in keeping your gums healthy, but vitamin D also has another role—promoting calcium absorption. You should try to get calcium and vitamin D together in order to reap the full benefits. Good sources of vitamin D include sunlight, fatty fish such as salmon, and dairy.

Keeps Bones Strong

The amount of calcium in the body, so vital for bones and teeth, tends to decline as we age, so many people will end up taking a supplement rather than just trying to get all their calcium from foods. When your bones are strong, particularly the bones in your jaw, your teeth will be better supported. The bones in your jaw help to hold your teeth in place, so it’s important that these bones remain healthy so that they provide adequate support for your teeth. Bone loss will affect your smile, so keep this in mind as you go through life. Great sources of calcium include dark green leafy vegetables, sesame seeds, and dairy.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mouth

Calcium and vitamin D also play a range of other roles when it comes to our overall health. Calcium not only keeps bones strong, but also helps with nerve communication, muscle cramps, blood clots, and maintaining a regular heartbeat. Calcium needs vitamin D to be absorbed properly and to keep levels up in the body. Vitamin D has been found to help bones as well as depression, autoimmune disorders, and certain cancers. When you tend to your body’s health, you also tend to your mouth health. By keeping your body supplied with enough calcium and vitamin D, you can ensure your smile is getting all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

Calcium and vitamin D are vital for your healthy smile! By building up bones, preventing tooth decay and gum disease, decreasing inflammation, and keeping your nerves all communicating accurately, this important vitamin and mineral combination can do wonders for your smile.

The post Calcium and Vitamin D for Healthy Smiles appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.