How Does Plaque Form?

Plaque forms from a lack of proper brushing and flossing that’s usually combined with a poor diet consisting of many sugars and refined flours, which can lead to a buildup of plaque in the mouth. The bacteria in plaque can cause damage to your enamel and can eventually lead to tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis, which is the beginning of periodontal (gum) disease.Plaque can form in as little as 24 hours of not brushing. Over time, plaque can turn into tartar, which typically forms along the gum line and can only be removed professionally. Once plaque forms, it can still be removed. The sooner you remove plaque, the better, as it can be damaging to teeth the more time it has to form!

Preventing Plaque

Preventing plaque is as simple as engaging in proper brushing and flossing habits as well as eating a healthy diet. Foods like apples, carrots, and celery for snacks as opposed to cookies or pre-packaged foods can actually help clean your teeth, whereas sugars that sit on your teeth can become corrosive within minutes of being left in your mouth. In addition, sugars also contribute to the bacteria and acidic environment of your mouth, which can lead to even more problems with your smile!

Flossing once a day is ideal, but you may consider flossing more if food gets easily stuck between your teeth. Brushing once a day is enough, but twice a day is ideal. Proper brushing is more important than vigorous brushing, which can actually harm your teeth! Talk with your dentist about those hard-to-reach places in your mouth and which toothbrush and brushing techniques would be ideal for you.

Keeping Up with Plaque

It’s easy to keep up with plaque. Visiting your dentist is crucial because your dentist will be able to give your teeth a thorough cleaning and talk with you about all the places in your mouth you may not be reaching with your toothbrush. Even with proper brushing, spots can still be missed. Places in-between your teeth are particularly difficult to get, so this is why flossing is ideal. Remove food particles and bacteria from in-between tight spaces with floss.

Preventing plaque is easy, and as plaque can turn into a variety of other dental problems such as tartar, gingivitis, and cavities, brushing and flossing is very beneficial. Keeping up with plaque is as easy as getting regular checkups with your dentist, brushing and flossing, and making health snack and beverage choices during the day!

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The Benefits of Mini Dental Implants

There are numerous benefits to mini dental implants. There is definitely an advantage of implants over dentures and other temporary procedures. Mini dental implants, however, are a much more cost-effective option than standard implants, and may also be a viable option for those who do not qualify for traditional implants.

Consider mini implants if you fall into any of these categories:

Low Bone Density – Whether the problem is caused by aging, health, or habits such as smoking, low bone density can cause your body to reject regular implants. As a result, most dentists will not perform the procedure due to a low rate of success. On the other hand, mini dental implants are placed into the tissue with a procedure that is minimally invasive. This means that bone density is not an issue.

Low Income – If you can’t afford dental implants, mini implants are a more cost-effective option. In fact, a mini dental implant will cost about half the price of a regular implant. Since insurance will usually only cover dentures and not implants, the cost is a major factor for consumers. Another cost factor to consider is that regular implants require multiple visits to the dentist while mini implants can be performed in one day.

Need Fast Results – Mini dental implants can be put in place in one day. In contrast, regular implants require invasive surgery, and the patient needs weeks, perhaps months, to heal before the crowns can be screwed onto the implants. Mini dental implants do not require multiple visits and have a much faster recovery time since the process is non-invasive.

Of course, if money, time, and bone density are not a concern, regular implants provide a more durable option. The larger surface area of regular implants creates an even chewing surface, making it easier to chew and placing less stress on the implants. Mini dental implants, however, are a great alternative for those who cannot get regular implants for one reason or another. Mini implants are certainly superior to dentures that need to be glued in and may shift. For many, mini dental implants are the alternative solution they have been searching for.

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Know Before You Go

With cone beam technology, there’s no estimation involved as far as measurements go for your dental implants. Your dentist already knows the precise measurements needed—the thickness the dental implant needs to be, your bone quality, and the angle the dental implant will need to be inserted at. This information allows your dentist to perfectly place your dental implant. Knowing the best position for the dental implant before insertion means that there’s no risk for hitting a nerve and no estimating the best position for your dental implant. Your dentist can know and see all this will the cone beam imaging. The imaging is painless and only takes a few seconds. It allows your dentist to see your mouth in 3D and color! The dentist then uses this image with computer software to determine the precise measurements and construct your perfect dental implant, which will be inserted in the best possible position in your mouth.

Faster Healing Time

The cost for cone beam technology is reasonable, and in addition to this, the radiation is exposure is lower as well, therefore reducing your risk for any potential problems with this. The technology is easy to use for your dentist and best of all, you’ll have a faster healing time. When your dentist knows the exact placement of your dental implant before the surgery, this means they are able to make a smaller cut in your mouth because they already know where the dental implant is going and they won’t need to look around in your mouth because they’ve already seen everything on the CBCT scan. Your dental implant will be inserted into its proper position, and your healing time will be faster because you’ll only have had a minor incision in your mouth. The smaller incision combined with the accurate placement of the implant increase the chances of success with your dental implant, meaning there’s an even lower risk for rejection or infection if properly cared for.

With cone beam technology, your dentist will be able to assess the bone quality of your jaw, see all your roots, and be able to provide you with the perfect placement for your dental implant with very minimal risks. This new technology is changing the field of dentistry and helping to bring you better, more accurate care for a successful healthy smile!

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Different Ages for Boys and Girls

Any child younger than age 15 cannot receive dental implants, simply because the bone in the jaw is not fully developed. If implants were to be placed before the bone is done growing, this could hinder further growth of the jaw and prevent permanent teeth from growing correctly. Girls need to be around age 15 to be considered for dental implants and boys need to be closer to 17. You can talk with your dentist about dental implants and if your child is a candidate for them based on their development. While dental implants have great benefits such as helping support the jaw bone after tooth loss, being more comfortable than dentures, and lasting a lifetime, your child’s jaw will need to be fully developed in order to properly support and sustain a dental implant.

What Can Be Done in the Meantime?

While children are not good candidates for dental implants, there are several options that can be done in the meantime to ensure that your child has a great smile until they can get dental implants. Of course, if your child’s baby tooth was knocked out, you can wait until the permanent tooth comes in. If your child lost their permanent tooth, one option to discuss with your dentist are partial dentures. This denture would consist of just the missing tooth (or teeth) and be worn until your child is old enough for dental implants. While this is an option that some kids or teens might consider annoying, it’s better than having a missing tooth. If your child is in need of orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist may be able to attach an artificial tooth to the braces while treatment is underway. This gives your child a more permanent and stable option while treatment is being completed, and it will last as long as the treatment goes on until your child is a candidate for dental implants.

Even though younger children cannot receive dental implants, it’s important to seek out an alternative until your child is a candidate. Missing teeth can not only hinder the development of your child’s mouth, but can also impact their self-esteem while going through school and their teenage years. Discuss options with your dentist to get the best care for your child until dental implants can be done!

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With this treatment plan in mind which aims to reconstruct bone, it is the opinion of this Prosthodontist to strongly disagree with dental implant clinics that advocate reducing the bone in the patient’s jaw in order to be speedy and quick with implant placement. In many instances, patients can have same day implants placed with the prosthesis immediately inserted on it without reducing the bone. In other situations, teeth can actually be saved, rather than being extracted. When discussing treatment plans, ask your dental professional about what the long term impact on bone loss and jaw stability will be with dental implants, so that you can ensure you are comfortable with the final treatment recommendation.

See how dental implants can improve smiles and jaw stability with these before/after photos.

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The greater the amount of bone loss, the greater the amount of diagnostic work up that is required to “get it right”. Advancement in dental technology can now aid dental professionals in this diagnostic work and make the examination faster and more precise. Precise planning is possible with a 3D Xray (the CBCT-cone beam-Xray), which provides a great deal of information for planning the implant placements such that they are ideally positioned.These preferred placements increase the jaw’s stability and the long-term success of the implants.

Implants provide additional jaw support, since they are titanium “roots” which are ramparts, or support for the bone. Precise preoperative planning provides the best results, even if a great deal of bone has been lost.

So if you suffer from conditions that have or will lead to jaw instability, discuss your dental implant options with your dentist or Prosthodontist, and the appropriate treatment plan can provide you with stability, greater jaw support and a great smile for years to come.

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