Gum grafts are a form of oral surgery where a periodontist typically takes soft tissue from the mouth and places it over the exposed tooth root. After it heals, graft will blend in with the rest of the gumline. This can help improve oral health. It is one of the most common periodontal surgical treatments. Gum grafts help cover up exposed roots and treat gum recession.
For those with damaged or missing teeth, a dental implant can be a positive solution. However though, there are many factors a patient will need to consider when assessing the possibility of getting dental implants.
Many people don’t want to admit — and therefore refuse to deal with — that they have a missing tooth or missing teeth. There seems to be a level of shame associated with losing adult teeth, but this phenomenon is common and not shameful. The truth is, most adults have lost at least one tooth — 1/4 of people over the age of 65 have lost all of their teeth, nearly 70 percent of people aged 35 to 44 have at least one missing tooth, and tooth loss results from a number of factors ranging from injury to gum disease.
What we’re trying to say is that losing teeth is a reality for many adults, and the real problem isn’t the lost tooth itself, but not doing something to fix it. Still not convinced? We invite you to read on to learn why you really should replace your missing teeth.
So, you’re missing some teeth. Despite the stigma surrounding this phenomenon, it is actually fairly common for adults to be missing some or all of their teeth. Don’t believe us? Well, nearly 70 percent of people aged 35 to 44 have at least one missing tooth, and 1 in 4 people over 74 years of age are missing all of their teeth. The numbers don’t lie. It is important to recognize and address the issue of tooth loss, finding a solution that works for you and your needs. Tooth loss is nothing to be ashamed of, but neglecting to address the problem of missing teeth can have some very bad impacts on your oral and overall health.
Many people are choosing to undergo orthodontic work as adults, and a natural byproduct is that they are being given the complicated task of figuring out how to navigate the relationship between orthodontics and dental implants. So, are implants compatible with orthodontic work? The answer is... sometimes. It’s all up to your unique situation. We here at San Antonio Periodontics and Dental Implants want to help guide you in all of your dental endeavors, so we’re giving you some general best practices when it comes to navigating complex task of mixing orthodontics and dental implants.
Tooth loss is more common among adults than you might think; more than 35 million people in the United States are missing some or all of their teeth. Therefore, if, as an older American you are dealing with tooth loss, don’t feel alone or out of options.
“But wait,” you might be thinking. “I don’t want to be stuck with the hassle of dentures for the rest of my life!”It’s true that many people report that life with dentures is full of strain and discomfort, especially when dentures rely on the support of something as unstable, tender and movable as your gum tissue. Luckily for you, dentures are by no means your only option.
So, what if we told you that you can replace a whole arch of teeth with only four dental implants? And what if we told you that you could have a whole new smile in a mere day? No, it’s not too good to be true — all of this and more is possible with all-on-4 dental implants!
Even though it seems like summer has just gotten started, the reality is that many children and teens will head back to school in a month or less. As you are probably aware, good oral hygiene habits need to be encouraged and started early in life to avoid serious dental problems down the road. But can you do anything besides policing the recommended twice daily brushing and flossing? Yes, as a parent or guardian, you sure can!
But First… When Should I Start Taking My Child to the Dentist?
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), ideally you should take your child to the dentist when the first tooth appears or by their first birthday. Here’s a startling statistic – according to the AAPD, tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease! This is almost entirely preventable by early starting and maintaining of good oral habits.
Many people believe that dental work is painful, but with today’s technology and knowledge, beneficial dental work will most likely cause only minor discomfort, in most cases. At San Antonio Periodontics & Implants, our staff is trained to be gentle and to make sure your experience with us is as comfortable as possible.
Scaling and root planing, while sounding a little scary, is actually a very beneficial procedure that can help you keep your teeth is the best of shape. Scaling and root planing is not a surgical procedure, but more of a deep cleaning that is necessary when harmful bacteria-caused plaque begins to threaten your healthy teeth and gums.
Nobody really wants to hear that they need dental surgery. And when the surgery is associated with correcting things with scary-sounding names, like gingivitis and periodontitis, it can be even worse.
At San Antonio Periodontics and Implants, we understand that the prospect of surgery can be scary. Our professional staff, Dr. Steven Maller and Dr. William Stalker, are experienced and caring. You’ll find that we can make your experience with dental surgery a less scary idea.
What Are Dental Implants?
Before we get into how to care for dental implants, why don’t we start with the basics. You probably have a vague conception of dental implants and their function, but what are they really?
Endosteal vs Subperiosteal
There are two types of dental implants: endosteal implants, which are implanted right into the jawbone, and subperiosteal implants, which include a metal frame that is attached and fitted to the jawbone, eventually becoming fixed to it. Like endosteal implants, artificial teeth are mounted to posts that are attached to the frame. We know this all sounds very technical and intimidating, but don’t worry. These false teeth are designed to appear and function just like natural teeth!
Pro football player and now television celebrity Michael Strahan sports a huge gap between his front teeth that has become a trademark for him. And while Michael can carry this off, most normal people feel self-conscious when they have large gaps or missing teeth. Missing teeth can cause gaps in the remaining teeth. Not only can missing teeth realign remaining teeth in unattractive ways, they can also cause problems with chewing, leading some to nutritional deficiencies. Additionally, tooth loss commonly causes loss of bone density and gum tissue.
There are several options when missing teeth become a problem – and it’s not an uncommon problem. According to the American Dental Association, the average adult between the ages of 20 and 64 has three or more decayed or missing teeth. When addressing missing teeth, you and your periodontist may have several choices, depending on your situation.
