Dental Implant Smile Restoration Explained

According to the American Dental Association, more than five million dental implants are placed every year in just the United States alone. If you are looking into getting dental implants to restore your smile, you are bound to want to know a bit about the process before you mentally commit to speaking to a cosmetic dentist. Here is a look at the general process of restoring a smile with dental implants.

Initial Consultation with the Dentist

When you first reach out to the dentist about smile restoration, you will likely be scheduled for a consultation. The initial consultation gives the dentist an opportunity to look at your oral health, your remaining teeth, and your bone structure to determine if dental implants could be a viable option. During this consultation, the dentist will also look at things like your medical history and current health conditions that could interfere with the procedure. You may also get to see a digital rendering of what changes could potentially be made to your smile with implant placement.

Extractions/Preparations

If you are getting implants to replace teeth that you already have that are in need of extraction, those bad teeth will naturally have to be removed first. If you are not in need of extractions, the dentist will move onto the next step in the process, which involves thoroughly examining the bone structures in your jaws, determining the best implant options, and determining what crowns will be used.

Implant Placement

The implant placement procedure may be done either in the office or in another medical facility while you are under general anesthesia. The dentist will make an incision and place the implant into the jawline, install sutures so the gum tissue properly heals around the new abutment, and may add a temporary crown.

Recovery

The recovery process after a dental implant procedure can take a period of several weeks. The implant will fuse to the jaw bone much like a natural tooth. At this point, the permanent crown will be placed and bonded to the existing implant.

Contact a Cosmetic Dentist in Bellbrook About Dental Implants

While getting a dental implant can seem like an intimidating process and having one restored can be scary, your chosen dentist will guide you throughout every step so you feel comfortable and confident. If you would like to schedule a consultation to talk about dental implants, reach out to us at Bellbrook Family Dentistry in Ohio.

Fruit Juice May Be Harming Your Child’s Teeth: Here’s Why

Fruit juice is often recommended due to its numerous health benefits. It contains large amounts of nutrients found in fruits, including vitamin C and antioxidants. According to medical experts, drinking fruit juice is an effective way of reducing the risk of heart diseases, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. In some cases, the juice may be more palatable than the fruits themselves. However, consuming excess fruit juice is not entirely beneficial, as it can harm your child’s teeth in several ways. Here’s why it may cause harm to your teeth:

It Has High Sugar Content

Sugar is well known as one of the substances that can harm the teeth. Once the bacteria in the mouth have consumed it, sugar is converted to an acid, which causes cavities and tooth wear. The accumulation of the bacteria leads to the formation of a film known as tooth plaque.

Also, the bacteria can cause irritation of the gums, causing infections, and the teeth will eventually fall out. Usually, fruit juice contains added sugar. Even pure options have high amounts of naturally-occurring sugars, which are harmful to the teeth. Statistics show that there is higher sugar content in pure fruit juices than a soda.

It Destroys the Enamel

The enamel of your kid’s teeth is more fragile than you may think. Other than been eaten away by the acid released in the mouth, acids found in fruit juices can wear away the enamel even further. Some of the drinks like lime and cranberry are more acidic than vinegar if taken excessively. With time, the juices can lead to cavities, increase teeth sensitivity, and eventually cause tooth loss. Many parents often offer fruit juice as a substitute for soda, as they believe the drinks will cause less harm to the teeth. The truth is, fruit juice is more acidic and will cause more damage. According to some studies, orange juice leads to reduced tooth hardness and the roughening of the teeth, increasing the risk of cavities and plaque. Fortunately, if your child likes taking fruit juice for lunch and dinner, you can take several measures to prevent teeth erosion. First, encourage them to use a straw. This helps to reduce the drink’s contact with your child’s teeth. Another way of achieving the objective is substituting acidic drinks with water.

Fruit juice for your child is fine in moderation. But for the most part, fluoridated water is a far better option. Talk to your child’s dentist for more information about fruit juice alternatives.