Dentist in Arlington TX Recommends “All-on-4” Surgical Protocol for Fixed Oral Rehabilitation, PART 3

This four-part article series takes a comprehensive look at the modern dental implant protocol able to give edentulous and near-edentulous patients a brand new set of fixed and non-removable teeth in as little as a single day.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on dental implants and how they offer an incredibly sophisticated, comprehensive and long-term solution to missing teeth. In our previous article post, the second installment of the series, the dentist in Arlington TX explained how the “All-on-4” dental implant protocol worked, as well as some of the key differences between it and traditional dental implant techniques. In this article, the third installment of the series, the dentist in Arlington will move on to explain how oral rehabilitation with the “All-on-4” affords edentulous (not having a single original tooth left) and near-edentulous patients a much higher quality of life.

Key Differences between “All-on-4” Implants and Removable Dentures

In our previous article post, the dentist in Arlington TX explained how the “All-on-4” technique worked. Essentially, to recap, it involves the placement of four dental implants in the jaw, which are subsequently used to support a fully customized and non-removable prosthetic dental bridge. The dental implants, explains the dentist in Arlington, provide all the support this bridge needs to function like a natural set of teeth; for eating, smiling and speaking. Many of the differences between the “All-on-4” and removable dentures arise from the fact that the former is permanently fixed in the mouth with dental implants, which are in turn ‘anchored’ in the jaw, whereas dentures are loose and rely on the gum-covered jaw bone ridge for support. Consequently:

• Removable dentures can shift around and fall out, causing acute social embarrassment and difficulty eating.
  
• Removable dentures exert pressure on the gums, causing inflammation, irritation, pain and discomfort for the patient. In fact, says the dentist in Arlington TX, after a few years of denture-wearing, the majority of patients prefer to eat without their teeth! This is a direct failure of the technology.
  
• Removable dentures require patients to buy adhesives and anesthetic gels to combat the above-mentioned problems. This is a repeated investment they will be required to make for a lifetime, or as long as they wear dentures, explains the dentist in Arlington.
  
• Removable dentures rely on their bulk to keep them stable. This can cause a number of problems for the patient, says the dentist in Arlington. It pushes on the lips from the inside causing unnatural (and aged) smile aesthetics. The bulkiness of dentures can also trigger the gag reflex and impede a patient’s ability to taste and enjoy their food properly, says the dentist in Arlington.
  
• Dentures can harbor food and bacteria causing bad breath and poor oral hygiene.
  
• Removable dentures compromise 75% of your bite functionality, says the dentist in Arlington TX! After 15 years of wearing dentures, patients lose 97% of their bite strength, which not only limits their diet severely, but also causes malnutrition in the elderly.
  

Because the bridge used in the “All-on-4” is supported by dental implants:

• It cannot shift around or fall out.
• It does not cause any pain, discomfort or inflammation of the underlying soft tissue.
• It feels entirely comfortable to eat with, says the dentist in Arlington TX.
• It does not require patients to constantly stock anesthetic gels and adhesives.
• The construction of the bridge is much slimmer and so it doesn’t tend to cause problems such as gagging and taste impediment, explains the dentist in Arlington.
• The “All-on-4” promotes the health of the underlying jaw bone and relies upon this hard tissue for all the support necessary for eating (as is the case with natural teeth.) As such, explains the dentist in Arlington TX, the “All-on-4” bridge supports a strong and fully functional bite, enabling patients to eat a balanced healthy diet without compromise.
• Owing to the slim construction of the “All-on-4” bridge and its tight fit against the gums, it cannot harbor food and bacteria.

Dentist in Arlington TX: Stay Tuned

To find out how the “All-on-4” dental implant technique is capable of providing patients with a brand new set of teeth in as little as a single day, with a single surgery, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series.

Arlington Dental Groups Recommend “All-on-4” Surgical Protocol for Fixed Oral Rehabilitation, PART 2

This four-part article series takes a comprehensive look at the modern dental implant protocol able to give edentulous and near-edentulous patients a brand new set of fixed and non-removable teeth in as little as a single day.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on dental implants and why they are, for those who have lost one or more or even all of their teeth, the clear choice in Arlington. In our previous introductory post, we began discussing why removable dentures, which have long been the main teeth replacement solution for edentulous (toothless) and near-edentulous patients, cannot rival modern dental implant protocols provided by Arlington dental groups. In this article, the second installment of the series, Arlington dental group professionals shall take a much closer look at the revolutionary “All-on-4” dental implant technique, explain how it works and why it offers far more sophisticated and long term solutions to missing teeth than dentures.

Arlington Dental Groups: What are “All-on-4” Dental Implants?

The “All-on-4” is a dental implant protocol that involves the affixing of a fully customized prosthetic dental bridge to the abutments of, as the name suggests, four dental implants per jaw. What this essentially means, explain professionals in the Arlington dental group, is that all you need are four dental implants per jaw in order to have a complete set of immediately functional and attractive teeth fixed in your mouth. Better yet, these teeth are non-removable, are looked after just like natural teeth and don’t cause any of the pain, discomfort and endless challenges that removable dentures do. This really makes the “All-on-4” the clear choice in Arlington for those who have either already lost all of their original adult teeth to periodontal (gum) disease, or who are about to.

Arlington Dental Groups: What If I’ve Been Told I’m Not a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Many long-time denture-wearers are told by Arlington dental group practitioners that they are not candidates for dental implants. But there is a distinction to be made between traditional dental implant protocols and the “All-on-4” technique. The problem arises from a lack of sufficient bone volume, explain Arlington dental group professionals. Denture-wearers and those who have lived without teeth for many, many years undergo substantial changes to their jaw bone. Without natural tooth roots to keep the jaw alive and stimulated, this hard tissue atrophies and wastes away, just like unexercised muscle tissue, explain professionals in Arlington dental groups. Dentures only replace the visible part of your teeth, but don’t do anything to stimulate the underlying jaw bone. Dental implants replace both the crowns of the teeth and the roots, which is why dentists, when it comes to tooth replacement, consider them to be the clear choice in Arlington.

Arlington Dental Groups and the “All-on-4” Avoiding Bone Grafting Surgery

After many, many years of edentulism, your jaw bone may have lost too much volume to support dental implants placed using traditional surgical methods. But the “All-on-4” protocol was specifically designed to avoid the need for bone grafting surgery, which would be the next step in oral rehabilitation if your jaw had indeed wasted away, explain professionals in Arlington dental groups. Through the careful placement and precise angulation of only four dental implants in regions of the jaw bone that naturally contain a greater volume of atrophy-resistant bone tissue, professionals in Arlington dental groups can find sufficient support for a prosthetic dental bridge (see image above). The benefits of this are numerous and make dental implants the clear choice in Arlington:

• It allows the dentist to skip the need for bone grafting surgery, which is an invasive procedure and very painful for the patient, explain Arlington dental group professionals.
• It saves patients the massive expense of having multiple surgeries, numerous implants placed and all that time spent in recovery.
• Arlington dental group practitioners can complete oral rehabilitation in a single day with as little as a single surgery and only four dental implants.
• Patients are literally able to save tens of thousands of dollars on getting a brand new set of teeth placed, making the “All-on-4” your clear choice in Arlington!

Your Clear Choice in Arlington Group: Stay Tuned

To find out how the solutions provided by the modern dental implant protocol, the “All-on-4” technique compare to removable dentures, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.

“All-on-4” Implant Dentistry in Arlington: Surgical Protocol for Fixed Oral Rehabilitation, PART 1

This four-part article series takes a comprehensive look at the modern dental implant protocol able to give edentulous and near-edentulous patients a brand new set of fixed and non-removable teeth in as little as a single day.

Implant dentistry in Arlington as we know it today is a field that was conceived in the 1950’s with the discovery of titanium’s biological compatibility with bone tissue. Dental implants went on to become popular in the 1980’s, offering people presenting with single, multiple and even total tooth loss a much better and long term alternative to dental bridges and removable dentures. It was only in 1993 that implant dentistry in Arlington underwent another massive leap with the advent of a surgical protocol that was better able to treat edentulous patients (not having a single original adult tooth left) and near-edentulous patients. In this four-part article series, we shall be taking a comprehensive look at the surgical protocol used to provide sophisticated and long term teeth replacement solutions to patients in desperate need of a new set of teeth. Removable dentures used to be the only option for these people, say professionals in implant dentistry in Arlington.

Now dental implants are the clear choice in Arlington!

Implant Dentistry in Arlington: Statistics of Edentulism in the United States

According to the Center for Disease Control, almost 30% of American adults over the age of 65 don’t have a single original tooth left. Not one. And this is almost always due to dental decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Before the availability of teeth replacement technologies offered by implant dentistry in Arlington, the people facing these kinds of crippling challenges would either have removable dentures placed, or somehow adapt to a life without teeth. However, when you consider the challenges, impediments and repeat expenses this archaic technology comes hand-in-hand with, it’s no wonder that dentists in Arlington and around the world recommend dental implants as the edentulous patient’s clear choice in Arlington.

Implant Dentistry in Arlington: Why Removable Dentures Just Won’t Cut It

A significant portion of patients who have already lost all of their teeth or who are facing an immediate future of edentulism opt for removable dentures as their tooth replacement technology. This is such a pity because these patients just don’t understand the crippling challenges, lifestyle impediments and repeated costs they are signing up for, explain professionals in implant dentistry in Arlington. Removable dentures were, at one time, the most sophisticated solutions dentists could offer toothless patients. But nowadays, with the sophisticated surgical protocols offered by implant dentistry in Arlington, fixed oral rehabilitation is available to one and all. We shall be exploring the benefits and advantages of these protocols over traditional approaches to edentulism (namely, dentures) in a later installment of this article series. But before we can explain why dental implants are the clear choice in Arlington, we need to take a look at how these modern techniques work and how the advent of the “All-on-4” technique revolutionized the field of implant dentistry in Arlington.

Implant Dentistry in Arlington: Stay Tuned

To find out how the modern dental implant protocol, the “All-on-4” technique, works and how it offers far superior solutions to edentulism than removable dentures, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series. Dental implants, whether you have lost one tooth or all of them, are the clear choice in Arlington!

Dentists in Arlington Texas: Your Frequently Asked Questions Answered! PART 4

This four-part article series answers the questions frequently asked by patients interested in cosmetically improving the symmetry, color or shape of their teeth.

In our previous three article posts, dentists in Arlington Texas have answered questions focusing on cosmetic procedures ranging from teeth whitening and ceramic crowns to crown lengthening, porcelain veneers and the link between cosmetic dentistry and general dentistry. In this article, the final installment of the series, we shall focus on FAQs about dental implants in Arlington. This tooth replacement technology is a great example of how the line between cosmetic and general dentistry can, at times, cease to exist altogether!

FAQ: If I’ve lost a couple of teeth over the years, what teeth replacement technology is most recommended by dentists in Arlington Texas?

Answer: Whether you have lost one, many or all of your teeth – and in most cases, regardless of the cause - dentists in Arlington Texas will time and again recommend dental implants. They are the most sophisticated, comprehensive and long-term solution to missing teeth that, unlike any other dental technology, supports a healthy jaw bone.

FAQ: Dental implants in Arlington may be the way to go, but doesn’t it hurt terribly to have them placed?

Answer: It is one of the most unfortunate misconceptions amongst patients that dental implant surgery is acutely painful, say dentists in Arlington Texas. The use of sophisticated computer imaging software enables dentists to perform implant procedures using minimal incisions and sutures, which is the primary source of post-operative pain. Furthermore, you will not be operated upon without the use of local or, in more complex cases of teeth replacement, general anesthesia, assure dentists in Arlington Texas. Patients even have the option to take a sedative prior to the procedure, so that your experience will be as pain and anxiety-free as possible. Sure, it would hurt if you had to place dental implants in Arlington without the benefit of all our modern technologies; protocols and analgesic medications, but then so would getting a filling!

FAQ: What’s the lifespan of dental implants in Arlington? Will they ever require replacement?

Answer: Dental implants in Arlington have a remarkable life span. If placed by qualified and experienced dentists in Arlington Texas and if cared for properly by you, the patient, your new teeth can last several decades, which is longer than any other teeth replacement technology. In fact, some patients have had their dental implants in for as long as 30 years with no sign of failure or need for restoration. Make sure you maintain a high standard of oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly and there’s no reason why you can’t keep a dental implant for just as long, advises dentists in Arlington Texas.

FAQ: I currently wear dentures and was told a few years ago that I’m not a candidate for dental implants because my jaw bone is too thin. Can dentists in Arlington Texas recommend anything else? I hate dentures!

Answer: They certainly can! Modern dental implant protocols enable skilled dentists in Arlington Texas to provide edentulous (toothless) and near edentulous patients with a brand new set of non-removable teeth that look, function and feel like natural teeth. Best of all, with ‘All-on-4’ dental implants in Arlington, they can almost always do this with a single surgery, in a single day! The bone in your jaw requires stimulation or ‘exercise’ in order to remain alive and vital, explain dentists in Arlington Texas. In a healthy jaw, this stimulation is provided by the tooth roots, which transmit the forces associated with biting, chewing and grinding into this hard tissue.

When all the teeth are lost, so too is this stimulation and, as a result, the jaw bone begins to atrophy, explain dentists in Arlington Texas. This can compromise a patient’s candidacy for dental implants in the long run, especially if they have been wearing dentures for many, many years. However, new and advanced dental implant protocols are able to overcome this traditional challenge and almost always without the need for bone grafting surgery first, say dentists in Arlington Texas. If you are interested in having a full set of permanent teeth placed, then speak to your dentist about the ‘All-on-4’ dental implant protocol.

Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Your Frequently Asked Questions Answered! PART 3

This four-part article series answers the questions frequently asked by patients interested in cosmetically improving the symmetry, color or shape of their teeth.

Welcome back to this, the third installment of a four-part article FAQ series on Arlington cosmetic dentistry. So far, we have answered some of your pressing questions concerning ceramic crowns, dental whitening and veneers. In this article, we shall continue addressing more of the questions frequently asked by patients who feel that their teeth and/or gums could benefit from the procedures or treatments offered by Arlington cosmetic dentistry.

FAQ: Why pay more money for a professional teeth whitening treatment when there are plenty over-the-counter products to choose from?

Answer: You need only check out the dental hygiene and healthcare aisle of the supermarket to appreciate the sheer diversity of teeth whitening products on the market. And with so many to choose from, why would you spend that little extra money on having a professional Arlington cosmetic dentistry treatment done? The answer is very simple: the concentration of bleaching agent (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) in these over-the-counter products is legally restricted. This is to protect the companies that manufacture these products against liability cases involving customers that have accidentally overused the product and have damaged their teeth and/or gums.

Professionals in Arlington cosmetic dentistry use whitening gels that contain a much higher percentage of the bleaching agent, but because they are qualified and experienced at administering such treatment, they can do so completely safely and with minimal side-effects. The bottom line is that a professional Arlington cosmetic dentistry teeth whitening treatment is going to give you much better, faster and more natural results than any over-the-counter product.

FAQ: What causes teeth staining in the first place and how can I prevent stains from re-accumulating after a teeth whitening treatment?

Answer: Our teeth become stained from the foods we eat and the liquids we drink, say professionals in Arlington cosmetic dentistry. Certain substances, such as coffee, tea, red wine, dark berries, beetroot and dark sodas contribute to dental discoloration, especially if consumed frequently over many years. While many of these indulgences aren’t bad for you, avoiding gradual tooth discoloration or preserving the results of a dental whitening treatment will require you to limit your intake of substances such as coffee, tea and red wine. Tobacco smoking is also one of the top tooth staining offenders, say professionals in Arlington cosmetic dentistry, so you should kick that habit… but that goes for many more reasons than just your smile aesthetics.

FAQ: My gums have grown right over the crowns of my teeth making them look short and stubby. What Arlington cosmetic dentistry procedure would it require to make them look normal again?

Answer: If the gums have grown abnormally over the crowns of your teeth, it could be because they have swollen in response to infection. You could have gingivitis, in which case professionals in Arlington cosmetic dentistry would either take the necessary steps to treat you for a gingival bacterial infection, or they would refer you to a periodontists; a gum specialist. If a little extra gum tissue is something you were born with, or something you’ve had for as long as you can remember, then there is a very straight-forward Arlington cosmetic dentistry procedure that could improve your smile aesthetics. It’s called ‘crown lengthening’ and it involves the removal of a thin strip of excess tissue at the gum line in order to reveal a greater and more natural-looking portion of the underlying tooth crown (see image below).

Arlington Cosmetic Dentistry: Stay Tuned

To read some final FAQ on Arlington cosmetic dentistry, stay tuned for the last installment of this four-part article series!

The Cosmetic Dentist in Arlington: Your Frequently Asked Questions Answered! PART 2

This four-part article series answers the questions frequently asked by patients interested in cosmetically improving the symmetry, color or shape of their teeth.

Back to find out more about what the cosmetic dentist in Arlington can do for your smile? In this article, the second installment of our four-part series, we shall continue answering more of the questions frequently asked by patients who feel that their teeth and/or gums could benefit from the procedures or treatments offered by the cosmetic dentist in Arlington.

FAQ: My teeth are healthy, but they aren’t shaped nicely. Their edges are and always have been somewhat jagged, making my smile unattractive. What would the cosmetic dentist in Arlington recommend?

Answer: Not everyone is born with perfectly straight and even teeth. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that your teeth are unhealthy, or unhealthier than someone who does have beautiful teeth, it can affect the quality of your smile. If the crowns of your teeth are jagged and uneven, as opposed to smooth and straight, you could be considered a candidate for dental veneers, says the cosmetic dentist in Arlington. A veneer is a wafer-thin shell of ceramic material that is custom made to fit the shape of your teeth; jagged edges, chips, cracks and all! During its fabrication, the veneer is made to fill out these imperfections in the tooth structure. Once the cosmetic dentist in Arlington has bonded the veneer to the front of the tooth or teeth requiring restoration (using very hard cement), the result will be a perfectly even and straight tooth! Catherine Zeta-Jones’ smile is a great example of the wonders porcelain veneers are capable of.

The cosmetic dentist in Arlington also uses porcelain veneers to:

• Make short stubby teeth appear longer,

• Camouflage heavy discoloration and staining of the dental enamel,

• Fill in chips and cracks in the tooth structure, and

• Fill in large spaces between teeth.

FAQ: One of my teeth was quite badly damaged in a car accident. I’m scared that the cosmetic dentist in Arlington will want to pull the tooth. Are there any other treatment options?

Answer: It is always the priority of the cosmetic dentist in Arlington to preserve your natural teeth rather than just pull them and replace them with a bridge or a dental implant. No amount of fancy or sophisticated technology can rival the durability and resilience of your own pearly whites! The only circumstance under which the cosmetic dentist in Arlington will recommend the extraction of the tooth is if he or she simply cannot save it. There are, thankfully, many things the dentist can do to rescue a heavily damaged tooth.

First of all, X-rays will be taken to help cosmetic dentist in Arlington diagnose the extent of the damage done to the tooth. If the pulp chamber has become infected, he or she will need to extract the nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue that make up the insides of your tooth before sterilizing and filling it with cement. This is essentially a root canal procedure and will be performed under a local anesthetic. The cosmetic dentist in Arlington will then remove the affected and/or decayed portion of the hard tooth structure, file the remaining tooth down to a nub and use molds of your teeth to have a ceramic tooth crown made for you (see image below).

FAQ: My teeth have become quite badly discolored. What procedures are offered by professionals in cosmetic dentistry in Arlington?

Answer: If a standard teeth whitening or deep bleaching treatments are insufficient to remove staining and discoloration, you could have porcelain veneers placed on your teeth. These, explains the cosmetic dentist in Arlington, are wonderful restorations for hiding the damage done to the dental enamel as a result of years’ worth of heavy smoking, coffee-drinking and other deleterious habits.

Cosmetic Dentist in Arlington: Stay Tuned

   

To read more FAQs from the cosmetic dentist in Arlington, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series!

Cosmetic Dentistry in Arlington: Your Frequently Asked Questions Answered! PART 1

This four-part article series answers the questions frequently asked by patients interested in cosmetically improving the symmetry, color or shape of their teeth.

Are you 100% happy with your smile?
Do you think your teeth could be a little brighter, a little straighter or a little more symmetrical?
Do you think your gum line could be a little higher or a little lower?
Do you wish your teeth weren’t so crowded, or spaced so far apart?

We’re not all born with perfectly white and even teeth. In fact, the ‘celebrity smile’ we all wish we had is the genetic exception rather than the rule. In any case, almost all those celebrities have had quite a bit of help from cosmetic dentistry in Arlington! If you, like so many others, answered yes to any of the above questions, then this four-part FAQ guide provided by professionals in cosmetic dentistry in Arlington may just provide you with the assistance and direction you need. Regardless of what you were born with, it could just be a simple and straight-forward procedure or treatment that stands between you and your red-carpet-ready smile!

FAQ: What do professionals in cosmetic dentistry in Arlington do?

Answer: Professionals in cosmetic dentistry in Arlington are, first and foremost, qualified dentists. They have all the training, skills and in-office technology necessary to provide you with quality dental healthcare. In addition to this foundation, these dentists have spent further time studying and mastering the various procedures, treatments and technologies necessary to restore and improve the cosmetic appearance of teeth and gums. These would include the placement and maintenance of porcelain veneers, ceramic tooth crowns, bridges and bonding. They also offer dental whitening and soft tissue procedures, such as gum grafts and crown lengthening.

FAQ: Will professionals in cosmetic dentistry in Arlington notify me if I have any serious oral health problems?

Answer: Absolutely! As it was explained in the previous question, professionals in cosmetic dentistry in Arlington are, first and foremost, trained and qualified dentists. If the reason behind your cosmetic imperfection is related to the health of your teeth, they will not perform a cosmetic procedure until any and all of your problems have been treated.

For example, if you wish to benefit from a dental whitening treatment because your teeth have become discolored from, for example, gum disease, professionals is cosmetic dentistry in Arlington will first assess the extent of the damage done by the bacterial infection. They will then treat it with a combination of antibiotic medications and the deep cleaning of your teeth and gums, which involves scaling the calculus (plaque and tartar) from the crowns and roots of your teeth using specialized dental tools. Only once the infection has completely cleared up and your oral health restored will professionals in cosmetic dentistry move forward with a teeth bleaching treatment.

FAQ: What happens if the cause behind a cosmetic imperfection is serious?

Answer: If the cause behind an imperfection compromises your oral health and hygiene in any way, then professionals in cosmetic dentistry in Arlington will always explain to you that treatment is needed first before restoration can take place. Having said this, oftentimes, the cosmetic correction doubles as the treatment! For example, if your teeth are over-crowded, you may be fitted with orthodontic braces, which will not only space your teeth more naturally and in a way that will optimize bite function and dental alignment, but it will correct your smile aesthetics in the process! There are actually very few exclusively cosmetic treatments offered by cosmetic dentistry in Arlington. Most of them will correct functionality AND aesthetic problems simultaneously.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Arlington: Stay Tuned

To read more FAQ on cosmetic dentistry in Arlington, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series!