You’ve probably heard about the importance of regular dental visits. You may think it’s a burdensome thing to do every few months, but it has several advantages.
1. Frequency of Dental Visits and Tooth Loss Are Related
The more you visit your dentist, the better your teeth will be. This isn’t just a societal norm – it’s solid science. A study conducted by the University of Michigan’s School of Dentistry explored the link between tooth loss and dental visits. The study found the rate of tooth loss is inversely proportional to the number of dental visits. The more frequently people visit their dentists, the lower their rate of tooth loss.
The study considered patients with and without three risk factors. These included smoking, diabetes, and interleukin-1 genetic variations. Across the board, it was discovered that regular dental visits would benefit both high-risk and low-risk patients.
The only difference was the high-risk patients would benefit from more frequent dental visits. The low-risk patients would likely benefit from a single cleaning a year.
2. Regular Dental Visits Ensure Healthier Mouths
Both the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics agree that regular visits to the dentist is beneficial. The earlier these visits begin, the healthier a person’s mouth will be as they age. According to both organizations, everyone should visit a dentist by the age of 1. Frequent dental visits help people maintain good oral hygiene and develop healthy eating habits.
These habits take shape early and can be extrapolated into good dental hygiene in the future. Dental visits ensure dentists clean out plaque and check for unobtrusive cavities.
3. Checking for Mouth Cancer
At every dental appointment, most dentists check for signs of mouth, head and neck cancer. These signs include any red or white patches inside the mouth. Usually, these checks won’t find anything terminal or dangerous at all. However, regularly visiting your dentist could potentially catch early signs of a developing cancer and save your life.
These benefits prove regular visits to the dentist are beneficial for the average person. Book a visit to your dentist if you haven’t in a while, and make sure you visit them regularly. At Smile League Dental, we are committed to serving individuals and families with the best dental procedures in Illinois. Our clinic is located just two minutes from the Louis Joliet Mall – between Joliet, Plainfield, Crest Hill and Aurora axis. Start your dental journey right now by contacting us today to book an appointment. Call 815-782-6243 and take charge of your oral health.
Your smile can light up a room. It is one of the first things a person sees when you meet them. Since it influences first impressions, don’t you want to ensure the best care for your teeth? If you have missing teeth and want to improve your smile, the best option for replacement (in most cases) are dental implants.
What Is A Dental Implant?
Unlike dentures, which are removable, or bridges, which are fixed to other adjacent teeth, a dental implant is a metal post inserted into the bone in the jaw. With time, it fuses with the bone in the jaw and can then be restored with a crown – if replacing a single tooth, or with a full denture or prosthesis – if replacing all the teeth in the jaw.
Types of Dental Implants
You can choose between two types of implants, depending on the status of your teeth.
Endosteal Implants
These are the most common types of dental implants. Made of titanium and shaped like tiny screws, these are placed directly in the jawbone.
Subperiosteal Implants
These implants are placed under the gum line, but above or directly onto the jawbone. This procedure is recommended for individuals who have weak teeth or a delicate jawbone. It is also preferred by people who don’t want to undergo bone augmentation to correct the issue.
Types of Restoration materials in Dental Implant
Dental implants are made of titanium, which has been used for years because it resists corrosion.
For a dental implant to be functional it needs an abutment and then a crown (if a single tooth or teeth are restored) or a prosthesis, like a denture (if all the teeth in the arch are restored)
The abutment, which connects the implant in the jawbone to the prosthesis (which is either a crown or denture), may also be made of titanium. Some dentists may use abutments made from ceramic depending on factors like site and esthetics.
The crown or the artificial tooth comes in different materials as well. For example, if you want to replace your front teeth, the crown inserted may be made of porcelain or metal. Porcelain (ceramic) crowns may be used in anteriors or front teeth or posteriors or back teeth. These have the same sheen as natural teeth and can be easily tinted to match the rest of your teeth. Metallic crowns may be recommended for back molars because those aren’t as visible. These also have higher tensile strength and are more resistant to fracture. Hence, durability during function, like chewing of food is ensured. They are a very good choice for people who brux/grind or people who have a high mastication or chewing force index.
Who Should Get Dental Implants?
Anyone can get dental implants if they are able to undergo the procedure without difficulty. In other words, if you have a healthy jaw and gums and have good oral hygiene, the procedure is perfect for you. However, if you smoke heavily, have heart disease or poor oral hygiene, or underwent radiation therapy near the mouth (such as in your neck and head), you may not qualify. Your dentist will ask you to go through some tests to see if you can get receive implants without any issues.
At Smile League Dental, we are committed to serving individuals and families with the best dental procedures in Illinois. This includes children, adults and elderly clients. Our clinic is located just two minutes from the Louis Joliet Mall – between Joliet, Plainfield, Crest Hill and Aurora axis. We provide excellent diagnostic assessments and cosmetic and preventive dental services in these areas as well as the wider Chicago area. Book an appointment today by calling 815-782-6243 and take charge of your oral health.
The abutment, which connect the implant in the jawbone to the prosthesis, which is either a crown or denture, is made of the same material.
Some dentists may use ceramic abutments (an abutment is the connecting piece between the implant and as well.
The crown or the artificial tooth comes in several materials. For example, if you want to replace your front teeth, the implants put in will be made of porcelain or ceramic because these have the same sheen as natural teeth and can be easily tinted to match the rest of your teeth.
In some cases, metallic crowns can be recommended for back molars because those aren’t as visible. Another reason these are made of metal is the material is durable enough to chew food with them. It is also a good choice for people who may damage their implants with time.
Who Should Get Dental Implants?
Anyone can get dental implants if they are able to undergo the procedure without difficulty. In other words, if you have a healthy jaw and gums and have good oral hygiene, the procedure is perfect for you. However, if you smoke heavily, have heart disease or poor oral hygiene, or underwent radiation therapy near the mouth (such as in your neck and head), you may not qualify. Your dentist will ask you to go through some tests to see if you can get receive implants without any issues.
At Smile League Dental, we are committed to serving individuals and families with the best dental procedures in Illinois. This includes children, adults and elderly clients. Our clinic is located just two minutes from the Louis Joliet Mall – between Joliet, Plainfield, Crest Hill and Aurora axis. We provide excellent diagnostic assessments and cosmetic and preventive dental services in these areas as well as the wider Chicago area. Book an appointment today by calling 815-782-6243 and take charge of your oral health.
Sometimes, my patients say, “I know I have a cavity, and I think I need a filling”; Then I ask if they know what a filling is, and they say “No”. And then, the education begins.
Wonder why a Dental filling?…
A filling is needed when we have a cavity. Cavities are decays and can appear as dark, grey or chalky white spots on teeth. They are mostly found on chewing surfaces of teeth (especially the back surfaces). Cavities are treated with sealants (surface cavities) or fillings.
Find out more about sealants
Think of a filling as a good fix to treat a potential bigger problem that could result in pain and infection. When left untreated, cavities can be very painful and would need a more invasive procedure called a root canals.
Any area of the tooth appears as dark, grey, or chalky white spot
Pain that can be traced to the same tooth when you chew or occurs by itself
What to do if you have a cavity
After you have been diagnosed of a cavity, your dentist would give you the option, most possibly for a filling (if it has not infected your nerve, or if you have no symptoms).
The filling can be made of alloy (appears silver) or resin (appears white)
Silver fillings (amalgam) have been used many years ago, and are still in use today to replace decayed areas on teeth (holes on teeth). They are known for durability when used to restore large cavities, ease of placement and less risk of saliva contamination especially in children and special needs population. Controversies have surrounded their impact on general health, due to the mercury content. According to American Dental Association, Silver fillings or amalgams have no negative health consequences because mercury mixed together with other metals compositions, form a very stable material, which does not leach. The downside of amalgams is primarily the silver, darkish appearance which is not esthetic in appearance.
White fillings (composite) are known for the esthetic appearance and serve as the filling of choice in front teeth, and teeth within the smile zone. Composites are also durable, but may be less durable than silver fillings, especially to restore large cavities. Also, they require more time for placement, and are technique sensitive, as they fail when contaminated by fluid.
At Smile League Dental, we are particular about making you have a beautiful smile that is long lasting. Contact us today for any concerns about cavities on 815-782-6243 or smileleaguedental
Dentures are removable replacements for the surrounding tissues and missing teeth. Dentures can be installed as an option for tooth loss resulting from injury, tooth decay, or gum disease. They make it easier to speak and eat better if you do are missing some teeth. Losing your teeth can make your facial muscles sag and make you look older than you actually are. Dentures can be designed to look just like your natural teeth so that there is little to no change in your appearance. There are three kinds of dentures as explained below.
Removable Complete Dentures
These dentures sit atop of the gums where there were missing teeth. Initially, it may be uncomfortable and it can affect how you taste food causing sore gums. They can also click and shift in your mouth whenever you cough, yawn, smile, eat, or speak. The initial costs can be low and they can last for about 7 to 15 years with significant long-term replacement costs. These dentures are usually made and put in the mouth once the remaining teeth have been removed and the tissues are completely healed. This can take a few months.
Removable Partial Dentures
These dentures are usually designed for the replacement of missing teeth from the same arch. They are also ideal for replacing teeth, which might or might not be next to each other. Partial dentures are made from an acrylic base that can be strengthened using a cobalt chrome metal framework in some cases. These dentures often have metal clasps designed to fit over your remaining teeth to hold the denture in place firmly but still allowing easy removal. Some of them are made using a flexible nylon material while the clasps are made using gum-colored nylon to ensure they are less visible when in the mouth.
Removable partial dentures can be taken out of the mouth easily for cleaning purposes. Your dentist can also recommend caps or crowns on your natural teeth to improve the partial dentures fit while in your mouth. Partial dentures are meant to be taken out at bedtime and put back in once you wake up. As you get older, your mouth will change,mostly due to the bone losing more of its structures/thicknesss, meaning your removable partial dentures might not be able to fit any more. They can also chip or crack and one of the teeth may become loose. If this happens, you may have to contact your dentist for options such as repair, reline, or remake of the partial dentures.
Missing a tooth? Read on other options for replacement
Overdentures or All-on-four Implant Supported Dentures
At times, you can save some of your teeth to preserve the jawbone and offer support and stability for this type of denture. Overdentures are usually prepared by a dentist to fit over your natural teeth if there are very few remaining. You can reinforce a full-arch lower denture with only four implants but an upper denture might require at least six implants to offer support. Treatment using Overdentures involves inserting two implants at the front of the dental arch where your missing teeth used to be. The two remaining implants are placed at a 45-degree angle on either side tilting to the back of your mouth. The overdenture will then clip onto the installed dental implants with special attachments on the fitting surface.
New dentures will feel odd in your mouth for a few weeks until you get used to them. Dentures may also feel slightly loose until your tongue and your cheek muscles learn to keep them stationary. Your saliva flow will also increase temporarily, you may experience slight soreness, and irritation but once your mouth get used to the dentures, these issues will go away.
Ever wondered what replacement options are available when missing a tooth or teeth?
Missing teeth can make you quite aware of how important they are to your dental health and your looks. The teeth have been designed to help you smile, speak, and chew and if you are missing some teeth, it can be hard to do some of these things. Losing even a back tooth can lead to shifting of the mouth and the dental formula making your face appear older. The good news is that you can easily replace missing teeth using implants, fixed bridges or dentures. Based on what you need, the doctor will suggest an advisable replacement option. Replacement teeth are designed to last for several years, so it is essential to select a treatment that is good for you.
Implants
Dentist in Joliet- Dental implant
Most patients will choose dental implants to replace one or more missing teeth or to support a complete set of dentures. They are dental posts that are placed in the lower or upper jaw surgically to act as a strong anchor for the replacement teeth. They are made using a strong yet lightweight metal known as titanium or other materials accepted by the body. Dental implants are very popular as a replacement option because they are stable and secure making them an appropriate replacement. In order to get implants, you should be in good health overall for you to get the surgery required. You also need to have sufficient bone to support the dental implant. If not, you will need surgery to develop the area that requires the implant. You will also have to commit to regular dental visits and a daily oral care routine.
Fixed Bridge
Dentist in Joliet- crowns and bridges
This is a replacement option that involves filling the space where the teeth were lost by cementing or bonding a fixed bridge into place. There are resin-bonded bridges and tooth-supported fixed bridges. Tooth-supported fixed bridges are a common alternative to dental implants if you are missing a single tooth. They involve the intentional damage of the healthy teeth adjacent to the gap to support and attach the bridge. This type of bridge does not encourage bone growth naturally underneath it meaning the bone can deteriorate with time. Resin-bonded bridges or Maryland Bridges are often considered to replace front teeth because they do not endure the chewing and biting demands of the back teeth. This bridge has wings on each direction to attach to the healthy teeth adjacent to the gap. However, it does not involve grinding down the other teeth. A resin-bonded bridge is better in terms of function and appearance but it is weaker than fixed bridgework and does not last as long as implants do.
Why do I need a crown or bridge? read more
Affordable Dentures
Dentist in Joliet- Denture
Dentures fall into removable complete dentures and removable partial dentures. While complete dentures are replacement options for people with no teeth, removal partial dentures, replace partially lost teeth. Dentures will help you fill out your profile and facial appearance, and give you back your smile. They can be designed to look like your natural teeth. New dentures can feel awkward for several weeks and it will take time to get used to them. They might feel loose until your tongue and cheeks learn how to keep the dentures in place. Overdentures or All-on-four implant supported dentures involve the insertion of implants in the bone or arch. These implants further reinforce the stability of the dentures, as it grips and stabilizes the dentures better. That way, no matter how many candle sticks you blow, they never pop out. Speak with your Doctor about your options.
At Smile League Dental. your comfort and oral health is our priority! We offer Dental implant placement and restorations at very affordable prices. Give us a call today on 815-782-6243 or contact us at www.smileleaguedental.com/contact
Mon to Thur 9am- 6pm and Friday 9am- 8pm; Saturday 9am-3pm.
smileleaguedental@gmail.com
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