Need New Teeth? Corona Del Mar Dentists Explain Everything You Need to Know, PART 4

This four-part article series provides an in-depth look at teeth replacement using dental implants. It explains what dental implants are, how they work and what procedures are required to place them.

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on getting new teeth with dental implants. In our previous post, Part 3, we explained what is typically involved in the surgical component of a dental implant procedure and the fact that, in most cases, implants can be used to provide patients with new teeth in as little as one day! Now, let’s explore post-operative recovery after getting dental implants and what Corona Del Mar patients can expect from it.

Does it Hurt, Doc?

It’s the most frequently asked question by patients who are scheduled for dental implant surgery: does it hurt? The answer is, thankfully, not nearly as much as you think. In fact, most patients hardly experience any discomfort at all!

“During surgery, you will be completely numbed, so you will be kept entirely comfortable,” explains a Corona Del Mar dentist. “Once the anesthesia has worn off after surgery, you may experience a little discomfort, especially when you bite down, but this typically disappears after a few days and isn’t anything that can’t be managed with over-the-counter pain medications.”

Post-Operative Recovery

In the days and weeks following dental implant placement, you’ll notice the swelling and inflammation of the gum surrounding your new teeth subsiding. You’ll grow accustomed to the fit and feel of your new teeth and within no time at all, your mouth will seem as though it’s back to normal. But the healthy pink veneer of the gum covering your new teeth belies the magic that’s happening underneath…

“Once an implant has been placed, the jawbone surrounding it begins to fuse to its surface. No other metal on the periodic table is considered as compatible with the human body as titanium and this is why your jawbone is actually able to form a strong biological bond to the surface of the implant,” says the dentist. “We term this process osseointegration and it’s the reason dental implants are non-removable.”

Post-Operative Instructions for Care

You will be sent home after surgery with instructions for the care and maintenance of your new teeth. You will be required to brush and floss as per usual, but for the first few weeks, you should be very careful about the foods you eat. You shouldn’t eat anything hard, crunchy or chewy as this might compromise the healing of the implant. Additionally, you shouldn’t smoke, have too much alcohol or engage in any strenuous activities or exercise as these may all lead to a greater risk of implant failure.

Essentially, Corona Del Mar dentists encourage patients to give their body a rest, so that they can get their recovery off to a good start. If you notice any problems at all, such as continued bleeding or pain, it’s important to call your implant surgeon right away. Timely intervention can prevent the need for additional surgery.

A Final Note

And there you have it: The A-Z on getting new teeth from the very dental healthcare professionals who place and restore dental implants in Corona Del Mar on a daily basis!

Need New Teeth? Newport Beach Dental Implant Dentists Explain Everything You Need to Know, PART 3

This four-part article series provides an in-depth look at teeth replacement using dental implants. It explains what dental implants are, how they work and what procedures are required to place them.

Welcome to the third installment of this four-part article series on getting new teeth with dental implants. In our previous post, Part 2, we began explaining the first step on any patient’s journey and that was their initial consultation with a Newport Beach dental implant surgeon. It was also discussed that, as a part of the treatment planning component of this journey, those requiring more complex teeth replacement procedures may be required to come in for one or more additional consultations. But, this is something that will be discussed with you in detail at the time of your first appointment.

Now, we shall take a look at the actual procedure involved and how most modern surgical techniques make it possible for Newport Beach residents to get new teeth in one day.

Dental Implant Surgery and Getting New Teeth in One Day

It’s the day of your procedure and by the end of it you will, in all likelihood, have a beautiful new tooth or new teeth again! Or at least this is what is entirely possible with today’s modern and sophisticated dental implant procedures.

Once you have arrived at the dental implant practice and have taken an oral sedative or two (if recommended by your dental implants dentist and if desired by you), you will be prepped for your procedure. Your mouth will be numbed so that you don’t experience any pain or discomfort while you are receiving your new tooth or teeth.

“We begin the procedure by removing the problematic tooth or teeth. In cases of advanced gum disease, this typically means extracting all of a patient’s remaining failing teeth and then thoroughly cleaning the gums and empty tooth sockets to minimize the risk of post-operative infection,” explains one Newport Beach dental implant dentist.

“We then gently insert a dental implant at the site of the missing tooth and suture up the gum. Once surgery has been drawn to a close, a restorative dentist or prosthodontist comes in to fit the patient’s new tooth. Cases requiring full mouth reconstruction and a brand new set of teeth are somewhat different. We typically make use of four implants per jaw, which are strategically placed so as to provide a sturdy foundation for a non-removable prosthetic dental bridge.”

“This dental appliance looks and functions very similar to a complete set of teeth,” explains the surgeon. “The particular dental implant technique we typically make use of it called the All-on-4 and in most cases it can provide patients with new teeth in one day.”

What Happens Now?

Once your new tooth or teeth have been attached to your dental implants, you will be free to return home for a much-deserved rest and even a light meal. It is generally advised that you take at least a couple of days off from work if you’ve had all of your teeth replaced. But, if you’ve just received one dental implant, there’s no reason you can’t get right back on that horse and return to your daily activities and chores the day after. Just be sure to adhere to your dentist’s post-operative instructions for care and maintenance!

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read more about what you need to know about dental implants and the procedure required to get new teeth in one day, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series.

Need New Teeth? Newport Beach Dentists Explain Everything You Need to Know, PART 2

This four-part article series provides an in-depth look at teeth replacement using dental implants. It explains what dental implants are, how they work and what procedures are required to place them.

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on getting new teeth with dental implants. If you have lost one or more or even all of your natural pearly whites, this series will explain everything you need to know about dental implants: regarded by Newport Beach dental healthcare professionals as the most sophisticated teeth replacement technique on the market.

In our previous post, Part 1, we began by explaining what dental implants are and when they might be needed. Now, let's take a look at the procedure required to get them.

Getting New Teeth Implants: What to Expect

As with any dental or medical procedure, your journey begins with an appointment with a doctor. In the case of new teeth implants, your medical professional will be skilled in the placement and restoration of dental implants. During your initial consultation, your surgeon will perform a visual examination and take a couple of X-rays to come up with a comprehensive diagnosis of your problem. If the tooth cannot be saved via root canal therapy or some other restorative dental work, then he or she will begin planning your treatment.

Newport Beach residents can expect to provide their dental implant surgeon with a complete medical history and to have impressions or molds taken of their teeth. This will help the laboratory technicians fabricate a replacement tooth or set of teeth for you. If you have any questions at all about getting new teeth implants, now is the time to ask your surgeon! The procedure will be explained in full detail to you and a date for surgery set. If you find yourself getting really nervous about your procedure, tell your dentist and he or she will ensure that they have a couple of oral sedatives waiting for you on the day you get your new teeth implants.

Great News: Some new teeth implants surgeons in Newport Beach work closely with medical financing companies to make it easier for patients to cover the costs of treatment.

Treatment Planning

If a patient is only getting one tooth replaced, they typically only need to come in for one initial consultation. But, if they are having many or all of their teeth replaced, we may require them to come in for one or more treatment planning sessions subsequent to their initial consultation and prior to their surgery. During these sessions, we will take 3D scans of the patient's jawbone and dentition using a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scanner. The resultant images will help us plan the surgery in great detail and in such a way that we can minimize complications and trauma and maximize the outcomes.

The use of sophisticated computer software programs and 3D treatment mapping in the planning of dental implant surgery has resulted in it being far less traumatic for patients. Additionally, the recovery required after having new teeth implants placed is typically far shorter and less painful, given that surgery is quicker, more efficient and requires far less "discovery", which means fewer incisions and sutures.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To find out more about what you need to know about dental implants in Newport Beach and the procedure required to get them, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.

Need New Teeth? Corona Del Mar Dentists Explain Everything You Need To Know, PART 1

This four-part article series provides an in-depth look at teeth replacement using dental implants. It explains what dental implants are, how they work and what procedures are required to place them.

Losing teeth is something that is pretty much inevitable for most, if not all Corona Del Mar residents at some stage in our lives. Whether it’s due to trauma sustained in a bad accident or the work of bacterial decay, your teeth are not invulnerable and can fall out or require extraction at any age. What’s important is that you act swiftly when dental problems do arise. And if it’s too late to prevent tooth loss, the decisions you make afterwards with regards to getting new teeth are still just as important.

 

Dental Implants: The Clear Choice for New Teeth

Dental implants are regarded by dental healthcare specialists in Corona Del Mar, and around the world in fact, to be the best solution there is to teeth that require replacement. To name but a few reasons for this, they are non-removable and feel, function and look very similar to natural teeth; far more than any other teeth replacement technology available today.

Naturally, considering the popularity of dental implants, Corona Del Mar residents have many questions about them. How do they work? What procedures are required to have them placed? Do they hurt? And so, in this four-part article series, we shall endeavor to address all of them with an in-depth look into the world of dental implants! Let’s begin with a definition…

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small posts or screws that are fabricated from medical grade titanium metal. Titanium, as many people know, is a very strong metal and is used in the manufacture of professional sports equipment and even spacecraft and fighter jets! And so, these implants, which are placed in the jaw at the site of the missing tooth, provide a very durable and strong foundation for a replacement tooth.

The replacement tooth is often made from composite ceramic material and is carefully constructed so as to closely resemble the tooth it is replacing. These materials are also exceptionally durable and so you can use your new teeth to eat most, if not all of your favorite foods. It should be noted that the dental implant itself is not typically visible above the gum line and so the overall effect is really very natural and virtually indistinguishable from any healthy tooth, according to Corona Del Mar dental implants dentists.

When Are Dental Implants Needed?

Dental implants are typically recommended to patients who have lost one or more of their teeth to accidental trauma that has lead to the irreparable damage of and/or contamination of the pulp chamber. Tooth decay and gum disease also claim the lives of millions of teeth every year in America and can necessitate the replacement of teeth that have become irreparably damaged.

“Essentially, if you need new teeth because your old ones are terminal or failing, dental implants can possibly provide you with the best solution modern dentistry offers,” says a Corona Del Mar dental implant dentist who provides patients with new implant-supported teeth.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To find out more about what you need to know about dental implants and the procedure required to get new teeth in Corona Del Mar, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series.