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Beyond Dental Bridges - Are Implants The Right Choice For You

Beyond Dental Bridges – Are Implants The Right Choice For You?

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When we talk about replacing missing teeth, the conventionally used options are removable dentures and teeth bridges. While these options have been used for many years to replace missing teeth, they have drawbacks. For example, removable dentures do not completely restore one’s ability to chew food and are prone to staining and fracture. Similarly, tooth bridges require the removal of healthy tooth structure from the supporting teeth for their attachment. More importantly, both these options had a limited service lifetime. 

But, thanks to modern dentistry, a newer tooth replacement option is available, which is not only highly durable but also restores one’s chewing and speech efficiency, giving them a naturally beautiful smile. So say hello to dental implants!

Which Is Better, A Dental Bridge, Dental Implant, Or A Gap?

Let us consider what will happen if we don’t replace a missing tooth. As soon as a tooth is lost, the bone around it starts to degrade very fast, resulting in changes in one’s facial appearance. Secondly, the opposing tooth and the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth begin to creep into the gap, resulting in spacing between the teeth and misalignment. So, leaving a missing tooth unreplaced is not a good idea.

Now, let us discuss which is better; a bridge or dental implant. A bridge is a fixed prosthesis that rests on adjacent supporting teeth and fills the vacant gap using dental crowns. So, dental bridges require natural tooth removal. On the other hand, dental implants are embedded directly within the jawbone, just like natural teeth. As a result, they remain firmly anchored and support the prosthesis – such as a crown, denture, or bridge – that is attached to them. Furthermore, an implant is highly durable and safe for use in the oral cavity. In fact, an implant can last for a lifetime if it is looked after properly, So dental implants are better than bridges when it comes to tooth replacement. 

When Would You Chose A Dental Implant Or A Bridge?

The latter should always be preferred when choosing between dental implants and teeth bridges. Why, because dental implants offer lifelike aesthetics, are durable, and restore one’s ability to eat and speak without difficulty. The only case when dental implants may not be suitable is when one is suffering from bone disease or has recently undergone cancer radiation therapy. 

How Permanent Are Dental Bridges?

Like other dental prostheses, dental bridges have a limited lifespan. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the average life of teeth bridges is about 5 years. However, their life can be enhanced significantly if they are looked after properly through oral hygiene maintenance and regular dental checkup visits. 

Can You Replace An Old Dental Bridge With An Implant?

Yes, it is possible to replace a bridge with an implant-supported prosthesis. However, the implant will only replace the missing tooth. But, the tooth structure removed from the healthy supporting teeth will need to be restored with a filling, with or without a crown. To fill the gap created by the missing tooth, your dentist will insert an implant that supports a zirconia crown.  

Which Is Better, An Implant Or A Bridge If You Have Poor Gums?

Neither an implant nor a bridge is suitable for tooth replacement when there is underlying gum inflammation. In fact, dentists do not perform any treatment in the presence of gum disease. Instead, they will first treat the periodontal disease with oral hygiene instructions and professional teeth cleaning and only then proceed with tooth replacement with a bridge or an implant-supported prosthesis. 

Are Implants Better Or A Bridge For A Molar Replacement?

Molars are our back teeth that are used for grinding. These teeth receive very heavy biting forces. Hence, your dentist will use a sufficiently strong and durable prosthesis to replace a missing molar tooth. Therefore, the best option to replace a back tooth is an implant-supported zirconia crown and not a bridge. Why? First, bridges need healthy tooth removal from the supporting teeth. Secondly, bridges are not as strong or durable as dental implants. So, implants are a better option for replacing molar teeth. 

Can Dental Implants Cause Gum Disease?

Dental implants are made of high-quality titanium, highly durable, safe, and non-allergic. However, dental implants require the same oral hygiene care as one’s own teeth. If oral hygiene around dental implants is ignored, food impaction tends to occur around the implant-oral soft tissue margin, leading to an inflammatory condition called peri-implantitis. Such a condition can even lead to implant failure. Hence, optimal oral hygiene must be maintained around implants to avoid soft tissue inflammation. 

Can You Get Dental Implants If Your Gums Are Infected?

It is not advisable to get dental implants with underlying gum disease. This is because gum disease causes the bones to degrade. As a result, they cannot anchor the implant and its prosthesis, leading to implant failure. The best practice is to treat gum disease first and then proceed with implant therapy. 

Can Food Particles Get Lodged Between Implants And The Gums?

If oral hygiene maintenance is ignored, there are chances that food particles may get trapped between the implant and the oral soft tissues, causing inflammation. Therefore, oral hygiene around implants must be maintained through brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkup visits. 

Is There Any Age Factor For Dental Implant Treatment?

Dental implants are generally placed in patients who have already grown all their permanent teeth, and their pubertal growth spurt is over. Apart from that, there is no upper age limit for getting implants. So you could get your missing teeth replaced with dental implants in your 80s or 90s, provided you’re in good health. 

Are you fed up with your uncomfortable dentures or teeth bridges? If yes, it is time to say goodbye to them and say hello to a beautiful and lasting smile with dental implants. If you live in Solihull, Solihull Dental Centre and Implant Centre is your best option to get your teeth replaced with dental implants. So, book an appointment with us today and let us give you a smile you genuinely deserve. 

Dental Cleaning - Everything You Need To Know

Dental Cleaning – Everything You Need To Know

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Do you want to enjoy pearly white teeth without the need for professional teeth whitening? An essential requirement for having sparkling white, beautiful teeth is to keep them clean through regular brushing and flossing. However, in some, cases despite maintaining optimal oral hygiene, dental problems still develop. This is where professional dental cleaning – also known as professional teeth cleaning – comes in. 

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planning or professional teeth cleaning, is a procedure in which your dentist will remove plaque and tartar deposits from your teeth. This is done to treat inflammation of the gums and the underlying jawbone. 

If your dentist has recommended deep cleaning your teeth and are not sure what this procedure involves, this article is for you. Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about professional teeth cleaning. 

Why Is Dental Deep Cleaning Necessary?

Despite meticulous oral hygiene care through brushing and flossing, a thin layer of food debris can form on our teeth known as dental plaque, especially in the tight spaces between the teeth where the bristles of a toothbrush cannot reach.

Over time, this plaque hardens to become the calculus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bacteria utilise the sugars inside plaque and tartar and release harmful products that cause gum inflammation and teeth cavities. The harmful bacteria inside the plaque can also enter the bloodstream to cause infection in other body organs – some of which may prove life-threatening. 

The simplest solution to this problem is professional cleaning. During a routine dental checkup, your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums for signs of underlying gum inflammation. If they find inflamed, bleeding and swollen gums along with plaque and tartar deposits. 

Can You Get Gum Infection After Deep Cleaning?

Your dentist, hygienist or periodontal specialist will perform deep cleaning to minimize the chances of development of gum inflammation. A deep cleaning procedure removes plaque and tartar deposits from the teeth and below the gumline, thereby getting rid of the bacteria that cause disease.

Therefore, the chances of development of gum infection immediately after teeth cleaning are very low. However, the infection can reappear if you do not look after your oral hygiene, which results in the re-attachment of plaque deposits on the teeth. 

Is It Painful To Get A Deep Cleaning At The Dentist?

During deep cleaning, your dentist will use an ultrasonic scaler, whose tip vibrates at a very high frequency to remove the plaque and tartar deposits. Most people feel a slight sensation of vibration during professional cleaning. However, people having sore or tender gums may feel some pain or discomfort. To prevent this, your dentist will apply cotton soaked in a local anaesthetic to make them pain-free. Therefore, the simple answer is – no, you won’t feel any pain during the teeth cleaning procedure. 

Why Is A Teeth Cleaning Often Painful?

Most people a feel a sense of pressure on their teeth during professional cleaning, which they often confuse with pain. However, in cases where your dentist has to go below the gumline to remove the plaque and tartar deposits, you may feel pain. Periodontists prevent this situation by making the gums numb with a local anaesthetic. 

What Does The Dentist Or Hygienist Do At The Appointment?

During your appointment, your dentist or dental hygienist will use various specialised equipment to remove plaque and tartar. First, they will numb your gums. Afterwards, they will use an ultrasonic scaler to remove the adherent deposits.

You may experience bleeding from your gums during, whcih is nothing to worry about. Also, your teeth may become sensitive for a few days, and may bleed spontaneously, which is also normal. This sensitivity, swelling, and bleeding will go away in a few days as your gums and the underlying jawbone begin to heal. 

How To Have Healthy Teeth Naturally?

As discussed earlier, the secret to having naturally healthy, sparkling white teeth and pink gums, is optimal oral hygiene maintenance. All you need to is to brush your teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once a day, and visit your dentist regularly for checkups.

If you can do this, you won’t have to worry about any dental problem anymore. Not only will you enjoy excellent oral and physical helath, but you will also be a proud owner of a naturally beautiful and attractive smile. 

Tips For Healthy Teeth And Gums

Clean teeth are healthy teeth. Here are few tips that can help you maintain healthy teeth and gums:

  1. Brush using a fluoride containing toothpaste 
  2. Use dental floss or Waterpik to remove interdental plaque 
  3. Use fluoride-containing mouthwash for added benefit 
  4. Eat a tooth-friendly diet and avoid foods containing carbohydrates and processed sugars
  5. Avoid parafunctional habits like nail-biting or tongue thrust
  6. Never use your teeth as bottle openers or scissors!

Follow these tips and you won’t have dental problems in future.

Another important that can save you from expensive dental treatment on avoidable problems is regular dental checkups and teeth cleaning. At Solihull Dental Centre and Implant Clinic, we believe in preventing dental problems before they occur.

That is why emphasize greatly on the importance of regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings. If you wish to enjoy a perfect set of teeth and healthy, beautiful smile, then Solihull Dental Centre and Implant Dentistry should be your first choice. So, book a consultation appointment today and let us take care of your family’s dental health.

Why is Dentistry so Expensive in the UK

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Why is dentistry so expensiveWhy is dentistry so expensive?

We often get asked this question by friends as well as patients and so we thought it would be a good idea  to write a blog post which highlights the costs involved in dentistry and why it may sometimes seem expensive.

The first thing that is important to point out is that dentistry is NOT expensive,  it is NEGLECT which it is expensive!

If you manage to look after your teeth from a young age, maintaining your dental health to a higher level you should find (assuming you have no congenital reason for any problems) that your teeth and gums remain healthy your entire life.

The advent of dental health and maintenance plans such as Denplan have made dentistry far more accessible with monthly payments as low as £14 per month (Less than the price of a cup of coffee per day), meaning that dental health checks and hygiene appointments  often cost less  than a mobile phone contract…  Something which many people are happy to pay.

Let’s look at some of the costs involved in dentistry.

1. Advanced training.

Did you know that all dentists must carry out at least 250 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) every five years, with other dental professionals obligated to carry out 150 hours of CPD?

The General Dental Council recommend a variety of topics:

Those topics are:

  • Medical Emergencies
  • Disinfection and Decontamination
  • Radiography and radiation protection
  • Legal and ethical issues
  • Complaints handling
  • Oral Cancer: Early detection
  • Safeguarding children and young people
  • Safeguarding vulnerable adults

Carrying out this continuing professional development  ensures you have the most highly qualified and trained dental team looking after your dental health. If you want to know which causes your dental team have undertaken please ask to see them, many practices may also displayed clearly on the walls in the patient waiting areas.

2. Holistic dentistry

Dentistry of old was simply focused at looking after your teeth, we now know that bacteria which are involved in dental disease such as gingivitis and periodontitis are also involved in other health conditions such as diabetes and problems with your heart.

It also used to be the case that the dentist would look after each individual tooth as a problem arose. If there was decay in the tooth it would be filled or if the tooth needed to be removed it would be extracted. Modern thinking, materials and training now allows a forward thinking dentist to take into account your entire dentition whenever a single tooth is treated.

Teeth should not be treated in isolation and the complete oral system should always be taken into account including teeth, gums, the bite and oral cancer screening.

3. Using the best materials

A quick and easy way to make dentistry cheaper would be to cut back on materials and used cheap imports. In the UK we are required to use CE marked products.  This guarantees their quality and ensures that everything is traceable and trackable in the event of any future problem.

4. Using the best dental laboratory

Dental laboratory

If you are required to undergo any form of restorative treatment such as dental veneers, crowns, dentures or dental implants it is more than likely that the dental laboratory will be involved. It is possible to purchase dental crowns from overseas laboratories for as low as £15, however this means there is little control over the quality of the restoration all the materials used.

More information about the dangers of using a cheap dental laboratory.

High-quality dental laboratories, understandably, charge a higher fee for producing these restorations which are not only look great  but will last for many years. Using quality craftsmen will always come at a higher cost which ultimately will be passed onto the patient.

5. Cross infection and sterilisation control

In the UK dentists are required by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to run strict cross infection control measures. This very often includes a separate cross infection control area  from the main surgery in the dental practice.. Complying with these controls is absolutely the right thing to do  but having these separate areas and  advanced cross infection control equipment  clearly comes with additional cost.

How to Get Cheap Dentistry

The simplest answer to keep dentistry cheap is to look after your teeth. Brushing your teeth twice per day for 2 minutes each time, using an interdental brush or floss daily and mouthwash  in between brushing and after meals is the best way to keep your dental costs down.

If you enrolled on a dental maintenance plan (typically starting at around £14 per month) this will ensure you have regular dental health checkups and deep cleaning with your dentist/hygienist, coupling this with your excellent home oral health care routine will mean your dentistry costs are considerably lower.

Always remember…

Dentistry isn’t expensive, neglect is.

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Solihull Dental Centre and Implant Clinic are a family dental practice situated in the heart of the Midlands helping the local people maintain bright and healthy smiles.

Images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net