dental implants palo alto Archives

One-day Zirconium Implants vs. Custom Implants with Crowns & Bridges

Posted on March 12, 2024 - 10:30 AM by admin

Are you missing most or all of your teeth? You may be able to restore a strong smile through the use of full-arch dental implants in Palo Alto and Redwood City. Depending on your bone loss level, your dentist may opt for an all-on-4 or all-on-6 dental implant.

Read on to learn more about these common dental implants in Redwood City, CA, and how they differ from traditional custom implants.

All-on-4 Same Day Implants

If you want to replace your whole lower and upper set of teeth, consider getting all-on-4 implants in Redwood City. It could be All-on-5 or 6 as well.

Your dentist will put four zirconium implants in your available bone. Then, they will add abutements that can hold temporary replacement teeth.

The good thing about this type of implant is that the procedure can be done over the course of a single dental appointment. Yes, you heard it right. You can get all-on-4 same-day implants in Palo Alto or Redwood City. The artificial roots and your temporary replacement teeth are fixed on the same day.

Pros

Looks and Feels Real: All-on-4 implants look and feel like your natural teeth. Although getting accustomed to them may take some time, you won’t notice any difference eventually.

Speed of treatment: They don’t call them “same day” implants for nothing. The surgery, bone grafting, and implant placement are all completed in a day. The surgery is minimally invasive and carried out with the aid of anesthesia.

Quick Healing Process: The nature of the all-on-4 implants in Redwood City allows for speedier healing than traditional implants. Most patients can resume work within a few days without relying on strong medication. And the four zirconium implants start integrating with your jawbone from day one.

Easy to Clean and Maintain: All-on-4 implants create no new dental chores for you. Just brush twice a day using non-abrasive toothpaste. It is also cruel to floss around the implants. Bi-annual dental checkups are recommended for evaluating overall oral health.

Cons

Learning to Speak: All-on-4 dental implants eventually feel and look like your real teeth, but there’s a learning curve. Immediately after the procedure, you may find it a bit difficult to speak.

Not Suitable for Everyone: Patients with extensive bone loss may not be eligible for all-on-4 implants in Redwood City

Custom Implants with Bridges and Crowns

Custom dental implants are considered the gold standard in dental implants and are ideal for patients missing one, or few teeth or entire arches. This procedure requires several appointments with a top dental implant dentist in Redwood City.

During your first appointment for this procedure, the dentist will take digital X-rays to be used as a basis for your customized treatment plan. Next, the dentist will insert a titanium rod into your jawbone.

After the rod has fully healed and the grafting process is complete, the dentist places an abutment that supports the crown (new tooth).

Pros

Looks and Function like Natural Teeth: Custom dental implants resemble natural teeth, allowing you to speak, eat, and smile with confidence.

Preservation of Bone and Facial Structure: Custom implants preserve the jawbone’s integrity. Also, they prevent bone loss commonly associated with missing teeth.

Long Lasting: Custom dental implants can last a lifetime when well taken care of.

Easier Oral Hygiene: Custom implants can be flossed and brushed like natural teeth.

Cons

Lengthy Healing Process: Implants can take 3 – 6 months to integrate fully (osseointegration) with the bone tissue. Therefore, you must be watchful of your oral habits during this healing period. However, dentists will always advise you on the dos and don’ts after the procedure.

Not everyone is a Suitable Candidate. Good candidates must have healthy gums and adequate bone density to support the implant. Visit the best dental implant dentist in Palo Alto to help you determine your eligibility.

Which Option is Better?

Which option should you choose? While all-on-4 implants and custom dental implants both replace missing teeth, there are various crucial differences.

For instance, getting all-on-4 same-day implants is faster. It can be completed in a single sitting. On the contrary, custom dental implants require several appointments.

Also, the all-on-4 procedure is a faster procedure but if you are looking for a solution that most closely matches your natural teeth in looks and functionality, a custom implant with bridges and crowns is a better solution for you.

That said, if you are not sure which the best option is, contact the dental implant dentists at Blue Turtle Dental. We will evaluate your current oral condition and recommend the best treatment plan.

Dental Implants dentist in Palo Alto

Dental Implants in Redwood City CA

Dental Implants in Palo Alto CA

Myths and Facts About the Dental Implant Recovery Process

Posted on July 29, 2021 - 7:20 AM by admin

Do you have missing or badly diseased teeth? Is it hurting your confidence? Well, getting a dental implant is a great option for replacing missing or damaged teeth. But do you know about the recovery process and the myths associated? Well, we are here to help.

What are Dental Implants?

One of the most comfortable and stable restorative options for missing teeth, implants come closest to your natural teeth, in terms of functionality and appearance.

Dental implants surgery is typically a multi-stage procedure that consists of the following steps:

Consultation – Your dentist will schedule a consultation with you to go over your requirements, your dental health, treatment plan, financial details, and what to expect during the treatment. At this point, your dentist may take teeth & jaw impressions and send a prescription for the crown and/or bridge making to a dental laboratory, based on your need.

Extraction & Grafting – If your teeth are diseased, you will need to have them extracted before the implant can be inserted. Additionally, if your jawbone is not healthy enough for the implant to adhere to, you may need bone grafting to create an adequate bone foundation for successful dental implant surgery. Remember not everybody needs extraction and grafting but if you do, the recovery process and the dental implants timeline maybe longer.

Generally speaking, if you need a bone graft, you may require several months between the grafting and the implant surgery. Depending on the complexity of work, recovery from extractions and bone graft procedures can take several days to several weeks. Follow the instructions provided by your dentist to ensure a quick recovery.

Dental Implants Surgery – The next step in the process is the installation of a dental implant anchor, made of titanium or other suitable metal, into the jawbone below the gumline.

The gum tissues are then secured over the implant and the implant is left to fuse with the jawbone – a process known as osseointegration. During this process, there may be some swelling and tenderness for a few days. Your dentist may prescribe pain medication, cold compresses, and a diet restricted to soft & cold foods to help you with the recovery process – more information on the implant surgery recovery process can be found below.

Placement of the Abutment – The next step involves the addition of an abutment, which is a post that connects the implants inserted in Step 1 to the replacement tooth (Step 3). After this procedure, the gum is allowed to heal. In case you choose a removable denture for aesthetic purposes, it can be placed over the gap caused by the missing tooth, until a permanent tooth is attached to the implant.

Placement of the Crown – Once the healing is complete, the third and final step involves the placement of the dental crown on the artificial post. This completes the dental implant procedure.

Dental Implants Recovery Process

Total recovery after a dental implant procedure varies from case to case. The recovery time could depend on factors such as the number of teeth involved, requirement for grafting, gum health, and patient history.

Generally speaking, single-tooth implant patients with healthy bones will experience minimal discomfort and will recover in no time. The more complex your procedure – the more the number of teeth extracted and implanted as well as the need for bone grafting to allow for implants – the longer the recovery.

Based on the complexity of the case, patients may experience swelling and even some discomfort post-surgery. However, they go away with proper care.

Whether your dental implant procedure was completed in one stage or multiple stages, the first 24 hours after dental surgery, you may experience swelling, bleeding, and some pain. Over-the-counter and prescription-strength medication may be used to effectively control the pain. Cold compresses and ice packs can help with the swelling.

After the initial 24 hours have passed, you can continue to take pain medication and ice packs the next few days, as needed.

One of the most important parts of the post-surgery recovery process is the diet. Patients are advised to opt for a soft diet immediately after the surgery. In case of basic dental implant placements, the patient may take from a week to 10 days to return to a normal diet. However, in some complicated cases, the patients are advised to stick to a soft diet for about six weeks after the procedure.

In addition, make sure you follow up with your dentist to ensure that you are healing properly.

While the recovery is generally smooth, there are several myths associated and this article will debunk them for you.

Myth 1: You won’t be able to brush your teeth for a week after a dental implant surgery

This is not true.

Fact: While it is very important that you avoid brushing the surgical site for the first 48 hours following the dental implant procedure, you should brush other teeth not involved in the surgery gently the same evening. You should be very careful and maintain good oral hygiene while recovering. This will involve rinsing regularly with a warm, salt water rinse, about four to five times a day, after meals.

Tip: The first 24 hours are very critical. Be careful to rinse with a warm saltwater solution and use a prescribed oral rinse. Take prescribed medications as directed.

Myth 2: You can get new teeth in a day and get back to routine right after

There’s a lot of overzealous advertising that makes people believe that they could get implants in a single session and they can get back to a normal routine right after.

Fact: In some instances, dental implants can be placed in a single sitting. Dentists can extract, implant, and place a temporary replacement tooth in the same setting. Advances in technology allow for the implants to be placed in such a way that they do not move at all during the healing process. This is absolutely critical for the implant procedure to be successful as the implant must integrate with the bone and even the slightest shift can lead to complications.

Same-day implant patients are strongly advised to comply with dietary recommendations for up to six weeks after surgery to avoid the movement of implants that can result in treatment failure.

Tip: If you are opting for same-day implants, eat soft foods and avoid crunchy and chewy foods, such as crusty bread, apples, ice cubes, carrots, steaks, and other chewy meats, during the osseointegration process.

Myth 3: Dental Implants recovery period is really long & painful

While the process of the implant fusing with the jawbone takes two to six months, the recovery period may last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, based on the complexity of your case.

Fact: Multiple extractions and implantations along with bone grafting extend the recovery period. However, single tooth implants with no bone grafting can cut the recovery period to only a few days. Same-day implants, as stated above, can also extend the period of dietary restrictions.

As far as pain is concerned, technological advancements have made dental implants surgery into a minimally invasive procedure. Your Palo Alto dentist will perform the surgery under local anesthesia and provide you with pain medications to help you tide over the recovery process. In fact, most patients report that implant surgery is less painful than tooth extractions.

Tip: Follow post-surgery instructions from your dentist to expedite the recovery process. In particular, take your prescribed medications, follow dietary restrictions, watch out for any symptoms of infection, such as fever, and follow up with your dentist to ensure you are recovering as expected.

Conclusion

While we have debunked some common dental implants recovery myths for you, several assumptions and myths abound, especially those related to implant costs, success rate, and risks. So if you’re thinking about implants, keep in mind to associate with the best! Ask as many questions as you have, and get your doubts cleared, and don’t fall for assumptions.

Article resources:
Information in this article has been gathered from multiple public health sources, including:
https://www.ada.org/
https://www.healthline.com/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/
https://www.mouthhealthy.org
https://www.cdc.gov/

Contact Top Cosmetic Dentist in Redwood City

What are the Best Teeth Replacement Options?

Posted on April 29, 2021 - 8:12 AM by admin

A set of teeth is like a new car; shiny and bright in the beginning but often in need of spare or replacement parts as time goes by. Losing a tooth is sometimes unavoidable. In fact, few will make it through life with 32 teeth.

Let’s explore a few teeth replacement options and how they can contribute to your overall dental health.

Causes of tooth loss

There are many causes of tooth loss. Topping the list is tooth decay and gum disease.

Tooth decay occurs when food particles containing carbohydrates (sugar and starches) are left on the teeth for some time. Bacteria that reside in the mouth digest these particles, turning them into acid. This acid damages and causes cavities. On the other hand, gum disease develops when too much plaque settles on the gum line, leading to swelling and reddening of the gum tissue. If not treated early, it tears down the bone that supports the teeth.

Accidents and sports injuries are other causes of teeth loss. Tooth loss can occur due to a fracture or crack in the bone from an accident. According to American Dental Assistants Association, 5 million teeth are lost yearly in the U.S because of sports injuries.

Impact of missing teeth

In some instances, there may be little impact. Depending on where the missing tooth is located, others may not quickly notice a gap in your mouth. Usually, this is the case when the missing tooth is at the side or back of your mouth.

However, your teeth are intended to work together, so losing one or more teeth can, to some extent, impact speech, eating, and other dental problems. It becomes uncomfortable and difficult to chew food. You may find yourself having to chew at a much slower pace or on one side of your mouth. This can affect your facial and jaw muscles.

Missing teeth can also change the outline of your face since it can cause your facial muscles to sag. What’s more, your bite may change to compensate or make up for the lost teeth, and the remaining ones (teeth) might move given the extra room. Unfortunately, this can cause tooth grinding, tooth sensitivity, and difficulty in chewing in the long run.

What are the best options if you lose your teeth?

The quick answer includes implants, bridges, and dentures.

A more detailed answer:

The ideal option for teeth replacement largely depends on the scope of dental work and your smile goals. Dental clinics offer different procedures, and each calls for a different amount of time, work, and expertise, along with a different cost.

Consider the following teeth replacement options:

Dental implants

Dental implants are one of the most preferred options when you wish to replace one or more teeth.

This treatment entails surgically mounting a titanium frame or post into your lower or upper jaw. Then, a replacement tooth is mounted to the implant, which helps the tooth remain in place securely.

While treatment costs may vary depending on various factors, the cost of a single tooth dental implant falls between $3000 and $6000.

Some benefits of dental implants include:

They are permanent and durable
They have a 95 percent treatment success rate
They provide an appealing aesthetic
They feel comfortable and natural
They require little maintenance other than cleanings, checkups, and good oral hygiene
They do not need any modification of the bordering teeth
They are an excellent tooth replacement method to prevent jawbone loss

Dental bridge

Bridges are fixed dental devices that bridge the gap formed by one or more missing teeth. There are three types of bridges – Traditional, Maryland, and Cantilever – but your doctor will help you pick the best option among the three.

A dental bridge gets its support from the nearby healthy teeth on the right or left side of the gap. The teeth that provide support to the bridge are known as abutments, while the ones that cover the gap are called pontics.

The placement of a dental bridge is usually not a surgical procedure; therefore, you will remain awake throughout the treatment. But, if you are uneasy or nervous about the thought of undergoing the treatment, your dentist might offer mild sedation to assist you to relax. Additionally, your dentist will numb the area in question with a local anesthetic by injecting some medication into your gums.

One of the best parts about dental bridges as a treatment option for missing teeth is that the recovery process is minimal. Actually, you can eat normally as soon as the dental bridge has been mounted in your mouth. A large majority of patients have no difficulties adapting to the bridge.

The cost of a dental bridge will depend on several factors, such as the materials needed, the type of bridge chosen, and any dental work required before installing this dental device. When it comes to materials, the charges for an all-porcelain bridge are higher than a porcelain-fused or metal-fused bridge.

Advantages of dental bridges include:

Feel and look like natural teeth
Don’t require removal for cleaning
They are usually cheaper than dental implants
Last for many years before calling for replacement
Easy to maintain and can be flossed and brushed just like ordinary teeth

Dentures

Dentures are a perfect tooth replacement option for people who are missing many of their teeth. A full or complete denture replaces all the missing teeth in either the lower or upper jaw. On the other hand, a removable partial denture is recommended when the patient still has some teeth left.

The procedure for a partial denture consists of replacement teeth being fastened to a natural-looking pink base. Generally, your natural teeth secure the removable plastic base in place. However, some dentures have a tiny clasp that connects to natural teeth.

Although the cost varies, pricing calculators estimate the cost of dentures to range from $1,500-$3,000.

Advantages of dentures include:

They are pretty affordable and take a minimal amount of time to create.
Look and feel natural in the mouth
Easily removed for cleaning
Allow patients to eat more comfortably

Consult your dentist for the best tooth-replacement option

There are many practical options to remedy a lost tooth, regardless if it was lost via injury, decay, or gum disease. Each option has its share of advantages and disadvantages, which your dentist can help you evaluate based on your budget and specific needs. All the best as you strive to improve your dental health and restore your smile.

Consult our Palo Alto dentists for all restorative dental procedures, including implants, bridges, and dentures.

Article resources:

Information in this article has been gathered from multiple public health sources, including: