Why Have Dental Implants Become So Popular?

Tooth replacement has been a very important part of dental treatment for quite some time. Believe it or not, “dentures” or at least some form of replacement teeth have been used for thousands of years. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that actual dental implants were invented. So, what makes dental implants so popular when compared to something like traditional dentures, fixed bridges, or other forms of tooth replacement? Keep reading to find out and contact Same Day Implants if you’re ready to schedule an appointment with us.

What Is A Dental Implant?

Dental implants are designed to be the most true-to-life replication of a natural tooth. What this means is that they mimic their look, feel, and durability, while helping to preserve your oral health. Dental implants are developing alongside things like prosthetic limbs that are designed to restore functionality to a hand or a leg for handicap patients. Many people don’t realize how difficult it can be to function and live a normal life after they’ve lost one or more teeth and dental implants have proven to be the answer to this unfortunate and sometimes unavoidable issue.

They’re Effective

The main reason that dental implants are so popular nowadays is that they’re effective and do exactly what people say they do. Many people have a hard time believing that they will ever have a true-to-life replication of their natural teeth until they hear of a friend or acquaintance who had a tooth replaced with a dental implant.

The bottom line is that dental implants function exactly like your natural teeth. They afford you the same biting force, aesthetic, feel, and overall durability. Oftentimes, people who got one or more dental implants forget that they ever had the procedure done and friends and family members can’t even tell the difference between their natural teeth and their implants. All of these things have contributed to the increase in popularity of dental implants.

Success Rate

Another undeniable benefit of dental implants is their high success rate. Many people fear going to the dentist or periodontist and committing to any major procedure because they believe there is a high chance of failure.

Although some medical procedures have low success rates, dental implants are not one of those. According to a study done by the Journal of Dental Research, dental implants have about a 98 percent success rate. And this is including all dental specialists who perform implants including dentists, periodontists, and endodontists. Although many dental specialists can provide dental implants, if you want the highest success rate, you should go to a board-certified periodontist and dental implant specialist.    

Long-Term Results

One of the biggest frustrations about traditional dentures and fixed bridges is that they aren’t a long-term solution to dental issues by any means. In reality, they’re more of a temporary fix and can even cause more problems than they solve in many cases. First and foremost, these options do not provide you with optimal chewing functionality meaning you have to give up a lot of the foods that you know and love. Second, they do not preserve bone tissue in the jaw meaning that the jaw and the face as a whole will start to change shape. Although this can be restored, the longer it’s delayed, the harder it will be. Finally, you won’t have to worry about your smile anymore. Although dentures can look real, there’s a lot of anxiety that comes along with knowing that they aren’t fixed and they can be taken out at any time.

They’re Adaptable

Let’s face it, everyone who goes to visit a periodontist is facing a different situation. Some people lost multiple teeth due to periodontal disease while others lost a tooth due to an injury but have otherwise healthy teeth and gums. It may seem like it would be impossible to guarantee functioning teeth to all these people who are experiencing different issues. However, the dental implant procedure has been refined and improved so much that nearly every person who walks in the door qualifies for dental implants, and sometimes even a same-day dental implant procedure. But this doesn’t mean that the procedure will be exactly the same for everyone. If someone has lost a significant amount of bone tissue in the jaw either due to losing multiple teeth or due to periodontal disease, it will most likely have to be restored through a bone grafting process before dental implants can be applied.

They’re Replaceable

Although replacing the dental implant itself would require an extraction, you’ll be happy to know that the crown of the dental implant is easily replaceable. With most dental implants, the porcelain crown is either screwed on or cemented on. If you ever crack the crown or it splits, you can easily have it replaced with another one without having to go through another surgical procedure. This is in contrast to if you split one of your natural teeth which is oftentimes a medical emergency and can result in a loss of the tooth.

They Improve Appearance

Not only do dental implants restore your appearance, but they can also actually improve it! If you’ve had missing teeth for some time, you’ve probably gotten used to having an uneven or droopy-looking jawline and having to avoid smiling for pictures. What happens when you lose a tooth is the jawbone is no longer stimulated by chewing and biting, so the bone begins to resorb. This is what causes the loss in facial structure. Since this process can happen slowly, you may not notice how bad it’s gotten. Dental implants act as a real tooth by stimulating that area and causing the bone to grow back.

Schedule An Appointment With Us

Our dental implant specialists are always ready to speak with you about your oral health and well-being. In your first appointment, we will speak with you and analyze your oral health to determine if dental implants are right for you. Give us a call today to learn more.

What Causes Bone Loss In The Jaw?

Bone loss is typically the result of one of two things: chronic periodontitis and the loss of a tooth or multiple teeth. When gum disease is contracted, the infection travels further into the periodontal ligament and eventually the underlying jawbone. In the case of a missing tooth due to trauma or tooth decay, bone loss occurs because of a lack of stimulation from the tooth and tooth roots. This begins a process called resorption where bone tissue is lost because it is no longer needed. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at bone loss in the jaw, how it works, and how it can be solved.

What Is It?

Bone loss is something that occurs in the bone that supports the teeth. This bone is known as the alveolar bone which makes up the ridges on which the teeth are embedded. Many people are under the impression that partial or full dentures will help alleviate this issue, but it doesn’t. Unfortunately, dentures only exert a small amount of chewing force — around 10 percent as much according to some sources.

Another thing that can cause resorption is the removal of the molars in the upper jaw. This can cause the sinus cavity to expand. Since the sinus cavity pressure changes, this can contribute to bone loss in the jaw. Several other causes of bone loss include tumors that grow in the face, infection that inhibits the growth of new bone tissue, and by a misaligned jaw or teeth which can affect the way you bite.

Dentures

By wearing away at the ridges of bone, dentures can actually accelerate the rate of bone loss. This is often the reason that many people who wear dentures experience discomfort, sore spots, or difficulty chewing. Although dentures are essentially restoring the crowns of the teeth, this doesn’t mean that the jaw structure will be preserved. Although initially, the jaw will look pretty much the same, over time, the chin will begin to come up closer to the nose and jut out. This new look is almost never favorable and is one of the top reasons people who wear dentures end up getting dental implants instead.

Bone Density

Although bone density may seem like the same thing as bone loss, it’s not quite the same. Bone density loss means for a bone to become more porous. This is much less common than bone loss in the jaw and can result from tooth loss as well, lifestyle choices, disease, and hormonal imbalance.

3D cone beam CT scanners can be used to take 3D images of the jaw and look for any changes in bone density. If the bone in the X-ray is white-colored, it means that it’s dense. These areas of low density can either be avoided when doing dental implants or use techniques that increase the bone density in that area.

Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is the process that your oral health specialist will use to restore bone to the jaw and prepare it for placement of dental implants. Bone grafting isn’t always needed, but for some patients, it will be needed to ensure that the dental implants will be able to integrate into the bone correctly. Your dentist or periodontist will always look for the most minimally invasive way to do this, but it usually involves taking bone from another part of the body and applying it to the affected area allowing it to grow back gradually. This often takes up to several months for the bone to fully recover.

Sinus Lifts

Another thing to prepare the jaw for dental implants is a sinus lift. When teeth on the upper jaw in the back are removed, the ridge bone begins to resorb resulting in a very thin piece of bone between the roots of the teeth and the sinus. A sinus lift procedure is done by lifting up the sinus slightly and inserting bone material into the space and allowing it to grow. Similar to bone grafting, this will take several months to finish healing before dental implants can be applied.

Fortunately, bone grafting and sinus lifts aren’t always needed for dental implants and it depends entirely on your oral health history and how much bone has been lost along the ridge or near the sinuses. Your periodontist will work closely with you and ensure that you understand what needs to be done before dental implants can be placed.

Schedule an Appointment Today

It’s never easy to make decisions about your oral health, that’s why at Same Day Implants, we aim to provide you with as much information as possible about your oral health and lay out all of your options so that you can make the best decisions possible for your long-term oral health.

How To Overcome Dental Phobia

We’ve covered a lot of information in our blogs here at Same Day Implants, covering everything from periodontal disease and its prominence in the United States to the benefits of same-day dental implants. However, all of this information may be useless if you have something called dental phobia. Dental phobia is defined as an irrational fear of visiting an oral health specialist such as a dentist, periodontist, or orthodontist. Although this condition manifests itself differently for everyone, it all has one result: it prevents people from getting the treatment they need to stay healthy. Here at Same Day Implants, our doctors stress the importance of visiting the periodontist regularly, especially later in life when periodontal disease is more prevalent. Keep reading to learn more about reducing or eliminating dental phobia.

What Is Dental Phobia?

Dental phobia isn’t simply a concept or a theory, it’s an actual condition that affects between 9 and 20 percent of Americans. A similar condition called “latrophobia” is a more general term referring to the fear of all doctors. When someone has dental phobia, they will often put off much needed oral health appointments or treatments for months or even years. And when it does come time to go to an oral health specialist, they often feel overwhelming anxiety or fear of going. This is caused by several things.

Fear of pain

Probably the most common reason for dental phobia is the fear of experiencing pain. Although we all, in some shape or form, experience a fear of pain, someone with dental phobia will avoid seeking treatment as a result.

Personal space

It’s not uncommon for people to avoid the dentist or periodontist because they don’t like their personal space invaded. Some people are comforted by the fact that a trained medical specialist will be helping them, but others do not feel this comfort, even if the doctor is highly qualified.

Fear of disapproval

Many people believe that if their dental specialist finds anything wrong, they will be scolded for their lack of care. Although this could certainly happen depending on the doctor, it’s pretty uncommon, and most dentists and periodontists just want what’s best for your health.

What Can Be Done About It?

Although dental phobia may seem like something that can never be overcome, that is certainly not the case. For most people, it’s just a matter of realizing that it’s not a big deal and that even for the most serious of cases, dental specialists have tried and true sedation methods that will alleviate any pain.

Identify what your fear is

Before you can eliminate your dental fear, you need to understand what exactly is causing it. Simply thinking about it and understanding the root cause of your fear will help you figure out the best way to deal with it.

Choose a qualified dental specialist

The more research you do on your dentist or periodontist, the more comfortable you will feel going in for your first appointment. Be sure to read as much as you can about your doctor and read plenty of reviews to see what kind of experience people had with them.

Don’t go alone

Sometimes all you need to overcome dental phobia is a good friend at your side. Not only is it proven that having a friend near you during a hard time is comforting, but if you try to back out last minute, you’ll have someone to motivate you.

Understand your sedation options

Another great way to ease your anxiety is to understand all of the sedation options available to you. Most dentists and periodontists offer sedation for their more complicated procedures. However, if you’re feeling particularly anxious about your treatment procedure, they will gladly speak with you about any additional sedation you can use, even if it is a smaller and less intrusive procedure.

Focus on the positive

Although it may be easier said than done, try focusing on the positives. It can be easy getting caught up in thoughts about what could go wrong, but instead, think of how much the treatment will help you and improve your oral health. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about!

Consult with your doctor

If the issue becomes bad enough, you may want to consult with your doctor. Although it is normal to experience some anxiety before a dentist’s office visit, it should not be overwhelming. Your may be experiencing systems of general anxiety disorder and may benefit from medication. If you do end up taking medication, be sure to notify your oral health specialist of this.

Learn About Dental Implants

Here at Same Day Implants, we understand that the thought of getting a dental implant can cause anxiety. Speak with us today and we’ll be glad to discuss our sedation options with you.

Financing Options For Your Dental Implants

When it comes to medical bills, many people are faced with the question “how am I going to pay for this?” We all know that money doesn’t grow on trees and as a result, it can be even more difficult to make decisions about your health and future. Fortunately, handing over cash or a check isn’t the only way of handling medical expenses. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at four alternative ways to pay for your dental implants.

Dental Insurance Plan With Dental Implant Coverage

If you know or believe that you’re going to need dental implants in the future, one of the best things you can do is to get a dental insurance plan with dental implant coverage. There are several reasons why this will be beneficial to you.

First and foremost, there is a whole network of dental providers who will accept lower rates for services if you have a PPO dental plan. Oftentimes, these discounts can be up to 30 percent which is a lot more than it sounds like when it comes to medical coverage.

Once you’ve considered network savings, you can take a look at using the benefits associated with it. Your dental implant treatment will likely be broken down into different categories such as the implant, the crown, the extraction procedure, bone grafting procedure if that was needed and so on. Ideally, you’ll want a coverage plan with no waiting periods, but it’s unlikely you’ll find a plan that will cover the full cost of the procedure.

Use Financing Methods

Dental insurance is great, but it’s not all you should be doing to pay for dental implants. Financing options like Care Credit will be helpful in paying for out of pocket costs. Offered by many dental offices, Care Credit is a popular financing option and the rates are usually much lower than normal credit cards and other consumer credit options. You’ll be able to break up payments monthly and find something that suits your financial needs.

HSA and FSA Funds

If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you’re in luck. These savings accounts can both be used for dental expenses. Just remember that some of these accounts do not carry over into the next year and some do for a limited time, so be sure to use them before the end of the year if you want to use them.

Speak With Your Dental Implant Specialist

Financing a medical procedure like dental implants can be difficult, but if you stick with it, you should be able to get it done. If you’re confused about something or you’re wondering what other financing options are available to you, your oral health specialist will be glad to provide you with more information.

Contact Same Day Implants

Same Day Implants is your top dental implant provider in Tukwila and the surrounding areas. We provide all types of dental implants including single-tooth replacement, multi-tooth replacement, and All-On-4® dental implant procedures. If you’re struggling to figure out how to finance your dental implants, we are happy to help.

Our periodontists are board-certified and committed to your long-term oral health. Although most people are eligible for dental implants, you may need to go through a bone grafting procedure first in order to restore lost bone tissue in the jaw. If you have any questions or you’re ready to get started, give us a call today.

What Is A Regenerative Procedure – Part 2

Hello, and welcome back to our blog here at Pacific Northwest Periodontics. If you recall from last time, we talked a little bit about regenerative procedures and how gum grafting will help you restore lost gum tissue after experiencing gum recession or gingivitis. This time, we’re going to talk about another regenerative procedure called bone grafting. Keep reading to learn more.

What is it?

Bone grafting is a medical procedure that is used to restore lost bone in the jaw. Usually this bone is lost because of a missing tooth. Since the jawbone requires stimulation from the teeth in order to facilitate growth, when there’s nothing there, the bone is lost. This process is called resorption. Bone loss can also be caused by poor oral hygiene or if you have periodontal disease.

Why restore lost bone?

The main reason to restore lost bone is to prevent other teeth from falling out. Whether you lost your tooth due to an injury, poor oral hygiene, or any other reason, the process of bone loss will begin immediately and may affect teeth surrounding it. Bone grafting will allow that bone to regenerate and give you the opportunity to receive dental implants or another tooth replacement procedure.

Socket graft

Also known as a ridge preservation graft, this type of bone regeneration procedure replaces the space left by your tooth so that the bone does not undergo resorption. Usually, xenograft is used to fill the space. This is a bovine bone and is put through a rigorous cleaning process that won’t cause infection or other complications.

Block bone graft

The block bone graft acts as a replacement to the socket graft. If the bovine bone was not able to adequately restore the lost bone, your dental specialist will need to resort to using part of your own bone to perform the restoration. This is only usually necessary in severe cases where too much bone is lost and they’re failing to develop.

Subantral graft

Subantral grafts are used to restore the length of the upper jaw in order to support dental implants.

Dental implants

The ultimate goal of receiving a bone graft is to replace the missing teeth with dental implants. Dental implants are a permanent solution for your missing teeth and can be placed depending on your situation. If you need a single tooth replaced, you’ll need a single implant. However, if you need multiple teeth replaced, you may need two or more implants to support the teeth. If the bone is healthy enough for implants without a grafting procedure, you may be a candidate for same-day implants.

Contact Pacific Northwest Periodontics

If you have a missing tooth, don’t wait to contact a periodontist. The sooner you have a missing tooth replaced with a dental implant, the sooner you can go back to living your life, knowing that you’re at your optimal oral health. Dental implants also restore the functionality and aesthetics of your real natural teeth. Contact us today to learn more.

What Is A Regenerative Procedure?

Depending on what field of medical practice you’re talking about, the term “regenerative procedure” could mean a whole variety of things. However, in the world of periodontics and general dental health practice, “regenerative procedure” refers to one of two things: gum grafting or bone grafting. These procedures are important for people who either want dental implants, but lack healthy dental structures to support the implants or people who are recovering from a periodontal disease like gingivitis or periodontitis. In this blog, we’re going to talk a little bit about each type of regenerative procedure, how they’re performed, and what purpose they serve.

Gum Grafting

If you’ve noticed that your teeth are feeling sensitive and they appear longer, your gums may be receding. What this means is, due to poor oral hygiene, the gum tissue is being lost and exposing part of your tooth’s root. Although some degree of gum recession is common, severe recession can lead to serious dental issues, and make it easier for you to develop other conditions like periodontitis or gingivitis. Gum grafting is a procedure that is most often used to restore this lost gum tissue.

Causes of gum recession

There are a number of causes of gum recession including genetics, changes in hormones, and diabetes. However, the main culprit of gum recession is poor oral hygiene. Other factors that will increase the rate at which gum recession occurs are smoking, vigorous brushing or misaligned teeth.

Types of gum grafting

There are several types of gum grafts used in modern dental practice and which one is used for you will depend on what’s appropriate for your current medical condition.

 

Pedicle grafts involve the removal of tissue in the surrounding area to be used in repairing the gum.

Connective-tissue grafts take tissue from the top of your mouth. This is one of the most common types of gum graft used.

Free gingival grafts are taken directly from the palate.

 

In addition to restoring your gums after experiencing gum recession, gum grafts will also help to restore lost or infected gum tissue if you have gingivitis or periodontal disease. Regenerative procedures should always be seen as a last resort rather than an all-in-one solution. The best way to prevent gum recession, gum disease, and periodontal disease is to practice good oral hygiene and visit the dentist regularly to have a professional cleaning done. Your dentist will be able to eliminate tartar which can’t be cleaned with a normal toothbrush.

Contact Pacific Northwest Periodontics

Pacific Northwest is your is your premier choice for periodontics in Seattle and the surrounding area. Dr. Rapoport and Dr. Schuler are specialists in dental implant surgery and treating the bone and gum tissues around your teeth. Backed by a team of experienced specialists, they are able to deliver state-of-the-art dental implant treatment and can provide extractions, dental implants and immediate, functional replacement teeth in the same visit for eligible candidates. If you have any questions or you’re ready to schedule an appointment, contact us today.

7 Oral Hygiene Tips – Part 2

Hello, and welcome back to our blog here at Pacific Northwest Periodontics. This is part two of our blog series about oral hygiene tips. Oral hygiene is not only crucial for preventing cavities and bad breath, it’s also essential for preventing gum disease, periodontal disease, and more generally, maintaining the supporting structures of your teeth. Keep reading to learn about some tips for oral hygiene to help you with this.

Use mouthwash

Mouthwash should by no means be an alternative to brushing and flossing. Simply swishing with mouthwash won’t break down plaque like brushing or get in between your teeth like flossing. However, if you’re looking for a little bit more to boost your oral health, swishing with mouthwash once a day can be helpful to eliminate a lot of bacteria.

Avoid snacking before bed

It may be tempting to get in one last cookie or piece of chocolate before bed, but this could be one of the most damaging things you do to your teeth. Not only is it unhealthy for our whole bodies to eat right before bed, but anything that gets stuck to your teeth will be there when you wake up. It’s okay snacking during the day because you can brush your teeth afterward. However, if you eat before bed, you’ll have to wait until morning to brush your teeth. Additionally, when you’re sleeping, you’re less likely to move your mouth around, meaning bacteria will rest on the same place on your teeth throughout the night.

Clean your tongue

Believe it or not, your tongue is a breeding ground for bacteria. When you eat, bacteria is just as likely to get stuck on your tongue as it is your teeth or gums. You can either brush your tongue or use a special tongue scraper. Try to do this once a day before you go to bed.

Visit a dentist regularly

It may seem insignificant scheduling bi-yearly dentist visits. However, getting your teeth professionally cleaned one or twice a year will go a long ways towards protecting your teeth and allowing you to catch any cavities before they happen. Of course, if you’re prudent, you should be fine caring for your own teeth. However, visiting the dentist regularly is a great way to check up on how you’re doing, and you’ll be a lot less likely to let your good oral hygiene habits slide if you do so.

Contact Pacific Northwest Periodontists

Are you looking for an experienced and renowned periodontist in Seattle or the surrounding area? Led by Dr. Rapoport and Dr. Schuler, Pacific Northwest is dedicated to providing high-quality periodontal services for each patient. We use the most advanced dental technology for precise, minimally invasive and comfortable treatment. For diagnostics, we use a state-of-the-art 3D CT scanner which provides 3D images of your jaw and teeth in 360º view. If you’d like more information or you’re ready to schedule an appointment, call us today.

7 Oral Hygiene Tips

Oral hygiene is not only important for preventing bad breath and cavities, it’s an essential part of maintaining your periodontal health as well. What’s periodontal you may ask? “Peri” means around and “dontal” means teeth. Periodontal health refers to the health of the supporting structures around your teeth such as the periodontal ligament, gum tissue, and jawbone. Even though you don’t physically clean all of this when you brush or floss, they are still affected by your oral hygiene habits due to the transfer of bacteria from the crown of your teeth down to the roots. In this blog, we’re going to talk about ten oral hygiene habits you should follow in order to preserve your periodontal health as well as prevent cavities and bad breath.

Floss every day

Many people don’t understand the importance of flossing everyday. Some people see it as less important than brushing which shouldn’t be the case at all. It’s estimated that around 40 percent of the bacteria that leads to periodontitis and other oral health conditions are in areas unreachable by your toothbrush or mouthwash. Floss breaks up plaque in between and underneath the teeth, that would otherwise be left to accumulate bacteria. However, just like brushing, it should be done correctly to have the best effect.

You should start by using a piece of floss that is about 15 inches long. Don’t reuse the same part of floss because the bacteria will only make it back onto your teeth. If you’re using a floss pick, make sure you rinse and wipe the floss in between each tooth. It’s especially important to floss in between teeth that are really close together or crooked because they won’t be touched by your toothbrush bristles at all.

Replace your toothbrush

Most people try to get the most they can out of everything and it’s no different when it comes to toothbrushes. However, you should make sure you’re always brushing with a toothbrush that has firm bristles. The reason for this is that, in order to break up plaque and remove bacteria, you need a brush that is strong enough to do that. This doesn’t mean you should be brushing vigorously, however. Brushing too hard can wear down the enamel on your teeth and lead to pain and greater likelihood of cavities or infection. Use a fresh toothbrush and brush gently.

Choose the right toothpaste

Not all toothpastes are ideal for preventing cavities and protecting your periodontal health. If you want your toothpaste to be putting in as much work as you are for healthy teeth, make sure to look for an ADA seal on your product of choice. The ADA (American Dental Association) has strict rules on what toothpastes are acceptable for optimal dental hygiene. This includes a good dose of fluoride and a certain amount of other ingredients that will promote healthy teeth.

Contact Pacific Northwest Periodontics

Whether you’ve developed periodontal disease or want to learn more ways to protect the supporting structures of your teeth, contact your periodontal specialists at Pacific Northwest.

How To Care For Your Dental Implants

If you’re thinking of visiting a periodontist to learn about dental implants, one of your biggest concerns may be cleaning your dental implants. If you or a loved one has had dentures in the past, you’re probably worried that cleaning your implants will be the same. However, you’ll be pleased to find that cleaning dental implants isn’t like maintaining your implants. You won’t have to remove your implants each night and leave them in a cleaning solution. First, let’s take a look at dental implants and how they work.

A “dental implant” refers to the part that replaces the root of your teeth. Crowns are the part that makes up the visible part of the dental implant. Between these two pieces is an abutment or a connector. When the implant procedure is done, the bone in your jaw begins to connect to the implant through a process called osseointegration. Without this process, your implants would not be stable and they would come loose and maybe even fall out.

The abutment is the area of the implant that comes into contact with the gum and separates the crown from the implant. Collagen is what supports the gum and attaches itself to the abutment. The root of a natural tooth is attached to the bone with tiny fibers that come from the periodontal ligament. However, a dental implant is only attached to the surrounding bone. Since the periodontal ligament brings blood and nutrients to the root, natural teeth are able to fight off infections more easily.

Cleaning dental implants

Many people get dental implants thinking that just because they can’t get cavities means they can’t get infections and don’t need to brush or floss their teeth. This could not be farther from the truth— you are more prone to infection with dental implants. As long as you follow proper cleaning procedure for your dental implants, you won’t have any issues. It’s important to note that your implants are not teeth, and as such, they shouldn’t be cared for in the same way as teeth. Although regular brushing is important, there is more to it than that.

Brushing

It’s important to start maintaining proper oral hygiene as soon as possible after surgery. Although it’s normal to be sore or experience swelling, you should still be able to brush lightly and without too much pain. You should make sure to clean both the gums and the crowns of your new implants. Even though you can’t get cavities, bacteria can still build up on the crown and lead to gum infection.

Discoloration

It’s normal to see some discoloration in the gums after your surgery. The discoloration is caused by bruising within the tissue and should clear up after a few days. As far as discoloration on the crown of the implant goes, that could be due to not brushing enough.

Flossing

Flossing with implants is a little more involved than with natural teeth. To floss your implant, use a dental tape or another type of implant-specific floss and push the floss through to the other side of the implant. Wrap it in a circle and pull on either side, back and forth. Make sure to get inside the peri-implant crevice which is highly susceptible to inflammation and peri-implant disease. This is caused by a small layer of biofilm that forms on it.

Also, antimicrobial mouth rinses may be recommended by your periodontal specialist, especially if there is still inflammation present in the gums. If the patient is prone to inflammation, you may need to use an antimicrobial rinse, in addition to a rubber tip stimulator.

Schedule regular checkups

Although it’s extremely important for you to maintain your own personal oral hygiene schedule, you should also speak with your periodontist about regular checkups and cleaning. During the first few months after your surgery, you should have more frequent visits so that your periodontal specialist will be able to track your healing process, especially in regards to the osseointegration process. If your implants are not setting properly, your periodontist may need to explore other options to ensure you have stable implants. Once your periodontist has tracked the healing process, you can go back to regular 6-month checkups and professional cleaning with your normal dentist.

Contact Pacific Northwest Periodontics

Pacific Northwest Periodontics is your premier choice for periodontics in Seattle and the surrounding area. Dr. Rapoport and Dr. Schuler are specialists in dental implant surgery and treating the bone and gum tissues around your teeth. Backed by a team of experienced specialists, they are able to deliver state-of-the-art dental implant treatment and can provide extractions, dental implants and immediate, functional replacement teeth in the same visit for eligible candidates. If you have any questions or you’re ready to schedule an appointment, contact us today.

Pacific Northwest Implant Procedures

Hello, and welcome back to our blog! Last time we talked about our consultation and examination procedure here at Pacific Northwest Specialists in Periodontics and Dental Implants. If you’d like to read more about this, you can visit our last blog here. This time, we’re going to go into more detail about each implant procedure we offer, some of the benefits of each, and when you’ll want to have these procedures done. Ultimately, your local specialist in Periodontics, Dr. Rapoport, will determine which procedure is best for you and your condition, then present you with options moving forward.

Same-Day Dental Implants

One of the services we’re proud to offer here at Pacific Northwest is same-day implants. Due to our technologically advanced facility and our periodontists’ extensive knowledge, we’re able to provide many of our patients with new and functioning replacement teeth the same day as your exam and consultation. And this isn’t just for single-tooth replacement, this applies to one, many, or all of your teeth.

Anyone who does not have significant bone loss in their jaw is a good candidate for same-day implants. After the consultation and examination process, Dr. Rapoport will present you with this option if he determines it would be beneficial to you. However, If significant bone repair procedures like bone grafting are needed, he may allow more time for healing before the time of the implant procedure.

Due to the time frame, our same-day procedures are more complex and require more precise procedures than ones that span several months or years. However, there are several major benefits to having the procedure done in a single day. There will be less opportunity for bone or gum shrinkage and allows the gums and bone to begin healing immediately. The procedure is precisely executed and fit perfectly against your adjacent teeth, preventing food from getting trapped and causing infections.

Full-Arch Replacement

Just like a single-tooth replacement, full-arch All-On-4® implants will afford you the same strength and stability of your natural teeth and won’t irritate your gums. It’s called All-On-4® because all of your teeth will be supported by four implants. Developed in the 1990s by Nobel Biocare, the All-On-4® procedure is specifically designed for patients you have significant bone loss in their jaw and need a full arch of teeth without bone grafting. Due to advancements in technology, we are able to offer this as a same-day procedure for many patients.

The same-day, full-arch replacement procedure including any tooth extraction needed is performed in one surgery room visit, preventing the need for months or years of treatment. The implants are strategically placed to allow for maximum support and rapid healing.  

Individual Or Several Teeth Replacement

Just like an All-On-4® procedure, it’s usually not necessary to have as many implants as you do teeth. For example, if you have three or more teeth missing in a row, two implants will be placed on either end and a bridge of teeth will be placed on top allowing for more stability while chewing.

Traditional vs. Implant-Supported Bridges

Traditional bridges require the grinding down of surrounding teeth which can eventually lead to tooth decay. The implant-supported bridge procedure requires no grinding down of surrounding teeth and even supports the roots of surrounding teeth.

 

 

Minimally Invasive Procedures

One of our highest priorities here at Pacific Northwest is to provide you with medical procedures that are minimally invasive and allow you to feel comfortable during your whole visit. We are experts in sedation dentistry, providing our patients with numerous sedation options and general anesthesia. We also use devices like DentalVibe® that vibrate gum tissue that make injections virtually painless.

Each procedure results in non-traumatic and minimally invasive extractions which contributes to your final aesthetics and is far more comfortable for our patients. Each implant is mapped out on a computer beforehand in order to ensure that the surgical procedure goes as smoothly as possible and no collateral damage is done to surrounding bone or teeth.

If you’re ready for a consultation with Dr. Rapoport or Dr. Schuler about dental implants in Seattle, don’t hesitate to contact us at Pacific Northwest Specialists in Periodontics and Dental Implants. We’re always here to help!