Apex NC Dentist Explains Post Surgery Care for Dental Implants

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Dental Implants Procedure & What You Need to Know

It is natural and normal to experience discomfort after getting a dental implant. You might experience minor swelling, bruising, pain, or bleeding at the site of the implant surgery. If any of these symptoms are extremely painful, or worsening over time, they may indicate larger issues that need to be addressed immediately. However, if they only occur for a day after treatment, the following tips can help you find relief.

Be Careful While Eating

About an hour after surgery, you may remove the gauze sponges that have been placed in your mouth and have something to eat. Be sure to eat foods that are soft for the first 24 hours after surgery. Avoid hot foods and drinks, and do not drink from a straw for at least 24 hours.

Minimize Swelling

Swelling often occurs as part of the natural healing process, especially after bone grafting procedures. You can help minimize the amount of swelling by applying an ice pack to your face over the area where surgery was done for the first 24 hours. If you had surgery on both sides, switch the ice pack from one side to the other every 30 minutes. Instead of using ice cubes or medical ice packs, many of our patients prefer bags of frozen corn or peas.

Take Antibiotics as Prescribed

Antibiotics are used to prevent infection on or around the dental implant or bone graft. It is important that you follow the dosage directions on the bottle and continue taking the medication until it’s finished. If you should develop a reaction to the medication, such as skin rash, stop taking the medication and call our office. Note that some antibiotics can interfere with birth control pills, so you should use other methods to prevent pregnancy during this time.

Continue to Brush and Floss

Although the surgery site may be painful, it is still important to practice proper oral hygiene after oral surgery. After 24 hours, you can resume tooth brushing. It may also help to gently rinse your mouth every so often with a mild salt water rinse (1/4 teaspoon of salt in a glass of water). DO NOT use mouth wash or hydrogen peroxide rinses for 14 days.

 Avoid Tobacco Products

Smoking of any kind after oral surgery interferes with the normal healing process and can increase your chances of developing an infection, as well as failure of the implant and or bone grafts. Smokers have a higher risk of implant failure, so avoid smoking until you have fully healed. 

Need a Dental Implant in Apex?

If you think you may be a candidate for dental implants, talk to one of our Apex oral surgeons today about dental implant surgery. Request an appointment here!

Understand Why Our Apex NC Cosmetic Dentist LOVES Dental Implants

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Cosmetic dentists prefer to use dental implants for their patients because of the benefits that these appliances can have. A dental implant is a small titanium rod that is put into the jaw bone, acting like a real tooth root. The titanium rod of dental implants actually bond with the jaw bone over the course of about three months. This ensures that the rod is completely secure and can hold a crown, or cap, on top of it once the procedure has been completed and healed.

The reason your dentist in Apex prefers dental implants is because they are a lot less invasive to your teeth than a bridge. A dental bridge uses surrounding teeth to anchor a crown on top of a missing tooth. Because of this, the surrounding teeth have to be filed down to fit the bridge. This is very invasive to teeth that might be in perfectly good condition. When your dentist in Apex uses a dental implant, they are simply adding the crown to the area that is missing the tooth. None of the surrounding teeth will be touched during the procedure and this can ultimately save you a lot of headache and money.

If you are missing a tooth and want to know what your options are for replacing it, be sure to visit cosmetic dentists to see about getting an implant put into your mouth. More and more people are opting for an implant because it is relatively noninvasive and does not destroy the structure of surrounding teeth like a dental bridge might. This is a wonderful option for anyone who is missing a few teeth and who does not want to compromise the rest of their teeth just to have a bridge put in. Be sure to speak with our Apex NC dentist to learn more about this procedure.

Apex Cosmetic Dentist Shares Expectations for Dental Implants Appointment

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Proven Dental Implant Process

Technological advances in treatments and tools used by cosmetic dentists in Apex, NC have improved both the process and the outcome of today’s dental procedures. The focus on minimizing discomfort has derived the tools and devices responsible for reducing the amount of time needed for far superior results. Many of the most complex procedures, such as dental implant surgery, have been reduced to a process so simplified even the recovery time puts past experiences into distant memory.

There is no need for apprehension with modern dental implants. Made from commercially pure titanium or titanium alloys designed to fuse naturally to bone, it all comes down to applying the science of engineering this kind of fit. This is where the ingenuity of improved procedures and materials has completely transformed dental implant surgery.

Modern Dental Implants in Apex NC

Modern dental implants rely on a precision fit for stability and to hasten healing. As with all invasive procedures, the more the body is allowed to maintain homeostasis, the body’s natural ability to maintain its internal stability, the less complications and pain are associated with the outcome. By preparing a precision surgical guide with the aid of X-rays and CT scanning, the osteotomy is performed to create the channel or hole that receives the threaded titanium post and abutment.

Creating this space to receive the post is a process of graduated drilling to perfect the size of the opening and allows the implant to “take” naturally. In addition, therapeutic treatment of water-cooling the tissue during drilling prevents trauma for more natural fusion. This is critical in preserving bone integrity where it is most needed to support dental implants. Depending on each individual case, the crown, bridge or dentures are fitted the same day or soon thereafter.

With this “site preparation” and pre-planning to line-up the existing bite, or occlusion, there is nothing left to chance. Applying this method of gentle tissue management, cosmetic dentists in Apex, NC are able to prescribe mild medication post surgery as the only relief necessary to manage pain and swelling. With this level of expert care, dental implant surgery has become a thankfully uneventful experience.

Seeking a Consultation with Our Cosmetic Dentist in Apex NC?

If you’re wanting to keep a big bright smile, come see Dr. Hansen and the rest of our team at Hansen Dentistry. Our cosmetic dentist in Apex can’t wait to improve your smile and your confidence! To schedule an appointment, click here.

Our Apex Dentist Explains The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

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Everyday we see patients that have missing teeth. Sometimes they are teeth that have been recently extracted.  Other times they have been missing for years.  The reasons for why the teeth are missing vary.  But the answers about why to replace them are usually the same.  So we wanted to share these answers with you!

In the US, about 70% of the population is missing one or more teeth.  Tooth loss can lead to reduced self confidence because of gaps in a person’s smile.  Unfortunately, effects on physical appearance are not the only result.

 

Teeth are lost or missing for several reasons such as trauma, decay, periodontal disease, or even genetics.  It is important to replace missing teeth because when a tooth is missing there is no contact with the opposing arch.  This can cause opposing teeth to gradually extrude which leads to other problem, such as fractures, mobility, tooth loss, shifting in surrounding teeth, and gum problems.

There is more than one option available to patients for replacing missing teeth.  Like most choices, each option has pros and cons.  The 3 most common options are replacing the missing teeth with implants, crowns and bridges or dentures. Sometimes a combination of two of these options can be used, such as a denture that is supported by implants, or a bridge that is supported by implants.  We will cover more about what the pros and cons of each of these treatments are in upcoming blog posts.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, so whenever possible try to avoid loosing the tooth in the first place.  The financial cost of saving a tooth with a crown or even a crown and a root canal is substantially less than the cost of an implant and crown or a bridge.  Not to mention that by saving one tooth, you are also helping keep the surrounding ones healthy as well.

The loss of a tooth is not always preventable, such as in the case of trauma or when a tooth is congenitally missing.  But no matter the cause, it is important to understand the effects of missing teeth so that you can take the necessary steps to prevent further problems. Your Apex dentist can answer questions you have about what treatment best fits your needs and your smile.  And check back here when we explain more about each treatment in the upcoming weeks!

Our Apex Dentist Explains the Treatment Process for a Dental Implant

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If you are missing a tooth, a dental implant is an excellent way to restore your smile and jaw alignment. No other form of tooth replacement so perfectly mimics the natural tooth structure, root and all, while leaving surrounding healthy teeth untouched. Below is some more information about our Apex dental implant treatments.  

Step One: Post Insertion in the Jaw  

After an initial consultation meeting to discuss your treatment plan and payment details, you will return again to our Apex dental office for the first part of your dental implant surgery: the insertion of a titanium post into your jawbone. This post will eventually be hidden beneath the gum line, and act as the artificial “root” of the tooth. Once the post has been inserted, you will wait for 3-6 months for the jaw and gum tissue to regrow. The gums and bone tissue will grow up around the implant, integrating with it perfectly. 

Step Two: Attaching the Post 

After a few months, your gums and jaw will have healed, and you will be able to return to our office for the second part of your treatment. Our Apex dentist, Dr. Hansen, will attach what is called a “post” to the implant. You might think of this as the scaffolding inside the new tooth’s crown. In order to attach the post, the dentist will need to remove a small amount of gum tissue. That is why you will once again wait several weeks for the tissues to heal. 

Step Three: Attaching the Crown 

Finally, you will return for your last appointment, where your dentist will attach a crown to the post. This crown restoration will look identical in color and texture to the teeth that are surrounding it. After making some adjustments for bite and fit, you will be ready to head out the door with a tooth that is just as sturdy and stable—if not more so—than the old one! 

Why Dental Implants Are Beneficial for Jaw Health

One reason why most dentists prefer dental implants to other dental solutions, like bridges and dentures, is that they give adequate support to the jaw. Once your tooth’s roots are gone, your jawbone begins to naturally deteriorate. This can cause changes in your facial shape, contribute to bite problems, and lead to painful jaw issues such as TMJ. The dental implant, by contrast, allows your jaw to stay strong and stable, preserving the health of your other teeth and your oral health as a whole.

Need a Dental Implant in Apex? 

We understand that the idea of a dental implant can be scary (even for grown-ups!) However, we are very fortunate to have this remarkable development in dentistry. Dental implants have a very high success rate and are almost unnoticeable to most patients. In fact, some of our patients who are returning for a dental cleaning do not remember which tooth is the implant tooth until we remind them! If you would like to schedule an appointment to learn more about our dental implant services, click here.