Dental Implants

Importance of cancer screening

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Cancer screening is an essential tool in the fight against cancer. It uses tests or exams to identify the presence of cancer or precancerous conditions in individuals with no symptoms of the disease. Cancer screening aims to detect cancer early when it is most likely to be treated successfully.

Several types of cancer screening tests are available, including mammography for breast cancer, pap tests for cervical cancer, colonoscopies for colorectal cancer, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests for prostate cancer, skin exams for skin cancer, and low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans for lung cancer.

Oral cancer screening is typically performed by a dentist or oral surgeon during a routine dental examination. The screening involves a visual and tactile examination of the mouth, throat, and neck to look for any abnormalities or signs of cancer. The following steps are typically involved in an oral cancer screening.

Visual examination

The dentist or oral surgeon will visually inspect the inside of the mouth, including the lips, gums, tongue, and roof of the mouth, looking for any red or white patches or swelling.

Palpation

The dentist or oral surgeon will use their hands to feel for any lumps or abnormalities in the neck, jaw, and lymph nodes.

Use of a bright light or special dye

The dentist or oral surgeon may use a bright light or special dye, such as toluidine blue, to highlight any abnormal tissue in the mouth.

X-rays or other imaging studies

If necessary, the dentist or oral surgeon may order additional imaging studies, such as x-rays or a CT scan, to further evaluate any abnormalities detected during the screening.

It is important to undergo regular oral cancer screenings, as early detection of oral cancer can greatly improve the chances of successful treatment.

The benefits of cancer screening are numerous. Early cancer detection can lead to earlier treatment, significantly improving a person’s chances of survival. In some cases, cancer can be cured if it is detected and treated early. In addition, cancer screening can help to reduce the risk of cancer by detecting precancerous conditions that can be treated before they turn into cancer.

However, it is essential to note that cancer screening tests are not foolproof and can sometimes produce false positive or negative results. An incorrect positive impact is when a test indicates the presence of cancer, but further testing reveals that no cancer is present. A false negative effect is when a test fails to detect cancer that is present.

Despite the potential for false results, the benefits of cancer screening far outweigh the potential drawbacks. Individuals need to speak with their healthcare provider about their risk factors for cancer and the appropriate cancer screening tests for their age and gender.

In addition to cancer screening, individuals need to maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce their risk of developing cancer. This includes maintaining a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco, and limiting alcohol intake.

Overall, cancer screening is an important tool in the fight against cancer, and it allows for the early detection of cancer, leading to earlier treatment and improved chances of survival. It is important for individuals to speak with their healthcare provider about their risk factors for cancer and the appropriate cancer screening tests for their age and gender and to maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce their risk of developing cancer.

Why Experience Matters

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To become board-certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral surgeons must complete a number of requirements, including:

Dental school: Oral surgeons must first graduate from an accredited dental school and obtain a DDS or DMD degree.

Residency program: Oral surgeons must then complete a four- to six-year residency program in oral and maxillofacial surgery, which includes both didactic and clinical training.

Written and oral exams: After completing their residency, oral surgeons must pass written and oral exams administered by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS).

To give you an idea of what JUST the written exams comprise, read on. The written exam for the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) certification program is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions that cover a range of topics, including:

  • Anatomy
  • Embryology
  • Pathology
  • Diagnostic methods
  • Anesthesia
  • Pain management
  • Surgical principles and techniques
  • Reconstructive surgery
  • Trauma surgery
  • Orthognathic surgery
  • Tumor surgery

Not what you’d call a cake walk.

The written exam is typically administered over a two-day period, with approximately 400 questions in total. It is graded on a pass/fail basis, and candidates must pass the written exam in order to progress to the oral exam. The oral exam is a more intensive evaluation of a candidate’s knowledge and skills, and includes both a clinical and a written component.

Maintenance of certification: To maintain their board certification, oral surgeons must participate in continuing education and demonstrate their ongoing commitment to the highest standards of patient care.

The process of becoming board-certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery is rigorous and requires a significant investment of time and resources. However, this specialized training enables oral surgeons to provide the highest level of care to their patients.

Therefore, an experienced, board-certified oral surgeon can provide some distinct advantages over other options when it comes to having dental implant surgery done.

Expertise: Oral surgeons are specialists in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, which includes the placement of dental implants. They undergo additional training beyond dental school and are skilled in the most advanced techniques for implant placement.

Safety: Oral surgeons operate in accredited surgical facilities and follow strict protocols to ensure patient safety.

Comfort: Oral surgeons are trained in the administration of conscious sedation and can provide a more comfortable experience for patients who are anxious about the procedure.

Success rate: Oral surgeons have a high success rate for dental implant surgery due to their specialized training and experience.

Comprehensive care: Oral surgeons can provide comprehensive care for patients, including the placement of dental implants as well as any necessary extractions, bone grafting, or sinus lifts.

Maybe it’s a bit more clear now why It is important to choose a qualified and experienced oral surgeon for dental implant surgery to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Using Zirconia for Dental Implants

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Dental implants permanently replace missing teeth because they’re designed to integrate your jawbone to offer permanent roots. There are different types of dental implants, but this article talks about using zirconia for dental implants.

Zirconia for Dental Implants

Previously, titanium dental implants dominated the dental industry because of their impressive ability to integrate with the jawbone for a permanent replacement. But recently, zirconia dental implants have become very popular, offering an alternative to titanium in terms of osseointegration with the jawbone.

Zirconia comprises zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), also referred to as zirconia. But you shouldn’t confuse zirconia with zircon. Zirconium oxide is a white crystalline oxide, and it can be synthesized to produce various products, including dental implants.

Benefits of Zirconia Dental Implants

Numerous studies have been conducted on zirconia dental implants to establish their viability and benefits to patients. Here are the main advantages of zirconia dental implants.

Corrosion and Wear Resistant
Zirconia dental implants exhibit superior resistance against corrosion and deterioration, keeping your replacement teeth looking new and natural for many years. Since your mouth is always wet, you should choose dental implants that are corrosion resistant. The yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) constituents in zirconia implants enable them to remain effective for years.

Extra Strength
Zirconia dental implants exhibit a high flexural forte compared to other dental implants. They are durable and inflexible, even under extreme pressure. Therefore, you can bite and chew hard foods without damaging them. They’ve proven to be more effective and pressure-resistant when placed in the anterior part of your mouth.

Osseointegration
Like titanium implants, zirconia dental implants are designed to bond with your jawbone to form a firm foundation for your dental crowns. Remember that a successful installation of dental implants depends on the effectiveness of their osseointegration. Fortunately, zirconia is known to offer successful osseointegration.

Doesn’t Conduct Heat
Since zirconia isn’t a metal, it doesn’t conduct heat. Therefore, your zirconia dental implants won’t burn your gums when you eat or drink something hot. This allows your gums to heal and bind themselves around the implants for a firm and permanent replacement.

Their only setback is that a few dentists only offer them. Although zirconia dental implants are gaining popularity worldwide, very few dentists are offering them. They arrived in the United States in 2019, which means they’re still not readily available.

Can I Get My Dental Implants the Same Day as My Extractions?

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Some oral complications may force you to have one or several of your teeth extracted. How can you have the tooth replaced immediately so you can restore your natural smile? Dental implants have proved to be permanent teeth replacement solutions, and this article gives you the correct answer.

What’s an Immediate Dental Implant?

But with the latest technologies in dentistry, it’s possible to have your dental implant fitted immediately after tooth extraction. This type of dental implant is commonly referred to as an immediate dental implant.

In most cases, an immediate dental implant is fitted on the same day your tooth is extracted. But sometimes, it can be fitted after two weeks, especially if your gum is infected or your jawbone requires a bone graft. If you are getting a dental bridge anchored on the dental implant, the procedure is immediate loading.

Importance of Getting an Immediate Dental Implant

Although losing a tooth through extraction is distressing enough, staying with a gap in your teeth for weeks or months is more upsetting because you’ll feel embarrassed every time you laugh or speak in front of people. Many patients prefer to have their dental implants fitted immediately after extraction. Getting your dental implant on the same day as your tooth extraction means you won’t have to cover your mouth when talking or smiling.

Your dental implant fitted immediately after tooth extraction helps speed up osseointegration, coming together with the implant and jawbone. The open gum will heal quickly and tighten up around the implant to give a firm grip. It’s easier to have a dental implant fitted when the wound is still fresh than to open the gum when it’s already healed. An immediate dental implant also helps preserve gum tissue.

Are Dental Implants Really as Good as My Original Teeth?

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When you lose your tooth due to infection or accident, you have to choose the most effective and lasting tooth replacement solution. Thankfully, dental implants have proved to be quite effective in replacing missing teeth and permanently restoring a patient’s natural smile. But the question that many people ask is: Are dental implants really as good as my original teeth? This article answers this and other related questions.

Why You Should Choose Dental Implants

While there are several other tooth replacement options, dental implants have proved to be the most suitable solution because of several reasons. For instance, they are easy to maintain, especially since they only need brushing and flossing like natural teeth. With dental bridges and dentures, you have to remove them occasionally for cleaning, which can be very inconvenient.

Additionally, dental implants will provide you with more comfort because they won’t fall off when you laugh or chew food. Furthermore, you won’t have to remove your dental implants at night. Dental implants are designed to attach to your jawbone permanently through a bonding process referred to as osseointegration. This means that the metallic implant will bond with your bone to form a permanent root that will provide your jawbone with the necessary stimulation for regrowth.

Dental Implants and Real Teeth

Many people want to know if their dental implants will be better than their natural teeth. The short answer is that it depends. First of all, it is not easy to compare dental implants to natural teeth because implants are artificial and may not perform the same way natural teeth would. So, your dentist will try as much as possible to restore your natural teeth if it’s possible. Although the process of restoring natural teeth can require multiple procedures that might be frustrating to some patients, you shouldn’t lose your natural teeth to dental implants.

But having said that, sometimes dental implants are the better option, especially in a situation where severe teeth decay is involved. In that case, dental implants will help you restore your natural smile and live your everyday life. Tooth decay is known to cause numerous health complications, including stroke, cardiovascular disease, reduced insulin effectiveness, osteoporosis, and others. Therefore, you need to replace the decayed teeth with dental implants. The good thing about implants is that they do not decay, so you won’t have to worry about root canal or cavity. For more information about dental implants, talk to Dr. Kademani right away.

Recovery from Dental Implants

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As you contemplate replacing your missing tooth with a dental implant, you need to think about the surgical process and the recovery. It is important to know how the procedure will affect your life immediately after the operation and in the long term. This is important so that you can prepare yourself both physically and psychologically. Continue reading to learn more about recovery from dental implants.

Will I Feel Pain After Surgery?

Although the surgery is quite invasive, the pain is relatively minimal because the surgeon will only make a tiny incision in your gum and drill a small hole in the jawbone. Since the bone doesn’t have a nerve ending, you won’t feel pain. Furthermore, your doctor will give you prescription drugs to relieve the pain and discomfort after the surgery.

Can You Eat After Dental Implant Surgery?

It is not advisable to eat immediately after the surgery because the wound is still fresh, and you have a set of gauzes meant to help you place light pressure on the surgical site. So, you should only eat something soft or have a drink after an hour or two when you can remove the first set of gauzes. For the first 24 hours after the surgery, you should not take hot drinks or use a straw. You should move on to more solid food as the days go by. But you should be guided by your comfort level.

How Much Rest Do I Need?

Since this procedure is quite invasive, you will be given anesthesia to keep you comfortable during surgery. Therefore, you should not attempt to drive a vehicle or operate a machine immediately after the surgery because the effect of anesthesia takes up to 24 hours to fade away completely. You should also avoid heavy lifting or any other rigorous activity for at least one week. Give yourself enough time to rest so that your body can recover quickly.

How Long Does Dental Implant Recovery Take?

Your recovery period depends on several factors. For instance, if you are replacing a single tooth without bone grafting, full recovery can take just a few days or weeks. But if you are replacing several teeth and you need a bone graft, the recovery period can take weeks or months. Other factors include your overall health, age, and hygiene. If you have other underlying health problems that might delay the healing process, your recovery from dental implants will take longer.

What is the Difference Between a Bridge and a Dental Implant?

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Replacing missing teeth is now easy and quick, thanks to the many tooth replacement options available. These options are meant to help you restore your natural smile and continue enjoying your life without disruptions. Two of the most sought-after tooth replacement options are dental implants and bridges. In this article, we will tell you the difference between a bridge and a dental implant.

What Is a Dental Implant?

Also referred to as an endosseous implant, a dental implant is a surgical component designed to interface with the jawbone to support a dental prosthesis or serve as an orthodontic anchor. A dental implant is made from titanium, which is completely biocompatible. Therefore, it is expected to fully bond with the jawbone through osseointegration to hold the dental prosthesis permanently. A dental prosthesis can be a dental crown, denture, or bridge.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a fixed dental prosthesis designed to replace one or several missing teeth. A dental bridge is typically attached to neighboring teeth or dental implants for support. There are different types of dental bridges, including conventional bridges, fixed-fixed bridges, cantilever, fixed-movable bridges, spring cantilever, adhesive bridge, hybrid designs, and combination designs.

Difference Between a Dental Implant and a Bridge

While both dental bridges and implants can deliver a natural-looking outcome, they have their differences.

Invasive Procedure

A dental bridge doesn’t require invasive surgery or jawbone grafting because it is attached to the neighboring natural teeth or dental implant. On the other hand, a dental implant involves an invasive procedure, which may include bone grafting if the available bone tissue is not sufficient to support the implant.

Office Visits

A dental bridge requires a maximum of two visits to the dental clinic. Furthermore, these visits can be spread over several weeks to give you enough time to concentrate on other more important tasks. Dental implants require several visits to the dentist and can take up to 6 months, especially if you replace several teeth.

Permanency

Dental implants are designed to replace the missing teeth permanently, bearing in mind that they completely integrate with your jawbone. Dental bridges, on the other hand, need to be replaced after every 5 to 7 years.

Natural Appearance

Since dental implants can integrate with your jawbone, they will restore your natural smile. However, dental bridges lose their natural appearance with time.

Cost

The cost of placing dental implants is higher than that of bridges, especially because implants involve multifaceted surgery. But the overall cost of replacing dental bridges after every five years makes implants more cost-effective in the long run.

Is a Bone Graft Always Necessary with Dental Implants?

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Dental implants are the most preferred teeth replacement option in the world today because of their permanency and the ability to restore a patient’s natural smile and appearance. However, implants require a firm foundation of enough bone mass. This means that you have to have sufficient jawbone to support the implants and allow successful osseointegration at the surgical site.

Therefore, do not be surprised if your oral surgeon tells you that you do not have sufficient bone to support your dental implants. Fortunately, we have discovered a way to increase the bone mass at the implant site through bone grafting. Continue reading to know if a bone graft is always necessary with dental implants.

What Is Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure designed to repair and rebuild bones by transferring bone tissue from one part of the bone to another or a donor. Bone grafting for dental implants involves harvesting bone tissue from other parts of a patient’s body and transplanting it at the implant site to add volume. The transplanted bone tissue has to be healthy to promote growth and fully support the dental implants.

Do All Dental Implants Require Bone Grafting?

Some people are hesitant to replace their missing teeth with dental implants for fear of undergoing bone grafting. But the truth is that not all dental implants require bone grafting. Your oral surgeon will analyze your jawbone to determine if a bone graft is necessary. Nevertheless, several conditions might require bone grafting.

Significant Bone Loss

If you delay replacing the missing teeth for a long time, your jawbone will shrink or collapse due to lack of stimulation. Just like muscles, bones also require regular stimulation to remain strong and healthy. This stimulation happens when you use your teeth to bite or chew food. Luckily, dental implants offer the same amount of stimulation as natural teeth. So, if your jawbone has deteriorated over time, bone grafting might be necessary.

Advanced Gum Diseases and Injuries

If you have suffered severe gum diseases or injuries, they will make your jawbone weak and unstable. Therefore, you will need a bone graft to recreate mass and strengthen your jawbone before placing dental implants.

Location

Some parts of your jaw are more likely to have insufficient bone tissue than others, for instance, near the bottom of the upper sinus, which is hollow. So, the surrounding bone tissue may not be dense enough to support a dental implant.

Remember that only your oral surgeon can determine if a bone graft is necessary. Therefore, choose your oral surgeon wisely.

How Long Will My Dental Implants Last?

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From improved appearance to improved speech, improved comfort, and better chewing, the benefits of replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant are unrivaled. Since a dental implant is placed in the jawbone, it offers the same bone stimulation as a natural tooth, keeping your bone strong and healthy. It also supports the neighboring teeth, preventing them from drifting or falling off.

In the past, patients with missing teeth had only two replacement options to choose from: dental bridges and dentures. Unfortunately, these options are temporary and undependable. But with dental implants, patients can now replace their missing teeth permanently and continue to live their lives normally without interruptions.

However, some people are still skeptical about the longevity of dental implants. While dental implants are designed to last a lifetime, many factors determine their permanency. This article discusses some of these factors.

How They Are Used

We are all guilty of using our teeth to perform hazardous tasks like chewing ice, grinding teeth, and biting hard objects. Although most of these actions are done subconsciously, they more often than not end up damaging our teeth. Even though they may not damage your titanium dental implants, these habits will harm your dental crowns that cover the implants. So, if you want your dental implants to last long, avoid these harmful tendencies.

How They Are Placed in Your Mouth

The location of dental implants in your mouth determines how long they will last. For instance, if you are replacing your pre-molars or incisors, they will be under immense pressure daily because they are responsible for chewing and tearing food. So, they are more susceptible to wear and tear than canines.

Diet and Lifestyle

Unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking and alcohol abuse put your oral health in jeopardy, causing more abrasion to your dental crowns. Moreover, they weaken your immune system, exposing your mouth to bacterial infections. These infections will eventually spread and cause serious dental problems like gum diseases and pulpitis.

Excessive intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates also promotes the buildup of plaque in your mouth, further accelerating bacteria’s growth. These infections will destroy your gum, leaving your dental implants exposed.

How You Care for Them

Although they are designed to be permanent, dental implants require good oral hygiene. This includes brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. You also have to use the right toothpaste, toothbrush, and mouthwash to clean and rinse your dental implants.

What Makes a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

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Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant is essential not just to your oral health but your overall health, too. One missing tooth can cause many other severe oral complications, including gum disease, jawbone recession, tooth decay, and shifting teeth. It can also lead to malnutrition because you won’t be able to chew food correctly, making it difficult for your body to absorb essential nutrients and minerals.

A gap in your smile will lower your confidence and self-esteem, which can lead to depression. Therefore, replacing a missing tooth immediately is paramount. Fortunately, dental implants permanently replace the missing teeth, allowing you to continue living your life normally without interruptions.

But before you rush to your dentist for dental implants, you need to be sure that you are the right candidate. Here are some important factors that determine your suitability for dental implants.

General Health

The right candidate for dental implants doesn’t have any underlying medical conditions. So, before your dentist clears you for dental implants, he or she will run a few medical tests on you to ensure that you do not have any health issues that could put you at risk during and after surgery. Some of the medical conditions that will negatively affect your candidacy for implants include diabetes, heart disease, gum disease, bone disease, smoking, alcohol abuse, and many others.

They will also check if your immunity is compromised or take medications that might put your life at risk. Since dental implants are placed into your jawbone through an invasive surgical procedure, you will be sedated throughout the procedure. Therefore, your doctor must ensure that your overall health allows you to be sedated.

Support Structure

For your dental implant placement procedure to be successful, you need to have enough bone mass to support and anchor the implant. It would help if you also had healthy gums. So, your doctor will start by evaluating your jaw, gum, teeth, and mouth in general before they clear you for dental implants. Ordinarily, the doctor will conduct an X-ray and a CT scan to check for bone loss, nerve location, and the shape of your sinuses.

Age

A young patient whose jawbone hasn’t developed fully is not a good candidate for a dental implant because their immature jawbone will hinder osseointegration – the implant’s fusion to the jawbone. This integration is critical to the longevity of the dental implant. So, children and teenagers are advised to try other temporary tooth replacement options like crowns and bridges.