4 Ways to Take Care of Dental Implants

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A missing tooth can lead to many problems including self-consciousness, difficulty chewing, and difficulty talking. Having a dental implant can fix that. Maintaining your dental implant is important. When your dental implant is installed, the dentist in Athens, TX, can give you advice to help you take care of your dental implant. Below, we’ve listed four ways that you can take care of your dental implants.

1. Brush Your Teeth

Hopefully, you already brush your teeth every day. Continue to brush your teeth twice every day after your dental implant is installed. Use non-abrasive toothpaste to prevent your dental implant from becoming scratched. Using abrasive toothpaste can scratch your implant and cause stains to develop.

2. See the Dentist

See your dentist every six months for dental check-ups and exams. Seeing the dentist twice per year can help your dentist identify problems with your dental implant before they become serious. Seeing the dentist can also help you avoid problems like gum disease, which could put your dental implant at risk.

3. Don’t Use Your Teeth to Tear or Cut

Your dental implant should only be used for chewing food, not for tearing or cutting. If you often use your teeth to bite your nails or cut through packaging, now is the time to stop.

4. Don’t Whiten Your Teeth

Dental implants can’t be whitened. Whitening your dental implants will not turn the tooth whiter, and could lead your dental implant to become mismatched with your other teeth.

Do you have questions about dental implants in Athens, TX? Call today to make an appointment.

Image of dental implant

 4 Reasons to Replace Your Missing Tooth With a Dental Implant

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Do you have a missing permanent tooth? Your dentist in Athens, TX, can help with dental implants. Dental implants are a popular option for patients who want to restore their smile and replace a missing tooth. In this article, we’ll discuss four great reasons to install a dental implant in place of your missing tooth. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Fill the Gap

A missing tooth is more than a cosmetic problem. If you’re missing a tooth, it’s important to fill the gap to prevent other teeth from shifting out of place. When this happens, your bite may change and your teeth may experience unnecessary wear and tear. Filling the gap with a dental implant can help you avoid this problem by keeping your other permanent teeth in place.

2. Dental Implants Look Natural

Dental implants look like they belong. Your dental implant will have a crown designed to fit perfectly in your mouth. Once the dental implant is in place, your mouth should look like it used to, before the permanent tooth was lost.

3. Dental Implants Function Like Real Teeth

Dental implants function like real teeth. Like real teeth, dental implants are installed in the jaw. Installing a dental implant makes chewing and talking easy again.

4. Your Smile Will Be Whole Again

Are you bothered by how your smile looks now that you’re missing a permanent tooth? A dental implant can change that. Installing a dental implant can make your mouth whole again.

Are you interested in dental implants in Athens, TX? Contact us to make an appointment to discuss whether dental implants are right for you.

Do You Need an Implant Repaired? We Can Help

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You need dental implant restoration in Athens, TX if your implant feels loose, you notice it has a small chip or crack, or it has fallen out of your mouth. The longer you put off scheduling an appointment at Athens Smile Family Dental, the more likely it is that the implant will fail entirely.

How We Repair Dental Implants

The exact procedure we follow depends on why your dental implant needs repair. Having a loose implant is a common example. Our dentist checks the abutment, which is the piece that attaches the artificial tooth to the titanium rod in your jaw, to see if that is the problem. If so, correcting it is as simple as temporarily removing the artificial tooth and tightening the abutment.

Issues with the implant itself require a bit more investigation. Our dentist removes both the artificial tooth and the abutment to determine if the implant screw has somehow slid in your jaw and reinstalls it if necessary. We need to repeat the installation procedure when some or all parts of the implant have fallen out of your mouth.

When an artificial tooth is cracked or chipped, we typically only need to replace that portion of the implant. However, our dentist will check both the abutment and implant post to see if either of them requires replacement.

Dental Implant Failure

Approximately five percent of people who receive dental implants experience failure months to years later. The good news is that many of the factors that affect dental implant failure are within your control. Smoking, gum disease, and poor oral hygiene are the leading causes of dental implant failure.

Whether you need dental implant restoration in Athens, TX, or feel your implants have failed, we encourage you to contact our dental practice for immediate treatment.

Do Dental Implants Really Look Natural?

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Dental implants are a popular option for those looking to replace missing teeth. However, many people may have questions about whether dental implants look natural. This is actually the most commonly-mentioned concern that patients mention when discussing dental implants with their dentist.

Worries About Others Knowing You Have Dental Implants

It’s completely understandable to have concerns about others discovering that you have dental implants. However, with the right dental care and proper placement, dental implants can look so natural that even your closest friends and family may not be able to tell that you have them. The key to getting the best results from dental implants is choosing a great dentist in Athens, TX.

What Makes Dental Implants Look Natural?

From the outset, dental implants are designed to look and function like natural teeth. They’re made from materials like titanium and ceramic, which mimic the appearance of natural teeth. In addition, dental implants are custom-made to fit your unique mouth, which helps to create a seamless look. Finally, your dentist ensures that the hue of your new dental implants matches the color of your natural teeth as much as possible so they blend in.

How Your Dentist Helps

Your dentist plays a crucial role in ensuring that your dental implants look natural. Your dentist will take precise measurements of your mouth and consider the size, shape, and color of your natural teeth when designing your dental implants. This allows them to create a dental implant that looks and functions like your natural teeth.

Your dentist also uses dental materials that match the color of your natural teeth, further ensuring that your dental implants blend in. Also, your dentist uses advanced techniques to position your dental implants in a way that looks natural and creates a seamless appearance.

Dental implants in Athens, TX, can provide a natural and functional solution for one or more missing teeth. With the right design, materials, and placement, dental implants can blend in seamlessly with your natural teeth and provide you with a confident smile. If you’re considering dental implants or have questions about your oral health, it’s important to talk to a trusted and experienced dentist. Contact us to book an appointment today and take the first step towards a healthy and beautiful smile!

Dentures vs Dental Implants: A Look at the Pros and Cons

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Research shows that over 30 million people in the U.S. have lost all of their teeth, and millions more have lost at least some of their teeth. Luckily, when it comes to smile restoration, you do have options. Two of the most popular ways to restore a smile are through dental implants or dentures in Athens. Take a look at the pros and cons of each method.

Dentures

Dentures are a prosthesis created to resemble the appearance of natural gums and teeth. Dentures can be either full to replace all of the teeth on the upper or lower jaw, or they can be partial, which means they fit around existing teeth to close gaps.

Pros

  • Quick process; usually takes only a few appointments
  • Affordable option; cost between $1000 to $15,000
  • Restores some chewing power, speech, and aesthetics

Cons

  • Can be hard to fit for patients with little bone height
  • Usually have to be replaced after several years of use
  • May shift slightly and require some adjustment when speaking or chewing

Dental Implants

Dental implants have been performed since the 1960s. These implants go directly into the jaw bone to create a permanent fixture that gets topped with a crown. Dental implants can be singular to support only one tooth, but they can also support bridges or groups of teeth.

Pros

  • Creates a permanent tooth replacement that likely won’t have to be replaced
  • Fully restores chewing power after proper healing
  • Most resemblant to natural teeth

Cons

  • Requires more time for the complete procedure; involves three to six months of healing after surgery
  • More expensive option; may be $1,000 per implant or more
  • Not a good option for patients with conditions that affect healing

Work with an Athens Dentist to Restore Your Smile

Ready to begin your smile restoration journey? Whether you are interested in dental implants or dentures, we are the Athens dental practice that can help you out. Reach out to us at Athens Dental to schedule your appointment today.