Thursday, February 28, 2013

New Teeth in Chicago: New Year, New You!

Change your life this year by prioritizing your oral health. Seek a consultation with a skilled and experienced dentist in Chicago.

If you’re like most of us, your New Year’s Resolutions included a list of bad habits to break and new habits to make. Maybe it’s time for you to make a resolution to let someone else do the work. When you resolve to have a beautiful new smile, all you need to do is make an appointment with an expert tooth implants in Chicago and begin your new year with an amazing new look!

Your Smile is Important

Implant dentists Chicago

Chicago offers you great dental professionals as well as advanced technology to repair and rehabilitate your smile. Whether you're looking for simple bonding and fillings to specialty dentures and dental implants, there are great practices just waiting for your call. If the first thing you think when you look in the mirror is, "I wish my smile was...", then maybe it's time to start doing some research.

Could This Be You?

Tooth implants Chicago

Absolutely! Newer dental technology allows doctors to provide teeth replacement (whether you have lost one or all of them) while reducing or even eliminating pain, as well as the cost and time needed for proper rehabilitation. Traditional dental implants techniques, which require as many as twelve implants per jaw, have now largely been replaced with the far more sophisticated and significantly less invasive "All-on-4" protocol. You may now even be able to obtain new, comfortable, non-removable teeth without the need for bone grafting surgery!

But, I’m Afraid of the Dentist!

Don’t worry. They understand. Many people are, and you’re not alone. It's important to find an environment where your fear is taken seriously. You may be surprised to learn that procedures such as dental implants can be performed with little to no post-surgical pain. Today's technology and services such as conscious sedation allow dental healthcare professionals to offer more pain and anxiety-free solutions than ever before. Whether you are nervous about needles or can’t tolerate the whine of the dentist's drill.

Make sure you review others' experiences. Testimonials from people just like you are one of the best tools to help you to decide your best fit and to become more comfortable. Look for a dental office that offers sedation and read up what other patients had to say to see if they felt at ease and were as pain-free as possible during their own procedures.

Can You Afford a Beautiful New Smile?

Implant dentists Chicago

Can you really put a price tag on the cost of a new you with a beautiful new smile? Medical insurance companies will tell you “no,” because they rarely cover the cost for dental implant procedures, which they regard to be elective in nature. The good news is that there is help to be found. Browse dental professionals' websites to answer some common questions and be open to a consultation. Many implant dentists in Chicago accept traditional insurance plans as well as cash, checks and credit cards. They also offer dental financing to help you cover the costs of teeth replacement.

So, what are you waiting for?

Make this New Year complete with a New You!

Monday, February 25, 2013

The Major Benefits of Dental Implants

This article explains what dental implants are, who might be a candidate for them and the advantages they offer over traditional teeth replacement techniques.

Having beautiful teeth's not only an attribute that can improve your health by helping you to eat properly. It also boosts self-esteem and enables individuals to have positive views about themselves. Tooth implants in Chicago are a specific procedure in the Chicago dental world that gives patients peace of mind about their health and wellness. If you've considered going this route, take a look at some pertinent information that'll give you confidence in your decision.

What Are Dental Implants?

Tooth implants Chicago

Dental implants are replacement tooth roots used to support restorations for a missing single tooth  (crown) or entire dental arches (prosthetic bridge). They're made of titanium, which is biocompatible and so readily fuses with the jawbone. Tooth implants are favored over other procedures, such as dentures and bridges, because they're fixed and non-removable and superior in function, aesthetics and comfort.

Who is a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Very basically, anyone who has lost one or more of their original adult teeth can be considered for candidacy for dental implants in Chicago. Many elderly people have lost most or all of their original teeth due to periodontal (gum) disease and decide to undergo this treatment. Also, those who have tooth decay from heavy smoking or just from bad dental hygiene and other habits can be considered a candidate for implants. Some patients have suffered traumatic injuries that have resulted in tooth loss or have had failures with other delicate procedures, such as root canals.

Major Advantages over Dentures

There are several benefits to dental implants over and above traditional teeth replacement solutions. Besides superior aesthetic results, many people find them to be far more comfortable and convenient. Dental implants are cleaned and maintained like regular teeth, so patients don’t have to worry about removing them after meals and at nighttime, nor do they have to invest in messy dental glues and adhesives.

Since implants are permanent and eventually integrate with the bone, patients also don't have to worry about their teeth falling out of place. Some individuals experience speech problems or mumble when they talk because their dentures tend to slip inside their mouths. With tooth implants, you won't be at risk of the embarrassment of having your teeth slipping around in the middle of a conversation.

Dental implants also facilitate a strong and natural bite. This allows patients to eat all the foods they enjoy, thus helping them get the nutrients needed to maintain great whole-body health. Dental implants also aid in proper digestion. Other benefits include:

  • Great smile aesthetics
  • Teeth that look and feel natural
  • Teeth that function like natural teeth
  • Restored self-confidence
  • Gums that aren’t painful
  • No triggered gag reflex
  • No taste impediment: experience taste, temperature and texture again!
  • No need for anesthetic gels or messy adhesives.
  • No need for denture refitting
  • Dental implants promote great jawbone health.

Chicago implant dentist

Additional Factors to Consider

Although dental implants are almost as strong as natural teeth, you will have to be careful to look after them to avoid infection and failure, especially in the weeks and months subsequent to your surgery. Avoid eating very hard and crunchy foods and make sure you brush and floss regularly and thoroughly.

Dental implants have restored quality of life to tens of thousands of people and have helped them all take pride in their smiles again. Consult with a Chicago implant dentist today if you think this is the right treatment for you.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Teeth in a Day Chicago: The Ultimate Dental Implant Technique

This article discusses the “All-on-4” dental implant technique and why it has become such an important procedure.

Teeth in a Day Chicago: What Is It All About?

Teeth in a Day, also known as “All-on-4” dental implants, is considered the standard dental care for replacing a full set of missing or failing teeth. Chicago implant dentists confirm that this protocol is the most sophisticated tooth replacement technique available today. This is not only because it delivers an innovative, effective and non-removable teeth replacement solution, but one that is quicker, cheaper and typically pain-free! The “All-on-4” is quite essentially designed to help edentulous (the state of being toothless) and near-edentulous patients regain a beautiful smile!

Teeth in a Day Chicago

The ultimate Teeth in a Day Chicago procedure predictably provides patients with a complete set of immediate functional, non-removable and highly aesthetic teeth in as little as a single day and typically without the need for bone-grafting. This is owed to the strategic placement of only four dental implants in regions of the jaw that naturally contain a greater volume of atrophy resistant bone tissue. Prior to the development of this technique, most patients would require as many as 10 dental implants per jaw, multiple placement surgeries and many, many months spent in and out of the dentist's office.

"All-on-4" Dental Implants: Importance

Undeniably, the Teeth in a Day technique is very important for a variety of reasons. It allows people to live a healthier and happier life without the daily challenges of denture wearing. “All-on-4” implants give patients a strong set of non-removable teeth that they can use to eat all of their favorite foods with. Imagine going to a restaurant and not having to scour the menu for soft and suitable foods anymore. “All-on-4” patients don’t have to think of what they can eat, but what they want to eat.

The second essential point associated with this procedure is that it increases self-confidence. Only a few things are more embarrassing than missing teeth and dentures that flop out of the mouth when least expected. The fixed and non-removable “All-on-4” implant solution allows people to regain their beautiful smile and enjoy the confidence of having secure and stable teeth.

Affordability is another important aspect. Getting new teeth in a day with the “All-on-4” technique is on average $25,000 cheaper than traditional dental implant techniques. This is not surprising when you consider that the latter generally require between six and 12 implants per arch and multiple placement surgeries. Obviously, fewer implants translate to lower costs for patients.

Some other significant benefits include the fact that the “All-on-4” can be completed in as little as a single day, with a single surgery and typically without the need for bone grafting. This is a major advantage for edentulous patients, who are generally concerned with the amount of time a dental implant treatment will take before they can have a complete set of teeth again.

Conventional dental implant techniques require many appointments and many surgeries interspersed with months of healing time. As a result, it can take up to 18 months for a patient to get a complete set of teeth again!

Chicago implant dentist

A Final Note on “All-on-4” Implants

Thanks to the incredible capabilities of the “All-on-4” protocol, patients can get new teeth in one day in Chicago and save tens of thousands of dollars on the cost of fixed oral rehabilitation. This, along with the many aesthetic and functional benefits of the “All-on-4”, makes this dental implant solution the very best on the market.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Comparing Cosmetic Procedures, from Tooth Whitening to Dental Implants in Illinois

This article provides a brief explanation of some cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry procedures, from teeth whitening and veneers to dentures and implants.

It has been proven that there’s a very real connection between oral health and overall wellness. For example, gum disease has been linked with heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and respiratory disease, so it’s important that you include regular, professional dental care as part of your overall healthcare regimen. The good news is, when it comes to the health of your pearly whites, you have many choices in dental procedures, whether you are looking to simply improve their appearance or replace teeth with dental implants in Illinois.

Teeth Whitening vs. Dental Veneers

Dental Implants Illinois

Cosmetic dentistry to improve your overall appearance is vital to your emotional health and sense of wellbeing. Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure that can be used to improve the appearance of teeth that have become discolored and stained from years of smoking and/or consuming dark colored foods and beverages. Veneers are another cosmetic option for improving the color of teeth. They were invented in 1982 and consist of thin layers of dental composite that can be directly mounted onto the front surface of your tooth or teeth. Porcelain veneers are fabricated by a dental technician and are then bonded to your teeth in a subsequent appointment with the dentist.

An Interesting Fact about Veneers: In the 1980s, the dental adhesive used to “glue” veneers to teeth only lasted a short time, so veneers were most commonly used by actors, who wanted their teeth to look good during a film shoot. Today, veneers are used not only to improve appearance, but also to repair damaged teeth and fill in missing tooth structure. Porcelain veneers are stronger and more stain-resistant than composite veneers. They also last anywhere from 10 to 30 years.

Removable Dentures vs. Dental Implants

Did you know that President George Washington wore dentures? A denture is a removable set of artificial teeth that rely on their bulkiness to remain stabilized in the mouth. Dentures have been used for hundreds of years, but they come hand-in-hand with a great variety of challenges. Sore gums, a triggered gag reflex, taste impediment, the need for adhesives, poor self-esteem and impaired eating function are just a few of the problems associated with these archaic teeth replacement devices.

Dental implants, on the other hand, are “root” artificial tooth insertions, which are made into the jawbone. The new tooth will actually fuse with the bone in a process termed “osseointegration”. Dental implants are, in the long run, more cost effective and make for a far more sophisticated teeth replacement. They look, function and feel like natural teeth and can last several decades without the need for restoration or replacement.

Implant dentist Chicago

In 1931, archeologists discovered evidence that Mayan civilizations were using crude approximations of dental implants in 600 AD! So, it’s not exactly a new concept. However, it was only after 1950 that dental implants - as we know them today - were innovated. Nowadays, they are the recommended treatment choice of implant dentists in Chicago.

A Final Note on Dental Implants

If you are considering having dental implants placed, remember not to wait around too long. The quicker you replace a missing tooth, the less complicated the surgery will be. Also, if you are a smoker, it’s definitely time to quit. Smoking reduces the healing success of dental implants quite considerably and it’s not worth the risks. Overall, the success rate of dental implants - for non-smokers - is 98%.

The importance of seeking emotional and physical wellness through professional dental care is not an option: it’s a necessity.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Fun Facts about Dental Implants in Chicago, PART 4

Learn some interesting facts about dental implants in this four-part article series, from their historical conception to their sophistication as a strong and durable tooth replacement technology.

Welcome back to our four-part article series on the historical development and amazing abilities of dental implants in Chicago. Over the course of our previous three article posts, we have looked at some of the incredible facts to be found on this indispensible technology, from the discovery of osseointegration in 1952 to the 98% success rate of modern dental implant procedures. In this article, the final installment of the series, we shall finish off by discussing how far implant surgery has come since the early 1990’s.

Interesting Fact # 7: Dental Implants Can Give Patients New Teeth in One Day

Dental implants in Chicago

In the early 1990’s, European implantologist, Dr. Paulo Malo, developed a dental implant technique that would enable specially trained dentists to achieve the unprecedented in the fields of fixed oral rehabilitation and dental implantology. This innovation, termed “All on 4 Implants” was able to give patients a brand new set of teeth in a single day, with a single surgery. In order to fully appreciate this, let’s take a look at the route for teeth replacement using traditional dental implant procedures.

Let’s pretend that you’re edentulous (don’t have a single original adult tooth left) or are facing an immediate future of edentulism. If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that this isn’t too much of a stretch of the imagination! Before the introduction of All on 4 Implants, the journey taken to get a complete set of fixed and non-removable teeth placed would require:

  • As long as 18 months for you to get new teeth,
  • As many as 6, 8 or even 10 dental implants per jaw,
  • Multiple surgeries and recovery periods,
  • Bone grafting surgery, which is painful and expensive
  • Over a hundred thousand dollars to finance!

Dr. Malo was well aware of the limitations and challenges of traditional dental implant procedures, especially in the treatment of edentulous and near-edentulous patients. So, he dedicated much time and effort to the development of a surgical technique that would bypass these challenges and, in doing so, immensely cut down on the time and expense required to give patients new teeth. The fruits of his labor are “All on 4 Implants”. Let’s take a look at how they work.

All on 4 implants

The “All on 4” technique essentially consists of the very precise placement and angulation of only four dental implants in the upper and/or lower jaw. A customized prosthetic dental bridge, which looks like a full set of teeth, is then attached to the abutments of these dental implants. The positioning of the dental implants enables oral surgeons to reap maximum support from the jawbone for a set of replacement teeth, even in cases where patients have lost a lot of supporting bone tissue due to denture wearing.

This typically bypasses the need for bone grafting (a massive accomplishment in itself), and because only four dental implants are needed, the entire procedure can be done in a single day, with only a single surgery! This reduces the expense of fixed oral rehabilitation by tens of thousands of dollars, making it far more accessible to a greater number of patients in desperate need of a new set of teeth.

A Final Note on Dental Implants

As you can see from all the amazing facts discussed, dental implants really are a feat of modern dental and medical science. Their abilities are simply unparalleled and yet, with every passing year, implant hardware and surgical procedures continue to be refined and further developed. From the earliest replacement teeth carved out of seashell to modern All on 4 Implants: the science has come a very long way and continues proudly on its upward trajectory!