If you're missing one or more teeth due to decay or damage, you have several options for replacing those teeth. There are dental implants, and implant-supported dentures, but if you prefer less invasive option, you may be thinking about removable dentures. With these choices, which option is better for you?
Removable Dentures
This method of replacing missing teeth has been the standard for decades. Because it's a low-cost and non-invasive option, it's also highly popular. Getting dentures can be a relatively fast process too, typically requiring only two or three dental visits over a few weeks. At the first visit, impressions will be taken and used by a dental lab to create the dentures. At the second visit, assuming your new dentures don’t require re-adjustment, they'll be ready to wear home.
Almost anyone can wear dentures, as there are no specific oral health requirements to meet before this treatment can be recommended for you. They're easy to take care of, and can last for many years if treated carefully. However, removable prosthetics can take some getting used to, but this gets better with continued wear.
Implant-Supported Dentures
If you are a good candidate for implant-supported dentures, you can benefit from some big improvements in oral function and aesthetics. Implant-supported dentures don't impede speech the way removable dentures can and they don't limit your diet. Permanent dentures are also easy to take care of, and last a long time.
However, implant-supported dentures are more expensive than removable dentures, and getting implants does require oral surgery. The overall process of getting implant-supported dentures is lengthier; tissue and bone need time to heal after implant surgery and before the finalized denture can be placed on the implants.
Another important factor when considering fixed implant dentures is that there are certain restrictions as to who may be a good candidate for the treatment. For example, you need to have a good level of bone density in your jawbone for the implants to integrate successfully.
Selecting the Right Dental Prosthetics
Overall, implant-supported dentures provide more stability for replacement teeth and are more comfortable for long-term wear. However, not everyone is a good candidate for oral surgery, or may be interested in the elevated treatment cost that comes with replacing teeth via oral surgery. Deciding what treatment is best for you is dependent upon your oral health and personal preferences for care.
If you’re missing teeth and are looking for a way to restore your bite health and appearance, contact our Cynthiana dental office to learn more about how removable dentures or implant dentures can help you meet your goals.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Monday, June 22, 2015
Frequently Asked Questions about Porcelain Veneers
In as little as two dental appointments, porcelain veneers can provide whole new smiles for patients with cosmetically flawed teeth. While veneers are popular, many patients are unfamiliar with the treatment process or their options for cosmetic care.
At Licking Valley Dental, we most often hear patients ask:
Are Veneers Expensive? – Depending on how many veneers you need, treatment can be on the more costly side. However, there are ways to get a beautiful smile with veneers, and without breaking the bank. You and your dentist can determine which teeth are most in-need of veneer treatment to improve their appearance. For other teeth that need more minor fixes, you can select whitening treatment to lift staining, or ask your dentist to shape teeth by rounding edges for conservative, and effective treatment that keeps the price tag down, and still helps you meet your goal smile.
Is Getting Veneers Painful? – While getting veneers requires buffing some natural tooth enamel, this process is not painful and shouldn’t produce discomfort. To compare, the veneers treatment process does not require as much tooth preparation or dental work as getting a crown.
How are Veneers Applied? – Veneers are added to teeth with a strong dental bonding agent. Improvements in materials used in dental care have made veneers even stronger, so your treatment is long-lasting. Before applying the veneers, your natural dental enamel is buffed so that the veneer does not make the tooth look too thick.
Are there Alternatives to Veneer Treatment? – Depending on what your cosmetic treatment goals are, there are options that don’t include veneer therapy. Teeth whitening is available for making your smile look brighter; cosmetic dental bonding can be used to fix broken teeth, and for a severely damaged tooth there are porcelain dental crowns. However, in many instances, veneers require fewer visits to achieve a completely transformed smile.
If you have a question about porcelain veneers that we didn’t answer here, please contact our Cynthiana cosmetic dental office for more information. We’ve been transforming patients’ smiles with veneers for years and can help you too.
At Licking Valley Dental, we most often hear patients ask:
Are Veneers Expensive? – Depending on how many veneers you need, treatment can be on the more costly side. However, there are ways to get a beautiful smile with veneers, and without breaking the bank. You and your dentist can determine which teeth are most in-need of veneer treatment to improve their appearance. For other teeth that need more minor fixes, you can select whitening treatment to lift staining, or ask your dentist to shape teeth by rounding edges for conservative, and effective treatment that keeps the price tag down, and still helps you meet your goal smile.
Is Getting Veneers Painful? – While getting veneers requires buffing some natural tooth enamel, this process is not painful and shouldn’t produce discomfort. To compare, the veneers treatment process does not require as much tooth preparation or dental work as getting a crown.
How are Veneers Applied? – Veneers are added to teeth with a strong dental bonding agent. Improvements in materials used in dental care have made veneers even stronger, so your treatment is long-lasting. Before applying the veneers, your natural dental enamel is buffed so that the veneer does not make the tooth look too thick.
Are there Alternatives to Veneer Treatment? – Depending on what your cosmetic treatment goals are, there are options that don’t include veneer therapy. Teeth whitening is available for making your smile look brighter; cosmetic dental bonding can be used to fix broken teeth, and for a severely damaged tooth there are porcelain dental crowns. However, in many instances, veneers require fewer visits to achieve a completely transformed smile.
If you have a question about porcelain veneers that we didn’t answer here, please contact our Cynthiana cosmetic dental office for more information. We’ve been transforming patients’ smiles with veneers for years and can help you too.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
What to Expect with Clear Aligner Therapy
Clear braces, or clear aligner orthodontics, make it convenient to get a well-aligned and healthy smile. If you’re considering clear braces to help you meet your oral health goals, you can expect any of the following during your daily life and treatment with aligner therapy:
Meal Time: Your aligners will need to be taken out while you eat and drink to avoid damaging their transparency or structure. You should only be drinking water while your aligners are in – beverages like sodas and coffee can cause damage to the plastic of your aligner trays.
Brushing and Flossing Your Teeth: This one’s easy – your aligners pop out, allowing you to brush and floss according to your normal habits.
Getting New Aligners Every Two Weeks: Each set of clear aligners moves your teeth closer to ideal position. When you get a new tray, about every two weeks, it’s normal to experience slight discomfort as your teeth adjust. However, this will dissipate after a few days, allowing you to wear your new aligner trays more comfortably.
Cleaning Your Aligners: It’s a good idea to clean your trays as often as your teeth, to prevent food debris and bacteria from becoming trapped in the aligner. You can use water or mouthwash to rinse out the tray, or you can even gently scrub the tray with a toothpaste-free tooth brush. Toothpaste can be abrasive and scratch the surface of the aligners, making them cloudy.
Getting Best Results: To see ideal, final results, it’s essential to wear your clear aligners for at least 22 hours a day and to only remove them for meals and daily cleaning. Keep in mind, regular braces provide predictable treatment because they’re bonded to teeth, but clear aligners are removable – making you, the patient, an important part of how successful your treatment is.
Our Cynthiana dental office provides ClearCorrect clear braces for patients in need of orthodontic care, but who want to avoid standard metal braces. For more information on clear aligner therapy, call our office for assistance or to schedule your consultation.
Meal Time: Your aligners will need to be taken out while you eat and drink to avoid damaging their transparency or structure. You should only be drinking water while your aligners are in – beverages like sodas and coffee can cause damage to the plastic of your aligner trays.
Brushing and Flossing Your Teeth: This one’s easy – your aligners pop out, allowing you to brush and floss according to your normal habits.
Getting New Aligners Every Two Weeks: Each set of clear aligners moves your teeth closer to ideal position. When you get a new tray, about every two weeks, it’s normal to experience slight discomfort as your teeth adjust. However, this will dissipate after a few days, allowing you to wear your new aligner trays more comfortably.
Cleaning Your Aligners: It’s a good idea to clean your trays as often as your teeth, to prevent food debris and bacteria from becoming trapped in the aligner. You can use water or mouthwash to rinse out the tray, or you can even gently scrub the tray with a toothpaste-free tooth brush. Toothpaste can be abrasive and scratch the surface of the aligners, making them cloudy.
Getting Best Results: To see ideal, final results, it’s essential to wear your clear aligners for at least 22 hours a day and to only remove them for meals and daily cleaning. Keep in mind, regular braces provide predictable treatment because they’re bonded to teeth, but clear aligners are removable – making you, the patient, an important part of how successful your treatment is.
Our Cynthiana dental office provides ClearCorrect clear braces for patients in need of orthodontic care, but who want to avoid standard metal braces. For more information on clear aligner therapy, call our office for assistance or to schedule your consultation.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Welcome to our blog!
We're excited to announce the official launch of our Licking Valley Dental blog.
We'll be posting helpful dental tips, news from the dental industry, news from our practice, and more about the latest in dentistry.
We built our practice on the notion that we're there for our patients when they need us and we want our online presence to be a reflection of that principle. We hope this blog provides an extra level of service to our current and future patients.
If you would like to stay up to date on the latest from Licking Family Dental, simply click the RSS “Subscribe to feed” link located on our website and subscribe. Our subscribers will be updated when we make a new blog post.
Here's to your best oral health ever!
We'll be posting helpful dental tips, news from the dental industry, news from our practice, and more about the latest in dentistry.
We built our practice on the notion that we're there for our patients when they need us and we want our online presence to be a reflection of that principle. We hope this blog provides an extra level of service to our current and future patients.
If you would like to stay up to date on the latest from Licking Family Dental, simply click the RSS “Subscribe to feed” link located on our website and subscribe. Our subscribers will be updated when we make a new blog post.
Here's to your best oral health ever!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)