The Role of Dental Implants in Smile Restoration

Smile restoration — the art of returning your smile to its natural, dazzling condition — has gained great popularity. Your dentist in Beaver Creek, OH, has perfect solutions for smile repair. Whether you’re missing a tooth, or you have teeth that are broken or damaged from decay, dental implants may be the answer.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are prosthetic or artificial teeth. They’re attached to tiny metal posts that have been implanted through the gum and into the jawbone. This makes them permanent replacements for natural teeth that have been lost or extracted. You don’t have to worry about removing dental implants for eating or brushing, and there’s no sticky, messy adhesive required to keep them in place. They look and function just like the surrounding teeth.

How Difficult Is It to Get Dental Implants?

It’s not difficult at all to have dental implants. Once you’ve met with your dentist and decided dental implants are a good option for you, you’ll next see an oral surgeon to have the post implanted. If you’re having a single dental implant, only one post is required. If you’re having a row of implants to replace several missing teeth, two or more anchors may be required.

Your surgeon will implant the post and then give it plenty of time to bond with your jawbone. This means you won’t need to return for several weeks. Once the post has firmly osseointegrated with the bone, your dentist will place the abutment or connector and then the crown. The crown is the part that looks like your natural tooth. It can be dyed to match the shade of surrounding teeth, so nobody will know it’s not real.

To learn more about dental implants in Beaver Creek, OH, call Keep Smiling Dental today.

3 Tips to Take Better Care of Your Veneers

When veneers in Beavercreek, OH, are an investment to fix your teeth, a dentist doesn’t necessarily need to tell you how important it is to care for them over time. If you’re looking for action item tips, we’ll look at what you can do to keep your veneers for as many years as possible.

Tips to Keep Your Veneers Safe

Here are the best ways to keep your veneers safe:

  • Brushing: In addition to brushing them regularly, you should avoid whitening toothpaste for abrasive toothbrushes. Soft bristles and all-purpose toothpaste are best to keep your veneers unblemished.
  • Flossing: Flossing at least once a day will remove some of the buildup around the veneers. It’s important to get out all the gunk so you’re less likely to damage either the surface or the core of the tooth. Use fluoride after flossing to protect the shells further.
  • Chewing: Things like ice, popcorn kernels, and pen caps can end up damaging your veneers. You should also consider how items like blueberries and coffee will affect the color of your veneer (and surrounding teeth). Avoiding fruit or your favorite latte seems unlikely, but you might want to consider drinking more water afterward or brushing when possible.

Visit Your Dentist in Beavercreek, OH

When you need a dentist in Beavercreek who can tell you more about what you can do on your end, it can put you in the driver’s seat. Everything you’ll read about veneers is based on averages and general experiences, so it’s important to know that the value of your veneers can vary based on how proactive you are. If you’re looking for a professional who can help, Keep Smiling Dental has two locations, one in Indian Ripple and one in Lakeview, for your convenience.

What To Do If My Temporary Crown Comes Off?

Occasionally temporary crowns can pop off or crack before the final permanent crown is ready. If this happens and it is in one whole piece, a dab of toothpaste inside the temporary crown can often provide enough suction to hold it in place for a day or so. In the situation that the final crown isn’t ready to be seated in a day or so, you can find temp cement at a local pharmacy, which will provide a bit of temporary attachment. If the tooth is sensitive, you can always grab some toothpaste on your finger and gently massage it into the area of the tooth. Always keep in mind to clean the area to avoid any gum irritation before the final crown is ready, so continue to gently brush that area.

If all else fails, give our office a call to make an appointment to place a new temporary crown!

 

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