Bone Grafting: Prepare Your Jaw for Implants

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Have you been excitedly reading up on dental implants and the advantages they may offer you? If you answer, “yes” to this question and also suffer from jawbone deterioration, you may feel a bit hesitant to schedule an appointment to discuss choosing implants to replace your missing teeth. Patients often worry a consultation will prove to be a waste of time or that they may find themselves embarrassed if implants do not offer an option. Fortunately, we offer bone grafting for patients in need of restored jaw health and volume.

What Causes Jawbone Deterioration?

Your jaw may lose some of its bone tissue as the result of tooth loss. You see, when you lose a tooth, you no longer have roots. Those roots once stimulated your jawbone, which sent a signal to your body to supply nutrients to keep the bone strong. Losing those roots immediately ends that stimulation, often resulting in a lack of nutrients and subsequent deterioration. Tooth  loss commonly occurs due to infection or gum disease.

Why Is This A Problem If I Want Implants?

You need a full, healthy jawbone if you want dental implants. Why? Your jawbone provides complete support to the titanium posts. If your jawbone is damaged, it may not offer sufficient support, which means your implant will not be able to fuse with an adequate amount of bone tissue to the extent necessary to replace your tooth.

Bone Grafting Can Help

Rest assured, we will offer bone grafting to improve your ability to receive dental implants. Bone grafting is a procedure that will allow us to rebuild your tissue (or promote the regeneration of tissue) so your jawbone can support implants. We will graft – or add/attach – additional bone tissue to your jawbone. A successful graft will improve the height and width of your jawbone, which means implants become an option for your tooth replacement.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Dental Implant Play-By-Play

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Dental implants provide patients with an exceptionally stable teeth replacement solution. If you have been looking for a way to replace one tooth or multiple teeth, you may find the long-term prosthetic you desire with implants if your goal is to replace your entire tooth (or teeth) from root to crown. For those set on implants, the desire to receive them comes with an interest in learning more about what one can expect from the entire process. For a quick breakdown of what the experience will entail, we encourage you to take a look at the following steps:

You Will Visit Us For A Consultation

To begin, we will need to examine your smile and speak with you about your preferences. The consultation will allow us to determine whether you are physically fit for the surgical implant placement procedure. It will also allow you to ask questions, potentially inquiring about alternative solutions before making a final decision.

We Will Take X-Rays

We will need to take X-rays of your oral cavity to provide us with the “blueprints” of your smile. You may require standard X-rays or more advanced 3D X-rays depending on your particular circumstances. For example, one patient may have a completely healthy jaw and require a single implant, while another may desire several implants to support a full denture and may suffer from minor jawbone deterioration. We will offer each patient a customized care plan.

You Will Undergo Placement and Recovery

We will place your implants. This is a surgical process that includes the creation of a minor incision in your gum tissue. We will then insert the dental implant post into your jaw tissue, replacing your missing roots. Over the course of approximately two to four months, you will recover as the post essentially becomes one with your jawbone.

We Will Restore Your Implants

To complete your tooth replacement, we will “restore” your dental implant. We use the term “restore” to mean we will “top” your implant with the restoration appropriate to your implant plan. This may include a crown, bridge, partial, or full denture.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Dental Implant Candidacy: Your FAQs

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Have you done enough research into the details of implants to determine that they sound like a wonderful solution for your tooth loss? If so, have you begun the process of speaking with us about treatment or are you hesitating? We often find that patients feel excited about the exceptional benefits of dental implants but worry they will not qualify as candidates. Rather than assuming particular concerns will disqualify you, we would like to reassure you that most patients are actually well suited to this prosthetic solution. For answers to questions we commonly receive regarding this topic, we have gathered the following Q&A session. For the additional details you seek regarding candidacy, consider the following and remember to schedule a consultation:

Frequently Asked Questions About Implant Candidacy

Question: I have struggled with periodontal disease but would like dental implants. Does my damaged jawbone mean I will need to choose a different prosthetic?

Answer: Fortunately, we offer a variety of treatments to improve the health of your smile if you desire implants. This may include oral surgery, such as bone grafting or a sinus lift, to prepare your oral cavity for implant placement.

Question: I’m hoping to restore my smile immediately. Can I achieve this with dental implants?

Answer: No, implants require a lengthier course of treatment than other dental prosthetics. If you feel you are ready for the recovery process, which includes the bonding of your implant to your jawbone over the course of approximately 6 weeks to 16 weeks, then you may make an excellent candidate.

Question: Can you replace my child’s tooth with a dental implant?

Answer: The answer depends on your child’s age. We can only offer an implant to your child if he or she is 18 or older. This is because children’s jawbones are continuing to develop as they age. However, we suggest you schedule a visit for your child immediately, so we may begin planning a solution for the missing tooth.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Anesthesia: Your Candidacy

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Visiting the dentist for any reason at all may cause you to feel a bit stressed or anxious. This is true both for patients who usually feel relaxed seeking dental care as well as for those patients who deal with severe dental anxiety. Fortunately, we offer anesthesia options to ensure you can feel at ease before you even schedule your appointment (in addition to feeling completely tranquil and relaxed while you visit us). While this may sound like a dream come true, you may wonder what it takes to qualify as a candidate. Rest assured, we strive to offer an exceptionally comfortable experience for all of our patients. Learn more with the following information:

Are You A Good Candidate?

To begin with, your candidacy relies heavily on the way you feel. Do you typically feel quite nervous or anxious when it comes to dental care? Are you hoping for a way to achieve a relaxing visit regardless of its purpose? Do you suffer from slight nerves? If so, you’re on your way toward qualifying for anesthesia. This relaxing solution is appropriate for most patients because we believe every patient deserves to enjoy truly tranquil visits with us.

How We Choose Your Sedation Solution

We will begin by speaking with you during a consultation. We would like to know more about your thoughts regarding your dental experience, so we can identify your concerns and offer anesthesia options tailored to your unique needs. Part of the consultation will include an evaluation of your health to ensure you are fit for sedation as well as for the required treatment.

Age and Anesthesia

When it comes to offering you a way to enjoy relaxed, comfortable treatment, there is no particular age range. We offer anesthesia options for pediatric patients and older. While nitrous oxide is often a first option for patients of all ages, we also offer oral sedation and IV sedation depending on your particular needs.

ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Dental Implants: Do They Require Complex Care?

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If you have been considering replacing your missing teeth with dental implants, you may find that you have an awful lot of questions regarding what to expect. While all of the benefits and details in the world may make you feel extremely confident about making a final decision, there’s one concern that may cause you some serious anxiety: Will implants cause you a daily dental hygiene hassle? The good news is that addressing tooth loss with implants will do no such thing. Daily care is actually quite simple and will help you maintain your prosthetics for years to come (if not for life). Ready to learn more about how to best care for implants? Consider the following.

Simple Steps to Optimal Implant Care

Fortunately, caring for your dental implants typically requires you to follow the same guidelines as you would for a natural smile free of prosthetics. Follow these steps:

  1. Schedule a dental cleaning and checkup once every six months, unless you are directed to schedule more frequent visits. Cleanings will remove plaque or debris you simply cannot address on your own. Checkups promote early detection of complications for immediate treatment that typically yield an excellent success rate.
  2. Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Do not use a medium- or hard-bristle toothbrush or any product that may scratch your implants (or your tooth’s enamel). Even though the artificial material of your dental implant restorations will not develop cavities, your prosthetics are resting within your living tissue. You will need to brush away plaque and debris to prevent problems like periodontal disease and infection.
  3. Accustomed to brushing your teeth more often? If you prefer to also brush after meals, begin by rinsing your mouth. After you wait approximately 30 minutes, go ahead and brush your smile.
  4. Floss your teeth daily. You should be using a strand of floss that measures around 18 inches, so you can continue shifting to a fresh segment of floss as you work your way through your mouth. Flossing will allow you to remove additional plaque and particles that are left behind during your brushing sessions.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Dental Implants And Your Smile Alignment

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Dealing with tooth loss can have a widespread effect on your smile. Beyond the obvious fact that most patients feel unhappy with the appearance of open spaces in their grins is a list of additional complications that may arise. Did you know that neglecting tooth loss might actually result in the misalignment of your smile? Fortunately, dental implants can protect the alignment of your teeth, which may yield oral health benefits beyond safeguarding the esthetic value of your smile. Ready to learn more about this aspect of choosing implants? Consider the following information:

How Tooth Loss Affects Your Alignment

When you lose a tooth you are left with an open space in your mouth. Rather than remaining in their current alignment, your teeth will begin migrating into the open space. This is problematic when you are missing one tooth but can become dramatic when you are missing multiple teeth. Once your teeth shift, you may find that your smile no longer looks uniform – in addition, you may also recognize that your upper and lower teeth no longer fit comfortably together, which can disrupt your ability to chew effectively.

How Dental Implants Protect Your Smile

What you need when you lose a tooth is a placeholder as well as the visual completion of your smile. Dental implants provide both. By replacing your tooth from root to crown, you can expect your surrounding teeth to remain in place, preventing your alignment from becoming disrupted. We will restore the beauty of your smile, while ensuring you do not require additional treatments to deal with subsequent complications.

More Than Just Cosmetic?

As you have noticed, replacing your missing tooth with a dental implant has more than just a cosmetic effect. Beyond protecting the consistent appearance of an aligned smile, you may avoid problems that commonly occur due to misalignment, such as bruxism (teeth grinding) and TMJ disorder (jaw joint dysfunction), so your oral health remains intact, as well.

ABOUT YOUR ROHNERT PARK, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Prepping For Implants: Your Questions

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So, you have discovered the exciting world of implants, dental prosthetics that assist in restoring your entire tooth from root to crown. While you may feel overjoyed to have found the teeth replacement solution you have been seeking, you may need to cool your jets for a moment before making a final decision. You see, some patients make excellent candidates for dental implants, while others may need to put in a little extra time and effort before qualifying. To find out where you land on the spectrum of preparedness for implants, do yourself a favor and take a look at the following question and answer session. Remember, we encourage you to visit us regardless of your candidacy, so we can guide you toward a solution that will help complete your smile.

Q&A Session: Dental Implant Candidacy

Question: How do I know if I qualify?

Answer: Before you know if you qualify, you will need to visit us for an examination. We will discuss your daily habits with you, as well as your overall health. Your visit will also include the use of advanced imaging, so we can take a close look at what’s happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums. Dental implants require a strong jawbone for support. In addition, we place implants through a surgical procedure, which means you will need to be fit for surgery.

Question: What if my jawbone has deteriorated?

Answer: Fortunately, we offer treatments that can help rejuvenate your jawbone’s volume and strength. Bone grafting is a treatment in which we graft additional bone tissue onto damaged areas. This will assist in restoring volume, while sometimes encouraging your jawbone to regenerate tissue. We may also offer a sinus lift, which will allow us to make room for additional tissue on your upper jaw if you have suffered from damage.

Question: I want a fast treatment – are implants right for me?

Answer: If you are looking for an accelerated treatment to restore your smile, you will need to look into other prosthetic solutions. However, if you are ready to undergo a somewhat extended journey, dental implants offer wonderful, long-lasting tooth replacement results. Recovery after surgery will typically take three to four months. For some, treatment may take approximately a year until the entire process is complete.

ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Brushing Up On Dental Implant Parts

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Dental implants offer a teeth replacement solution to patients seeking exceptional stability. This is certainly a wonderful benefit. However, if you have just begun looking into options for restoring your smile, you may find that the world of dental prosthetics a bit overwhelming. When it comes to implants, the terminology and different parts may add to that sense of confusion. Rather than letting a few new words and ideas deter you from learning more, we encourage you to first familiarize yourself with the main terms. Then, you can easily move forward in determining which tooth replacement solution is best for you. Look over the following:

What Is A Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a titanium post that stands in for missing tooth roots. Since you lost your tooth, you lost an entire unit, including the roots (the part that rests beneath your gumline) and the upper part of your tooth (the portion of your tooth that sits above your gumline). We will place an implant into your jawbone through a surgical procedure, thereby fully restoring your roots. The implant post will later support a replacement for your tooth’s upper portion.

What Is Osseointegration?

You will recover for several months after the placement of your dental implant. First, your gum tissue needs time to heal. In addition, the dental implant is made of titanium, a metal that will bond with the tissue of your jawbone. We need this fusion – a process called osseointegration – to occur, so your implant is stable and secure enough to support a prosthetic.

What Is An Abutment?

An abutment connects your dental implant post to the prosthetic replacing the part of your tooth that is visible. This accessory fits on top of your implant. We will initially place a “healing” abutment during recovery. Then, we will place the final abutment, which allows us to restore your implant.

What Is A Restoration?

The restoration is what we use to finish or to top (also referred to as “to restore”) your implant – it is the artificial tooth or teeth replacing the visible part of your missing tooth or teeth. This may include a dental crown for a single tooth, a bridge for several teeth, or a full denture for a full arch of missing teeth.

ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Reasons We Suggest Wisdom Teeth Removal

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You may feel pretty certain that third molars are teeth that erupt when your teen years are behind you. You may also feel quite sure that most people you know have undergone wisdom teeth removal to promote oral health. However, you may not know much more about these teeth or why they are so commonly removed. On a more personal note, your thoughts may have recently turned to whether the extraction of these teeth is something you will need to undergo. To learn more, begin by considering the following about why we suggest the removal of wisdom teeth. In the meantime, schedule an appointment with us, so we can take a closer look at your smile to determine whether this service may be appropriate for you, as well.

They Are Impacted

If you have an impacted wisdom tooth, we may suggest its removal. Not sure what this means? An impacted tooth is one that has not completely erupted. This can occur because the tooth is blocked by other teeth. In some cases, the tooth will erupt slightly but not fully. Your tooth may remain beneath bone tissue, as well. These forms of impaction may result in discomfort and even infection. Keep in mind, impacted wisdom teeth are quite common, so you are not the only person who is dealing with this concern. Fortunately, wisdom teeth removal can alleviate or prevent discomfort, while promoting excellent oral health.

They Are Growing In On An Angle

Your wisdom teeth may be set to develop and on a path toward erupting. However, if they are positioned on an angle, this can mean serious problems for your alignment and your comfort. A tooth that is headed for other teeth is one that will need to be removed. Fortunately, with dental checkups we can identify these types of concerns with advanced imaging like digital X-rays. We may then plan your wisdom teeth removal before complications arise.

ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).

Why We Suggest Extractions

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Have you recently found out that you need a general extraction to protect your smile? If so, you may feel a bit surprised that the removal of your tooth is the best solution – perhaps there’s some restorative option that will allow you to keep your tooth, you may think to yourself. We understand your concern and would like to shed some light on extractions. First, keep in mind that we make conservative treatment suggestions and will always strive to assist in saving your tooth. However, your oral health and comfort are our top priority. In some cases, an extraction is the best option for achieving these goals. To find out more about why we suggest the removal of your tooth, take the following information into consideration:

Protecting Your Smile

In some cases, your tooth may become highly problematic and a threat to surrounding teeth and gums. For instance, imagine you have an infected tooth. The tooth itself will become extremely uncomfortable. When neglected, the tooth may abscess and the infection may leave its isolated area and spread to nearby tissues. The result will include widespread damage requiring complex, costly treatment. To protect your smile, we will remove the tooth with a general extraction, which may prevent serious damage, while returning you to comfort.

Prepping For Orthodontic Treatment

Do you have overcrowded teeth or another type of malocclusion requiring orthodontic treatment? If so, your personalized care plan may require the removal of teeth to make room to properly align your teeth.

Addressing Significant Damage

Have you broken your tooth? Perhaps you bit down on something that resulted in breakage. Some patients may suffer from significant tooth decay that leaves a tooth in serious condition too dire for a filling, crown, or other treatment. If your tooth is too damaged or unhealthy to remain standing on its own or with the coverage of a crown, we may suggest an extraction. Then, we will discuss tooth replacement solutions to restore your smile. 

ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA ORAL SURGEONS:

Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).