We have just officially ushered in autumn, which means the coziness of cooler weather and holiday fun are just ahead. To kick off the season, we would like to provide you with a fun way to think about dental implants. Remember that if you have been considering implants for your smile, now is a fantastic time to come in to learn more. We may be able to get your journey started well before the intensity of holiday planning makes its arrival. As for our autumnal fun, let’s spend a moment with mnemonics as we highlight important details of this tooth loss solution by making use of each letter in the word “implant.”

I

Implant Post. Before you become confused about the way an implant works, try to train yourself into saying, “implant post.” This will remind you that the dental implant is only the post that acts as a replacement for missing roots. Then there’s an abutment and a restoration on top of that.

M

Months. Remember that receiving dental implants is not something that will take place within just a day or two but something that requires months of an exciting adventure that will result in a complete, beautiful smile.

P

Protection. Placement of an implant is an act that will prevent the teeth in your smile from moving. As a result, you won’t need to worry about misalignment. Placement will also help protect the health of your jaw tissue.

L

Long-Lasting. If you’ve ever heard someone mention that a dental implant can last for the rest of your life, this is actually possible.  

A

Anchored. Remember that your implant is anchored into your jaw. This means exceptional stability for a replacement that seems like a real tooth.

N

Natural. Your new tooth is going to seem like a real tooth. After you experience a brief adjustment, you will be able to speak and eat like you used to. Your restoration will also look exceptionally lifelike and natural.

T

Tough. You can eat what you like and act like you’ve got your old smile back without worrying about durability. Treat your replacement as you would your natural teeth.

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).

So, you feel like you have done your research and dental implants are the tooth replacement choice for you. However, when you even consider moving ahead with this selection and getting serious about replacing missing teeth, you’re anything but calm, cool, and collected. Don’t become too concerned. You are not the first patient to find yourself fretting over making such a big decision. Since we know what you’re going through, we encourage you to take a moment to relax … and to take our advice.

Remaining Calm

When you’ve found yourself feeling decidedly sure about dental implants but you don’t know how to make any movement, it’s best to begin by talking with us. It will demystify the process and can help you find out if your hopes for implants are something we can help you with. Perhaps you’re a wonderful candidate! Perhaps you need treatments first, such as bone grafting. Remain calm by starting this whole journey off with a consultation.

Remaining Cool

You can easily remain cool about dental implants by remembering that finding out about them isn’t going to leave you with your dreams fulfilled or shattered. If they’re a good fit, then you can decide if you’re ready. If not, you can agree to another treatment option. Make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed by starting off asking questions and finding out more about how your care plan will work.

Remaining Collected

Remain collected by categorically collecting your thoughts. Ignore the need to make an emotional decision and instead consider everything you have learned. You might even create a pros and cons list, which should include how you feel, your budget, the benefits of choosing dental implants, how the process will work with your schedule, etc.

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).

Do you find that no matter how much research you perform online or how many friends you speak with, you cannot seem to find a specific answer to your pressing question: How much do dental implants cost? This experience is occurring for a reason. Replacing teeth is something that is a very unique and personal journey. Arriving at details regarding costs means first arriving at answers regarding your needs. Curious about how you will eventually discover what the investment will require? Find out more with our quiz!

Quiz Questions: True or False?

1. True or False: The cost for all patients is always the same when it comes to dental implants. The figures are very easy to determine as a result.
2. True or False: As long as you can provide us with a wealth of information regarding what you want and your dental history, we can generally quote you over the phone regarding the final cost.
3. True or False: We don’t necessarily need to see you to create a plan. We do, however, need your general dentist to talk with us about your smile.

Quiz Answers

1. False. The cost for each patient can be different due to a variety of variables that come into play. Different patients may require a different amount of visits, a different amount of dental implants, varying preparatory treatments, or they may choose different restorations.
2. False. Just like we mentioned, each patient’s needs are extremely unique. As a result, we cannot simply make guesses about how much your implants will cost based on things you tell us. There’s more involved than you may realize.
3. False. While information from your general dentist is always helpful, we will still need to see you face-to-face before we can determine your particular needs (and preferences) so we may then offer cost information.

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).

A very common inquiry we receive from patients has to do with whether they are too young or too old for dental implants. The truth is that there’s not a set-in-stone age span ideal for the placement of this tooth replacement option. However, is it possible to be too young? Yes. Is it possible to be too old? Not exactly. For the specific answers you are looking for, take a moment of your time and allow us to offer additional details. Of course, to find out if you are a candidate, set up a visit with us!

Am I Too Young?

It’s not necessarily the number of years you have been alive that will disqualify you from receiving a dental implant but the fact that along with youth comes developing, growing tissues. If your jawbone is still in the process of growing, it is not a stable place within which we can place an implant. Fortunately, jaw tissue tends to complete its growth cycle by late teens to early twenties. To determine whether you’re a candidate yet (or not), we invite you to come in, so we can monitor your development. We will assist you in achieving your goal of a full smile free of missing teeth.

Am I Too Old?

Nope. You cannot be too old to receive a dental implant. You can, however, suffer from periodontal disease, a deteriorated jawbone, or you may be unfit for surgery. While these issues are commonly associated with a greater number of years on the planet, these are oral health problems that may affect anyone of any age. The good news is that we can work with you to help you address these obstacles, so you can become fit as a candidate.

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).

You might think a lot about your brushing and flossing habits, the foods you eat, professional visits to our practice, and issues like tooth replacement. However, do you spend any time thinking about the various types of pressure that affect your oral health? This is not a very common line of thinking unless you are a dental professional, so you’re in luck! We are happy to share more with you about how you can offer your smile and dental implants great protection by avoiding a few pressure-related concerns.

#1: Emotional Pressure

Who knew that something seemingly figurative could affect your oral health? It can, as a matter of fact. Emotional pressure, whether you’re feeling quite tense or stressed by something in your life, often comes out in the form of muscle tension. Patients frequently grit their teeth, tightening their jaw muscles in addition to other muscles throughout the body. Without seeking relief for your stress, you may be encouraging the formation of bruxism (clenching or grinding) or TMJ disorder (jaw joint fatigue and damage). The issue can even negatively affect the state of your dental implants.

#2: Involuntary Pressure

About that issues we know as bruxism: When it comes to bruxism, we refer to this functional issue as “involuntary.” Why? Well, you probably have no idea that you’re performing the habit. In fact, you might do it while you’re sleeping. The pressure can damage your dental implant, can wear down your teeth, may lead to broken teeth, and more. Fortunately, oral appliance therapy can protect your smile.

#3: Overuse Pressure

Sometimes, pressure is voluntary. If you’re forcing your teeth to do more than they can bear, their health (and the future stability of dental implants) may not fare well. Make smart choices and, when in doubt, ask us.

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).

Halloween hasn’t even come and gone and the thought of planning for Thanksgiving is still something you have not yet had to give too much attention. So, why on earth would you begin planning for the winter holidays in September, you wonder? While there are those tasks you can accomplish immediately in life, dealing with complex oral health issues is not on the list. Whether you require dental implants or other forms of oral surgery, some planning and often a somewhat lengthy process can become necessary. To make sure you’re ready for an enjoyable holiday season (rather than one during which you’re focused on your oral health), consider our thoughts.

You Should Schedule Your Consultation Today

Give yourself plenty of time to see us, to make decisions, and more by scheduling a consultation with us today. As a result, you won’t find yourself scrambling to squeeze in an appointment that isn’t actually the most convenient date or time. Instead, you can come in at your leisure, speak with us about dental implants, oral surgery, and other concerns, and we can begin planning for the improvement of your oral health.

We’ll Have Time To Discover What Works For You

We will speak with you about the particular oral surgery service you need. Perhaps it’s dental implants. Maybe you need wisdom teeth removal. Whatever the case, we can set a date for your treatment by first discussing the best timing. If it’s something you need immediately, you’ll be able to recover before the holidays. If it’s something that can wait, we can discuss whether before or after the winter season is best. Preparing will save you a lot of energy, stress, and worry, so you can focus on friends, family, and merriment with a plan that you have accomplished (or that is already in place).

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).

Are you feeling mostly optimistic about the idea of a future smile with dental implants? If you have learned much about the placement process and osseointegration (when the implant fuses with your jaw tissue), you know that there’s a tiny chance for failure and a big chance for success. However, that very small percentage may be giving you some doubts. To help boost your confidence regarding how you can easily combat potential risk factors, we offer some information you need.

Succeed With Healthy Habits

We will generally suggest that you avoid tobacco products like cigarettes because they are bad for your oral health and the health of your entire body. When it comes to the placement of dental implants (and recovery), we will suggest you avoid use before, during, and immediately after treatment. However, for your best results it’s always ideal to completely quit. Why? Consider the following:

• A patient’s ability to ward off infection drops as a result of smoking
• A patient’s healing ability decreases
• Tobacco products irritate gum tissue, which can lead to inflammation that inhibits implant success

Address Your Bruxism

Are you someone who suffers from bruxism? Unfortunately, the constant pressure associated with your disorder (whether you are grinding your teeth or clenching your teeth) can significantly impact the success of your dental implants. Too much pressure as the posts attempt to fuse with your jawbone can disrupt the process of osseointegration. Begin treatment (or continue treatment) for bruxism if this functional disorder is affecting your smile.

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 Month, which occurred throughout August, is over! It’s now September but that doesn’t mean your motivation for replacing your teeth should dwindle. Instead, it means it’s time to get a bit more serious about whether you see implants in your future or if it’s time to consider other options. Of course, as far as we are concerned, every month is a month to celebrate implants, so let’s spend a moment examining whether they’re right for you with a little help from the AAID.

What’s The AAID?

This is the abbreviation for the American Academy of Dental Implants. Did you know that since 1951 this organization has been committed to the study and advancement of implants, helping individuals attain complete, lasting smiles after tooth loss? Fortunately, they have provided a few simple questions to act as a guide for patients trying to figure out whether implants are a solid choice for the future. Let’s explore those inquiries!

3 Questions From The AAID

In celebration of the recent Dental Implant Month, we offer up a few questions similar to those posed by the AAID (which we will follow with a little extra information to help you think about your answers):

1. Question: Do you want your smile to appear natural? Fortunately, implants appear extremely natural because they are 100 percent stable and we will restore them with lifelike crowns or other prosthetics.
2. Question: Do you want your smile to be easy to deal with? Good news: Implants are the most stable possible solution for replacing a missing tooth. Your life will return to its pre-tooth-loss level of ease and quality.
3. Question: Are you hoping for a smile that you can feel proud of? Nobody will know you’re wearing implants, you won’t be able to tell much of a different, you’ll be able to eat the foods you love, and speaking will become free of effort.

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).