Am I The Only One With Tooth Loss?

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If you have visited us because you are dealing with tooth loss, you may find yourself feeling a blend of emotions. Many of our patients feel most strongly that they are alone in their experience and that missing teeth is quite uncommon. Before you allow yourself to feel isolated, know something very important: An open space in one’s smile is extremely common and generally easy to address. Now, for some helpful insight that will assist you in feeling much better about the state (and future) of your smile.

Did We Mention It’s Common?

Tooth loss is not just a little bit common but something that the American Academy of Implant Dentistry reports affects over 30 million people in our country every year. Ready to be even more surprised? This figure includes individuals missing at least one full arch of teeth.

Receiving Implants Is Common, Too

You might ask around and find that most of your friends don’t have implants. However, if you’ve asked only a handful of people, those aren’t really reliable statistics to go by. In addition, if you ask someone who feels as unsure about tooth loss as you, he or she might simply deny it altogether! As for the details, did you know that the number of people who have received dental implants has reached 3 million and continues to grow?

We Help People (Just Like You) Daily

We are oral and maxillofacial surgeons, which means we are seeing patients on a daily basis for everything from tooth loss to jawbone damage and more. You are among a very long, long list of patients we have seen who needs help replacing teeth and we look forward to assisting you on your unique journey toward a complete 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).

Bone Grafting: 3 Reasons To Feel Confident

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Are you interested in receiving bone grafting? Do you simply wish to rebuild damaged areas of your jaw? Perhaps you would like to replace missing teeth with dental implants but your jaw health is not yet satisfactory for placement. Whatever the case, it is important to recognize that this is a treatment you can feel confident in selecting. In addition to the fact that we will provide you with comfortable care, we invite you to consider a few additional reasons to consider grafting.

Reason #1: You May Reclaim Dental Implant Candidacy

Remember that dealing with jawbone loss can mean serious problems for your smile. Deteriorated tissue may continue to deteriorate, which may lead to further tooth loss, a loss of facial support, and diminishing options. By agreeing to bone grafting, you may be able to enjoy candidacy for dental implants, which will both replace missing teeth and protect your jaw from future damage.

Reason #2: You Have Options For Bone Material

Does the idea of having your natural bone removed for use in your smile make you uncomfortable? Regardless of the particular cause of your concern, it is important for you to remember that you have a variety of options. We will explain all about synthetic choices for bone tissue, so you may receive bone grafting that works for your preferences and needs.

Reason #3: The Treatment Has A High Success Rate

In most instances, bone grafting is successful and may include the regeneration of natural bone tissue. If you are interested in specific facts and figures, we invite you to learn more during a consultation with us. Keep in mind that avoiding tobacco products increases the success rate.

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).

Q&A: Implants And Water Flossers

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Has a friend recently mentioned that you might want to try a water flosser during dental hygiene sessions instead of relying on floss to clean between and around dental implants? If so, you may only have a vague idea of what this flosser is and even less of an instinct regarding whether you may use one. While we always encourage you to speak with us about options for best practices regarding your home care, we would like to introduce you to this topic. By answering questions, we can explain why this device is often a beneficial choice.

Questions and Answers: Water Flossers

Question: What is a water flosser? I have heard this term before but I don’t really understand. Is it like floss?

Answer: This device includes a water basin and a hand-held, small wand. The wand shoots a stream of powerful water from its tip – in some instances, the flosser may come with a variety of attachments. You may clean between and around teeth and implants with the water flosser to remove plaque and food particles, which is the same thing dental floss accomplishes.

Question: Is it okay to use a water flosser on my dental implants?

Answer: Yes, it can be extremely beneficial to use this alternative to dental floss around your implants. A special attachment for an implant may also make your experience that much more successful. However, remember to start off with gentle water pressure and never attempt to place the wand itself between or beneath teeth – just rely on the water.

Question: Is a water floss a better option?

Answer: Not necessarily. It is important that you discover the best, most comfortable flossing option for your dental implants. Whatever works for you to remove plaque and food is the right choice.

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).

Implants: Questions You May Not Think To Ask

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You may be wondering a lot of things to yourself when it comes to choosing dental implants. However, when you arrive at our practice to discuss your oral health and implants, you may find that many of those inquiries that ran together as you thought and thought about your tooth loss suddenly disappear. What you are left with is a set of very general questions – and a sense that you missed your opportunity to receive all of the answers you need. As a result, we encourage you to consider some questions patients would often like to be asking (but don’t necessarily think to bring up) during consultations.

What Is The Success Rate?

For some, this is a scary question because patients want to know that the procedure or treatment they select is likely to do well. Fortunately, dental implants come with a very high success rate, generally around 98 percent. Curious about the details and what promotes either failure or success? Just ask.

Do You Have Any Before And Afters?

We understand that a visual representation of someone suffering from tooth loss who then receives dental implants can be very helpful for patients considering this decision. We are happy to share testimonials with you, as well as “before and afters” to help motivate you in your decision.

How Many Implants Have You Placed?

As you know, we are a team of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, which means we have placed many dental implants. Please feel free to ask about our education and experience. We are happy to explain the details, so you feel comfortable and confident.

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).

After Dental Extractions: Q&A Session

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You may find yourself wondering what to expect after your dental extraction. Are you going to need a tooth replacement to fill in the opening – or are you going to be able to heal and go on with your life without any additional restorative treatment or oral surgery? When it comes to a complete smile and replacing teeth, there is not one single answer. Extractions occur due to a variety of reasons, after all. Give us a moment of your time to receive some clarification.

Q&A: Extractions

Question: Do I need to replace my tooth if the dental extraction is part of an orthodontic plan? What if it’s a wisdom tooth?

Answer: If you need the removal of a tooth for orthodontic purposes, you are not going to need a new one. The reason you don’t need a tooth replacement after a dental extract in this case is the fact that the removal of a tooth is generally to provide more room for a smile that needs more space. As for wisdom teeth, replacement is unnecessary because wisdom teeth are unnecessary.

Question: How will I know what to do to heal after an extraction?

Answer: We will provide you with detailed after-care instructions, so you heal quickly and comfortably. If you have any questions, you are always welcome to call!

Question: How can I replace a tooth that is removed because of disease or damage? Is this necessary?

Answer: If your tooth is damaged or diseased in some way, you may require a dental extraction because other options simply cannot come to the rescue to save your tooth. It will be essential that you replace your missing tooth with a replacement. You may choose an implant or speak with us about considering other options, such as a bridge or a partial denture.

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).

Check Out Dental Implant Testimonials

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It’s one thing to find yourself turning into an expert on dental implants and it is quite another to get a real sense of what to expect. True, knowing all about the treatment, its benefits, how the procedure works, how the entire process unfolds, and more is extremely significant to your plans for your future. For now, however, we would like to steer you away from the technical just a bit with the intention of helping you get a better understanding of what your experience will be like with receiving implants.

Check Out Testimonials

To help you relate to other individuals who have experience receiving dental implants, we offer up some testimonials from our patients on our website. This may help you feel more connected to the idea of replacing your teeth with implants, more relaxed, and more capable of seeing that while it’s an extraordinary treatment – it’s very accessible to a diverse array of people dealing with tooth loss.

Consider The Helpful Information

As you will note as you take a look at testimonials from our patients, we have everything from your dental implant consultation to your recovery process strategized and planned out ahead of time. What you need to remember is that we are here to help you every step of the way, to promote your comfort, and to guide you. If you have questions – as you will see reflected in the testimonials – we are always here to speak with you, see you, and offer the assistance you require.

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) or 707-584-1630 (Rohnert Park).

Do You Have High Blood Pressure?

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Did you know that May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month? If you suffer from hypertension and are interested in seeking dental implants or require other oral surgery, this is a topic we will need to thoroughly discuss. Curious about the connection between hypertension, caring for your smile, and what you need to do? Allow us to offer some insight.

Talk To Us About Your Health

We will always discuss your oral health with you, followed by a discussion about your general health. Why? Well, we provide oral surgery, which relies on a patient being healthy and fit enough to successfully undergo a procedure. Keep in mind that in addition to speaking with us about any health conditions, it is important you make us aware of any medications you take, whether for high blood pressure or other ailments. Successful surgery and administration of anesthesia are planned based around your unique needs.

Blood Pressure and Implants

Dealing with high blood pressure is not going to directly affect osseointegration (the bonding of the implant post and your jaw tissue). However, did you know that certain blood pressure medications may increase your risk for gum disease? To promote the success of an implant, it is essential that you maintain healthy gums. Otherwise, inflammation that can result in peri-implantitis (inflammation of gum tissue surrounding an implant) may contribute to failure.

What To Do?

Addressing high blood pressure and providing you with oral health care is a bit complex but it is not impossible. Keep in mind that our goal is to ensure you remain healthy and that you reach your smile goals. The only way to achieve those goals is to schedule a visit to speak with us!

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).

3 Reasons To Keep Your Phone Close

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Do you tend to have your smart phone on you at all times (often much to the chagrin of friends and family)? Perhaps even you feel a bit uncertain about your growing attachment to this device. While it might not be polite to keep it out at the dinner table, keeping your technology within reach as often as possible might actually provide you with some surprising oral health benefits. Learn how these ever-popular, mini computers can offer indisputable advantages for your smile.

Reason #1: So You Can Reach Us

Of course, you usually need a phone to contact us. However, you may not realize how helpful your smart phone may prove when you are in an urgent situation. Perhaps you have received dental implants have questions. If our phone number is in your contacts list, we’re just a tap away. If you need to visit us, you can quickly pull us up on your map app. You can even request an appointment online without making a single call. It makes keeping your oral health in good shape that much easier.

Reason #2: So You Don’t Miss Appointments

Are you less concerned about what to expect from your oral surgery and more worried that you might forget to show up for your appointment? Remember that your phone is very useful. Keep up with visits by scheduling them into your phone with a reminder alert – that way, you’ll show up for all oral health visits without delay.

Reason #3: To Remember The Details

Looking for a good place to jot down some notes about your upcoming treatments, how to prepare for your oral surgery, or what to prepare for your post-surgery experience? Use the notes app on your phone! You will have your phone on hand, so why not keep the information you need about your oral health close, too?

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).

3 Reasons To Avoid Tobacco

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Are you a smoker? Do you partake in any other form of tobacco? If so, you may be aware that approaching from the not-so-distant future on May 31st is World No Tobacco Day. For those of you who would like to take advantage of this international celebration as a springboard to say, “goodbye” to tobacco, we would like to help. If you have questions about quitting, please let us know. As for offering the motivation you seek to steer your life away from this substance, we offer up a few compelling reasons to avoid it altogether, such as the fact that it can limit your candidacy for dental implants.

Reason #1: It’s Bad For You

In general, tobacco is bad for your oral health and your overall health. It is known to promote the development of both periodontal disease and oral cancer, may increase your likelihood of lung cancer, and may result in a long list of additional health concerns.

Reason #2: It May Contribute To Dental Implant Failure

It is not impossible to smoke or consume tobacco and to receive dental implants. However, the use of tobacco makes candidacy more complicated and may negatively affect the survival of your placed implant. Though we may be able to work around the issue, taking tobacco out of the equation makes replacing your teeth much easier.

Reason #3: It May Discolor Your Smile

Did you just receive a shiny new dental crown over your dental implant? Does your smile still include natural teeth? Keep in mind that both your tooth tissue and porcelain are resistant to staining but they are not able to resist discoloration 100 percent. Your smoking may cause your smile to appear yellowed. Avoid it to promote a smile that remains vibrant.

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).

Q&A: How “Real” Are Dental Implants?

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When it comes to seeing patients for dental implant consultations, we are often met with questions about how “real” implants are. Are they just like natural teeth? How are they different? These, of course, are wonderful questions to ask us. The good news is that in general, implants offer exceptional replacements for those dealing with tooth loss. As for the details, we would like to begin explaining how genuine they seem by answering some frequently mentioned questions.

Questions and Answers: Implants

Question: Will dental implants feel like real teeth? I have had dentures before and they didn’t feel at all like natural teeth.

Answer: Patients generally report that implants feel much more realistic than prostheses like dentures or bridges. For those with a single implant, they can often not recognize the difference between real and artificial teeth. While implants do not feel identical to natural teeth, they do offer some sensation. It is the closest you will get to the replication of your natural teeth.

Question: Will I get used to the feeling of my new smile once I receive dental implants?

Answer: Yes. It’s important to remember that any restoration will feel strange for the first few days and that your mind will then become accustomed to the change. From wearing braces to receiving a crown, it’s simply a matter of recognizing there will be a brief adjustment period.

Question: Is a dental implant and restoration just as strong as my natural tooth?

Answer: This is the second best option to retaining your natural teeth – and it’s quite a close second. As for your crown, enamel is one of the hardest substances on earth, making it difficult to copy. Fortunately, porcelain or zirconia is extremely durable. The implant post’s titanium is extremely strong and biocompatible, so it may very well last the rest of your life. By taking care of your tooth replacement, its parts may last for multiple decades if not longer.

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).