Resolve To Prep Your Smile

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Are you someone suffering from tooth loss? Have you begun thinking about filling the open spaces in your smile with dental implants but you know that the initial process will include repairing problems like jawbone damage or problems with your sinuses? If so, we suggest you take advantage of the motivation that comes with a new year – and contact us. Resolve to prepare your smile for the tooth replacement solution you want, so you can look forward to a future of excellent oral health and a beautiful, full smile.

Schedule Time To See Us

To make good on your resolution, schedule time to see us for a dental implant consultation. This will allow us to set plans into action, so you can continue gaining momentum, rather than shrinking away from your goal to complete your grin. We will inspect your oral health, your smile, and your supportive structures to determine what you need to prepare for implants. You will have time to ask your questions, as well, so you feel certain about your choice.

Agree To Preliminary Treatments

After your consultation, extend that resolution a bit and resolve to move forward with the necessary treatments to prepare your smile for dental implants. For instance, if we suggest bone grafting to repair a deteriorated jawbone, think of this as “step one” in a beneficial process that will lead you toward your desired outcome. If we suggest a sinus lift, think of it as another stepping stone. Once your smile is ready, you will find yourself on the path toward receiving the stable tooth replacement solution you want.

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).

4 Signs It’s Time To Learn About Implants

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Have you been avoiding learning more about dental implants or considering them for your tooth replacement because you have some deeply engrained preconceived notions? Perhaps you assume they are for a different type of tooth loss pattern than your own (they work for all patterns). Maybe you are concerned about their stability (it is unsurpassable). Or, you might feel concerned about what to expect (we will explain everything). Whatever the case, if you are missing teeth and want an exceptional replacement solution, we suggest incorporating implants into your list of potential choices, so you can make the best decision for your smile.

#1: You Are Unhappy With Bridges Or Dentures

Have you been wearing bridges or dentures to address your missing teeth for some time now and you simply feel like you want an upgrade? Maybe you are still seeking your first replacement option but do not feel satisfied by what you have learned about other prosthetics. Take this as a big red flag that it’s time to learn about dental implants.

#2: Your Priority Is Stability

As we mentioned about stability, you won’t find anything to beat the stability of a dental implant. This is because the prosthetic is bonded to your jawbone – the post is very unlikely to falter. Want stability? An implant is a wise path to embark upon.

#3: You Worry About Your Jaw Health

Particularly for patients missing several teeth or more, jawbone deterioration is a significant threat. Fortunately, replacing teeth with dental implants protects your jaw health by restoring the stimulation once provided by natural tooth roots (a process that keeps jaw tissue healthy).

#4: You’re “Over” Your Diet Limitations

If you feel exhausted by the fact that you cannot eat the foods you want, then take it as a sign you need to learn more about dental implants – they can often thoroughly restore your ability to eat all the foods you love. 

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: Your 2015 Holiday Care Plan

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Are you beginning to wonder what will become of your smile come Christmas evening? Do you have some serious plans for enjoying the multitude of unhealthy yet oh-so-delicious delicacies that show up around holiday time? If so, remember that it is always best to indulge during a set time, then rinse your mouth with water (followed by a brushing session 30 minutes later). As for some additional, smart ways to protect your dental implants and natural teeth during holiday time, we would like to offer some helpful suggestions that are easy to overlook.

Don’t Change Your Routine

Easier said than done, of course, since most routines change over the holidays. As a result, we suggest you do your best to keep your dental hygiene routine as consistent as possible even if the rest of your schedule becomes completely mixed up. Here’s what should remain the same:

  • Your brushing – Use a soft-bristle brush twice daily (those holiday meals mean your teeth and dental implants really need attention more than ever)
  • Your flossing – Again, you need to floss once a day like you usually do to remove food particles and plaque

Seek Out Healthy Snack Foods

A trap you should try to avoid is the daylong snack fest that includes everything from cookies and candy to eggnog. Coating your teeth and dental implants throughout the day creates an acid environment in your mouth, which promotes just about every bad thing you can imagine. Problems may include everything from tooth decay to the inflammation of the tissue around your implants (peri-implantitis). Instead, snack on leftover turkey or other protein, dairy (like cheese), and veggies. Of course, stay refreshed and hydrated with water and you’re offering your smile wonderful protection (water washes away food particles, rinses away bacteria, and is excellent for your oral health and general wellbeing). 

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).

Give Implants A Chance

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Have you been dreaming of replacing your missing teeth with the help of dental implants for as long as you can remember? Has this dream fallen by the wayside because you are pretty certain you will not qualify as the result of issues like jawbone damage? Do yourself a huge favor and place the following on your list of New Year’s resolutions for 2016: Schedule a consultation with us, so we can examine your smile and discuss your options. You may be surprised by what you learn.

What To Do

Schedule a dental implant consultation with us. Even if you feel certain you will not qualify, it is important to receive a thorough examination. We will closely inspect your smile both with the use of our trained eyes and with the help of detailed advanced imaging, such as digital X-rays. The goal is to take a close look at what is happening beneath the surface of your smile. We will then have a visual map of your oral structures, so we may move forward by explaining options to qualify for implants or by suggesting alternative tooth replacement options.

How We May Help

Some patients desire implant-retained full dentures but assume since they still have one or two standing teeth that they simply will not qualify. In certain instances, we may suggest dental extractions to create a clean slate and replace your entire arch of teeth. Other patients are suffering from severe jawbone damage and/or problems with the location of their maxillary sinus. Fortunately, we can address these issues and improve your candidacy for dental implants with bone grafting and sinus lifts. Again, scheduling a consultation will allow us to explain your options, while providing you with a personalized plan for care and a complete 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).

Why You Shouldn’t Take Tooth Loss Lightly

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When it comes to your smile, it’s okay to be biased. If your smile isn’t perfect, wanting it to be is a natural desire. When it comes to losing teeth, few people would consider the loss a trivial matter. Those that take a laissez-faire attitude about tooth loss often don’t realize the consequences of ignoring it.

If you let tooth loss run its course, it won’t stop at the teeth that are already gone. The destruction of your jawbone and the disarray of your remaining teeth can grow worse until you replace the missing ones.

You Can Avoid Dentures, But Only for So Long

The best way to avoid dentures is to retain all of your natural teeth so that they don’t need replacement. If you’ve already lost one or more teeth, then avoiding dentures is a bit trickier.

A dental bridge might replace the tooth, or several consecutive teeth, that you’ve lost, but without your missing teeth’s roots, your jawbone can slowly shrink from a lack of stimulation (like atrophy). Over time, you may lose more teeth if your jawbone grows too weak to hold on to them.

The Complete Package

Dentures, or at least the concept of them, have been around for centuries, and likely even longer. Today, however, dentures are designed in a variety of shapes and sizes. For instance, partial dentures can fit around existing teeth to restore your smile, and complete dentures consist of an entire row of replacement teeth.

One of the most significant advancements in prosthetic dentistry is the dental implant, which can be surgically inserted into the jawbone to support conventional replacement teeth. Combined with a dental crown or partial denture, implants can help you prevent the need for dentures by preserving your remaining teeth and jawbone’s integrity when stimulated by biting.

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).

What is Oral-Systemic Health?

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Hopefully, you understand that prevention is the best method to protecting your oral health. Most dental diseases are progressive, meaning they only grow worse once they develop until you actively stop them and treat the damage they’ve caused. However, not many people realize that preventing (or failing to prevent) the onset of dental disease can have a profound influence on your systemic well-being – a relationship often referred to as oral-systemic health.

Understanding Dental Diseases

The origins of tooth decay and gum disease lie in the buildup of dental plaque. As your parents and dentist may have told you since you were little, brushing and flossing your teeth is essential to your oral health, and controlling dental plaque accumulation is why. The sticky, colorless substance is comprised of hundreds of oral bacteria. When they’re allowed to gather in force, these germs undergo processes that prove detrimental to your smile when left unchecked.

For instance, certain germs lead to excessive inflammation of your gums (a condition known as gingivitis), and in time, this inflammation can damage your gums and lead to the onset of gum disease. Other germs release harmful toxins and acids that further irritate your teeth and gums, but the inflammatory element of gum disease is of special note when it comes to your oral-systemic health.

The Window to Your Body

When your oral tissues are compromised by disease (i.e., such as bleeding gums as result of gum disease), the germs in your mouth can access your bloodstream through the damaged tissue, possibly wreaking the same havoc in other areas of your body. The microbe Porphyromonas gingivalis, which has been singled out as the instigator that manipulates your body’s inflammatory response, has been the subject of much oral-systemic research. One study has even found that P. gingivalis infection accelerates atherosclerosis (a disease of the arteries) in certain mouse models, and experts believe the germ is a contributing component to inflammatory heart disease and failure.

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).

Strong Foundations for Dental Implant Placement

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It’s hard to say what the worst thing about tooth loss is. On one hand, the gaps in your teeth can be unsightly and diminish your confidence, while on the other hand untreated tooth loss can lead to the deterioration of your smile’s foundation. Luckily, dental implants can help stave off the destruction of your gum tissue and jawbone, as well as provide a sturdy base for the replacement teeth that cover the gaps in your smile.

However, there are a few requirements that must be met before you can be deemed eligible for a dental implant procedure, one of the most important of which is healthy gums and sufficient jawbone structure to support it.

The Science Behind Dental Implants

The roots of a healthy tooth are embedded in your jawbone. When you bite and chew, the stimulated roots let your body know that your jaw has teeth to support, and your body sends the nutrients necessary to support your bone and teeth. When one or more of these roots is lost, your body takes note of the reduced stimulation and adjusts the nutrient supply to your jaw accordingly.

The reduced nourishment can eventually lead to jawbone deterioration and the loss of more teeth. A dental implant, shaped to mimic a tooth’s root, is surgically inserted into your jawbone. Once healed, the implant can serve as an anchor to secure your dental prosthetic (i.e., crown or denture), as well as help prevent jawbone deterioration and save your remaining teeth.

Fortifying Your Gums and Jawbone

If your jawbone has deteriorated significantly already, or if gum disease has destroyed a significant amount of your gum tissue, then you may not be able to benefit from a dental implant procedure right away. The first step would then be fortifying the area in question so that it can support the implant. Treatment may include a custom periodontal treatment, as well as a jawbone graft to strengthen and fortify your smile’s foundation.

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).

Need an Extraction? Don’t Worry; It Can Help

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Worried that you may need an extraction? Many patients require extractions at one point or another. While they may sound scary, they’re actually relatively simple procedures that can help leave you feeling more comfortable and confident with your smile. So, whether you’re tired of dealing with dental pain and want to find out, for sure, if an extraction is necessary, or have already been told you need one, take a deep breath and rest assured, an extraction is nothing to be afraid of; in fact, it is often the very best way to restore your smile! (more…)

Are Implants On Your Holiday Wish List?

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Have you been reflecting on holiday seasons gone by, remembering the happy times and the smiles you love seeing on the faces of loved ones? Do you shudder when you think about upcoming holiday parties, wondering how you will enjoy yourself while trying to hide the open spaces in your own smile? Perhaps you are more concerned with your ever-increasing food restrictions due to problems with successful chewing. If you have decided that giving yourself the gift of dental implants is on the top of your wish list this year, we suggest you schedule a consultation with us, so you can look forward to 2016 with a smile on your face.

The Gift Of Tooth Replacement

It is important for patients to remember the significance of tooth replacement. All too often, we find that patients hesitate to discuss dental implants with us because they think of missing teeth as a solely cosmetic issue. To the contrary, missing even one tooth may result in serious negative side effects, such as the following:

  • Difficulty chewing
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Challenging dental hygiene
  • Misalignment that occurs when teeth shift toward the opening

How To Get Started

Once you have recognized the importance of replacing missing teeth and have decided that you want dental implants, schedule a consultation with us. You will come in to see us, so we can assist you in beginning the exciting journey of replacing your teeth with implants for a future with a full, beautiful smile. We will discuss your options, gather advanced images, create a plan for your tooth replacement, and schedule your implant placement.

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).

Winter Break: Tips For Teens

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Do you have teenagers rummaging through your refrigerator on a regular basis? If so, you are likely already prepared to deal with big appetites and wandering forks headed toward the desserts and goodies in your kitchen this holiday season. What you may not feel so certain about is keeping your teens’ oral health in its best condition over winter break. Fortunately, we have some helpful suggestions for you this winter, including everything from daily care to scheduling wisdom teeth removal.

Enact A Brush-Then-Rinse Routine

Are your teens still most excited about the sweeter side of the holidays? If so, there’s an easy routine change that you can enforce with teens (though it can be more difficult with younger children). This is a good tip for you, as well: After indulging in staining food, sugary food, or anything that does not resemble good-for-your-smile dairy or veggies, you should immediately rinse your mouth with water. Then, you should brush after approximately 30 minutes to keep your smile safe.

Speak With Your Teens

Ask your kids about how their smiles are feeling. If you receive complaints about toothaches when they bite down, particularly into hot or cold foods or something sugary, it might be time for a visit to your general dentist for restorative care. If you have not yet seen us to discuss wisdom teeth removal and your children are in their late teens, there’s no time like the present.

Schedule Wisdom Teeth Removal

Have we recently spoken with you about your child’s need for wisdom teeth extractions? Have your teen’s wisdom teeth grown in but they are proving difficult to care for? Contact us immediately, so we can do our best to schedule your child’s wisdom teeth removal over the winter break, while school is out.

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).