Visit Our Dental Office to Replace Missing Teeth

In our dental office, we know that tooth loss and dentures are not something any of us think about every day. Very few people actually consider that they might someday need to wear dentures. Recent studies have shown that, among adults, more than 60% have never given any serious thought to the idea that they might someday need a dental prosthetic device for lost teeth. It is not because our teeth are getting stronger, or that the improved technology is helping people keep their teeth longer. Rather it is because tooth loss is seen as a problem for tomorrow, never really thought of today.

Ironically the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry found that by the year 2020, over 37.6 million Americans will probably be wearing a full set of dentures. This did not look at partial dentures. Those are impressive numbers when you consider that just 15 years ago only 33.6 million people were in need of a full set of dentures. With an aging population and the same problems that have always existed, dentures are very much a reality for many of our futures. When you consider that among women of the age of 40 or older, 19% are already wearing dentures, the future may not be quite as far off as one would like to imagine.

In our dental office, dentures and implants are directly related to tooth loss. This means that you have a better chance of avoiding needing dentures if you take good care of your teeth, and if you make it a habit to visit the dentist at least twice per year. Neither one of these is guaranteed since there are two main causes of tooth loss, which leads to needing dentures.

The first is gum disease. Gum disease gives you plenty of forewarning, making it easier for you to get the treatment you need. Typically, however, there is a short window in which to seek treatment before the disease damages the teeth and leads to tooth loss. If you are part of the 53% of Americans that are currently visiting the dentist twice a year, chances are we will catch any infections early, and address them. If you are part of the 47% that does not visit the dentist regularly, you should consider switching sides.

Another important way to avoid dentures is to brush your teeth twice per day, carefully removing any plaque buildup. Currently, only around 69% of us are brushing our teeth twice a day; the rest are taking a risk with tooth loss. Great hygiene, visiting the dentist and being careful what you eat are great ways to start offsetting the likelihood that you will need dentures later in life.

There are numerous small things that can happen that should lead you to be concerned about tooth loss. Diseases like gingivitis can cause you to lose your teeth and require you to get dentures or some other prosthetic replacement. One of the leading signs of gingivitis is bleeding from the gums. However, gum bleeding is experienced by 70% of all people at some point during their life so it is hard to know the difference, and you should visit our dental office so that we can determine if you have gum disease.  Our goal is to keep you in excellent oral health but if you do lose any teeth, we can replace them with dentures or dental implants in order to give you a natural looking smile again.

Dental Implants  >  Sedation Dentist

The Difference Between a Sedation Dentist and Traditional Dentistry

The difference between a sedation dentist and traditional dentistry could result in a far better dental experience for you. Everyone knows what traditional dentistry involves, including visits that can often end up in physical discomfort for the patient. Discomfort is the main reason that so many people let important dentist visits fall to the back burner. Discomfort can cause anxiety, fear, and general unrest when the thought of visiting a traditional dentist comes up. This is often referred to as dental phobia. You don't have to let yourself fall prey to uncomfortable dentist visits or no dental care at all. With a sedation dentist, you will see a huge turn around in your attitude toward visiting the dentist and your comfort level during the appointment. We can help relieve your worries and fears with sedation dentistry. 

Get ready to relax.
Sedation dentistry uses different forms of anesthesia to cause relaxation and contentment during your visit. No matter your level of anxiety or pain, we can provide an effective remedy. Through our calming sedation techniques, you will achieve more confidence and overall happiness during your dental appointments.

Our controlled outcomes of sedation range from light to deep. We help you attain a tranquil mindset with a few different simple techniques, whereas traditional dentistry does not offer any way to ease your nerves. For a light sedation, we can administer Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas, through a mask that covers your nose. This will ease you into a relaxed, peaceful level of sedation while also allowing you to be aware of your surroundings in a less apprehensive way. Oral benzodiazepines are other forms of light or medium sedation. These will be provided to you before your appointment. You will normally take them 20 minutes to one hour before you sit down in our dentist chair. They provide a peaceful environment that will allow you to be aware of what is going on. If your anxiety needs are great, we can offer you a deeper level of sedation through an IV. This is normally reserved for serious anxiety cases or oral surgery. All of our techniques provide you with a peace of mind, and they have very little to zero side effects. The most common side effect is a slight memory loss from your time in the dentist chair, which many people view as a perk.

We can ensure your safety during any sedation practice. As a sedation dentist, we can offer you a worry-free dental visit. Take advantage of these amazing anxiety relievers; doing so will result in better overall health of your teeth and gums. We can get your teeth in tip-top shape, meaning you won't have to visit the dentist as often. We still encourage bi-annual or annual visits to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Let us, as a sedation dentist, provide you with what traditional dentistry can't, the calming and effective dental experience you deserve. To get started, call and schedule your dental exam today.

Dental Implants  >  Family Dentist