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If you are missing all of your teeth, there are several dental remedies available to replace your natural teeth. One of the best options however are full mouth implants or implant-supported full bridges or dentures.

Full mouth implants replace all of your natural teeth as well as some of the roots. Titanium  abutements or “roots” are inserted into the bone of the jaw. As the jaw heals, these titanium roots become extremely stable as they bond to the bone. Artificial teeth or crowns are then affixed to these titanium roots. In the case of full mouth implants, you will likely not have a root for every tooth, but some of your artificial teeth will likely be supported by a bridge.

The number of roots that you will need will depend on several factors. Every patient is different and your dentist will work with you to ensure that your treatment gives you the best smile possible.

Compared to conventional dentures, full mouth implants have several advantages:

• Look and feel like natural teeth

When it comes to finding a tooth replacement method that looks and feels natural, nothing beats implants. Not only do they look just like real teeth, but because they are so stable, they help you retain most of your chewing and talking ability. With conventional dentures, you may have difficulty eating certain types of food and it some cases, they can interfere with your speech.

• Help protect the bone

When you are missing teeth, the supporting bone structure begins to deteriorate or resorb.  This can happen even with traditional dentures. This can cause the jaw to have a collapsed appearance and negatively affect your smile.

With full mouth implants however, the titanium roots help to preserve the bone underneath.

• Long lasting

If cared for properly, you full mouth implants can last a very long time – maybe even a lifetime. Implants are cared for the same way that you would care for natural teeth – through regular brushing and flossing.

Contact Sunlight Dental Today

If you are missing your teeth and tired of wearing traditional dentures, then full mouth implants may be an option for you. Contact our office today for an appointment with one of our dentists.

If you’ve been in an accident or perhaps are just missing a tooth or two, your dentist may have suggested having a dental implant done. It seems like it’s straight forward enough, but do you know all the details about having a dental implant done? If this is a procedure you’re considering then here’s what you need to know about an implant.

What, exactly, is an implant?

A dental implant is, in short, a fabricated tooth that matches the shape, size and colour of your natural teeth. The implant itself is a replacement for the root, or foundation, of your tooth so that the portion of the tooth you see has something to secure to under your gums. You can have dental implants that are either permanent or removable, which your dentist can discuss the benefits of each with you to determine what’s right for you.

How are they secured?

Well, the short answer is your dentist will secure a post into your jawbone. The roots of your natural teeth go all the way down to your jaw, so it only makes sense that an implant would too. This post will be cemented in so that it can act as a really strong foundation for the tooth on top.

How long do they take to heal?

Depending on your dentist, it will probably take two trips to have a dental implant completely finished. In the first visit your dentist will prepare the space, or spaces, that will have implants in them. They will also complete the post portion of the implant, including drilling and cementing it in place. This procedure can take a couple weeks to heal as they do cut away some of your gums. Your dentist will likely want your gums to completely heal before the put the tooth portion on top of the post and make sure you didn’t have any issues with the post procedure.

If everything has healed well, your dentist will have a tooth made that looks like your other teeth, and ready to put on top of the post so you now no one would even know you were ever missing any teeth.

 What are the benefits?

If you have lost a tooth, especially one in the front of your smile, you probably feel like it’s the only thing anyone ever notices about you. An implant can help restore your confidence and make your smile perfect!

Another big benefit, especially if you’ve had dentures for the past bit is that implants make you feel like you’re using your natural teeth. They will fit better than even the best dentures because they aren’t removal and won’t shift during a meal.

Finally, other dental procedures – like crowns – require surrounding teeth to be reduced down to have crowns put on the teeth to anchor the crown or bridge in place. Implants, however, don’t affect any surrounding teeth so they actually support better oral health over time by keeping healthy teeth whole.

Implants can seem like a scary procedure, but if you’ve lost a few teeth implants are a great option to restore your chewing function and perfect your beautiful smile!

Five Ways to Beat your Bad Teeth Genes

As much as we want to blame our poor oral health on our parents and their genes, according to the American Dental Association many common periodontal diseases are not resulted from a single genetic defect, but rather from gene-environment interactions. Research has not yet found a gene that poses significant risks to periodontal health, there are however many environmental factors that can make or break your smile.
Not to worry though, we have you covered. We understand that the dental office is not everyone’s favourite Friday night plan, so we are here to offer you with five simple ways to improve your oral health, the appearance of your smile, and those so called bad genes:

1. On top of flossing and brushing your teeth every night, try to do it throughout the day too. Brushing your teeth after breakfast is also crucial as night time, when your immune system is at rest the bacteria throw a party in your mouth. Make it a habit to brush after breakfast!
2. Visit your dentist or hygienist a least every six months for a professional dental cleaning. Everyday life results in a build up of tartar, plaque, and bacterial bio-films that have to be professionally removed. Plus, visiting your dentist regularly ensures you are constantly on top of your oral health which is the most important prevention method.
3. Keep smoking at bay. This is an obvious one. Smoking is the leading cause of gum disease in the United States, as it aids in the accumulation of bacteria in your mouth. It also discolours your teeth.
4. Drink acidic drinks with a straw to avoid contact with your teeth. These include carbonated drinks, coffee, and alcohol. Constant exposure to acidic foods and drinks results in the wearing down of your enamel over time.
5. Keep an eye on your sugar intake, because bacteria love those sugars as much as you do! Ensure you brush your teeth following the consumption foods and drinks high in sugar.

Here is what one of our clients had to say about her experience with cosmetic veneers:IMG_9547

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The idea of having a tooth pulled can be frightening for some people, but tooth extraction is actually a fairly common dental procedure which can leave you with a healthier mouth in the long run.

Reasons why you might need a tooth extraction

There are a number of reasons why your dentist might recommend an extraction including trauma, alleviation of crowding, to make room for dentures or because of periodontal disease. The most common reason however is severe dental decay or cavities.

When a cavity is large enough, the tooth can become weak and eventually crack or break. Often, you dentist will be able to save the tooth with a root canal and crown, however when the problem is too severe he or she may recommend a tooth extraction.

What to expect when you have a tooth pulled

Depending on the condition of your tooth, your dentist may recommend that you take an antibiotic prior to the procedure. In this case, he or she will write you a prescription that you should pick up before the day of your tooth extraction and take as recommended.

During the procedure itself, your dentist will numb the surrounding area so that you will not feel any pain. Using forceps, the dentist will loosen the tooth by gently rocking it back and forth until it is loose enough to pull out. In the case of an impacted wisdom tooth, they will also have to remove some of the surrounding gum tissue.

Oftentimes the dentist will finish the procedure by using self-dissolving stitches to close the gum and sometime they will perform a bone graft. A bone graft is usually only done when they are planning for a dental implant, denture or partial denture.

Recovery after a tooth extraction

Recovering from a tooth extraction usually takes no more than a few days but it is still important to take the proper precautions. While your dentist will provide you with specific instructions for your situation, some general guidelines are:

• Controlling swelling with an ice pack on the outside of the moth
• Avoiding sports and vigorous activity until the socket has healed
• Keeping mouth clean and brushing gently around the socket
• Eating soft foods until the mouth has healed
• Staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids

Regardless of why might need a tooth extraction, the team at Sunlight Dental Clinic can help make the process as easy as possible and help you restore a healthy smile. Call us today at 905-889-0819