How Do I Care for My Dental Implants?


Getting dental implants is the first step, but implant aftercare is just as important. To avoid unnecessary discomfort, pain, and complications, you must take special care of your new smile.

The text below will explore dental implant aftercare, including the day of your surgery and the weeks that follow.

Begin Aftercare Immediately

As soon as the surgery ends, your dental implant aftercare begins. Start by resting on the way home. Have someone drive you home because the effects of anesthesia will not have worn off.

Most implant recovery symptoms are not a big concern. Just adhere to your dental implant post-surgery instructions right away and continue for the next several days.

Control Bleeding

Pink or red saliva or bleeding at the implant site may continue up to three days after receiving your implants. Bite down on gauze for an hour is the best way to control it. Repeat every six to 10 hours as necessary.

If your bleeding is excessive, bite down on a black tea bag, as the tannic acid will constrict the blood vessels and promote blood clotting.

Also, remain calm if possible. Sit upright and refrain from any activity. Don’t lift heavy objects or bend over. Spitting forcefully, smoking, or sucking on a straw will encourage excess bleeding.

Manage Pain

Don’t take many over-the-counter pain medications. These have blood thinners that can interfere with the osseointegration process. The best OTC to take is Tylenol.

Take it before the anesthesia wears off to get ahead of the pain. Follow instructions concerning the packaging. We’ll give you insight into what products and dosages you might take. Don’t take anything more than every six hours.

After four days, you should feel more like normal. You may experience some stiffness in the throat and have difficulty swallowing. If symptoms persist, give us a call.

Minimize Bruising and Swelling

Bruising and swelling on the gums and appearing on your face will happen on the day of surgery. You may also experience bruising around the eyes and nose. These discolorations peak after two or three days, then disappear on their own.

Ice packs help. Apply them for 15 to 20 minutes, take a break, and repeat this process for 48 hours after your procedure. You can also avoid salt, sleep with your head upright, and drink plenty of water.

Get Plenty of Rest

Sleep helps the healing process. So, it makes sense to get plenty of rest, especially during the first few days. This will allow your body to relax and let a big part of the healing process take place.

Learn More

If you would like more information about dental implant after-surgery care, contact us at Hill Country Oral Surgery.

Call our Austin oral surgery office at 512-327-7233 to request a consultation today to learn more.

 

Does Drinking More Water Protect Your Teeth?


Dental health is essential to us all because it not only affects the quality of our smile but, in many ways, it influences our quality of life. Besides the ability to offer a brilliant smile, a healthy mouth allows us to eat correctly, breathe without obstruction, speak with expression, and get into close encounters with fresh breath.

If you follow our blog posts, you understand there are many steps to protect your teeth, like brushing, flossing, and regular checkups. Below, you will learn why drinking water can be added to that list.

Strengthens Teeth

Drinking water, including water enhanced with fluoride, is recommended to strengthen teeth. Fluoride is a component proved scientifically to make teeth healthy and reduce cavities. It supports tooth structure and promotes remineralization. Consuming water with fluoride is an easy way to care for your dental health.

Cleans Your Mouth

Drinking water, along with consistent brushing and flossing, will keep your teeth clean. It rinses off acid and residue left by some foods as well as sugars and bacteria. If these harmful residues are left on the tooth surface and between the teeth, cavities will fill with bacteria. Another benefit of drinking water instead of colas, teas, and coffee is that it doesn’t stain your teeth.

Reduces Dry Mouth

The problem of dry mouth is caused by a lack of saliva, which prevents tooth decay. A dry mouth is also uncomfortable and an indication of dehydration. Drinking sufficient amounts of water daily resolves dry mouth and supports saliva production, hence few cavities.

Reduces Bad Breath

If you experience halitosis regularly, you understand the embarrassment that comes with it. Poor dental health, built-up bacteria, dry mouth, and dirty teeth all play a role in bad breath. It’s no wonder the mouthwash and products designed to eliminate mouth odor are a billion-dollar industry. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day cleans your mouth and rinses away odor-causing bacteria.

Hydrates Your Gums

Dental health is not only about your teeth. It includes your gums. When your gums are in poor health, it could lead to gingivitis and tooth loss. Drinking water promotes saliva production essential for healthy gums. Proper hydration with water consumption will keep your gums hydrated and plump to protect the root of your teeth.

Conclusion

Drinking water is critical for several health benefits, and your dental health is no exception. If you don’t drink at least 60 ounces daily, start making steps to work your way up to eight glasses a day. Keep filtered cold water in your refrigerator and make it your go-to drink instead of Pepsi, tea, or Coke. These steps will increase your water intake and improve your dental health in no time.

If you have any questions on how drinking plenty of water can improve your dental health, we are here to help.

Call our Austin oral surgery office at 512-327-7233 to request a consultation.

Is Bone Grafting Necessary After Tooth Extraction?

Is Bone Grafting Necessary After Tooth Extraction?

Whether the cause of your problems was trauma or tooth decay, tooth extraction is sometimes the best solution for preserving a patient’s oral health. However, removing teeth can impact a person’s wellbeing in other ways. Bone grafting is an excellent solution to help protect dentition and prepare an individual’s smile for future restorative care. Here’s why.

Why Do You Need Bone Grafting?

You wouldn’t know it from looking at your teeth, but every part of your smile plays a critical role in preserving your oral health. Below the surface, teeth roots provide valuable stimulation to the supporting jawbone, which in turn maintains your bite position and ability to chew, speak, and much more. 

When teeth are missing, the jaw loses this important stimulation. When combined with the inability to bite and chew, the jawbone can begin to degrade and shrink. This opens the door to a number of other potential health issues, which can require much more extensive treatment. Bone grafting, or the placement of donor tissue along the deteriorated area, can help reinforce the structural integrity of your smile while preparing your dentition for future treatments such as dental implants. 

Exploring Different Bone Grafting Techniques

Different oral health scenarios call for different bone grafting solutions. Thanks to innovations in modern oral surgery, patients have a number of advanced bone grafting options that can be tailored to meet their needs. Depending on where teeth are missing as well as each patient’s long-term treatment strategy, our Austin, TX oral surgeon may recommend one of the following popular grafting solutions:

Socket Graft

Typically recommended if the original tooth is still in place, socket grafts help limit potential jawbone deterioration by immediately adding graft material into the space left after a tooth is extracted. This helps maintain bone stimulation while also supporting bone fusion with the grafted tissue. 

Block Bone Graft

In some cases, patients have to wait before bone grafting can be completed. This disruption in stimulation can cause the surrounding bone tissue to deteriorate, ultimately requiring more grafting material in order to rebuild the jaw. Block bone grafts refer to procedures in which a small “block” of tissue is taken from the patient’s chin or lower jaw and placed in the deficient area. Over the recovery period, the surrounding bone tissue accepts the grafted tissue and fuses to it – creating a strong and healthy foundation for dental implants.

Sinus Lift Graft

Missing teeth from the upper jaw can have secondary consequences for an individual’s overall health. As the surrounding bone tissue gradually deteriorates, the bone separating the oral cavity from the nose becomes thinner. This can make implant placement more difficult without a sinus lift graft (sinus augmentation). During this procedure, an experienced oral surgeon will delicately lift the sinus membrane and place the bone grafting material between the sinus membrane and bone. Once the grafted material has fused to the upper jawbone, patients can proceed with further restorative care. 

Choosing the Right Materials

Modern oral surgery techniques have also brought along new types of grafting material. While each individual’s unique oral health conditions will dictate the appropriate bone grafting material, patients have many options to choose from:

Xenograft 

Xenograft tissue is bone tissue taken from an animal source, often bovine. This type of bone grafting material has a long and successful surgical history. Although xenografts have not been shown to directly stimulate bone production, surrounding bone tissue will still successfully adhere to the tissue.

Alloplast 

This form of synthetic material also is a popular option, particularly for patients who cannot provide their own bone grafts or are unable to tolerate xenografts. Readily accessible and commonly used in surgery, alloplast grafts have no risk of disease transmission, making them an excellent option for vulnerable patients. However, the synthetic material will not stimulate bone tissue development. 

Autograft 

Autografted tissue is tissue taken from one part of the patient’s body and grafted to another. Since it’s coming from the same patient, autografts have high tolerability – most patients are able to accept the grafted tissue easily, and the use of your own bone can help stimulate healthy bone development. However, this type of graft can require multiple procedures – first to harvest the tissue and then to place the graft. 

Allograft

Similar to autografts, allografts leverage human bone tissue to repair bone deterioration. However, in the case of allografts, donor tissue is coming from other individuals, not the patient. The best matches typically come from relatives of the patient to ensure the bone tissue accepts the graft. While allografts may not stimulate a patient’s cells to produce bone tissue, they can heal small defects on their own and readily fuse to the surrounding bone tissue.

Learn More at Hill Country Oral Surgery

At Hill Country Oral Surgery, our goal is to help our patients put their best smile forward. To learn more about the benefits of bone grafting post-teeth extraction or to explore your options for bone grafting, call Hill Country Oral Surgery at 512-327-7233. Our expert oral surgeons, Dr. Cavaretta and Dr. Rasmussen, are here to help you achieve optimal oral health! 

Ensure Dental Health During the Holidays with These Tips

No one wants a dental emergency over the holidays. Keep your smile merry and bright all season long with these healthy dental care tips. And should a dental emergency arise, during the holidays or any other time during the year, give Hill Country Oral Surgery a call at 512-327-7233. As a top oral surgery practice in Austin, TX, we are prepared to help our patients when dental emergencies arise.

Enjoy the Candy Canes but Not Too Many

Sweets and treats abound during the holidays. We want you to indulge and enjoy the season but it’s best to keep our consumption reasonable. Candy and sugary foods are terrible for your teeth. Limit sweets to once a day and brush when you’re finished. If you can’t brush, rinse with water.

Your teeth will thank you if you choose your treats with your teeth in mind. Chewy treats stick around long after you’re finished enjoying them. Swap caramels, toffees, and candy canes for fudge, cookies, or even better, dark chocolate.

A Holiday Break Doesn’t Mean a Break from Dental Hygiene

A change in routine often leads to slacking on everyday habits, important ones like brushing and flossing your teeth. Don’t neglect your dental habits. We hope you’ll use the extra time during the holidays to improve your dental habits, not let them slide.

As you have days off during the holidays, try to incorporate a new positive dental habit, rather than letting established habits falter. Not a great flosser? Become one over the holidays. Use the extra time to improve your brushing skills. Give your smile the gift of better dental habits. What can you do to improve your dental hygiene this holiday season?

Teeth Are for Chewing, Not Opening Packages

It is easy to break a tooth but much harder to repair the damage. Teeth are for chewing, not opening packages or removing clothing tags. As you wrap and open gifts, keep a pair of scissors nearby and use them instead of your teeth.

Dental Needs Don’t Pause for the Holidays

We know the holiday season is busy and fitting in regular dental care can be a challenge, but if you have dental needs, they still need to be addressed. Regular dental visits and cleanings, restorative and repair work, tooth extractions, etc. should be a priority, even over the holidays. If you need to schedule an appointment, give us a call, and our staff will help you set things up.

Resolve to Improve Your Dental Health in 2019

Finally, while you’re enjoying the holidays with your family, spend a little time reflecting on your resolutions for the new year. We hope that one of your resolutions will be better dental health in 2019. Every smile is different, and you can choose the resolutions that will best help you achieve beautiful pearly whites. Some ideas for a healthier smile include:

  • Fix Dental Problems- Do you have a tooth that needs extracting or a gap that needs a dental implant? Resolve to fix any existing dental problems in 2019. We’re scheduling consultations for January and February now. Call us to get on the schedule!
  • Visit the Dentist Regularly- Consistent dental visits can help you avoid many dental problems. Ask your dentist how often you need to come in for cleanings and checks. If you haven’t been consistent on dental visits, 2019 is a great time to start.
  • Brush Better- Brushing teeth shouldn’t take a lot of time, but it does require a few minutes. Many of our patients don’t spend enough time brushing or don’t brush effectively. Ask your dentist for tooth brushing tips and try to spend at least 2-3 minutes brushing, 2x a day.

Making a few small changes with the coming new year can transform and improve your smile for decades to come. Whatever you resolve, make sure that your teeth make the list.

Wishing you a happy holiday season from all of us at Hill Country Oral Surgery in Austin, TX.

The Effects of Tooth Loss on Your Health and Appearance

 

Losing even a single tooth can have a major impact on your health and appearance. Often the full consequence of losing a tooth isn’t realized immediately as these changes are subtle and occur over time. The good news is, with modern dental restoration, we can we can eliminate many of the negative effects of missing teeth, improving both health and appearance. Are you missing teeth? Learn how your missing teeth are impacting your life and then call our offices to learn about your options for dental restoration.

Loss of Dental Stability

Your teeth work together, supporting and helping to keep each other in place. When you lose a tooth, a hole opens up, allowing the surrounding teeth to shift and move positions. This can cause alignment issues and over time can affect how your teeth fit together and how you chew your food.

Bone Loss

Chewing is essential for good dental health. Your teeth help to maintain the strength of the bone that supports them. Chewing forces help keep the bone strong and dense. If you lose a tooth, the supporting bone slowly begins to atrophy. This can make dental implants and other restoration options more difficult in the future.

If it has been a long time since you lost a tooth, your bone has likely degenerated significantly. Often bone grafting is needed for successful dental implants.

Gum Recession

As the bone shrinks, so do the gum tissues. Your gums may become thinner and more delicate over the area where there is a missing tooth. Thinning gums are easily inflamed and injured by dentures and false teeth.

Changes to Facial Appearance

Missing teeth affect your appearance by more than just your smile. Bone and tooth loss can accelerate facial aging, changing the overall structure of your face. Changes to the appearance of the lips, chin, and nose are common after tooth loss. By some estimates, losing teeth can add up to 10 years to your appearance. Many patients don’t realize that these changes are caused by missing teeth and attribute them solely to aging.

Difficulty Eating

Are your favorite foods difficult or impossible to enjoy? Many patients that use dentures or have missing teeth struggle to eat certain foods. Don’t let missing teeth make you miss out on your favorite foods.

Lack of Nutrition

Patients that eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains generally enjoy better health. Unfortunately, missing teeth can lead to missing nutrition. Lower intakes of fruits and vegetables are common in denture wearers, often because these foods are too difficult to eat.

Poor chewing performance can also lead to difficulty digesting. When foods aren’t chewed as thoroughly, nutrition may not be adequately absorbed by the body as the food travels through the digestive tract.

Changes in Speech

Your teeth affect your speech. Patients with missing teeth often notice changes to their speech including slurring of certain words, lisping, or spitting. Missing teeth can also cause the tongue to increase in size, further affecting speech difficulties.

Impact on Confidence

We want our patients to laugh, smile, and enjoy life with confidence. When you have missing teeth, you may be embarrassed of your smile. Missing teeth have a negative impact on both appearance and self-confidence.

Minimizing the Negative Effects of Missing Teeth- What Can You Do?

In a perfect world, no one would ever lose a permanent tooth, but of course, this isn’t reality. Teeth can be lost for a variety of reasons including trauma and decay. Losing a tooth is a serious problem, but it is treatable. Proper treatment can help to reduce the negative effects of missing teeth. If you’re missing one or more teeth, call our offices to learn more about your options for dental restoration.

  • Dental Implants– Functioning much like a natural tooth, a dental implant consists of a titanium screw that is implanted into the jaw and a replacement crown that is attached to the implant. Dental implants can help maintain bone strength and density and tooth positioning after a missing tooth.
  • All-On-4- For patients requiring full arch restoration, we offer All-On-4 dental implants. Four or more implants are placed into the jaw to support a full arch restoration. This can be a more affordable option for patients that require many dental implants. This isn’t the right fit for every patient.
  • Bone and Gum Grafting- Bone and gum loss are common after losing a tooth, especially if it has been an extended amount of time. Bone and gum grafting can restore bone and gum appearance and density.

Losing a tooth can have a negative impact on your health and appearance, but dental restoration can eliminate many of the problems associated with tooth loss. Call us today and learn about your options for restoring your smile and your dental health.

Can I really have “Teeth in a Day”?

You may have heard about Teeth in a Day and thought: could it really be possible? We can’t blame you for being skeptical, but it’s true: today’s technology makes it possible to undergo the restoration of a full set of teeth within a single day. The secret behind this remarkable procedure? The latest in dental implant technology.

How Is It Possible?

Before, more dental implants were needed to reconstruct a single jaw. However, new dental materials available today allow the restoration of an entire arch of teeth using fewer implants. During the Teeth in a Day procedure, multiple titanium dental implants are implanted to support an entire arch of teeth, and then a set of prosthetic teeth are fixed to the implants. Usually, a procedure called All-On- 4 is performed for Teeth in a Day. All-On- 4 uses a minimum of 4 dental implants to support the whole arch of teeth. However, the number of dental implants needed will still vary in the case of each patient.

Teeth in a Day Procedure

After your consultation and a CT scan, our highly-skilled and well-experienced experts will create a template from your teeth to serve as a temporary implant guide for your surgery.

The Teeth in a Day procedure is performed by a team consisting of a surgeon, a restorative dentist, and sometimes a prosthodontist (a dentist that specializes in complex dental restorations). They will work together to assess the best dental template that is will work best for aesthetics and function.

A follow up checkup will be required the next day to assess the performance of the temporary teeth for chewing, biting, and aesthetics.

If the temporary teeth deliver a beautiful, natural, and a comfortable smile, and also gives you the freedom and confidence to laugh and eat the food you want, it will be worn for 4-6 months until the final bridge is made.

Get an Instantly More Beautiful You

The All-On- 4 procedure doesn’t just result in a confident and beautiful smile, it can also make you look younger.

Missing teeth can cause the underlying bone to deteriorate. Loss of bone can lead to your cheeks appearing sunken, making you look older than you are. The new set of beautiful replacement teeth will support your cheeks once again.

Teeth in a Day Could Be the Procedure for You!

You can have a new set of teeth that is more comfortable and efficient than dentures. Get a whole new smile within just a day. Find out if the Teeth in a Day procedure is the treatment for your needs by contacting Hill Country Oral Surgery.