Tag: dentist consultation

Dental Implants or Dentures?


You may think tooth decay or missing teeth are only a cosmetic problem. But ignoring dental issues can lead to several health concerns, too. Around 120 million American citizens have lost one tooth or more.

Losing a tooth does not affect your oral functions alone. It influences the jawbone, the foundation for your teeth. Your teeth support the jaw and keep it together. But after tooth loss, the jawbone begins to weaken, deteriorate, and atrophy. Yes, even one missing tooth can affect the jawbone as it reabsorbs and makes your cheeks look hollow.

So, if you have suffered tooth loss, you may be wondering: Do I replace them with dental implants or dentures? Keep reading to learn more information about tooth replacement and which option is better for you.

Dentures

These dental prosthetics will protect the soft and firm parts of your gums. There are two kinds of dentures: partial and complete.

Complete dentures are more appropriate if you have several teeth missing. Partial dentures or traditional dental implants are better when several of your natural teeth are still in place. You can remove dentures at night or for cleaning. Implants remain in place permanently.

Advantages of Dentures

 

  • Customized for your jaw
  • Natural-looking
  • High-quality material
  • Allow you to chew and speak normally

Dental Implants

An excellent alternative to dentures is dental implants. In the past few decades, they have become the gold standard of tooth replacement. Unlike dentures, dental implants are surgically implants. They secure your jaw in the same way as natural teeth. It will take time for the area to heal. Your options include:

  • Permanent denture (partial or complete)
  • Bridge (helps with multiple teeth)
  • Dental crowns

Dental implants look natural. Nobody will guess you had lost any teeth.

Advantages of Dental Implants

 

  • Durable and long-lasting
  • Look natural and beautiful
  • Help you eat and speak normally
  • Restore the jawbone
  • Promote gum health
  • They consist of a safe, biocompatible titanium compound

Dentures vs. Implants

Before making this decision, consult your oral surgeon or dentist. However, there may be instances when your dental health professional has no preference, and the decision is entirely yours to make. Here are some things to consider before making your choice.

Choose Dentures If:

 

  • You’re on a budget
  • You need a quick solution
  • Your jaw and gums won’t support implants

Dentures will need daily cleaning, just like your teeth. If you fail to give them attention, it may weaken your jaw further. Your oral surgeon or dentist can counsel you on this.

Dentures take time to adjust to. You may need to learn how to talk and eat while wearing them, and they may need replacing in a few years.

Choose Dental Implants If:

 

  • You are looking for a lasting solution
  • You don’t want to replace every few years
  • You prefer your replacement to look more like your natural teeth

Dental implants are more expensive than dentures for an initial investment. But over time, without replacement and maintenance costs, they eventually pay for themselves. Dental implants may take longer to fill your gap, anywhere from three to nine months.

If you would like more information about dentures or dental implants, call our Austin oral surgery office at 512-327-7233 to request a consultation.

5 Tips to Prepare for My Oral Surgery Consultation

 

Preparing for your initial oral surgery consultation is essential. For a successful operation, and for the sake of you and your surgeon, it’s best that you are ready not just emotionally, but logistically, too. The best way to feel confident about your procedure is to be equipped with all the important information and facts about it. To feel assured and confident that you are in good hands, the first and most crucial step is preparing for your oral surgery consultation.

1. Address Your Concerns Clearly

Your consultation is the best time to discuss your condition. During your meeting, it is important to get to know your doctor and share with him your expectations for your operation. If you are feeling pain and discomfort, or you have suffered facial injuries, make sure to discuss every detail of your situation with your doctor. If you have any remaining past dental records that outline your previous treatment and evaluations, handing them out during your consultation would be a good idea.

2. Be Prepared for a Dental Exam and Diagnostic Imaging

To clearly assess your current condition, your oral surgeon may conduct a thorough examination of your teeth, jaw, and mouth. During this period, your surgeon may assess your past dental records, as well as your current health to be able to foresee the success of your oral surgery. Diagnostic imaging may be required. This step will help your oral surgeon see your bone structures, which is a significant factor in developing a careful treatment plan for you.

3. Provide Current Medications List

Oral surgeries involve the use of anesthesia. The kind of anesthesia used will depend on your surgery. To make sure the use of anesthetics goes smoothly, it is necessary to tell your surgeon all kinds of medications you are currently taking. Even over-the-counter drugs may cause an interaction with anesthesia. Thus, creating a list of your current medicines and handing it out to your doctor would be a good pre-operative step.

4. Be Prepared to Fill out Health Forms

The safety and success of your surgery are your surgeon’s main priorities. To be able to attain these goals, your current health condition plays a major part. Thus, as part of the consultation, expect to fill out an important series of health forms. Answering these forms will clearly address if you have current or past illnesses that may affect the result of your oral surgery. Details about your previous operations may as well be asked, and if you had unusual reactions to anesthesia.

5. Prepare a List of Questions

Your oral surgery consultation is the best time to get your questions answered. It is typical for patients to have a long list of inquiries before their operation. Thus, make sure to make a list of all your questions. Treatment options will be offered during your consultation, and the most appropriate approach for you depends on the benefits and shortcomings of each procedure on your end. You can ask everything about your surgery, including your goals. You can also ask about the treatment procedure, post surgery care, insurance coverage, cost, etc.

Schedule a Consultation

Now that you know how to prepare for your oral surgery consultation, the next step is choosing the best schedule for your appointment. Meet your doctor, and get your questions answered during your consultation with Hill Country Oral Surgery.