Tag: tooth health

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.

Are These Health Trends Hurting Your Teeth?

Just because everyone is doing it, doesn’t mean that it isn’t harmful. We’ve seen patients with damage to their smile caused by some popular health trends. Here’s what you need to know to protect your teeth.

Juice Mania

We love a good cold-pressed juice as a special treat, but be careful. Regular juice consumption and long-term juice cleanses can be hard on the teeth. Juice contains sugar, even whole fruit and vegetable juices, and as you drink, it bathes your teeth in a sugary shower. If you don’t brush soon, this sugar can erode tooth enamel, cause cavities, and create gum inflammation.

Whole fruits and vegetables are better for your teeth than juices. If you do drink juice, brush shortly after consuming. We recommend waiting about 45 minutes to brush. The acids in juice temporarily soften enamel; a short wait allows it to harden up again. A straw will reduce the amount of juice that makes contact with the teeth.

Alternative Toothpastes- Fluoride-Free or Activated Charcoal

Not all toothpastes are created equally. Alternative toothpastes are becoming more popular, and some of these formulations can be damaging to the teeth.

Activated Charcoal Toothpaste

Charcoal toothpaste is highly abrasive and may damage your teeth. Some patients notice an increase in tooth and gum sensitivity when using these toothpastes regularly. Patients with crowns, veneers, and dental implants should be especially cautious. Charcoal may stain these dental appliances, or whiten your natural teeth to the point that they no longer match.

Fluoride-Free Toothpastes

Fluoride protects the teeth and reduces decay by slowing demineralization and boosting remineralization. The remineralization process won’t stop cavities that have already formed but can strengthen weak spots in your tooth enamel. We recommend using a pea-sized drop of a fluoride toothpaste every time you brush. Fluoride-free toothpastes still clean the teeth but don’t provide the same cavity-fighting benefits of a fluoridated version.

If you need help choosing a tooth-healthy toothpaste, ask us for a recommendation.

Apple Cider Vinegar Everything

Apple cider vinegar is currently a hot health commodity. You’ll find it in trendy drinks and tonics, and people take daily vinegar shots. We’ve even reports of ACV being used as a tooth whitening treatment. As far as the teeth are concerned, vinegar is an acid, and acid can soften enamel and erode the teeth.

Skipping Straws

Saying no to plastic straws isn’t exactly health-related, but it is a growing trend, with significant ability to impact your oral health. When you drink through a straw, the liquid passes the teeth, skipping them altogether. This greatly reduces the amount of contact between your teeth and whatever you happen to be drinking.

Straws can be an important buffer for your teeth if you’re drinking soda (diet or regular), juices, and sugary drinks. Reducing your consumption of these drinks will benefit your oral health, but when you do choose to consume, use a straw.

Should I Avoid These Health Trends?

We’re not saying you should avoid the latest health trends, but we do recommend caution when jumping on the latest trend train. Some trends are harmless, some beneficial, and some can damage your beautiful smile.

Get in touch if you need help navigating the dental impact of a specific trend. Call Hill Country Oral Surgery at 512-327-7233.