Dental implants are a treatment to replace teeth that are missing due to fracture, infection or decay. Still, we’re often asked by our patients if having dental implants can reduce the occurrence of tooth decay, gum disease or other dental related problems. Continue reading to find out more.
Maintaining dental health is an essential step toward preventing common diseases associated with the teeth. Some of the common tooth problems that affect people are gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss. Are dental implants a potential solution? Let’s first look at the advantages of dental implants and how they might be used to solve dental problems.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are best described as a kind of replacement tooth. Dental implants are usually fitted by a dentist that specialises in implants. Unlike other tooth replacement methods, such as bridges and dentures, dental implants are difficult to tell apart from your natural teeth.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is caused by an accumulation of bacteria in the mouth that can cause your gums to become swollen. Mild gum disease can be treated by brushing and flossing, but it’s always best to check with your dentist if you suspect that you might have gum disease. Severe gum disease is a much more serious issue which could eventually lead to tooth loss.
Gum Disease & Dental Implants
Gum disease is thought to be a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Dental implants aren’t a technique for preventing gum disease, but you could use a dental implant to replace a tooth lost to gum disease. Of course, it’s far better to practice good dental hygiene and avoid tooth loss in the first place if possible.
Eating With Dental Implants
Dental implants allow patients to bite and chew favourite meals without worrying if the food will stick to their implants. This is because dental implants are securely fastened to your mouth and can be cleaned just like your regular teeth.
Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss
If you do lose a tooth, it’s very important to be aware of the danger of bone loss. This is when the remaining jaw bone underneath the lost tooth withers away. This can lead to an array of potential complications, including infections. Dental implants can help to prevent bone loss. The jaw bone will fuse with the dental implant and, if everything is done correctly, the risk of bone loss is minimised. If you are worried about tooth loss or bone loss it’s always best to talk to a dentist.
Dental Implants Look Natural
It’s almost impossible to differentiate between a good dental implant and a natural tooth. After an implant is fitted, it’s carved in a manner that makes it looks exactly like an original tooth. Many people choose dental implants as they feel more confident when they can smile and display natural-looking teeth.
Dental Implants Are A Long-term Solution:
Dental implants are designed to last for a very long time, as we discuss in another blog post. With good care, a dental implant could last 25 years or longer. Alternatives to dental implants usually need to be replaced within 5 to 10 years, which makes dental implants a good long-term solution.
At Pembroke Dental, we take great pride in our dental implants. Give us a call on 01 668 3242 to arrange an initial consultation. We’ll talk you through the whole process and outline the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option.
Dental implants are excellent for people with mouth cavities caused by the loss of teeth. But how long dental implants will often depend on the kind of dental implant you have. Continue reading to find out more.
Most dental implants not only feel natural, but they go a long way toward boosting the self-esteem and confidence levels of those who install it. After a procedure, you are assured of getting rid of any teeth sensitivity and owning one of the best smiles of pride the world has ever seen.
How Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants are secured by the dentist into your jaw via titanium posts, making them not only aesthetically pleasing but highly functional, aiding spontaneous speech and eating. Unlike dentures, you are not always worried about whether or not your implants will come loose when telling your favourite stories. Also, your overall oral health is increased since implants aren’t anchored directly onto your teeth.
The procedure for a dental implant requires effort from you, your dentist that specialises in implants. and periodontist. After the preferred implant has been chosen, your periodontist will create a personal plan just for you. The implant procedure could be to replace a single tooth, several teeth or all of your teeth. All these needs are met with the right dental processes to ensure implants are placed excellently.
Different Types of Dental Implants And How Long They Last
There are two significant types you can fix when it comes to dental implants;
Endosteal Implants: made of titanium in the form of tiny screws, these implants are placed within your jawbone. In comparison, most people with missing teeth that are in need of implants prefer this type.
Subperiosteal Implants: this implant is used often in individuals with generally weak or natural jawbones. As a result, they cannot or have no preference for a bone augmentation procedure which can rebuild it. With this type of implant, the tooth is placed beneath the gum but above or on the jawbone.
In addition to any of these traditional multiple step implant procedure, your dentist may suggest alternative treatment options, depending on how strong your jaw is or your specific needs. The choices made available are as follows;
Mini Dental Implants: known as MDIs or small/narrow diameter implants, these implants are used mainly to stabilise a lower denture. They are thinner than commonly used implants, often the size of a toothpick, and are placed using less-evasive techniques.
Immediate Load Dental Implants: this temporary tooth is an excellent option if you have adequate natural bone, or if your implant is secure enough to support immediate pressure and placement on the new tooth. They are also known as same day implants or Teeth in a Day, and they allow temporary tooth placement during the same dental implant placement appointment.
All-on-4: this is referred to as a full arch and is a common alternative to the placing of a top or bottom set of replacement teeth. During this procedure, there is no bone grafting, as the dental implants, four in number, are placed on the bone. This requires the individual to adhere to a controlled diet during the healing time, as your bones adjust to the implant. Dental implants take six months to heal completely; after which you can resume your regular diet.
All dental implants are considered a permanent teeth replacement solutions, and as such, they are designed to last for a very long time. The approximate lifespan of a dental implant, no matter the type, is 25 years. The alternatives to dental implants, however, typically last between 5 to 15 years, after which they must be replaced.
At Pembroke Dental, we offer various alternatives to implants, dentures, bridges and mini-implants being examples. The type you choose must be decided upon after consultation has been made, and the advantages and drawbacks of each have been weighed with a top dental implant specialist in Ireland.
The newest dentist at Pembroke Dental Ballsbridge, Dr André Collins is proving very popular. His clinics have been so busy this year that we’re delighted to announce that we’re now able to offer an additional clinic on Thursdays with André, including more early morning appointments, which are always in high demand. This is in addition to the two late evening clinics Dr Collins already offers each week.
Dr Collins has extensive experience in general dentistry, having worked in both the UK and Australia for many years. He also provides cosmetic dentistry and can complement treatments such as composite bonding and highly aesthetic crown and veneers, with adult cosmetic orthodontics, all conveniently under one roof at Pembroke Dental Ballsbridge.
André is also very experienced at using our new CEREC machine. This fantastic piece of high tech equipment allows him to prepare and fit crowns, bridges and inlays/onlays in just one day. We’ll be posting more information about the CEREC machine in the coming weeks, so check back for updates!
To make an appointment with Dr André Collins, please call the office on 01 668 3242.
The Inman aligner is one of the most popular types of braces available here at Pembroke Dental Ballsbridge. While all of the systems provided by Dr David Keenan are short-term, cosmetic braces, the Inman aligner allows most patients to complete their treatment in the quickest time, usually just 3-4 months.
With any braces, patients have to learn to adapt to speaking while wearing the appliance. Until now, the main disadvantage of the Inman aligner was that it could take patients a while to adapt their speech. However the new Super Slim Inman aligner takes care of this, and it’s lighter, thinner and more discrete than before!
The bow is three times thinner than before;
The plastic is more transparent and so more ‘invisible’;
Patients can adapt their speech faster;
There’s no reduction in effectiveness;
The new Super Slim Inman aligner can actually improve treatment times, as patients are less likely to remove the device and will wear it for longer each day.
Here’s an example of a patient who has been wearing her new Inman Aligner for just two weeks. Her braces are so discrete it’s hard to either see or hear that she’s wearing them!
You can read much more about the Imnan aligner on the orthodontics section of our website and we regularly add photos of patients before and after treatment to our Instagram feed. If you would like to arrange a free consultation appointment with Dr Keenan to discuss the Inman aligner or any of our orthodontic systems, please call 01 668 3242.
Or how to prepare your smile for your wedding and minimise the stress.
Our Pembroke Dental Ballsbridge practice manager shares what she’s learned about planning your dental treatment before your wedding so that the preparations are spread out and completed in plenty of time for your big day, minimising the stress and hassle.
How many engagements were made on Valentine’s Day just gone? How many girls took the opportunity to propose to their other halves on 29th February? It seems everyone I know is getting married, so I’m learning lots about how to organise weddings! Here’s how my last Sunday just went:
Morning: chat on the phone with a school friend who’s getting married next month about accommodation at the venue so she can try to confirm numbers;
Rest of Morning: spent 3 hours making place settings for my cousin’s daughter’s wedding (‘volunteered’ by my mum, 50 down, 150 to go!);
Lunch: chat with a friend about how her sister’s boyfriend’s cousin was on ‘Don’t Tell The Bride’ the other week;
Evening: exchange frantic Facebook messages with another friend who lives in Spain but who’s trying to organise her July Dublin wedding from Barcelona (can anyone recommend a make-up artist?!).
Let’s face it: there are enough things to stress about when organising a wedding without adding the perfect smile to the list. Especially when a beautiful smile is totally achievable, no matter what your timeline, once you put in a little planning.
Kudos to One Fab Day for their very clever Wedding Beauty Timeline. They’ve even included teeth whitening at the four-months-to-go stage. But what if your dental treatment needs are a little more involved than whitening? Here’s my suggestion for what your wedding dental timeline should look like.
6 Months Before (at least!)
Both the bride-to-be and groom-to-be should attend the dentist for a full dental exam, x-ray (if one is due) and scale & polish (cleaning). The best way of ensuring a healthy smile is to maintain your dental health.
If your dentist recommends any treatment plan at this stage, whether it’s something as straightforward as fillings or a bit more involved like a root canal treatment or a crown, you have plenty of time to schedule this and get it completed before the big day.
You’ll have more than a few other expenses over the next few months, so it may be helpful to be able to spread out these costs in the quieter ones. Don’t forget, if you have dental insurance (Vhi Dental or DeCare Dental) we can submit your treatment plan to your insurer and you’ll find your costs are reduced further. Plus you can claim back tax relief on some of the bigger treatments.
This is also the best time to discuss with your dentist any cosmetic treatments that you might be considering for the big day. Tell your dentist what you don’t like about your smile and what you’d like to change, and he or she will give you a comprehensive treatment plan with costings so you can decide what you’d like to do. Two of the most common in-surgery cosmetic treatments we get asked about before weddings at Pembroke Dental Ballsbridge are short-term orthodontics and veneers (or componeers).
Many patients dismiss orthodontics before their wedding as they think it will take a year or more to get a good outcome. However, it’s possible to achieve fantastic orthodontic results in as little as three or four months with adult braces. Read more about Inman Aligners, Six Month Smiles and Invisible Aligners on our website. And remember, payments can be spread over the course of the treatment with interest free finance, which can make them more manageable. Our recent blog post with before and after photos shows the fantastic results you can achieve in very little time with short-term braces.
BeforeAfter
Veneers are a very quick solution which result in a dramatically improved appearance in just one or two visits. Again, take a look at some of the before and after photos on our website which show just how dramatic the improvement can be with direct bonding, componeers and porcelain veneers. With the different options available there’s a solution to suit every budget.
4 Months Before
At this stage the stress levels may be rising and you find you don’t have a spare minute in the day. As a result, some of your habits may have changed. Have you been skipping brushing and flossing and just flopping into bed exhausted after a weekend of checking out bands and tasting menus? Have you been waking up with sore jaws, earaches or headaches? Are your gums bleeding more frequently than before? Have your grumbling wisdom teeth flared up into full-blown agony? Ah yes, STRESS!
Stress can lead to a number of changes in your mouth and even if you’re normally really good at keeping up with dental care at home and visiting your dentist regularly, it can play havoc! If any of the above symptoms sound familiar, then you should pop back to the dentist for a quick check-up. To minimise the stress, we have early morning, late evening and lunchtime appointments available at Pembroke Dental Ballsbridge so you can pop in before or after work, or on your lunch break. If you live or work in Dublin 4 it couldn’t be handier.
Being run down and missing a few brushings and flossings can allow oral bacteria to multiply, putting you at risk of gingivitis (red, inflamed and sore gums – not a good look!), and infections. Visit our hygienist Lorraine Doyle for a professional cleaning. Get back on top of you dental health – and your glowing smile – with a scale & polish.
Stress may be causing you to clench and grind your teeth at night when you’re asleep. This can result in sore jaws, headaches and even broken teeth. A bite splint is a simple device that fits over your teeth to protect them while you sleep.
While now might not be the best time to consider wisdom tooth extraction, keeping an eye on them in the run-up to the wedding is a good idea and any infection or flare-up can be quickly controlled using antibiotics, so that they don’t ruin the big day.
Now is a good time to begin teeth whitening. It’s a very simple – and at just €295 very cost effective – treatment that can produce quite dramatic results. We don’t recommend leaving it until just before the wedding (as you’ll have enough on your plate at that stage!) but by doing it now, with perhaps a top-up treatment just before the big day, you’ll have a beautiful white smile to match your white dress (or your blushing bride’s white dress!) In one quick visit with the dentist we can prepare bespoke trays which are ready to collect the next day, which you use at home to get the result you want. Everyone is different, so the dentist will advise you on what you need to do to get the effect you desire.
Whitening is an essential treatment that we provide at Pembroke Dental Ballsbridge before we undertake any cosmetic dental treatment. We can then match the new shade of your teeth to any new restoration that we provide whether that be composite direct bonding, porcelain veneers or componeers.
1 Month Before
If you haven’t already, now is a good time to come and see the dentist or dental hygienist at Pembroke Dental Ballsbridge for that final scale & polish before the big day to remove any staining and have your teeth looking their best.
Any pre-wedding short-term adult orthodontics should be planned to finish up around now as well, so that any retainers needed can be fitted in time to let you get used to them before the main event.
If it’s needed, a whitening top-up should be done around now as well so that you’re not trying to remember to do it in the hectic few days before the wedding.
So, you can see with a little pre-planning it’s easy to have the perfect smile on your wedding day with Pembroke Dental Ballsbridge. Call 01 668 3242 or email info@pembrokedentist.ie today to schedule a check-up and treatment planning appointment with Dr Keenan to see what can be achieved before your special day.
The newest dentist at Pembroke Dental Ballsbridge, Dr André Collins is proving very popular. His clinics have been so busy this year that we’re delighted to announce that we’re now able to offer an additional clinic on Thursdays with André, including more early morning appointments, which are always in high demand. This is in addition to the two late evening clinics Dr Collins already offers each week.
