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Dental implants represent most advanced long-term solution for missing teeth. They are screw shaped posts of various sizes and lengths, that have a continuous thread that goes around them in screw-like pattern.

Single implant acts like a replacement for one tooth, while multiple implants can replace a segment or even a whole dental array. Other than teeth replacement in prosthodontics purposes, they can also be used as anchor points in orthodontics dentistry.

Their size depends on the amount of bone in designated placement region and their intended function.

Before actual procedure is done, it needs some careful planning. There can be situations where implant placement cannot be performed at first, because some work needs to be done prior to make it possible for placing an actual implant. Those procedures are making sure that not only placement is achieved, but other than restoring a tooth, bone and gums around it are restored as well. They include sinus lift and bone augmentation.

Bone augmentation is a surgical procedure of adding artificial bone onto the remaining jaw in purpose of making enough amount of jaw bone for implant to be placed successfully.

Sinus lift has the same outcome as bone augmentation does. The difference being that artificial bone now is added under maxillary sinus in order to physically lift up the sinus floor thus providing enough amount of bone for implant to be planted.

Procedure of implant placement is practically painless. Under direct eye supervision, implant is “screwed” carefully into designated place and it’s left to heal for some months. Healing time usually takes about 3 to 6 months, and during that time bone cells will form closely to implant, and clasp it in position. After healing time has passed, implant can be loaded. Dental laboratory provides with crown/bridge which are cemented or screwed, restoring missing tooth/teeth.

Implants as a solution for missing teeth operates in a way that one implant can replace single tooth, while 2 implants can replace more than 2 teeth in a form of bridge, depending on the layout. It is important to emphasize that bridge cannot be combined between implants and natural teeth.

Mini dental implants, as the name says, are smaller sized implants used for stabilization of dentures. They are used in patients with reduced amount of jaw bone that are not susceptible for jaw bone augmentation. Their placement is just under the gums or few millimeters into bone.
Mini implants are utilized in orthopedic dentistry as well, as anchor points for applying forces on teeth.

Implants are very beneficial for oral and general health as they provide restoring effect as close to natural teeth as it gets. They don’t anchor and overload adjacent teeth like bridges do. Very easy to clean and maintain, with great longevity and aesthetic, making them the best solution in prosthetics dentistry.

If you want straight teeth without wearing braces then you should consider Invisalign. Invisalign aligners are clear trays that guide teeth into ideal position. They are invisible, making everyday interactions and lifestyle intact, while at the same time they are straightening teeth.

Because there are no wires and brackets they are lot more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing than traditional braces. On top of that, their mobility is allowing you to eat and drink carefree while having the same oral hygiene routine as before, since there are no wires to maneuver around.

After examination, an estimated time for a new smile can be planed. Sometimes, using modern technology, even a preview of your new smile is available with computer programs. Average treatment time is a year, a year and a half, depending on a case itself.

Invisalign aligners must be worn little over 22 hours a day, only to be removed when eating, drinking, brushing and flossing. With computer guided therapy planning, a different set of aligners is used every two weeks until teeth are straightened to their final positions. What that means is that every two weeks computer will design slightly adjusted aligner, making small corrections, step by step, for bringing teeth to desired position.

All that Invisalign has in common with regular, traditional, braces are after-therapy retainers. After treatment is done and perfect smile is achieved, retainers are made to ensure that therapy result remains unchanged.

Teeth whitening is an effective way of to brighten your smile. Most people are not satisfied with the color of their teeth, as it comes with age, consummation of foods and drinks, smoking and bad habits. When whitening toothpastes and home remedies are not working it is time to address your dentist. With a little effort you can get a shade that you like, quickly and more important, safely.

Professional teeth whitening procedures are in-office and at-home whitening. They are different but at the same time they provide similar result. In consultation with your dentist you can choose which one is more convenient for you.

In-office whitening offers faster results, for example – you can get two to five shades brighter in just an hour. Procedure is simple, protective barrier is placed on your gums and soft tissue for safety as well as a retractor to hold lips and cheeks. Then bleacher, hydrogen peroxide, is applied on surfaces that need bleaching. It stays in place for an hour, which is a maximum time allowed per treatment. After an hour results are more than obvious. Some bleachers demand LED light to induce their chemical reaction with teeth, some don’t. It depends on their kind, but the effect remains.

At-home whitening is also an effective way to brighten smile. Whitening is taking place at home, with patient having a great role in ensuring that. Treatment takes more than a few weeks, it is a slow process, but with it precisely desired level of whiteness can be achieved.

Two set of retainers need to be made, for upper and lower teeth. They are made individually for every patient from teeth impressions, simple and quick procedure but honestly not a very comfortable one. After trays are made, patient is given a special home use bleacher and he is instructed on how to apply it. It all depends on manufacturer’s instructions, some should be worn overnight some only for an hour per day.

No wonder why this very common procedure. It is proven that brightening up your smile can brighten up your mood and boost confidence.

Mouth guard is a removable dental appliance carefully molded to fit the upper or lower teeth arches. It is used for preventing teeth from grinding during night, managing jaw dysfunctions and reducing strain of biting muscles, but mouth guard can also be used for teeth whitening, after orthodontic treatments, or even for sport activities.

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, implies unconscious clenching of teething during sleep. It is easy to recognize it once you start waking up with sore jaw, headache or tooth pain. First line of defense when grinding is obtaining mouth guard to protect teeth from further wear and tear until underlying cause is resolved. The point is – grinding is a consequence. All the problems that grinding makes will go away as soon as the underlying cause does. That’s why dentist has to look at the bigger picture, to determine what evokes it.

Teeth grinding can lead to premature loss of enamel, teeth fractures, gum recession and jaw joint disorders.
There are three types of mouthguards: stock, boiled and custom made.
Stock mouthguards are the cheapest of all. They are made in few different sizes and easily purchasable in most sports stores. Although very bulky, they cannot be adjusted and provide little protection.
Boil and bite protectors are better option than stock ones, but they also don’t fit perfectly.

Custom made mouthguards are the best solution. They are made at the office, specifically for each patient, providing the best fit with most comfort and protection. Procedure is fairly quick and easy, all it takes is an impression of teeth and mouth guard can be modeled over the model made from that impression.

Taking care of mouth guard is not a big deal, very similar to dentures. It needs to be cleaned with toothbrush and a toothpaste or soap, and kept in perforated container which allows air to circulate.

Mouth guard should be considered a viable solution for conserving teeth and jaw joint from unnecessary wear and tear.

Fear and anxiety of dentist should not be an issue since sedation comes as a standard option with all dental services. Having concerns is perfectly normal. Everything about treatment and sedation should be discussed with dentist before starting, in order to find the type of sedation that fits you best. If you are afraid of needles, have prior dental trauma, or generally afraid of dentist, sedation will reduce stress as well as chair time, allowing more work to be done per visit. Sometimes patients who have sensitive nerves or small mouths need sedation too, simply because procedures cause more pain and discomfort to them. When talking about sedation process – it implies administration of drugs in various ways, which can help with relaxing patients and allowing them to enjoy treatments stress free.

Before considering sedation dentist must go through medical history, physical assessment and individual characteristics before proceeding. Certain conditions like cardiac diseases, diabetes, respiratory or renal diseases, may require clearance from a physician.

Types of sedation are: gas, oral and IV sedation.

Nitrous oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, in combination with oxygen is inhaled through mask. Popularly known for its laughing effect, it provides good level of sedation and relaxation. Easy to control and quickly wears off, which is very convenient for patients to return to daily activities.

Oral sedation involves consuming pill shaped drugs, usually night before or/and an hour before treatment. Diazepam, Midazolam, Lorazepam are most commonly used for those purposes. Also, they are known for drowsiness, making driving back home not advised.

IV sedation technique is a very effective method of quickly achievable and controllable sedation, performed with administering medication through vein.

Typically, regardless of which sedation patients receive, they will also be administered local anesthetic for numbing and relieving from any pain.
Sedation can be applied to children as well, when they are terrified or just refusing to cooperate. Any upper mentioned sedating drug is safe as long as they are applied within the recommended dosage for the age and weight.

In case of missing or chipped tooth, broken or stained, prosthetic dentistry is there for you to “bridge the gap”.

Veneers represent the most convenient and effective form in cosmetic dentistry. These custom-made shells are designed to improve appearance, especially with chipped, stained and irregularly shaped front teeth. They don’t actually resolve issues, they just cover them.

At the same time, crowns can be used for the same issues, plus they can be used to restore damaged or missing teeth, no matter if front or back. Crown is like a hollow tooth-shaped cap that is placed on to remains of particular tooth. Multiple crowns joined in one solid piece called the bridge are mostly used for recouping missing teeth.

That is not the only difference between crowns and veneers. They can be made from different materials which require specific amount of tooth substance to be removed.

Crowns, made of ceramics or metal alloy fused with ceramics, need to have significant thickness because other than aesthetics they need to restore tooth’s function as well. On the other hand, veneers are used only for aesthetic purposes, made out of thin ceramics, so they can reflect light like natural teeth and retain as much tooth structure as possible.

When prepping for veneers it only takes a half a millimeter of tooth reduction, while crown prepping requires a millimeter at least.

Procedures are very similar. First visit is reserved for preparations and impressions.

When working on crowns/veneers, there are some extra visits called “tryout” phases, used for checking adaptation and relation to adjacent teeth. With a little bit of patience, week or two later, final work comes from lab and it is cemented permanently in place. During this time, prepared teeth are protected with provisional crowns/veneers.

Crowns and veneers represent a viable long-term solution, with proper oral hygiene they can last a decade at least.

Restorative dentistry represents a part of dentistry that repairs and restores teeth. Teeth can be damaged in many ways which can lead to decay, most commonly due to bad oral hygiene and negligence. Crowded teeth can lead to decay as well. Tricky part about them is washing all the surfaces, some that can’t be reached that easily. Or like for some people, they just don’t have enough time for thorough cleaning. Another way of teeth damaging is can be trauma, injuries resulting in chipped tooth.

Anyways, it all results in defect that has to be filled. Modern dental materials provide the best restorative solutions, aesthetically as close to natural tooth as it gets and in the same time durable as well. Dental composite resin as a material has made remarkable progress since its discovery and its first initial use in dentistry. Now it offers high-end aesthetic performance with astonishing durability with time passed. It has high density thanks to the nanoparticles, and not just resin nanoparticles but some ceramic particles are added to the blend as well. All that in making the composite the material of choice in restoring and fixing teeth.

The procedure itself is not complicated, time needed varies on the case, but most importantly it is painless. After decay is removed, place for future filling is cleaned and bonding agent is applied. Bond works like a glue that is between the tooth and the filling. Some professional and precise sculpting takes place, and tooth is restored to its original state. Final touches and some polishing are the final stage of teeth restoration, and they provide that natural glow and seamless transition between tooth and a filling.

Dental sealants are materials placed on tooth’s biting surface in purpose of preventing decay and maintaining good oral health. It is classified as preventive treatment of the minimal intervention approach in pediatric dentistry. Permanent teeth are erupting from ages 6 to 12 and in that age it is hard to maintain perfect oral hygiene. Posterior teeth’s biting surfaces are known for their grooves and pits, called the fissures, and can be difficult to clean. These fissures can be narrower than toothbrush’s bristle, providing ideal place for bacteria to collect along with food and plaque. That’s why molar teeth are considered the most susceptible to decay. To protect those small grooves and chance for decay, it is advisable to apply sealants as soon as biting surface erupts.

Sealants can be divided into two groups based on material they are made from: glass ionomer or resin based.

Glass ionomer sealants contain fluoride and are less moisture sensitive, which is a major plus since this procedure is performed mostly on kids. Releasing fluoride over time has therapeutic advantages, because when combined with salivary fluoride they help preventing decay. Glass ionomer’s weakest point is retention, which is the total opposite of resin ones. Resin sealants have the ability to stay in place for 5 to 10 years, sometimes even longer. Although they don’t discharge fluoride, their longevity is the thing that sets them apart, and makes them the material of choice in this procedure.

Procedure itself is not complicated and it doesn’t involve pain or drilling. First comes the thorough cleaning of biting surfaces. After cleaning, acid is applied to roughen the surfaces. Clean and etched surface is ready for sealant to be “painted” in the grooves, where it bonds directly with or without curing light.

This method is very effective in decay prevention as long as it is done properly and sealant is regularly checked for cracks.

Even if we maintain good oral hygiene and have regular check-ups, at some point in life we all come to situation where we have to get our tooth extracted. Whatever reason leads to that it is perfectly normal to feel discomfort, but when your oral and general health are on the line, priorities have to be made.

With time, neglected teeth can become severely damaged and beyond repair. In that stadium, when chances of saving and restoring the tooth are very small or non-existent, extraction becomes the only viable option. This procedure will relieve you of all the nuisance and improve your oral health significantly.

Sometimes during orthodontic therapy there is a need for additional space in teeth array. Most common way to do that is by extracting particular teeth, thus allowing remaining teeth to align perfectly.

Impacted or not, wisdom teeth in most cases cause pain or teeth crowding. Although teeth crowding seems like only aesthetical issue, it is worth knowing that crowding affects gums, it can lead to inflammation, swelling, redness, and more problems. On the other hand, pain caused by wisdom teeth can be unpleasant, it can radiate through the jaw and even ear area. Extraction can be surgical or non-surgical, depending if they have erupted or not. Surgical extraction is a common procedure, low risk routine operation where soft and bone tissue is removed in order to provide better approach to the tooth. In situations where they have erupted, extraction itself is not any different from other teeth.

How does this differ from “extractions” which means difficult surgical removal of impacted unerupted wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth can be extracted or surgically removed, it all depends on if they have erupted or not. First of all, wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth that erupt, typically from age 18 to 22. There have been many cases where they appear in later ages of life, 30, 40, even at 50 years! But what happens if they don’t erupt? Unerupted wisdom teeth can go either way, they can remain asymptomatic or, more likely, cause problems that require their removal.

Due to their position, most common symptoms include discomfort and pain in whole molar segment that even extends towards the ear. If they are rotated towards adjacent teeth, they tend to pressure them thus migrating whole segment forward, making front teeth crowded.

When tooth is erupted and visible in the mouth all it takes is some local anesthesia and forceps to pull it out. But if it’s not erupted it demands a different approach, surgical. Surgical removal of wisdom teeth is a routine procedure, done in about 20 minutes if there are no complications. It differs from extractions because it involves procedures like incision, raising a flap, working with bone tissue, stitching, etc.

Procedure is fairly simple. For providing an approach, small cut in gums is made and bone tissue is reduced until tooth becomes visible and accessible. Depending on shape, size and position of the tooth, it goes out in one piece or it’s divided into sections and removed in multiple pieces. After removal, site is cleaned, gums are positioned back in place and stitches are placed.

It’s always painless, patient can choose between local anesthesia or sedation. It can even be performed in general anesthesia, but that’s for special situations.