Restoring Smiles with Dental Implants

Riverwalk Dental replaces teeth and restores patient smiles with dental implants. Implants are a permanent restorative option for teeth that are missing or have been extracted.  They look and feel like natural teeth, and are the most permanent and efficient means of replacing lost teeth.  Implants are titanium screws inserted into the jaw bone. Over a period of 3-6 months, the jaw bone heals around the implant to become a solid, stable base for the new tooth. During this time a patient is fitted with a temporary crown, and a custom crown is created to match their smile perfectly.

After the jaw bone and gums have healed appropriately, the custom crown is placed in a second appointment. Sometimes, the doctor may need to expose the head of the implant in a second minor surgery.  When everything is healed, the crown will be screwed or cemented to the top of the implant.  When this is complete the tooth looks like part of the natural smile, and with proper care will last for decades!

To learn more about dental implants and all the treatments we offer, visit www.riverwalkdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Riverwalk Dental located at Canada, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Medicine Hat, 101-7 Strachan Bay, SE, call 403-456-4994.

Diagnosing a Cracked Tooth

Cracked teeth are a highly variable problem, which is why at Riverwalk Dental, we want our patients to have an understanding of what will happen if one is found. Depending on the crack’s location and severity, the problem could range from merely cosmetic to necessitating extraction.

The smallest cracks, called craze lines, do not threaten the tooth’s structure and can simply be covered up. More serious cracks will often be present long before they cause pain and may only be discovered through a dental examination or when an old filling is removed. Because cracks are usually too small to be examined through x-rays, dentists often test them through other means such as probing and asking patients to report what they feel when they bite down on cotton. In cases where a cracked root is suspected, a dentist may need to cut a flap in the gum tissue in order to do a visual examination. If the root is not cracked, the problem may be fixable with a new crown. If it is, there are ways of replacing the tip of a root, but a crack the entire length of the tooth will require the tooth to be replaced. It is also necessary to determine whether the tooth has been infected, which is something x-rays are more useful for.

Dr. Jared Palmer and his team operate Riverwalk Dental at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit Riverwalk Dental.

 

Signs of a Failing Implant

Implants are one of the most valuable tools in dentistry and have a very high success rate, but it is possible for them to fail. When they do, it should be considered a dental emergency, and patients should be aware of the signs that they need help.

The most common cause of dental implant failure is inflammation of the gum tissue surrounding an implant, which is called peri-implantitis. Sometimes, this occurs immediately after implant placement when the dental cement leaks onto the surrounding gum. However, it is more common for it to happen years later as a result of periodontal disease. If the gum around an implant turns red or bleeds, the implant is at risk. The gum should never be allowed to deteriorate to the point where an implant can move.

It is also possible for an implant to fail immediately after insertion if it was placed on a nerve or there was insufficient bone tissue. When an implant is placed on a nerve, the patient will experience severe pain which will not improve, and the implant must be removed. Doctors assess bone tissue for stability prior to placing an implant and will monitor the growth of a patients jaw bone for two years after implant placement. If the bone continues to deteriorate, the implant placement is considered a failure.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

The Implant Procedure

Riverwalk Dental’s Dr. Roger Chen provides his patients with a number of technologically advanced treatments to replace missing or damaged teeth. One of the most effective of those is the endosteal implant. A permanent fixture in the mouth, this type of artificial tooth replaces the root as well as the crown.

The word “endosteal” refers to the endosteum, an inner layer of bone. An implant is a screw, usually made of titanium, which is inserted into the endosteum. Placing it requires an incision to be made into the patient’s gums, and it will take between three and six months for a new matrix of bone tissue to grow around the implant, fusing it into the jaw in a process called osseointegration. When osseointegration is complete, Dr. Chen will place an abutment on top of the implant, which will be exposed on the inside of the mouth. He will then take an impression or scan of the patient’s mouth which will be used as the basis for an artificial crown. Once the crown has been manufactured, it can be cemented over the abutment.

Though the implant process is long and requires the patient to have a certain amount of stable jaw bone, it is one of the best means of restoring bite function and appearance. The implant helps to maintain the structure of the jaw bone, preventing the patient’s face from warping, in addition to the other benefits of replacement teeth.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.