Straight Teeth Can Help You Avoid Many Problems, Including Lost Teeth!

Posted on Sep 02, 2014 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

As a Periodontal Specialist, I am often referred patients who have developed gum disease or are missing teeth. Although periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss, you may be surprised to know how often this is a result of bite misalignment. While crooked or crowded teeth don’t always require bite realignment, they typically indicate problems that will occur, if they don’t already exist.

A bite that is not properly aligned can cause strain on jaw joints and facial muscles, which can lead to joint pain, headaches and migraines. Additionally, crowded and crooked teeth are more difficult to keep clean. This creates nooks and crevices where bacterial buildup can easily occur, leading to gingivitis and eventually gum disease.

In some cases, orthodontic treatment is necessary. Although wires and brackets have a less-than-fun reputation, today’s materials are more comfortable and can be barely visible. Some Orthodontists also offer clear molds that are removable for eating and brushing. However, these are typically recommended when minimal movement is needed.

Ideally, your smile should be a combination of healthy gums with a bite that works in harmony with head muscles and jaw joints. This provides you with a foundation that minimizes the risk for future problems.

Begin with an evaluation to ensure your gums are healthy so, if bite realignment is necessary, you’ll have minimal risks for complications during treatment. Also, ask about financial plans that can help you achieve a healthy mouth while making monthly payments that fit your budget. Call (828) 274-9440 to arrange a consultation.

Implants Can Support Dentures For Chewing Stability & Comfort

Posted on Aug 22, 2014 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Denture wearers often endure embarrassing slips, difficulty chewing and sore gums. While dentures do “replace” the appearance of teeth, their ability to restore stable chewing and security when speaking or laughing is inadequate for many.

Because Dental Implants can be more costly than wearing a denture, denture wearers often feel they cannot afford them. However, in many cases, we are able to attach a full denture to several strategically-placed Dental Implants. Since implant fees are based on the number of implants placed, this typically provides a significant savings. Plus, depending on the condition of the patient’s existing denture, we can occasionally use it, providing a further savings.

When dentures are supported by Dental Implants, biting and chewing stability is restored. This is because implants are anchored in the jaw bone, providing the same foundation as your natural teeth once had. They eliminate embarrassing slips or having to forgo the foods you love.

Another benefit of Dental Implants is their ability to halt bone resorption. Once natural tooth roots are no longer present in the jaw bone, the bone begins to shrink, or ‘resorb.’ The pressure of dentures on the boney ridge beneath the gums adds to this resorption. For those who sleep in their denture, this rate of bone resorption occurs on a 24/7 basis. Dental Implants help to halt bone resorption while restoring a natural look, feel and function.

To discuss implant-supported dentures, call (828) 274-9440 for a Consultation appointment. We hope to have you eating crisp apples and chewing thick steak again soon!

Mini Dental Implants Vs. Traditional Dental Implants

Posted on Jul 28, 2014 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Occasionally, I am asked my opinion on mini dental implants. Mini implants have a certain appeal to patients because the cost is nearly half of that required for traditional implants. However, like anything cheaper, these mini versions of traditional implants have their drawbacks.

Despite claims of mini implants being the same as traditional implants when it comes to strength, their placement in minimal bone leaves a compromised ability to withstand the normal forces of biting and chewing. Although, in cases where the anticipated load on the tooth will be less, such as canine (or ‘eye’) teeth, mini implants may be a consideration.

Because they are smaller and require a single placement procedure, mini dental implants are less costly than traditional implants. With traditional implants, placement is at a greater depth in the jawbone. There is also a waiting period before your final replacement teeth are attached. During this time, you are able to comfortably wear a denture, partial or temporary. This waiting period allows your bone to grow around the traditional implant, which securely anchors it in place and may take three to six months.

A traditional implant is a hollow titanium cylinder to which a post that supports replacement teeth is attached. Mini implants are shorter, solid posts placed in the jaw bone at less depth. Mini implants have no internal post and extend directly from the bone to the replacement teeth.

Being only two-thirds the size of a traditional implant, placement for mini implants can be done in one appointment with the immediate attachment of teeth. Combined with the cost savings factor, this naturally seems an appealing alternative to traditional implants.

However, traditional dental implants have withstood the test of time and have one of the most successful track records of all in-bone implants. Solidly anchored into the jawbone, just as natural tooth roots, they restore a dependable strength and stability so you can enjoy all the foods you love.

Mini dental implants are still a new concept with far less data to reasonably determine their success rate. When it comes to dental specialists who have years of experience with all types of dental implants, many are apprehensive about placing them because of an unknown potential for success. In spite of their appeal to patients as a less-costly option, seasoned periodontists know their risk for problems is at a greater level.

Every dentist wants you to enjoy a successful outcome when it comes to dental implants. Because of the failure potential, recommending mini implants in lieu of traditional implants is not something I do. Since every mouth is different, I can only make recommendations that I see as being the best for optimal outcomes. It is the patient who must ultimately decide on the option best for their long-term goals and investment.

Before making a final decision, I am happy to meet with you during a consultation. Here, we can discuss all your options and the advantages and challenges of each. Call (828) 274-9440 to arrange a time.

It’s A New Age In Tooth Replacement

Posted on Jul 07, 2014 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

When it comes to tooth replacement, I am naturally a proponent of Dental Implants for many reasons. For some people, their only hesitation is the cost, since the fees for implants are upfront and may not be fully covered by insurance. However, Dental Implants are designed to last a lifetime and require no repairs, root canals, and are self-supporting. This means that implants do not rely on adjoining natural teeth to serve as crowned supports, as with a crown-&-bridge combination.

Americans no longer wash clothes on a wash board with a bar of soap even though this accomplished the job much cheaper than a washing machine. The washing machine provides more efficiency and gives the user a far better experience while being more practical for today’s fabrics.

Althought dentures and partials replace the presence of teeth, they are a merely filling empty space. At one time, they were better than no teeth at all. They enabled an adult to have some ability to bite or chew. However, denture wearers endure all sorts of problems; some problems they are aware of and others they are not.

A typical problem of denture wearers is an unstable fit. This is the result of the ever-decreasing jaw bone that once supported natural tooth roots. Without tooth roots to stimulate the jaw bone, the bone begins to shrink. The pressure from wearing dentures speeds up this process. When denture wearers sleep in their dentures, the rate of this bone loss accelerates from the 24/7 pressure the jaw bone experiences.

This is the reason long-time denture wearers develop a “granny look.” Their faces have a collapsed look and chins become pointed. Jowls form when facial muscles become detached and the entire face takes on an aged appearance far beyond the actual years of the person.

When one dentures do not fit securely due to bone loss, the constant rubbing and discomfort often causes the wearer to eat a soft diet of foods that dissolves easily in the mouth. These foods often lack protein and fiber. Not only is what you eat important to maintaining good health, being able to chew thoroughly and comfortably is important. Remember, digestion begins in the mouth. It is a fact that denture wearers experience a higher level of gastrointestinal problems than non-denture wearers and take more medications.

Because food is often the centerpiece of many social occasions, people who are not comfortable eating or speaking because of unstable dentures often find themselves declining invitations because they fear embarrassing moments. Studies have shown they tend to eat out less often and even wear less make-up.

Regardless of the advancements made in denture and partial design, they are simply outdated. No denture adhesive or paste or reline will truly make a denture a good substitute for natural teeth. Dental advancements have focused on implant dentistry because they have proven to be a dependable, reliable means of tooth replacement that makes sense.

Let’s talk about your needs in tooth replacement during a Consultation appointment. Just call (828) 274-9440 for a convenient time.