YOU Can Affect Dental Implant Success

Posted on Sep 21, 2015 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Studies show that dental implants continue to be one of the most successful of all implant-in-bone procedures, over 90%. As a Periodontal specialist, dental implants are an area in which I have received advanced training.

Periodontists are uniquely skilled in diagnosing a patient’s best options when it comes to dental implant treatment – the number of implants needed, the type of implant system, selection of placement locations and actual placement.

I pride myself on our success rate when it comes to selecting and placing dental implants. Absolutely, a successful outcome begins with the part of treatment I can oversee in my office. Once the patient leaves our office, however, the ability to enjoy the benefits of implants for a lifetime are mostly in their control. There are ways a patient can affect the outcome of dental implants — for the good and bad.

When dental implants ‘fail,’ it is typically due to the onset of infection. This occurs when an overload of oral bacteria has accumulated in gum tissues surrounding the implant. Infections cause gums to become inflamed. This inflammation can travel down the implanted post and attack the bone structure supporting the implant. When caught and treated early, many infections can be eliminated. If not, the implant must often be removed to allow the area to heal.

A common cause for infection is poor oral hygiene. Other reasons for failure include smoking, diabetes, teeth grinding during sleep and diabetes.

Although smoking is a well-known risk factor when it comes to implant success, bruxing (clenching and grinding teeth) can cause implant failure to a higher level than many realize. In one study on dental implants, 29% of patients who had bruxing problems experienced implant failure. Nearly the same percentage of patients with diabetes suffered implant failure.

Studies show that implant failure rates are higher when the placement doctor has less than 5 years of experience. Because your choice of who places your implants can have an impact on their success, choose carefully. Having a successful outcome will save you time, money and allow you to enjoy your dental implant without undue delays. To begin, ask for a consultation. During this time, I’ll answer your questions and make recommendations. Call 828-274-9440 to schedule.

Every doctor wants their patients to enjoy a positive experience when it comes to any procedure. While not all aspects of treatment are within the control of the doctor, being thoroughly communicative with patients on ways THEY can enhance the success of their implants is as important to us as the exceptional care you’ll receive.

Each Tooth Has A Beneficial Role To Other Teeth

Posted on Aug 31, 2015 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Imagine a chair. It is designed with four legs to ensure the chair seat has a sturdy foundation. Yes, you could sit in a chair with a missing leg, but its stability would be far less. Plus, the pressure would be greater on the three remaining legs, weakening their strength over time. Eventually, one of the legs will crack or loosen from its attachment to the seat, soon followed by the other legs.

This is a good illustration for your teeth. Each one has importance to the other teeth in your mouth. For example, when one tooth is lost and not replaced, the open space no longer serves as an abutment to the tooth above or below. The teeth on both sides are also left without a bolstering neighbor. This gap enables neighboring teeth to move out of their proper positions.

Because an open space allows a tooth above or below to grow longer or the teeth on each side to tilt, a long list of problems is then set into motion. The teeth that grow longer or tilt typically cause chips, cracks or fractures to other teeth since the bite is now out of alignment. A tooth that fractures below the gum line will require removal.

Bite misalignment also leads to worn teeth since it triggers night-time grinding. Clenching during sleep can also occur, creating frequent headaches or migraines, sore jaw joints, pain in facial and neck muscles, ear ringing and difficulty opening the mouth.

The open space from the missing tooth leads to yet another ordeal. Without natural tooth roots in the jaw, the bone that once held the root begins to shrink. As the bone in this area declines in mass, bordering tooth roots are now vulnerable to a thinning foundation of bone. It is a fact that a missing tooth makes an adjacent tooth the most likely to be lost next.

So, add all these issues together and you have a whopping number of dental repairs and costs ahead. What’s the wisest move when a tooth is lost? Replacing a missing tooth with a Dental Implant restores the presence of a tooth root in the jaw bone. This halts the potential for bone loss. The replaced tooth also helps surrounding teeth to hold their proper positions, greatly reducing the potential for chips, cracks and the many problems associated with bite misalignment.

Although Dental Implants are more expensive, the costs are upfront. Dental Implants do not decay and are designed to last your lifetime. Implants also have one of the highest success rates of all implant-in-bone treatments. Too, unlike a crown-&-bridge combination, you won’t have continued bone loss or need otherwise healthy natural teeth crowned for the sole purpose of supporting a replacement tooth. Overall, they are a far better investment than any form of tooth replacement option.

Before you make a final decision on tooth replacement (for one or more missing teeth), call us at (828) 274-9440. We will explain the process and advantages of Dental Implants so you can make the decision that is best for your individual situation.

Dental Talk – Terms You May Hear

Posted on May 12, 2015 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

In patient conversations, I occasionally catch myself saying things like “…your mandible” when “lower jaw” is a more familiar way to say the same thing. As a periodontist, some dental terms are so common to me that I forget I can lose good connection with patients.

I hope I avoid discussing your oral health in unfamiliar terms. However, if I slip, never hesitate to ask questions so you fully understand everything during my explanations.

Some terms that aren’t always familiar ones may include:

• Anterior Teeth: The six upper or six lower front teeth.
• Bone Resorption: Loss of jaw bone that supports tooth roots.
• Bruxing: Grinding or gnashing of teeth, typically while asleep.
• Calculus: Hard residue that forms on teeth due to plaque buildup.
• Mandible: The lower jaw.
• Maxilla: The upper jaw.
• Palate: Hard and soft tissue forming the roof of the mouth.
• Plaque: A sticky substance composed of bacteria and food debris that accumulates on teeth.
• Prophy: Cleaning of the teeth for the prevention of gum disease and tooth decay.
• Scaling & Root Planning: Removing plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces above and below the gum line.
• Tartar: A common term for calculus, a hard deposit that adheres to teeth and can only be removed by dental tools.

We want our patients to always be in-the-know when it comes to dental wellness. I hope our conversations leave you fully informed so you are an active participant in achieving and maintaining a healthy smile!

Chain Reaction Of Oral Bacteria

Posted on Mar 05, 2015 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

Keeping a clean, healthy mouth should be a top priority for American adults. Yet, it is often taken lightly until something hurts. To illustrate the domino effect of oral bacteria’s buildup in the mouth, follow its typical path:

• Failure to brush and floss on a regular basis allows bacteria in the mouth to reproduce, LEADING TO…

• Plaque, a sticky film on teeth, forms from bacteria accumulation. This hardens into a cement-hard substance known as calculus (or tartar), LEADING TO…

• Calculus eats into tooth enamel and gum tissues, causing cavities and gum disease, LEADING TO…

• Early symptoms of gum disease are frequent bad breath, sore and swollen gums, gums that bleed easily when brushing, and pus pockets, LEADING TO…

• The number one cause of adult tooth loss is gum disease. When teeth are lost, the jaw bone supporting them resorbs, or shrinks in mass, LEADING TO…

• Declining bone from tooth loss contributes to bite misalignment, LEADING TO…

• Chipped and worn teeth, jaw joint disorder, headaches, migraines, ringing ears, dizziness, and facial pain are attributable to bite misalignment, LEADING TO…

• Untreated gum disease hastens the process of tooth loss and discomfort with an increased potential for gum disease bacteria to become bloodborne. Oral bacteria in the bloodstream can LEAD TO…

• Inflammatory reactions can be triggered by the bacteria of gum disease. It has been linked to heart disease, stroke, arthritis, diabetes, preterm babies, impotency and more, LEADING TO…

• Costly and debilitating (even deadly) health problems that originate with oral bacteria can be prevented with good oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups and tending to repairs while problems are still small.

Don’t let the chain reaction of oral bacteria put your health at risk, cost your enormous amounts of money, destroy your smile and make you more susceptible to life long health struggles. Take charge of your overall health by tending to your oral health! Call (828) 274-9440 to arrange a thorough examination. This is your first step to a confident smile and healthier you.