Dental Implants Billings MT – Periodontal Specialist of Montana

Dec 13 19

Do You Need Dental Implants?

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We are living in the golden age of dentistry. Dental implants have revolutionized treatment options for patients From replacing to a single tooth to an entire set of teeth dental implants provide can patients restorations thought unimaginable little more than a decade ago. However too much of a good thing can bring its own problems too.

While dental implants are very predictable and long lived, they are not without their own issues. The most common problems associated with implants are with infection, bone loss and implant failure, not unlike natural teeth. Consequently it is important to carefully consider all your options prior to committing to implant treatment. This is particularly true if you still have have natural teeth that are planned for extraction and replacement.

Below are several concerns you should investigate prior to committing to treatment.

Are you in pain?

Often patients planned for implant treatment are having few if any symptoms. Teeth may be planned for extraction for many legitimate reasons. While on occasion these issues may not be evident to you, most of the time they are. If you have been told teeth need to be extracted to make way for implants yet you are unsure as to why this needs to be done, seek a second opinion.

Is the area to be restored highly esthetic?

Simply put, it can be very difficult to place an implant that is both functional and at the same time highly esthetic. This is due to the trauma of tooth removal and the gum tissue and bone loss that results. Often such esthetic areas are better treated with convention prosthetics such as a bridge.

You have bone loss

Bone loss does not mean necessarily natural teeth must be removed. Nature has been nice to us permitting the full function of most teeth even with loss of well over half of the bone support. For most patients a modest commitment to more frequent maintenance care and these compromised teeth can last for a decade or more delaying or avoiding the need for implant treatment. Please remember dental implants can experience bone loss as well due to the same reason as loss on natural teeth.

Does the missing tooth/teeth need replacement?

Although at first blush this may seems a somewhat silly question, it far more pertinent than many realize. Although we all want to maintain a full dentition for our entire life, bad things happen. Even if you manage to defeat decay and periodontal disease there are baseballs, hockey pucks, car accidents, falls and a myriad of other hazards that cause the loss of teeth. When the inevitable happens your first consideration should be ” do I need this replaced. While the answer to this question is fairly obvious for front teeth it may not be so for every back tooth. For example most second and third molars doe not provide much function or chewing efficiency. They are not seen in the Esthetic zone so often times their loss is easily accommodated. Immediately after these teeth are removed the patient notices the change. I always tell them to let me know how badly they are missing these teeth in 2-3 months. The vast majority of patients find they have no desire to replace these teeth. However, about one in ten find the change problematic and seek a restoration.
This is not the case with first molars and teeth forward. It is here the bulk of your chewing efficiency comes from. These teeth are also seen in the esthetic zone so there are far more compelling reasons to replace these teeth.

You smoke, Vape, or use smokeless tobacco

While tobacco use, or more accurately nicotine abuse, is not an absolute contraindication to implant placement it is a concern that must be weighed against other options. There is no question that on average the success of implant treatment among nicotine users is lower compared to non-users. How this plays out for a specific patient is variable. If you use nicotine, you should consider conventional restorations first as they stand the best chance of being successful in the long term. Consider implants only as a second option and understand you are potentially accepting more complications should you go down this path.

Osteoporosis

Beginning in the 1990’s new drugs were introduced to help manage osteoporosis. These drugs were revolutionary. However again nobody considered what could happen if these agents did too good of a job. Unfortunately or some these powerful drugs can be too effective and create bone problems specifically in the jaw. If you have been on medications for osteoporosis for more than 5 years prior to placing dental implants it may be necessary to do some blood tests to see what the condition of you bone is. Sometimes it is necessary to discontinue these drugs for a few months to allow your bone to recover a more normal healing response before implants can be placed. Please note, untreated osteoporosis is also a risk when it comes to dental implants. Bone that is too hard or too soft is not a good thing. Getting your bone density just right should be the goal of your treatment. Then dental implants work well.

You need a root canal

The dental nerve tissue inside teeth is fragile. Every time there is damage to the tooth the nerve is damaged. If this damage happens repeatedly or if a single event is bad enough the nerve tissue can lose its blood supply and die. This dipoles not mean the tooth is “dead”. All the ligaments that attach the tooth to the bone are fine and remain functional. In such a situation a root canal is the treatment of choice. This involves cleaning out the inside of the tooth where the nerve tissue used to be and placing a filling to keep bacteria out. Caught and treated early root canal treated teeth can last as long or longer than dental implants. However if the tooth dies and then goes through several cycles of acute and chronic infections, success rates for root canal therapy drop. Interestingly implant success is lower in sites where repeated tooth infections have occurred as well underscoring the need to address such problems early on.

Reasons to consider dental implants over conventional restorations.

Decay problems

Some patients have far more problems with tooth decay than others. This is particularly true if you you are experiencing problems with dry mouth. Often this is a side effect of medications but can also be due to aging and disease processes. Whatever the cause decay activity increases in adults over 50. For patients experiencing problem with decay, as indicated by more than one decay lesion per year, Dental implants are a better choice over conventional tooth retained restorations. Simply put, titanium and ceramic do not experience decay as the natural teeth retaining crowns and bridges do.

Restorations on teeth with severe bone loss.

A tooth with bone loss, standing on its own, may function fine for many years. However, if that same tooth is employed to retain a large restoration, the excess load placed on this tooth may accelerate the bone loss leading to failure and loss of expensive dental work. In such situations dental implants may be used instead of conventional bridges to distribute the load of biting away from the compromised teeth. In some cases the natural teeth may be extracted and implants placed to optimize implant location making placement of a restoration easier and more predictable.

Long standing root canal infections

If teeth are allowed to remain with longstanding root canal infections, success rates for root canal therapy drop significantly. While not an absolute contraindication for treatment, it is best to approach such teeth with a 2 step approach. First the nerve chamber is cleaned and a medication is placed. If after a few months the surrounding bone shows signs of healing the root canal procedure can be finished. If ther is little sign of healing or pain remains persistent then extraction and bridge/implant treatment is indicated.

You can’t wear dentures or your dentures do not work well

Many patients can not wear dentures. This can be due to anatomical problems or dentures can’t be tolerated due to instability, severe gagging or sensitivity to the materials used to make the denture. This is a problem implants were designed to solve. From providing an simple anchor to minimize movement to a full dentition permanent restoration that is fixed to the implants, many options exist that will make your denture more comfortable, functional or you can get away fro the concept of a removable denture altogether. The choice is yours.

When it comes to these factors each patient is unique. How to choose what options are best in your case requires consultation to review all options including doing no treatment. If you are unsure how to proceed or believe you have other options that have not been fully explored, a second opinion is a good idea.

Oct 10 6

Calming Dental Fears

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There are certain procedures that sound terrible, scary even, in the world of oral care. Terms such as “surgery”, or “gum grafting” alone can conjure up horrific images. These types of fear prevent too many people from visiting the periodontist on a regular basis. But consider these symptoms: you are eating some ice cream and the freezing cold of the ice cream hurts your teeth or its pain can occur when drinking coffee or tea, even brushing and flossing your teeth can cause pain in the tooth or near the gum line. When there is pain, there is a problem. These symptoms could imply any number of oral maladies, periodontal disease being one of the most prevalent. However gum recession is often the cause of such discomfort, even for people who are dedicated to maintaining their oral health.

Problems Arise

Even with the best care, gum tissue problems can arise for one inescapable reason: we get older. As we age our gum tissue thins and breaks down. Daily wear and tear causes the gum tissue recede back from the teeth. The problem with receding gums is that the enamel layer does not extend beneath the gum line. The covering on the tooth below the gums is called cementum, and cementum is not as hard or as protective as enamel, and because it’s not as effective protecting the tooth, the tooth becomes sensitive to food and drink

Healthy Mouth

If you can see gum tissue recession or are experiencing sensitivity you may benefit from a procedure called gum grafting. These procedures establish new gum tissue stopping the recession and adding to the tissue covering the root. There are many options to treat gum recession that did not exist in years past. Many small grafts are still done with your own tissue. When indicated processed allografts can be used for more complex situations. The fears due to the horror stories of the past are just that: a thing of the past.

Remember, everyone’s gums recede with age. Grafting procédures protect your teeth, and keep your mouth healthy and comfortable. If you are experiencing symptoms or believe you have problems with gum recession, call your periodontist and schedule a consultation. Contact Healthy Gums Montana for all of your periodontal needs!

Aug 12 25

Dentures vs Dental Implant

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There are a multitude of reasons why people need dentures and dental implants. Age, oral disease, injury, etc. all play a part. Thanks to modern technology, there are more choices for people today.

Typically, conventional dentures are used after all teeth are removed from the mouth. When the teeth are removed there can be significant scarring to the gums, so an immediate denture will be put into place until these areas are healed.

When the conventional denture can be worn it may take weeks or months before the patient has any comfort, because the muscles in the mouth are learning to participate with the new set of teeth. An obvious drawback to this is that the conventional denture comes loose. They are made to be removed from the mouth, so they may come loose or shift in the mouth.

The dental implant feels more permanent in the mouth, like a new set of permanent teeth. Dental implants look and function like real teeth. A dental implant is also much more stable, because the implant doesn’t rely on a messy adhesives to stick to the gums.

Dentures vs Dental Implant Billings MT

Dental implants look like screws or cylinders. They are placed into the jaw bone that used to hold the roots of the missing natural teeth. The implants over time will bond with the bone and form stable anchors for crowns or bridges

While these implants bond with the bones in the jaw, a patient is provided a temporary restoration to go over the implant sites. When the sites have healed and are making a strong anchor in the jaw, a final restoration can be screwed onto the implants.

With the implants in place, your smile will be restored, you will have the confidence to do the things that may hold back someone who wears a conventional denture. It’s literally like a new set of teeth in your mouth. Needing dentures doesn’t have to be the end of your confident smile.

If you have any interest in the dental implant be sure to speak with your periodontist specialist at Healthy Gums Montana about the procedure and how it would work for y

Jul 27 3

A Bright White Smile is A Confident Smile

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When most people view the Best Celebrity Smile List and see Vanessa Hudgens with her delightful demeanor, they think white, straight teeth. A bright-white healthy smile is a confident smile. Cosmetically the white smile is important in our society. There is a good reason for that, a bright smile is a sign of good oral health.

According to WebMD.com, tooth enamel changes as we get older. Our teeth get fine lines and cracks as we age and what we eat can get into the crevices and stain our smile.

Research from Melbourne University’s Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre states that sugary drinks and sweets are harmful to teeth because of their chemical composition. Sugar can destroy teeth when its fermented by bacteria that produces acid that leads to decay.

Snacking throughout the day makes it difficult for our mouth to be rid of food debris. When food debris builds on the teeth and in the mouth, plaque spreads.

Plaque isn’t the only thing that we need to worry about when it comes too discoloration of our teeth. Simple everyday drinks like coffee, tea and wine can stain our teeth.
Coffee, tea and wine have pigments that attach to the enamel of the tooth. Tea causes more discoloration than coffee. Red wine may be great for your health, but not so much for your teeth. Red wine is acidic and its color can stain your teeth. As we age, discoloration of our teeth increases.

The enamel on our teeth thins with age and it reveals the softer inner layer beneath called Dentin. Dentin naturally yellows as we age. The added discoloration from what we eat and drink only compounds the issue.

So what can you do to keep your teeth whiter as you age?

Brush your teeth right after you have any food that may discolor your teeth.
If you can’t brush your teeth, at least rinse your mouth with water after drinking coffee, tea or wine.
Use a straw so that the discoloring liquids bypass your teeth.
Some tooth discoloration can be removed with regular dental cleanings. Schedule regular teeth cleaning appointments with your dentist.

If you’re infectious smile is no longer white, contact Periodontal Specialists of Montana today!

Jun 27 37

Do you have an indentation in your gums after a loss of a tooth?

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Did you know that tooth loss can cause an indentation in the gums and jawbone where a tooth used to be. The reason that this occurs is because the jawbone recedes when it no longer is holding a tooth in place. The indention is not only unnatural looking, but it also requires that the tooth be replaced with an implant, so that you don’t have further dental issues down the road from the loss of your tooth.

Loss of Tooth

Ridge augmentation can fill in this defect recapturing the natural contour of the gums and jaw. A new tooth (implant) can then be places that is natural looking, easy to clean and beautiful. (AAP)

For all of your tooth loss needs and for all of your dental needs, contact Healthy Gums Montana today!

Feb 16 22

The Wide-Ranging Role of the Microbiome: “We Are What We Eat”

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It is well known that the gut serves as the largest immune system in the body. Recent research, however, has extended our understanding to the

links between the immune system and the host microbiome, as well as the subsequent effect this may have on a broader range of disease activities. The focus of this paper is on how exactly existing diet and potential modifications to it may influence these effects.

The Real Risk of Artificial Sweeteners

While many understand the role of excess sugar increasing the risk for diabetes, it will come as a surprise to most that so do artificial sweeteners. Experiments with both mice and people indicate that artificial sweeteners can actually induce glucose intolerance (a pre-diabetic state) via alterations in the gut microbiome. The bacteria that are responsible are the same group that causes periodontal disease.

Asthma and Allergies

In the past several decades, there has been a dramatic increase in chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and allergies. The association between asthma and the immune cell regulation by the microbiome is particularly striking.

The Western diet leads to an altered microbiome that increases symptoms of Asthma and the frequency of allergies. Again bacterial digestion of certain fibers produce compounds that turn down immune system stimulation and helps prevent problems with “leaky gut”.

The diseases mentioned here are very commonly treated with medications; in most cases powerful medications. Given this new information we need to also start considering diet as a potential adjunctive, if not primary, treatment for many of these diseases. Our drugs are minimally effective if we keep feeding the problem with inappropriate diets.

Excerpted from Medscape 10/15/15

Original article by David A Johnson, MD

Professor of Medicine, Chief Gastroenterology

Eastern Virginia Medical School, Nofolk VA

Feb 16 20

Maximum, Not Snapshot, BMI Is Best Predictor of Mortality

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Pam Harrison January 12, 2016

Capturing an individual’s weight at a single “snapshot” in time significantly and consistently underestimates mortality risk attributable to obesity because it fails to factor in high-risk, illness-related weight loss in the formerly obese, new research indicates.

The work shows that past obesity is a marker for higher death rates in the same way that former smoking can be, say the researchers.

“It’s not the case that intentional weight loss raises your risk for death,” investigator Andrew Stokes, PhD, Boston University School of Public Health, Massachusetts, told Medscape Medical News. “Rather, we found that weight losers as a group are at higher risk of dying because of illness-associated weight loss.”

“By using maximum body mass index [BMI], we were able to distinguish between low-risk individuals whose weight never exceeded the normal-weight category and higher-risk individuals who were formerly overweight or obese. This simple step shows that obesity is more dangerous than is commonly appreciated.”

The study was published online January 4 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Use Maximum Lifetime BMI for Highest Mortality Risk

Together with Samuel Preston, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Dr Stokes examined the association between excess weight and mortality using data from the 1988–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) that were linked to death records through 2011.

A key independent variable in their analysis was lifetime maximum BMI, based on a question in NHANES that asks respondents to recall their maximum lifetime weight, excluding weight during pregnancy. The sample was restricted to adults between 50 and 74 years of age at the time of the survey.

In total, 39% of NHANEs participants who had previously been in a higher BMI weight category had migrated down into the normal-weight category over time.

As Drs Stokes and Preston point out, this is a large volume of individuals and this downward flow from higher BMI classes to the normal-weight category clearly has the capacity to change survival outcomes of the normal-weight class.

They then compared the effect on all-cause mortality risk of using participants’ BMI at the time of the survey only (model 1) with the effect that maximum lifetime BMI had on all-cause mortality risk (model 2)

“In both models, each higher BMI category above the normal-weight category carried with it succeedingly higher mortality,” they point out.

“However, the degree of excess mortality associated with a particular BMI category was higher when that category referred to maximum weight rather than survey weight.”

When maximum weight was used instead of the one-time snapshot of participants’ BMI, the risks associated with overweight increased from 10% to 19% while for those in obese class I, mortality risk increased from 47% to 65% and for those in obese class II, mortality risk increased from 72% to 149%.

Hazard Ratios for All-Cause Mortality According to BMI at Survey vs Maximum Lifetime BMI
BMI category	Model 1: Survey BMI (Estimated HR)	Model 2: Maximum lifetime BMI (Estimated HR)
Normal weight	1.00	1.00
Overweight	1.10	1.19
Obese class 1 (30-34.9 kg/m2)	1.47	1.65
Obese class II (≥35 kg/m2)	1.72	2.49
Further Findings: Consider Past Weight The authors also calculated hazard ratios for mortality using two other models that combined data on weight at the time of the survey and maximum weight. In these, they differentiated between individuals who were at their maximum weight at the time of survey and those who were below their maximum weight at the time of survey. Results showed that people who lost weight were at a greater risk of dying than those who remained in the higher weight class they had previously occupied. Drs Stokes and Preston also examined the prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease among participants. For both conditions, people who had moved to a lower BMI class had a higher prevalence of both diseases than those who remained in a higher BMI class. “The high prevalence of both diabetes and CVD among people moving to lower BMI classes demonstrates that weight loss is often associated with illness,” the authors emphasize. “An analogy to smoking makes it clear why it’s important to consider past as well as present weight when studying the effects of obesity on mortality,” Dr. Stokes explained. “If you were to compare smokers and nonsmokers, you might arrive at the conclusion that smoking is beneficial and the reason is that the nonsmoking group may include a large number of former smokers whose mortality risk is elevated,” he added. To avoid this bias, Dr. Stokes points out that studies investigating the effects of smoking on death rates have long distinguished between nonsmokers who never smoked and former smokers (nonsmokers who smoked in the past and quit). “Surprisingly, this distinction is rarely made in studies on obesity,” he observed. “And as a result, the effects of obesity on mortality have been consistently underestimated.” Neither Dr Stokes nor Dr Preston had relevant financial relationships. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. Published online January 4, 2016. Abstract

Jan 06 130

What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?

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The goal of dentistry is to help patients care for and maintain their teeth. Compared to previous generations we have made great strides in this regard. Adults today have only a fraction of the restorations and missing teeth of previous generations. Yet despite our best efforts teeth can still be lost to trauma, wear & tear, the slow onslaught of chronic disease and poor anatomy. Ultimately most of us will have to deal with replacing some missing teeth in our lifetime. The options to replace teeth are removable restorations, restorations attached to natural teeth, and dental implants.

Over the last 20 years, dental implants have moved to the mainstream of dental treatment. Yet many patients are unsure about the advantages of implants over other restorations. When having to decide between options for replacing missing teeth, patients have to weigh the risks and benefits of each. While each individual situation must be judged on the specifics, below is a list of advantages implant provide that apply to most people.

Better nutrition:
In our appearance centered culture we often overlook the obvious. The primary function of teeth is to help you extract nutrition from the food you eat. Dentures can restore only 20% of chewing efficiency. Simply put, sliding dentures make chewing difficult. Consequently denture patients select foods that are softer that tend to be low in fiber and high in sugar & salt. Dental implants function like your own teeth. They can restore up to 80% of the chewing efficiency of natural teeth allowing you to eat your favorite foods and have a healthier diet.

Improved appearance.
When teeth are lost, bone support for the lower face is lost as well. This loss of support is what gives people a “denture look” when they lose their teeth. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. Dental implant restorations can be design to recreate the support for the soft tissues lost with tooth extraction. Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.

Improved speech& comfort.
With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Implants fuse to the bone and become part of you. Because they are fixed in place, implants eliminate the discomfort of loose removable dentures allowing you to speak without the worry that teeth might slip.

Improved oral health.
In addition to providing artificial surfaces upon which bacterial can grow, dentures cover the soft tissue of the mouth preventing the normal flushing of bacteria and yeast organisms. The increases in these microorganisms can lead to inflammation in the soft tissues. Further the physical irritation of the denture rubbing on the soft tissue can produce acute ulcers. In rare cases this chronic irritation can contribute to the development of oral cancer.

Maintenance of your natural teeth.
Any time dental work is done on a tooth there is a risk of complications. Dental implants don’t require grinding down other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. More of your natural teeth are left unaltered, improving long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.

Convenience.
Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants can eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.

How Successful Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the longest lasting dental restorative treatment available. Success rates vary, depending on where in the jaw the implants are placed. Depending on location, dental implants have a success rate of up to 98%. With proper care (see previous posts), implants can last a lifetime.

Dec 07 24

Implant Treatment For Problems That Can Occur

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Implant bone loss
Last months topic pertained to dental implants and what you can do to ensure your dental restorations serve you for the longest time. Yet even with our best efforts a few implants will develop bone and soft tissue problems. This month I will discuss treatment options for the problems that can arise.

Implant infection and bone loss:
Dental implant infections can happen but are not common. The good news is rarely do these infections cause significant symptoms. The other good news is just because you have bone loss on an implant does not mean it must be removed. If the implant is stable and functional it can remain in place as long as the infection can be controlled. However the minimal symptoms associated with these infections often permit patients to ignore the problem until there is a substantial amount of bone loss.

Treatment:
If there is only inflammation in the gum tissue with minimal one loss, nonsurgical approaches alone or in conjunction with topical antibiotics can often address the problem. More commonly there is significant bone loss present around the implant. These situations will require some form of surgery to remove foreign material, clean and decontaminate the surface of the implant. Placing graft materials and/or growth factors to regenerate bone support is often included in these procedures.

Lasers
While effective, conventional surgery carries significant downsides such as post treatment pain and significant gum tissue recession. While recession may not be an issue for implants in the molar areas that are not visible, it can be disastrous for implants in the front. In areas where post surgical recession of the gum tissue cannot be tolerated surgery can be done with a Laser, which can preserve the gum tissue in most cases. Laser based therapy, according to patient feedback, is significantly less painful and conventional surgical approaches.

Fortunately, more than 90 percent of dental implants will never experience bone loss problems. Keeping you implants clean and having the bite checked periodically to protect from overload are the most important aspects of maintaining these type of restorations. If problems arise early treatment is always best. If the problem have progressed beyond the early stages fortunately there are good treatment options that can repair and maintain your implant restorations.

Nov 16 5

Dental Implants

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Dental implants have been a boon to many patients. Not only do implants provide options to avoid loose and poorly fitting dentures, they can be used to provide crowns and bridges avoiding placing at risk the natural teeth that traditionally have been used to secure fixed dental work. Implants have truly revolutionized modern dentistry.

With all the good news about implants it is easy to overlook the few but important problems that can arise with this type of treatment. Implants can experience bone loss. This can happen for several reasons. First is inadequate home care. Although implants cannot decay they still must be cleaned daily to the best of your ability. Bacterial accumulation around the base of the implant where it meets the gum tissue will cause inflammation and if left long enough can induce bone destruction. Therefore it is essential that you clean the implants daily. Each implant and restoration is unique so there is no cookbook approach to what works best. Certainly brushing is essential. Automated brushes can be more effective in some case but are not usually mandatory. Using some thicker forms of floss that can frame out and adapt to the implant surface. Some patients find that a thin yarn works very well.

Regardless of your efforts some bacterial will work into places your homecare cannot reach. Professional cleanings on a regular basis will be needed to address this problem and maintain health tissue around your implant. The frequency of such cleanings will be based on you previous history of periodontal disease problems. If you have a history of periodontal bone loss you need to be seen on a more frequent basis. If you have active periodontal disease on your natural teeth it is essentially guaranteed that your implants will lose bone as well.

Other health issues can affect the survival of your implants. First among these is smoking and other uses of tobacco. Tobacco use shortens the life of dental implants. Ideally you should quit before beginning the treatment process. If you have implants and are currently smoking quit or at the very least reduce your frequency of smoking dramatically. While you still with have the systemic smoking risks the topical effect on the gum tissue will be lessened.

Poor management of systemic diseases, particularly diabetes, can make bone loss more likely around your implants. High blood sugar depresses your immune system function allowing more aggressive bacterial to grow around your implants. Following your doctors recommendations to keep blood sugars under control will help limit any damage.

Excessive bite forces can induce bone loss around implants. Unlike natural teeth, implants do not move, they are fixed into the jawbone. Great care is taken during the construction of your dental restorations to minimize the risk of too much force being placed on the implants. However as time goes forwards your teeth can shift and wear, you may have other restorations placed the shift the bite slightly and in younger patients some delay facial growth can result in the implants coming und increasing bite forces. This happens slowly so it is not very noticeable to you. After a certain point the increased forces can begin to cause small fractures in the bone where it meets the implant. If not dealt with early this bone loss is progressive and can result in the loss of the implant.

To minimize these problems the bite on the implant should be checked at least once a year. It must be checked any time you have other dental work done.

Even with the best care, some problems may be unavoidable. We are just now reaching a time where a significant number of implants are in the range of 20+ years old. Most of these implants have reached this age with minimal problems. It does appear however that due to long term bone turnover some implants develop gum tissue problem for no apparent reason other than they have been in service for a long time. Fortunately most of these problems can be dealt with and rarely do they cause the implant to fail.

Checklists for implant care:

1) Avoidance. Be sure to check with your dentist that you do not have active periodontal disease before beginning implant treatment.

2) Quit smoking and other uses of tobacco. Keep other systemic disease such as diabetes well managed.

3) Once your implants are restored have your dentist check the bite, several times if needed, to assure the implant is not overloaded.

4) Be sure to do your best to clean your implants daily.

5) Remain faithful with your professional cleaning visits.

6) Ask to have the bite checked anytime you have new dental restorations placed.

7) If you have problems with your implants deal with it early. Small problems are easier and less expensive to fix.

Dental implants have been truly revolutionary. Yet no treatment is a panacea. Each therapy option brings with it a unique set of risks that if ignored can endanger the long-term success of your implants. Taking these simple steps can go a long was to assuring the comfortable functions of your implants for many years.

All Posts in Category: Dental Implants Billings MT

Dentures vs Dental Implant Billings MT

Loss of Tooth