December 2019

What Should I Do if I Lose or Break a Tooth?

Venture Creative on December 19, 2019

If you damage your tooth and it is more than just a chip, you could be looking at some major problems if you don’t address it immediately. First things first, address the pain and protect any other teeth to avoid further issues.

If a break occurs:

Rinse your mouth out with warm water.
Apply pressure to stop any bleeding.
Use a cold compress to prevent any swelling.
If you can find the tooth, bring it with you to the dentist or surgeon’s office.

If you lose a tooth:

Do NOT pull the root of the tooth out if it is still attached.
Rinse the tooth off with saline or milk. Do NOT scrub the tooth.
Reinsert tooth back into the socket if possible, then bite down onto a gauze to stabilize the tooth.
If you cannot reinsert the tooth, protect it by placing it into milk or saline.
Go to your dentist or an oral surgeon IMMEDIATELY.

Replacement teeth should last for years at a time, so it is very important to know your options and choose a treatment plan that is right for you such as the following:

Implants.
Fixed Bridges.
Removable partial dentures.
Dentures.

Whatever option you may be leaning towards, the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute can help you decide what is best for you. Call us today to set up a consultation at (435) 238-7083.

Tips to Prevent Dental Implant Failure

Venture Creative on December 13, 2019

Dental implants have become one of the most successful options for fixing damaged or missing teeth. Dental implants are, as it implies, implanted into the jawbone. This is one of the reasons they have such a high success rate.

There are, however, steps that you can take to help make sure your dental implants do not fail. These steps include maintaining good oral hygiene, paying attention to the foods you eat, avoiding or quitting smoking, and noticing signs of implant failure early on.

Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene

In most cases, you won’t even receive a dental implant unless you are a good candidate with a healthy mouth. However, once you receive the dental implant it is extremely important to maintain a good oral hygiene routine.

Make sure to brush and floss at least twice a day followed by the use of mouthwash. It is also important to visit the dentist at least twice a year to get your teeth cleaned and examined.

Pay Attention to the Food You Eat

Certain foods can have a negative impact on dental implants. Tough bread, jerky, hard candies, and foods with high sugar content are some of the foods that are important to avoid eating.

Avoid or Quit Smoking

Smokers have a much higher risk of having dental implant failure. Smoking can cause gum disease, which leads to the implants failing. Not only is it important to avoid or quit smoking after you receive dental implants, but taking this step before you receive the implants can dramatically improve the success of the implant.

Notice Signs of Implant Failure

Like most things related to your health, diagnosing the problem early can help you to avoid more serious problems later on. Pay attention to signs like infection, movement of the implant, gum inflammation around the implant, or any type of discomfort dealing with your implant.

If you feel any of these things might apply to your implants schedule an appointment to get the implant examined as soon as possible.

Dental implants are an amazing solution for lost or damaged teeth. Make sure to take care of your implants to the best of your ability so that you can avoid dental implant failure.

How Implants Reduce Long Term Dental Costs

Venture Creative on December 6, 2019

Before the price of dental implants completely deters you away from them, you may be interested to see how the other replacement options can add up.

Bridge Replacements

Over the course of the years of having a bridge placed, you may need to have it fixed or replaced several times. Not only will you find yourself replacing your bridge, but you also have to damage the teeth on the sides. In order to have a bridge placed the dentist must grind down the two healthy teeth next to the missing one in order to make the appliance fit. Grinding down a natural tooth may also cause issues down the road that can lead to costly treatments.

Dentures

Dentures are known to be high maintenance. With no natural teeth, over time your jaw bone will start to disintegrate. This will make your denture loose and you will find yourself trying to keep them in your mouth every time you open your mouth too wide. Dentures are also made from a thick chunk of acrylic which tends to be a mouth full for patients.

No Replacement

Not replacing missing teeth can put a damper on your appearance and it can affect your bite and make it difficult to eat. You are also more likely to acquire gum disease, TMJ, and decay. Dental bills will start to rack up and you will only experience more and more problems as time goes on.

If you are missing a tooth, we strongly advise that you contact the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute at (435) 383-5392. Let Dr. Davis help you bring back that beautiful smile you once had so you can feel confident about your appearance again!