August 30, 2022

Should I Choose Dentures or Dental Implants for My Teeth Replacement?

When you are considering teeth replacement, the two most common options include dentures and dental implants. But which of these should you choose? Your dentist at Carolina Dental Arts in Raleigh, Durham or Goldsboro, NC will help you decide. But taking a few moments to learn more about these options can make the decision easier.

Choosing Between Dentures and Dental Implants

As mentioned above, your Carolina Dental Arts dentist will help you decide between dentures and dental implants, based upon several key factors. These factors include your jawbone health, remaining teeth, budget and personal preference. Of course, each method of teeth replacement has its own advantages and drawbacks that are also important to consider when making your decision.

Why should you replace your missing teeth, anyway? There are a multitude of reasons why you should choose teeth replacement after losing teeth. These reasons include:

  • Teeth play an important role in eating and digestion
  • You can enjoy a wider variety of foods with all of your teeth in place
  • Your teeth support your facial muscles to prevent the early appearance of aging
  • Teeth enable clearer verbal communication
  • Having a complete smile increases your self-esteem

Fitting Dentures

Dentures have come a long way in the past several decades. They are more comfortable and better looking than ever before. But they are still removable prosthetics that fit over your gums. If you are missing all of your teeth on the upper or lower jaw, you likely need a full set. If you are only missing several teeth, a partial denture is the likely solution for your teeth replacement.

Fitting your new teeth starts with taking an impression of your gums. If you need all of your teeth replaced, the dentist will make these impressions of both the upper and lower gums. For partial teeth replacement, you may only need molds made of one jaw. Your dentist also examines your jaw alignment and bite to provide for proper fit before the appliance is made. This is an important step in ensuring you are able to comfortably chew and speak clearly with your new teeth in place.

Once the lab finishes your initial set, they are sent to your dentist’s office. You attend a fitting, during which the dentist places the appliances in your mouth to check for necessary adjustments. Then the lab uses this information to craft your final dentures.

To wear your teeth replacements, you must apply an adhesive that securely holds them in place throughout your day. Each night, you remove your artificial teeth to clean them and for sleeping.

Placement of Dental Implants

Unlike dentures, dental implants permanently secure into place within your mouth. You do not remove them. Instead, they look and feel much like your natural teeth. You even perform daily oral hygiene for these teeth replacements, just as you do for your real teeth.

Dental implants consist of a screw-like implanted post fitted deep into your jawbone. The post acts much like a tooth root. On this post the dentist fits a prosthetic crown that matches the proportions and color of your natural teeth. There is a lapse of several months between placement of the post into your bone and fitting of the crown, to allow your bone to grow around the post to anchor it securely in place.

Cost for Teeth Replacement

When deciding between dentures or dental implants, there are costs to consider. A denture set is the more economical option, replacing all teeth on the upper or lower jaw for an average of about $1,600. Implants are more costly, ranging from $1,600 to $2,200 per replaced tooth in most parts of the country.

Taking Care of Your New Teeth

The maintenance of your new smile is another important consideration when making your choice between dental implants or dentures. For dental implants, your oral health and hygiene routine remains much the same as for natural teeth. You must brush twice daily, floss and visit your dentist as recommended. If one of your implanted crowns breaks or cracks, you need a replacement.

Dentures require more upkeep than implants. They must soak overnight in a special cleaning fluid. You must also remove them after eating for brushing. This type of teeth replacement also requires periodic refitting.

Drawbacks of Dentures and Dental Implants

Both types of teeth replacement have their own drawbacks. These drawbacks for implants include:

  • Infection at the time of post placement or thereafter
  • Loose posts
  • Cracked or broken crowns

Complications can also occur with denture appliances. These complications include:

  • Shifting during wear
  • Uncomfortable fit
  • Ulcers or other sores on the gums

Making the Right Choice for Your Teeth Replacement

Making a choice between these teeth replacement options is important. Luckily, you do not have to make your decision alone. Your Carolina Dental Arts dentist examines your teeth, consults with you about your options and makes recommendations based on factors like your age, budget, jawbone health and number of missing teeth. Your insurance coverage may also play a role in your decision-making. The dental office staff can help you understand your coverage, policy limits and other factors related to paying for your new teeth.

Having a complete smile is important for self-esteem, comfortable eating, digestion and clear speech. If you are missing teeth and would like to explore your options for replacement, schedule a visit with the Carolina Dental Arts location nearest you.

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February 18, 2022

Options to Replace Your Missing Teeth

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Everyone deserves to have a smile that they’re proud of. And everyone deserves to have good dental care. If you have missing teeth, you might run into multiple problems. It can be harder to chew, prevent cavities, and take care of your remaining teeth. Some people also get embarrassed by having a visibly missing tooth when they smile.

There are several different ways to replace a missing tooth, many of which are cost effective. Here at Carolina Dental Arts, we serve clients all over North Carolina. You can schedule a consult at our practices in Raleigh, Durham, or Goldsboro to find out about options for your missing teeth.

Some of the options available to you might include:

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a great option to replace your missing teeth. They’re extremely popular because of their reliability and comfort. Whether you need to replace just one tooth or several, a dental implant can make your life easier.

One major advantage of dental implants is that they can last for life. Just make sure you take care of them.

Dental implants can take some time to place. First your dentist will place metal screws where the root used to be. These will anchor the artificial tooth. After placing the screws, you have to let them heal for a few months.

Once they’re fully healed, the screws fuse to your jawbone. They won’t come loose or become damaged. At this point, you can have a crown put on top of the tooth.

Implant-Supported Bridge

An implant-supported bridge works best when you have several missing teeth next to each other. This goes especially for people who believe that dental implants will take too much time to use.

With this type of bridge, the tooth on either end will be secured using an implant. But any teeth in between won’t have any screws holding them in place. The ends of the bridge are secured well enough for the teeth to last for life.

The advantage of this is that it can be simpler and less uncomfortable than getting individual implants. That goes especially for people with 4 or more teeth missing next to each other.

Of course, this type of bridge only works if you have more than two teeth missing next to each other.

Tooth-Supported Bridge

Tooth-supported bridges are bridges for your missing teeth that are not supported with implants. Instead, the remaining teeth on each side support the bridge.

Your dentist will put a crown over the remaining teeth on both sides of the bridge. The bridge will be attached to either side. That way, you don’t need to wait months for implants to fuse to your bone.

In fact, this is one of the quickest available procedures. You’ll be done within a couple visits. There’s no need for surgery, and it tends to be affordable.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is that cleaning your teeth is vital. Sometimes food particles and plaque can slide under the bridge. If you don’t clean your teeth rigorously, you might have an increased risk of potential infection.

Partial Dentures

If you don’t want to have your missing teeth permanently replaced, you might consider removable dentures. You’ve probably heard of dentures for people who have lost all their teeth. But did you know that you can have custom dentures made for just a couple missing teeth?

When you put the dentures in, there are clasps that hold them in place. This keeps the artificial teeth in the right places. You get an improved bite and smile without any invasive procedures.

Dentures are also easy to modify in case of future tooth loss. And they can be easily repaired and replaced when need be.

The biggest drawback of this option is that you’ll need to take the dentures out and clean them every day. Some people don’t like having to do that much maintenance. Dentures also have visible metal clasps, which implants lack.

Flippers

One of the most affordable options for replacing your missing teeth is to use a flipper. Flippers are temporary dentures that can “flip” into position. You don’t need to secure it with your remaining teeth. It is also less visible than traditional dentures since there aren’t metal clasps.

This is a super inexpensive and non-invasive means of replacing your teeth. It is also more lightweight, and some people say it’s more comfortable than traditional dentures.

However, you should be aware that flippers are meant to be temporary. While they work great on a temporary basis, you should have plans for a more permanent solution.

Final Thoughts

Missing teeth don’t have to be an embarrassing or painful experience. No matter your budget or situation, there are ways to replace the teeth and restore your bite. Not only does this improve your smile, but it can also help prevent further tooth loss. Are you ready to see what a dental implant can do your smile? Contact the team at Carolina Dental Arts to schedule an appointment today. Carolina Dental Arts offers exceptional dental procedures in North Carolina at our locations across the state, including Glenwood SouthGoldsboro and New Bern Ave.

 

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September 4, 2021

What Happens If I Don't Replace A Missing Tooth?

Losing a tooth is more common than you may think, particularly as part of aging. Harvard Medical School research indicates that the average American 50 year-old has already lost 12 permanent teeth. These losses can occur because of injury, gum disease, tooth decay or other conditions. If you have recently lost a tooth, you probably wonder if you need to replace it. So, what happens if you don’t replace a missing tooth?

There are many reasons why you should replace a missing tooth. First, your self-confidence is closely tied to your appearance. But it is also important to replace your tooth to maintain good oral health. You need each of your teeth in place for a proper bite, too.

Below, we explore the most important reasons for replacing your lost tooth. If you have questions about your need to replace a missing tooth or need more information about dental implants, schedule a visit with your dentist at Carolina Dental Arts in Goldsboro or Raleigh, NC.

Surrounding Teeth

Losing a tooth leaves your surrounding teeth vulnerable to shifting out of their ideal position, becoming crooked or developing new gaps. Because there is a space, your missing tooth no longer helps your remaining teeth stay aligned.

Super-eruption is another problem dentists commonly see in patients who do not replace a missing tooth. This is the growth of remaining teeth on the opposing jaw to the point that these teeth grow out of position and downward or upward into the gap. The elongation can lead to sensitivity and exposure of the roots beyond the gumline.

Dental implants, dentures or a dental bridge can prevent super-eruption and other problems caused when you don’t replace a missing tooth. Your dentist will help you choose the right option for your comfort, specific dental needs and lifestyle.

Eating

Our teeth exist to help us bite and chew our food. They function together as one group as much as they do individually. When you have well-aligned teeth, your biting and chewing come easily. But if you have missing teeth, the stress of these activities affect surrounding teeth, other oral structures and digestion. At the very least, it is not fun to have to avoid your favorite foods because you cannot chew them.

Obviously, being able to bite and chew comfortably is an important aspect of your lifestyle and health. This is just another reason why you should consult your dentist about options to replace a missing tooth.

Bite Alignment

Your bite, also called occlusion, is the manner in which your teeth come together. This alignment of upper and lower teeth is important for maintaining good oral health. The role of occlusion is the reason why so many of us go through orthodontic treatment as children or young adults.

If you do not replace a missing tooth, your bite changes. It becomes off-balance. But you can regain a balanced bite by replacing your tooth with a dental implant, denture or bridge.

Self-Confidence

Your smile is very important in how you feel about yourself. When you are missing a tooth, you are more likely to feel embarrassed or self-conscious. It is possible you will not speak as clearly, too. When you replace a missing tooth, you feel an instant boost to your self-confidence and find it easier to enunciate and communicate.

Jaw Health

Your teeth play an active role in your jaw bone health. When you do not replace a missing tooth, that area of your jaw bone is left unstimulated. As a result, the bone weakens. This affects remaining teeth as the bone loses its ability to hold them in place. It also affects the shape of your face, often leading to a sunken or aged appearance.

A dental implant to replace a missing tooth actually stimulates your jaw bone just like a natural tooth. This helps you maintain better jaw health and facial structure.

Options to Replace a Missing Tooth

As you can see from the examples above, there are many reasons to replace a missing tooth. The best option for doing so is a dental implant, particularly for back molars that require a lot of chewing power. Dental implants are permanent replacements for missing teeth. They feel and look natural, just as they protect your oral health and restore quality of life.

If you are about to undergo tooth extraction or already have missing teeth, talk to your Carolina Dental Arts dentist about your options to replace a missing tooth. With three locations, two dental offices in Raleigh, NC, and one dentist office in Goldsboro, North Carolina, we make seeing a dentist convenient. Schedule your next visit today.

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October 20, 2020

For patients wanting to replace lost teeth, mini dental implants provide a possible option. These types of implants work well for many who cannot receive or do not want conventional restorations. They work particularly well for those not wanting to undergo invasive oral surgery. They also provide a solution for those without enough bone mass in their jaws to hold standard implants.

About Implants

 

mini dental implants

When you have missing teeth, you can have them replaced with dentures, bridges or dental implants. Dentures and bridges are tooth replacement appliances that sit on the gum surface. Dental implants, on the other hand, are permanently affixed through the gums and into the jawbone.

To surgically place regular dental implants, your oral surgeon or periodontist inserts a titanium post into the jaw bone. Over a period of about three to six months, the jaw bone fuses around the post. Once this happens, the surgeon uncovers the implant and attaches a smaller post to it. On this post, they attach artificial teeth.

For some wearers, dentures are known to shift and slip a little. But dental implants remain steady and stable. To qualify for a dental implant, you need enough healthy bone to hold the implant in place. Some patients must first receive bone grafts through surgery to build up enough bone mass.

What are mini dental implants?

Mini dental implants work much like standard implants. But the mini version is slightly smaller, as their name implies. They have two parts, a titanium post with a ball on its tip and a socket where the tooth attaches to the post using a rubber O-ring.

Regular dental implants measure 3.4 to 5.8 millimeters wide. By comparison, mini dental implants measure only 1.8 to 3.3 millimeters wide and 10 to 15 millimeters long.

Mini dental implants work well with most types of teeth replacements, including dentures, fixed crowns and bridges. They also hold loose and lower arch dentures in place, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.

Benefits of Dental Implants

The process of placing regular dental implants takes several months. You must also visit the dentist or oral surgeon at least twice. If you need bone grafts to provide adequate bone to support your titanium posts, these treatments add to the required visits. For some patients, this process works fine.

Some patients do not have enough jaw bone mass to support full-sized implant posts. Others are unable to go through invasive oral surgery and multiple dental visits as part of the standard implant process. Both of these situations are quite normal.

In either scenario, your dentist can possibly install mini dental implants to replace your missing teeth. This procedure only requires one visit and local anesthesia. It does not require any sutures. Even more importantly, you can immediately use your new teeth.

Taking Care of Mini Dental Implants

You take care of your mini dental implants the same way as you care for your natural teeth. You simply brush your teeth twice daily using fluoride toothpaste. Also, you floss once each day to remove plaque from between teeth and along the gum line.

Most people feel a little self-conscious or embarrassed by natural tooth loss. For some, losing teeth feels traumatic. It can affect your smile, how you speak, and even how you eat. But thanks to mini dental implants, you have another option for teeth replacement.

Find Out If Mini Dental Implants Are Right for You

Visit your dentist at Carolina Dental Arts to discuss your options for teeth replacement. We have three locations to serve you in the Triangle Area of North Carolina, including:

You do not have to suffer the embarrassment and difficulties associated with missing teeth. Lastly, schedule your visit today to learn whether mini dental implants are right for you.

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Kathy Anders
Kathy Anders
2022-10-18
Excellent staff and love my dentist and the ladies in the office! Mrs. Patsy is my favorite and Liz is second. They are all good at what they do. Keeping my smile and my teeth looking their best! Awesome as always!
Marian Malone
Marian Malone
2022-10-10
Ashley who was my hygienist today did such a wonderful job on my teeth. I have gone in for cleanings before with other dentists in the area of Goldsboro and always come out with yellow teeth still.. I did not have any any kind of whitening done she just cleaned my teeth and I felt so good afterward .
Julian Edwards
Julian Edwards
2022-10-10
Awesome
Rodney Mealing Jr
Rodney Mealing Jr
2022-10-04
The Staff and service were great. From scheduling to dental work done, everything went easy. Felt relaxed, would recommend their services.
Tisse Martin (Tisse)
Tisse Martin (Tisse)
2022-09-29
Carolina Dental Arts staff & services are amazing. I called in as a new patient. They got me in and took care of my tooth the same day, with little waiting time. I was truly impressed. Thanks again CDA, see you guys soon ! 🤗
Janai Donyele
Janai Donyele
2022-09-29
My name is Sharonda. And I have been going to Carolina Dental for years, this is my family, whom I love so much. So kind very considerate, and patient. God bless everyone that works there. Love u guys.
Ellen Barlow
Ellen Barlow
2022-09-29
Friendly staff and Dr Taylor!! They really ease your anxiety!




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