Missing a Tooth? What to Know About Dental Bridges and Implants

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It’s important to fill the gap when you’re missing a tooth. Installing a prosthetic tooth can make talking and eating easier. A prosthetic tooth can also restore your smile and prevent your other teeth from shifting to fill the hole where the tooth used to be.

Yourdentist in St. Paul, MN, may present you with multiple options, including a dental bridge or a dental implant. Here’s what you need to know about both options to make an informed decision.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a prosthetic tooth that uses dental crowns attached to the adjacent teeth to stay in place. The bridge sits on top of the gums, but it looks like a natural tooth. To install a dental bridge, your dentist will need the teeth on either side of the hole to be healthy and strong. Your dentist will let you know if a dental bridge is an option for you.

What Is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth that is implanted into the jaw bone, similar to a real tooth. To install a dental implant, the dentist must determine that you have sufficient jaw bone to keep the tooth in place. If you don’t have sufficient jaw bone, your dentist can use a bone graft to build up the jaw. However, this is an additional procedure.

Which One Should I Get?

Your dentist will help you decide which type of prosthetic tooth – dental implants or dental bridges – is best. If you have questions about dental bridges anddental implants in St. Paul, MN, talk to your dentist to learn more about your options and make an informed decision.

What Happens If You Get Gum Disease After an Implant?

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Have you recently gotten or are thinking about getting dental implants in St. Paul, MN? If so, you might be wondering if you can get gum disease after getting implants and what happens if you do. So, let’s talk about that for a moment.

What Happens If You Get Gum Disease After an Implant?

The fact is you can still get gum disease after getting dental implants. Therefore, you will need to know what it is, how it happens, and what you can do to avoid it.

What Is Peri-Implantitis?

The dental terminology for gum disease after getting dental implants is peri-implantitis. So peri-implantitis is gum disease that occurs after you get dental implants. Here are some of the symptoms of peri-implantitis.

What Are the Symptoms of Peri-Implantitis?

  • Bleeding
  • Bad breath
  • Loose implant
  • Redness
  • Inflammation
  • Bad taste in your mouth
  • Periodontal pockets surrounding the implant
  • Dental implant falls out

How Do I Get Rid of Peri-Implantitis?

If you get gum disease after getting a dental implant, it doesn’t go away by itself. There are a couple of things you can do to get rid of peri-implantitis. Your dentist in St. Paul, MN will be able to diagnose the extent of your peri-implantitis and recommend the best treatment for your situation.

In the most severe cases, your dentist might need to remove the implant and perform a bone graft to replace the damaged bone. If you act early, your dentist might be able to perform a deep cleaning and/or provide an at-home treatment used for preventing and treating the early stages of peri-implantitis.

How Can I Prevent Peri-Implantitis?

Being proactive is key when it comes to keeping your gums healthy.

  • Brush and floss daily.
  • Schedule regular dental visits.
  • Eat a healthy diet.
  • Quit smoking and vaping.

Do You Need a Dentist in St. Paul, MN?

If you need a dentist in St. Paul, MN, please Contact St. Anthony Park Dental Care today. We offer a comfortable, relaxing environment and only use state-of-the-art equipment and technologies to ensure you receive the best dental care possible.

Why Dental Implants Can Be a Good Choice Over Dentures

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If dental disease or facial trauma has taken some or all your natural teeth, replacing them with artificial teeth should be your top priority. One danger in waiting too long is that your remaining teeth could shift into the open spot and cause problems with your alignment. You could also experience facial sagging, the frustration of others not understanding your speech, and difficulty getting adequate nutrition.

Dental implants in St. Paul MN replace both your missing teeth and their roots. Implants hold your replacement teeth in your mouth permanently, and patients appreciate that they look and function more like natural teeth than dentures do. If you are still considering your tooth replacement options, we hope that you find the comparison between dentures and implants helpful.

Dental Implant Benefits

Because they replace the roots of your missing teeth, dental implants do a better job of supporting jawbone health over time. Implants restore your speaking ability and chewing force right away. With consistent attention to your oral health, you can expect your implant supported replacement teeth to last for the remainder of your life.

Benefits of Dentures

Dentures cost less than dental implants, and you do not need surgery to obtain them. After your dentist obtains X-rays and creates a mold of your new teeth, you are ready to come in for a fitting. You may also need additional teeth extracted. Some downsides of dentures include having to replace them every seven to 10 years, jawbone deterioration, food restrictions, and the fact that they may not remain in your mouth as securely as you would like.

St. Anthony Park Dental Care is Ready to See You

Our dentists understand that choosing the best tooth replacement option is a big decision. Please contact us to request a consultation to learn whether dental implants in St. Paul MN is the right choice for you.

When is it Time for Dental Implants?

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Dental implants are more than just aesthetic, they provide a long-term solution for proper oral hygiene and oral care. Missing teeth, especially large sets, invite progressive diseases that can affect many systems inside your body. Furthermore, the loss of teeth negatively shapes your jawline, which takes away function and ages you considerably. SAP Dental of St Paul, MN provides holistic dental care that is suitable for all patients.

Why do I need Dental Implants?

Dental implants may seem like a luxury, but they are a necessity. There are various solutions that can be explored, as no two people are alike. Below are the top three reasons why you may need to consider dental implants for your health:

All Teeth Have a Purpose

All 32 teeth in your mouth have a purpose. Some are made for chewing, others for biting, and most provide the support you need to shape your jawline. Your teeth are more than just tools for eating, they also protect your gums and tissues from becoming infected. Even if only one tooth is missing, or severely decayed, it causes pain and problems that are difficult to endure.

Less Pain, More Confidence

Progressively decayed or missing teeth leave areas in your mouth that invite bacteria and infection. This causes moderate to severe pain, especially for everyday actions such as eating, talking, and smiling. Dental implants ameliorate your health and give you the confidence to smile.

Better Quality of Life

Dental implants help you take better pictures, give you peace of mind, and let you experience the world – one meal at a time.

Your Local Expert Dental Care Team in St Paul, MN

SAP Dental is your primary dental care solution in St Paul, MN. During your professional appointment, the team can assess and recommend the best course of action for your specific needs.

 

What Is a Dental Implant?  

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A dental implant is a revolutionary medical device that dentists use to replace the root of a missing tooth. Once the titanium implant is in place, a tooth-colored dental prosthesis, referred to as a crown, serves as the visible portion of the missing tooth. At St. Anthony Park Dental Care in St. Paul, Minnesota, dentists frequently replace missing teeth using dental implants and dental prostheses.

The Dental Implant Fuses With the Jawbone

The dentist places the implant within the jawbone and, as time passes, the bone fuses with the titanium implant. This fusion process is referred to as osseointegration.

Once the osseointegration process is complete, the dental implant is, essentially, part of the jawbone itself. Therefore, unlike the traditional single-tooth replacement prosthesis (i.e., a flipper) that the wearer can remove, the dental implant and its crown remain in place.

Replacing Multiple Teeth Using Dental Implants

Individuals who need more than one tooth replaced, including those who are missing an entire arch of teeth, can receive several dental implants to secure a single prosthesis consisting of multiple crowns.

Individuals who are replacing multiple teeth that are close to one another may receive a bridge, and those who need to replace an entire arch of teeth can opt for an implant-supported denture. Just like a single dental implant with a crown, these dental prostheses are fixed, which means they remain in place. However, there is a removable option for individuals who are replacing an entire arch of teeth, the overdenture.

The Overdenture

Although the implants themselves remain within the jawbone, an individual replacing an arch of teeth can opt for an overdenture. This dental prosthesis is removable.

Implants and Dental Prostheses Provide Natural-looking Results

Once the dental implants and their prostheses are in place, the tooth appears completely natural.

Why Is Replacing a Missing Tooth So Important?

When a tooth is lost, it can negatively affect the jawbone, the other teeth and the mouth.

Potential consequences of a missing tooth include:

  • Since the root of the missing tooth is gone, the jawbone in that area is not being stimulated. This lack of stimulation results in the body absorbing and breaking down that section of jawbone.
  • The loss of a front tooth can lead to difficulty pronouncing certain words.
  • A change in chewing patterns can cause temporomandibular disorder (TMD). People with TMD frequently experience jaw pain and headaches.
  • When the location of a lost tooth is visible, an individual’s self-esteem may suffer.

The drawbacks associated with neglecting to replace a lost tooth make it clear that tooth replacement as soon as possible is important.

A dental implant is the most natural-looking replacement option; it keeps the jawbone stimulated and feels just like a real tooth. To learn more, call or text St. Anthony Park Dental Care today at 1-651-644-9216. To request an appointment, please contact us. St. Anthony Park Dental Care is located at 2278 Como Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

Dental Implant Recovery – What to Expect

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Whether you are missing all of your teeth or just a few, dental implants in St. Paul, MN can be one of the most desirable smile restoration options. While the procedure of getting dental implants does not take that long, the recovery process can take a little time. Here is a look at what you can expect at different points after implants are placed.

Immediately After the Procedure

Right after the procedure, you can expect to have some swelling and soreness. This is a typical experience due to the placement of the implant into the soft tissue and bone. Your dentist will likely send you home after the procedure with medication to keep you comfortable, but many patients find the discomfort subsides relatively quickly.

A Few Weeks After the Procedure

A few weeks after the dental implant procedure, a lot of the inflammation and redness will start to subside. At this point, the soft tissue is well on the way to enclosing around the new implant. You may still be more comfortable with softer foods, especially if multiple implants have been placed. However, you will also be fitted with a temporary crown to protect the area until the area is fully healed.

Three Months After the Procedure

At around three months after the dental implant procedure, most patients are fully healed. At this time, the dentist will bring you into the office to create your permanent crown and secure it to the new implant. You should have no issues eating whatever you want, but each individual’s experience can vary.

Talk to a St. Paul, MN Dentist About Dental Implants

Even though recovery after dental implants can take some time, the end result is well worth it. Ready to discuss dental implants with a St. Paul dentist? Reach out to us at St. Anthony Park Dental Care.