A: TMJ is a problem that people get right here in this joint (at the mandible). Patients will talk about having popping, clicking or their jaw locking up sometimes. It’s a very painful disorder and basically, it’s usually arthritis in the joint.

No different than you might have in your knee joint or hip joint. The kind of pain that people talk about when they’re walking—the same thing happens when they’re talking, eating, or chewing gum. So, it’s very significant disease that does need attention so, going to a dentist is a very good start if you’re having TMJ issues.

TMJ is one of those interesting disorders that is informally named after the very part that hurts rather than some complicated name. So when someone says, “oh I have TMJ,” you could quip back jokingly, “so does everyone.”

You see, TMJ is not actually a disorder but an abbreviation for temporomandibular joints.  The actual diagnosis for pain in this region is Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Disorder. That’s a mouthful, no wonder most just say TMJ.

Unless you develop TMJ disorder, you probably don’t think about your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) very often. However, that doesn’t change the fact that you use them constantly. Eating, drinking, swallowing, talking─ all functions that use those joints. These joints connect your jawbone to your skull and are vital to overall health. So, when you have an issue with them it can be quite a serious problem. Typically the issues arise within the joints themselves or the muscles connected to them from injury, inflammation, or being overextended.

TMJ Pain

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) Disorder is a blanket diagnosis for related issues involving neck, head and/or facial pain, jaw issues, and ear problems. These symptoms often present themselves as causes not related to TMJ at first.

For example, an ear pain that is written off as an earache due to some kind of sinus infection, can actually be TMJ. A pain radiating from the jaw may present itself as a toothache when there’s no issue with the tooth at all.

Because of this, people miss an estimated 600 million hours of work each year, so it’s safe to say it’s a common problem. It’s also a costly one, over $520 million dollars are spent on OTC pain meds a year just to deal with it. That’s a lot of financial strain and we’re not even touching on the medical bills from treating it with advanced methods. As one would expect, patients with TMJ suffer from a lot of frustration. Going from one doctor to a specialist, then to another specialist and still struggling to find a diagnosis. It can lead to false diagnosis with disorders that aren’t the real cause.

However, as it turns out, those “incurable” conditions and inconclusive diagnoses may actually be from your jaw joints. At CDG, we approach these conditions in coordination with your physician to come up with a true solution. We are fully vested in the long-term benefits of a well-rounded neuromuscular treatment approach.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Overview

As we touched on earlier, TMJ is the acronym for the temporomandibular (jaw) joints. That explains why TMJ is often used incorrectly to name the disorder of these joints, even by many dentists. If we’re being technical, the correct acronym is TMD, for temporomandibular disorder. We also use the term craniomandibular disorders when it involves head, neck, face, and ear pain.

There have been some extensive studies that prove the symptoms below are a result of misalignment of the upper and lower mandibular. This causes a degradation in the integrity of the TMJ and produces pain and dysfunction of the ligaments. The pain progresses over time and and can cause everything from to minor pain to severe chronic issues.

Symptoms of craniomandibular and TMJ Disorder:

• Dizziness
• Facial, neck, or back, pain
• Tension headaches
• Pain or soreness of the jaw joints
• Clicking, popping, or grinding sound when talking, chewing, and other motions
• Congestion or clogged feeling in the ears or ear pain
• Pain in teeth that seems to radiate
• Loose teeth
• Ringing or buzzing in the ears
• Hearing difficulty
• Limited jaw mobility
• Lockjaw

Craniomandibular disorders can also compound:

• Tinnitus
• Migraines
• Fibromyalgia

What Causes TMJ?

The causal factors associated with TMJ and craniomandibular disorders can include:

• Developmental– when the maxilla and mandible don’t develop properly or are misaligned it can produce problems. These problems don’t always present themselves immediately. In fact, sometimes they may not emerge until adulthood after years of overlooked issues.
• Malocclusion/Bite– If your teeth don’t align properly it causes minor trauma over and over again to the joints. Over time your body overcompensates using other muscles in your body to pick up the slack.
• Direct trauma to the jaw─ A fall off a bike, or something striking your face can directly cause TMJ disorder.
• Indirect trauma to the jaw– Many people who have experienced cervical whiplash also experience whiplash of the mandible. This is an extreme and sudden stretching or tearing of the ligaments within the jaw joints. This whiplash also causes damage within the muscular structure that supports the joints.
• Tooth loss– When you suffer losing a tooth and do not replace the tooth, the jawbone deteriorates over time. That deterioration leads to the jaw coming out of alignment which can cause severe TMJ disorders. In addition, getting dental implants done that aren’t properly aligned or installed will also cause TMJ.
• Poor sleep habits/position─ Sleep is a crucial component to our overall health and dependent on sleep position, can cause TMJ disorders as well.
• Poor posture─ Puts undue stress and wear on all joints, not just your jaw joints. The result is not much different than direct trauma, just over time.
• Bruxism– Bruxism is a medical term that essentially means clenching of the teeth. Most people do this unconsciously while sleeping or when stressed. Most patients go through life not knowing why it occurs. It causes tremendous stress and wear on jaw joint, facial muscles, and the neck.
• Sleep apnea─ Sleep apnea can be an indirect cause of TMJ disorder. This is because sleep apnea often causes bruxism to occur.
• Stress– This is another one of those causes that indirectly causes TMJ disorders. Many patients clench their teeth without realizing it while stressed.

How To Treat Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

The good news is that most of these disorders are just temporary problems. They may last only several weeks or months at worst. Most treatments are as simple as a hot or cold compress on the jaw and some OTC anti-inflammatory medications. That should relieve the discomfort enough to let the problem area correct. You should always avoid treatments that may cause permanent damage or changes to your jaw or bite. Some examples of these treatments you should avoid are:

• Adjusting your bite by grinding the teeth down
• Dental surgical methods that attempt to “correct”
• Mandibular splint (repositions the jaw and changes the bite)
• Orthodontics
• TMJ replacement

All of the above treatments and a host of others cause severe changes and irreversible damage to the jaw. Furthermore, they are not proven to have any effect whatsoever. In fact, TMJ treatments that are effective and safe will often be reversible and will not cause damage or changes. Some examples of therapy and treatments for TMJ disorders may include:

• Physical therapy such as gentle stretching of the jaw
• Over-the-counter pain medicines such as Aleve or Tylenol
• Prescription medicines such as Meloxicam or Flexeril
• Nightguards and biteplates, although their effectiveness is inconclusive, they do work for some and are not damaging.

Some complex cases involve a more severe pain that is chronic in nature and the jaw dysfunction is also severe. Cases such as these are best to be left to a team of neurologists, rheumatologists, dentists, and a pain management plan.

Are You Suffering From Symptoms Of TMJ Disorder?

If you’re experience any of the symptoms covered here such as popping of the jaw, pain while chewing, or others—contact us. All we need to do is get you in for a consultation so we can develop a treatment plant specifically for you. Book your appointment today!

A: Some do, some don’t—it’s real important that you let us know your insurance provider. What we’ll do in advance of your appointment, is follow up with your insurance to see if they’ll pay for it. When they do pay for dental implants, it’s usually about 50% of the cost. Sometimes they’ll cover the crown on top, sometimes they won’t. So, each insurance is completely different and we need to research it.

So, you’ve done your research into dental implants and conclude that it’s the best option for you. That’s great—you really are making the best decision for your oral health and overall self-confidence.

The next step is figuring out how to work out the financial aspect of paying for dental implants. For most patients, the deal hangs on whether their insurance helps with dental implants or not.  Each insurance plan is different in terms of coverage and exclusions. So, you’ll need to delve into your plan and what you’re covered or not covered for to make a sound decision.

However, what we can do here is discuss some general coverage information regarding dental implants. For example, when insurance does cover dental implants, how much they cover, and what limitations there are. Hopefully, this quick overview will give you a better understanding of how dental implants can be financially feasible.

Are Dental Implants Covered By Basic Dental Policies?

Typically, basic dental policies don’t cover dental implant surgery—or any procedures deemed cosmetic. Unfortunately, many basic policies consider dental implants just that—cosmetic. Implants are so much more than cosmetic though. Dental implants save your jawbone and prevent further dental problems due to missing teeth.

You will want to search for a policy that offers a cosmetic dentistry rider to cover implants. Most riders will cover only a portion of the cost of dental implants. Some could be as much as 50%, others as little as 20% or less.

Sometimes, medical insurance policies will cover a portion of dental implant procedures as well. It just depends on your policy. If you don’t have dental insurance on your policy, you can purchase a standalone policy. Some discount dental programs offer some assistance for implants.

When Are Implants Covered By Insurance?

If you currently have a dental and medical policy you should check your coverages to see if cosmetic dentistry is covered. If it does cover dental implants you’ll want to research the following important factors:

• Annual maximum coverage: Insurance companies usually institute a cap on how much they will pay out in dental care annually. This is called your annual maximum coverage—any dental care costs above that are out of your pocket.

• Pre-existing conditions: Most insurance policies don’t cover conditions that existed before your policy was active. So, if you get a policy this month, it won’t cover a problem that originated before the policy active date. You should check with your provider to see if there are any pre-existing conditions they will cover.

Questions To Ask Your Insurance Provider About Coverage For Implants

If you want to find out more about your insurance coverage and exclusions, you’ll need to speak with your insurance provider. You will want to ask these key questions to get the most complete and accurate information. You can also ask these questions when shopping for dental insurance, especially for dental implant coverage.

1. What Dentists Are In Your Network?

This is one of the most important questions, especially if you already have a dentist you trust. You can ask if your current dentist is in the network. If not, or you don’t already have a dentist, at least you want a wide selection to choose from.

2. Are You Allowed To Choose Your Dentist?

This is the obvious follow-up to the first question and you may reveal this answer within that question as well. If not, you’ll want to find out the policy on choosing your dentist—some policies allow that, while others don’t.

3. Is There A LEAT Clause (Least Expensive Alternative Treatment)?

Some insurance policies only cover the least expensive of all available treatment options for your issue. For example, for a decayed tooth, a bridge or a dental implant are both treatment options. A LEAT clause means the insurance will only pay for the least expensive option.

4. How Is The Coverage Structured?

Some plans may cover half of the cost of dental implants while others may cover very little, like 20%. Their coverage may also vary based on procedures. For example, dental implants could be at 50% coverage while extractions are at 80%. Your insurance might also cover your complete cost for exams and a majority of extractions. Both of these procedures may be necessary for dental implants so make sure you’re aware.

5. Are There Any Aspects Of A Dental Implant Procedure That Are Excluded?

While your insurance may cover dental implants, there may be aspects of the procedure excluded from coverage. For example, a policy may cover only the artificial crowns but not the implants and vice-versa. Some policies may only pay for the extraction and the exam. Check your coverages thoroughly so there aren’t any last-minute surprises.

6. Can Dental Appointments Be Scheduled At Your Convenience?

While not common, some policies have restrictions on when dental implant appointments can be scheduled. Once again, just clear it up with your policy advocate before proceeding.

What Does Your Insurance Cover?

Depending on the insurance you have, the extent of your dental coverage will vary. For example, medical insurance policies may include dental benefits. However, that coverage may be very limited and only include basics like checkups or cleanings twice a year. A premium dental rider or standalone policy on the other hand may cover things like:

• Preventative care: Routing checkups and cleanings.
• Basic Restorative care: Basic restorative procedures such as crowns or fillings.
• Endodontics: Root Canals
• Oral Surgery: Extractions, gum biopsy, bacterial infection drainage, installation of implants.
• Orthodontics: Braces, plastic aligners, and retainers/nightguards.
• Periodontics: Scaling, gum grafts, periodontal surgery
• Prosthodontics: Dentures, dental bridges, and dental implants

According to the National Association of Dental Implants, all of these procedures are sorted into three main categories of coverage for purposes of payment. Those categories are basic procedures, preventative care, and major procedures. Typically preventative care is covered at 100% within the plan guidelines. Basic services such as fillings, gum disease treatment, extractions, and root canals may be covered. However, the coverage is usually not 100%—normally, it’s more around 80% for most plans. The least amount of coverage is typically reserved for dental crowns, implants, and dentures—around 50%. It’s also commonplace for insurance plans to have a waiting period of twelve months or less on major procedures.

Be sure to speak to your policy advocate about any waiting periods or other important exclusions or limitations to coverage.

Dental Insurance Plan Types

If you’re shopping for dental insurance you will come across a variety of plans. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO) are the most common kinds. There is also a third option—Dental HMO plans, which are a less expensive option.

In a DMO plan, you choose a primary care dentist and need a referral to see a specialist such as an oral surgeon. However, in a PPO plan, no referral is needed and you can go to any dentist you wish. However, it’s cheaper to go to a preferred dentist within the network. There is also a Dental Indemnity Plan, which has no restrictions on which dentist you see and requires no referrals.

What If I Don’t Have Insurance?

If you are without insurance and considering dental implants, it’s wise to seek out coverage ASAP. Dental insurance not only can cover routine visits that are critical for good oral health but also extensive procedures. Dental implants are one of those procedures some policies cover up to a certain amount.

However, what if you can’t afford dental insurance? Fortunately, at Comprehensive Dental Group, we offer financing options for dental implants. Care Credit and Lending Club, and Greensky are the financial institutions that help many of our patients. These plans offer varying lines of credit or installment loans to make your dental implants a reality.

Get Your Dental Implants From Dr. Hanna

Missing teeth or teeth that have decayed can wreck your self-esteem and confidence in your smile. However, with dental implants, you can have a brand new smile, often in a single-day procedure!

Don’t let insurance limitations or lack of insurance stop you from getting your smile back. Contact us today and see what we can do for you.

A: Dental implants are basically a dental procedure to restore teeth that are missing. When we say the term “dental implant,” what we’re actually talking about is the screw—the implant portion, that goes into the bone. So, that’s stage one of what most people call dental implants because ultimately we have to restore that implant. So, once we know it’s anchored in, it’s in the right place in the bone and it’s going to hold—then we’ll come back and put a crown on top of that.

When people say dental implants it’s really a class of tooth restoration when you lose a tooth. There are actually different methods within the realm of dental implants in Houston. However, all of that aside, dental implants are a corrective procedure that replaces a missing tooth.

It’s not a restoration that is “kind of like a tooth” such as dentures or a bridge. Dental implants are a permanent solution and replace the form, function, and feel of natural teeth. The implant within “dental implants” is a titanium post that is surgically implanted into the jawbone. Then a crown (replacement tooth) that is made from porcelain or zirconia is placed on the post. It is lifelike and indistinguishable from a natural tooth in all aspects.

Why Should I Opt For Dental Implants In Houston?

Dental implants in Houston dental circles are the preferred method option for replacing a patient’s missing teeth. There’s good reason for it as well. Seeing as a dentist’s primary concern is to maintain or improve their patient’s quality of life—dental implants achieve that and more. Other options such as dentures provide a mediocre solution as they do not stimulate the jawbone leading to bone atrophy.

Jawbone atrophy leads to disintegration and can cause multitudes of bite issues and even cause existing dentures problems. Dental implants offer jawbone stimulation—a critical necessity to prevent disintegration. There’s also no adjustment needed with dental implants, they feel like your natural teeth and function like them too. No more sloppy adhesives, restrictive diets, or anxiety about them falling out mid-conversation.

Now, with dental implants, in Houston, some procedures differ when employing dental implants. Traditional dental implants require several office visits and are performed in phases. Other procedures such as the All on Four performed here at our facility, replace an entire arch in one day.

No matter which procedure you choose, the key advantage of dental implants for replacing missing teeth is the exact fit. They are a 1:1 replacement of the tooth you are replacing so there are no gaps, and no crowding of teeth either. Also, your jawbone integrity is not impacted, it remains strong, and you will have no facial appearance issues.

When the titanium post is implanted into your jawbone it serves as a root for the jawbone to bond with. Since titanium is biocompatible, the body accepts it as a natural root and doesn’t reject it. This results in a bonded implant that becomes part of the jawbone and creates a very secure base for your restoration.

Can I Get Dental Implants?

Except for extraordinary circumstances, dental implants are perfect for you if you:

• Suffer from one or multiple missing or failing teeth
• Have a fully developed jawbone that is healthy
• Posses adequate jawbone mass to secure dental implants or enough to build up with bone grafts
• Don’t have any gum tissue issues
• Have no medical conditions that could complicate healing
• Want to avoid dentures and have a fully functional smile
• Are willing to commit to the pre-op prep and recovery regimen
• Are not a tobacco user or are willing to cease for three months before surgery and after.

Preparing For Dental Implants In Houston

Since dental implants are an in-depth surgical procedure, you must undergo an in-depth evaluation to properly prepare including:

• Comprehensive Examination— This typically includes X-rays of your teeth and 3D images, as well as molds of your teeth and jaw, need to be made.
• Medical History Disclosure— This is critical— you need to tell the dentist about any medical conditions and medicines you take. This includes any over-the-counter medicines and vitamins/supplements. If you have certain conditions such heart conditions or diabetes, antibiotics before surgery might be in order.
• Customize Treatment Plan— Every patient is going to have different circumstances and needs. Therefore, a treatment plan needs to be designed specifically for your needs.
• Pain Management— Pain is very minimal with dental implants in Houston. However, to mitigate pain we use anesthesia or sedation. That is most often preferred by patients, rather than local anesthesia. However, that option is also available if you prefer local anesthesia. Whichever route you go, you need to bring someone with you to safely drive you home.

The Dental Implant Process

Dental implant surgery is usually an outpatient surgery with intermittent healing phases between the different stages. The steps of a dental implant procedure typically include:

• Extraction of failing teeth
• Bone grafting (if necessary)
• Placement of implant
• Healing period (osseointegration)
• Placement of abutment
• Crown installment

Except for All on Four type procedures which are completed in one day—the process can take a few months. However, most of that time is due to the healing period and allowing a strong bond between the jawbone and implant.

An In-Depth Look At The Procedure

At Comprehensive Dental Group, we believe an educated patient is critical to the success of a major procedure like this. The more you know about what to expect, the less anxious you will be and will understand the cautions as well.

Extracting The Teeth

This is an obvious step but one that needs to be covered regardless as you need to know what to expect. Your surgeon will carefully extract the tooth as well as clear out the surgical site of any excess tissue.

Placing The Dental Implant

The surgeon will make an incision into your gum to access the jawbone. A hole is drilled for the implant and the metal post is installed. Since it will act as the root, it’s placed deep into your jawbone.

Waiting For Osseointegration

When the implant is placed in your jawbone, your bone will bond with it in a process called osseointegration. This process is crucial as the stronger the bond, the better support your new teeth will have.

Abutment Placement

Once osseointegration is accomplished, it may be necessary to have minor additional surgery for the placement of the abutment. The abutment is the small piece that the crown will attach to permanently. The surgery is so minor for this phase that only local anesthetic is needed. After installation, your gums need to heal for about two weeks before the crown can be attached.

Crown Attachment

Pretty self-explanatory—the crown is placed and you can begin your post-op care.

Aftercare & Recovery

Whether you get traditional implants or the All on Four procedure completed in one day—there will be minor discomfort. Some of the conditions you may experience are:

• Swelling of the gums and/or face

• Bruising of the skin and face
• Minor pain at the implant site
• Minor bleeding at the implant site

Typically, the impact of these is reduced with OTC pain medicines such as Tylenol or Aleve. However, if the conditions worsen after a few days—call us ASAP.

You’ll also want to take it easy on your new teeth for comfort at first. Start with soft foods or liquid MREs, and avoid extremely hot or cold beverages.

Let Us Bring Your Smile Back!

At Comprehensive Dental Group, we enjoy the feeling our patients get when they see their new smile. Missing your teeth is very traumatizing so we feel privileged to be able to bring people happiness through a smile.

Contact us today and book your free consultation to see if dental implants are right for your situation.

A: They are typically made out of titanium—there’s some other various metal components to them. Titanium implants are what anchor into the bone and allows for micromotion. That titanium represents natural root structure as close as we possibly can.

Then, talking about how we restore an implant—we also put an abutment and then a fake tooth on that abutment, so that we get a full restoration. The abutment is also made of titanium and the tooth restoration is usually made of porcelain.

Patients who suffer from missing teeth are opting more than ever to get dental implants in Houston. Implants have been around a long time and have very primitive roots—made from wood, shells, or gold. In fact, they used to be just hammered into the jaw, no anesthetic at all—but that was over a thousand years ago.

Thankfully, implants have advanced into the modern dental implants in Houston dental clinics that are restoring smiles. Today’s dental implants mimic natural teeth so perfectly in form, function, and feel, that they’re indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Why Are Dental Implants In Houston So Durable?

At Comprehensive Dental Group of Houston, we have a combined experience of over two decades with dental implants. We consistently educate ourselves on emerging advancements in implantology and new methods. This is how we ensure that you not only get the smile you want but one that lasts a lifetime, with quality materials. The result is worth all the extra effort—you get a brand new smile that only you know is implants.

Dental implants created here in our lab are identical to your natural teeth, they’re just perfected. We use advanced technology to get an exact fit and sculpt your smile to perfection. They need to be perfect because they are going to last you a lifetime with proper care.

The reason they last so long is due to the materials that go into dental implants in Houston. Think of it along the lines of other replacement surgeries. Hip replacement, knees, and other high-impact parts of the body. Just as these joints have to be tough enough to take the impact constantly, teeth are subject to the same force. When you factor in just how much teeth are used you realize the wear and tear is extensive. That is why dental implants in Houston need to be so durable and long-lasting while looking great too.

Implants Have Come A Long Way

To wrap your head around how advanced modern dental implants are—you have to look at where they’ve come from. In the primitive years of dental implants, the main focus was basic function— not comfort or appearance. People used what materials were available, so sometimes that was primitive. Wooden pegs, sharpened stones, shells, and the like were the norm.

Then, in the 17^th century, Dr. John Hunter began conducting studies using teeth obtained from cadavers. Embedding them into the comb of roosters, Dr. Hunter realized the tooth bonded with the comb. This would be the spark that would lead to the meteoric rise of implantology that led to the next milestone discovery.

The Titanium Difference

When it comes to materials used over the years in dental implants none has made a bigger difference than titanium. Two doctors from Switzerland reasoned that since titanium was used in joint replacement surgery, why not for dental implants? After all, the impacts that joints such as the knee and hip endure are much greater than what teeth endure.

Their reasoning proved to be spot on and dental implants were thrust into the spotlight of the dental field. Titanium is now the pound-for-pound standard for dental implants in Houston and around the world. Not only is titanium biocompatible—it’s incredibly lightweight and durable.

Titanium is such a natural replacement for a missing root, that the focus of advancing implant technology has shifted. Prosthodontists worldwide are focusing on improving the cosmetics of dental implants—which are already indistinguishable from natural teeth!

That work on improving restorations speaks volumes to just how perfect titanium is for implants. This also allows for improvements in perfecting the implant process. After all, complacency is never productive, so constantly trying to improve is crucial.

Precision Artistry And Materials

When getting dental implants in Houston, whether it be a full arch replacement or a single tooth—it’s more than just the materials used. While the titanium posts do make a huge impact on the longevity of implants, there is a level of artistry and precision involved. If you have the most advanced materials for the implants but not the precise placement—it’s a waste.

Proper placement of dental implants requires advanced imaging that allows the prosthodontist to create a perfect fit scenario. Unlike dentures, implants are an exact fit, so there is no margin for error—either they fit precisely or not at all. This includes the angle, the spacing, and the intricacies of a patient’s natural smile structure.

Additionally, the restoration needs to be exact and as lifelike as possible. You can’t just create a crown from porcelain, paint it white and call it a day. Natural teeth don’t have a smooth surface, they have a slight ripple of finite grooves that run vertically across the tooth surface. Teeth also have unique shades, a level of translucency, and a shape exclusive to each person.

This is why it takes an actual artist who specializes in recreating natural teeth to color the restorations perfectly. Adding texture, shade variations and even shaping the crowns to match the patient’s remaining teeth. Additionally, teeth have a natural translucency and color that appears in subtle layers. Points and ridges must also be precisely created as not to interfere with existing teeth or alter bite alignment.

When you consider all the labor and effort that goes into the artistic aspect of tooth replacements it’s quite intensive. At CDG we take the accuracy up a notch by using 3-D imaging, modeling, and printing to ensure accurate results.

 

We Set The Standard For Dental Implants In Houston

When it comes to choosing the best dental implants—you don’t need to look any further than our state-of-the-art facility. We always make it our mission to stay at the forefront of dental implant technology and equipment. The investment for the technology we use is significant. However, when we see the results in our client’s new smile—it’s worth it.

When it comes to dental implants the technology, as mentioned, is nothing without the right doctor behind it. Dr. Hanna is a trailblazer in the dental implant industry owning several patents that have changed the industry. Dr. Hanna approaches dental implants like a form of art, and an artist is limited only by their tools.

That is why we do invest so heavily into 3-D modeling and imaging equipment. We want to preview as much as possible, what Dr. Hanna’s work will look like. This balance of technology and artistry helps us create the perfect smile—the first time.

Too often, we get patients that come to us to correct bad dental implants or upgrade from poorly designed dentures. There is no reason why dental implants should not be completely accurate with the available technology.

Come Get Your Smile Back With Dr. Hanna

Dr. Hanna has thousands of patients that walk in here depressed about their broken smile. After their implant procedure, however, they walk out with a new lease on life, feeling confident as ever. We believe you will feel that way too. Contact us to book your free consultation and get back the smile you’ve been missing.

A: Dental implants when done right, offer long, long, long-term solutions. When I hear the word permanent, I think lifetime. So, when someone gets an implant, we would never promise them a lifetime. However, I’ve seen implants, 20 years later; still in a patient functioning absolutely perfectly. So, to me that’s permanent. Knowing that we can offer a solution with implants that will give patients 15-20 years of a solution—yeah, they’re permanent.

Do dental implants last the rest of my life? Are dental implants permanent? How long will dental implants last? If you’ve been contemplating dental implants in Houston, you’ve likely pondered on all of these questions. It’s important to consider that nothing in life lasts forever. However, dental implants—with proper oral hygiene and maintenance can last upwards of 25 years or more.

Of course, there are many factors other than oral hygiene that can affect that prognosis. A patient’s overall health for example could impact the lifespan of dental implants. We have seen patients with diabetes that is not controlled end up needing implants replaced ten years down the road. However, this is not due to the implants themselves but from the patient not controlling their diabetes. In fact, dental implants are designed to be a permanent solution.

Facts About Dental Implants In Houston

As mentioned, dental implants aren’t designed as a temporary solution such as dentures or bridges. Rather, they are designed as a 1:1 re-creation of natural teeth. They look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. They can also support your dental structure and enable chewing and biting without slippage since they’re anchored in your jawbone.

Other than replacing your missing teeth or a single missing tooth, implants help maintain the structure of your jawbone. It does this by stimulating the jawbone as well as lessening the burden on the remaining teeth. This helps preserve the jawbone and prevent atrophy that leads to bone disintegration. When you lose jawbone mass, it drastically changes the functionality and the appearance of your mandible. This condition can have a domino effect on your health and emotional wellbeing.

Dental Implants Are Indistinguishable From Natural Teeth

Since a dental implant looks and feels just like natural teeth, it makes it seem that you were born with a perfect smile. This can improve your self-esteem and confidence in all facets of life. Patients that have an unnatural gap where a tooth once was, often feel stigmatized and avoid smiling. They may even begin to become introverted due to this negative impact.

However, aside from the aesthetic value that dental implants in Houston offer, they also offer pragmatic benefits. When you lose multiple teeth or an entire arch, many of your favorite foods become too difficult to eat. Dental implants, however, restore your chewing ability and allow you to eat whatever you desire.

Additionally, dentures as well as missing teeth often cause a person to speak differently. Sometimes the case is so severe that a patient needs a speech therapist. However, since dental implants are a 1:1 re-creation of your natural teeth—speech is not affected.

Breakdown Of A Dental Implant

To fully understand the answer to the question at hand, you need to be informed of the components that make up a dental implant.

• Implant –This is a titanium post that is implanted into your jawbone. It fills the role your tooth root once did. The implant is important both because it keeps the jawbone strong and because it supports the restorative prosthesis.
• Abutment – The abutment is the seat for the prosthesis and also increases stability. It is screwed to the top of the implant and sits above the gum line.

• Crown – This is what you know as the tooth or the visible part that you see. It is made from advanced materials with superior hardness. However, this material also looks indistinguishable from your natural teeth. It mimics natural teeth in every possible way and is just as durable.

Typically, the exposed components of the dental implant—the crown and abutment—are more susceptible to failure from damage. Patients that use their teeth to open things, or experience dental trauma can damage these parts.

Meanwhile, the implant itself usually stays intact. For example, the actual implant may easily last a lifetime. However, the crown or abutment may last 20-25 years depending on how it’s cared for and maintained.  In all honesty, the lifespan is very much up to the patient to some extent given their durable design and construction.

 

Factors That Affect How Long Dental Implants Last

As we’ve discussed, dental implants in Houston—when cared for properly, can last 25 years or more. The key concept there is proper care, as the lifespan of dental implants depends on a few factors such as:

• Your Oral Hygiene— If you’re brushing and flossing at least twice a day and seeing your dentist twice a year—you’re on the right path. However, skipping your biannual checkups and failing to follow good oral care at home is detrimental to the longevity of your implant.
• How You Use (Or Abuse) Your Teeth—If you’re being careful, this shouldn’t be an issue. However, consistently chewing on ice, pen caps, opening bottles, and the like will significantly lower the implant’s lifespan.
• How Well The Surgery Was Performed— Even the most advanced materials in implants can be negated by a poorly executed procedure. However, when you get your implants done at Comprehensive Dental Group of Houston—we’re more than qualified—we lead the pack. Dr. Hanna has performed thousands of successful dental implant procedures throughout his career.
• Your Lifestyle And Overall Health— If you smoke or drink alcohol in higher than average amounts you are at higher risk of implant failure. If you want your dental implants to last a lifetime, don’t smoke and enjoy alcohol only in moderation.

• Implant Location— Implant location plays a significant role in how long your dental implant lasts. Implants located in the back, such as molars, will endure more pressure due to being used mainly for chewing. Therefore, implants at the back of the mouth, if they are going to fail—will typically fail first. However, as we’ve mentioned—with proper care, maintenance, and a properly executed procedure, they should be fine.

Let’s Review

• Dental Implants Are Designed To Be A Permanent Solution
• Your Oral Hygiene, Lifestyle, And Overall Health Can Impact Implant Longevity
• The Implant Itself Typically Lasts A Lifetime
• Crowns And Abutments Are More Susceptible To Damage From Improper Care Or Trauma
• Dental Implants Are The Perfect Solution For Missing Teeth, Improving Confidence And Maintaining Facial Structure.

Considering Dental Implants In Houston?

If you want to learn more about dental implants you should come in and speak with Dr. Hanna to see if it’s a good fit for you. We offer the most advanced dental implant methods and, in many cases, can restore an entire smile in one day.

Contact us today and book your free consultation and let’s get your smile back!

A: Typically not. The patient at that point had already had a missing tooth or a tooth that was beyond repair. So, maybe we had to pull it and put an implant in—but either way, they don’t typically affect your speech.

Occasionally, we hear people saying, “I can feel air kind of blowing through,” or maybe a little bit of a whistle. That’s usually fixed in between the initial phase when we put the implant in and us finalizing the restoration. So, you don’t ever hear of that after the final stage.

Did you know over 125 million Americans are missing at least a single tooth? So, if you’ve lost one as well you’re in a wide group of people. Like those missing a tooth, you may be going through some discomfort and speech problems that a missing tooth can cause.

Some of you who have multiple missing teeth may be considering dentures to replace your missing teeth. In fact, there may be a handful of reasons you’re considering dentures You’ve likely lost more than one tooth or have severely misshapen front teeth for example.

Dentures are often sought out simply for the aesthetics, especially with damaged or missing front teeth. Whatever your reason may be—dentures may be an option for patients wanting to improve their smile. However, it is not the best solution for your overall health. In fact, it could be downright detrimental.

You see, dentures offer a band-aid solution that comes with many difficulties in your daily life. Dentures cause problems with eating. Certain foods you’ll find, are not edible with dentures. Foods such as popcorn, corn on the cob, red meat, celery, and other foods can be difficult for dentures to handle. Aside from that, dentures can severely impact your speech.

How Missing Teeth Affect Speech

You may not realize it, but teeth are critical for so many sounds our mouths make when speaking. Even losing just one tooth can impact your speech noticeably. Teeth assist in making numerous phonetic sounds such as:

• Z as in Zebra
• SH as in Shine
• CH as in China
• TH as in Throne

Now, if you thought missing one tooth was difficult, when patients lose several teeth, often adjacent to each other—it’s almost impossible to speak properly. One might think that dentures can fix this but, it’s just not the case. Dentures, while making it look like you have teeth, are horrible for alignment and speaking. They can slip, impede your tongue from making the right phonetic sounds and embarrassingly enough, the dentures can fall out.

The reason is that dentures are not a true exact-fit replacement, so there’s uneven placement, and gaps. Dentures are a last resort when it comes to replacing missing teeth. Also, dentures are not even a permanent replacement and they don’t stimulate the jawbone. This leads to the disintegration of the jaw over time. This not only changes facial structure but changes how you speak and cause dentures not to fit anymore.

That’s right, you spend all that money on dentures and end up having to get new ones in some cases, as soon as three years.

So, all in all, dentures don’t improve your situation that much. However, dental implants do improve your situation immensely and don’t impact your speech. In fact, they actually allow you to speak as you always have and allow you to eat whatever you like.

Why Dental Implants Are Best For Missing Teeth

While dentures are not an exact fit replacement fit for missing teeth, dental implants are very exact. They are a 1:1 exact recreation of your natural teeth, minus any imperfections and malocclusions. So what does that mean in plain English?

It means you get a perfect smile that with proper care, will last a lifetime and preserve your jawbone health. That last part is integral, as the reason that dentures fail over time is that they don’t preserve the jawbone.

As mentioned, without that jawbone being stimulated, it begins to break down and eventually disappears. That causes the familiar, “sunken-in” look in many people’s faces that use dentures and speech issues.

Dentures and dental implants are a bit similar in that dental implants are a permanent form of dentures. However, that is where the similarities end. Dental implants differ greatly in terms of functionality, fit, function, and aesthetics. With dental implants, your tongue remains in a natural position as it always has been. Also since the implants fit precisely into your jawbone and create that perfect 1:1 restoration—there’s no adjustment needed.

Patients who have received dental implants are taken aback by how real they look and feel. But that’s just the beginning. The benefits of dental implants extend far beyond looking and feeling like natural teeth.

Dental Implants Perform Like Natural Teeth

This is by far one of the best benefits of dental implants as they give you full bite pressure. With dentures, your bite pressure is extremely limited. That is why some foods are pretty much off-limits for denture wearers. With implants, most patients don’t see any difference between the bite power of their implants and their natural teeth. They eat like they used to before they lost their teeth and they can brush and floss just the same as well.

Dental Implants Will Last A Lifetime

Dentures fail after a few years or don’t fit the same and dental bridges last maybe 10 years if you’re lucky. Dental implants, on the other hand, if care for properly—last a lifetime. Implants are made from titanium that integrates with the jawbone and is biocompatible. So, the implant becomes part of your body.

Dental Implants Preserve The Jawbone

When you suffer from missing teeth, the longer the jawbone goes without stimulation the more it disintegrates. Eventually, the jawbone will reduce to 75% of its volume—typically after one year with no stimulation. After that, the bone loss continues through the years getting progressively worse.

Not only do dentures not help preserve jawbone dexterity, but they can also accelerate its erosion. Dentures often become loose and rub against the bony gumline where teeth once were. Over time that rubbing wears the jawbone down at an even faster rate.

However, with dental implants, the jawbone is still stimulated just like a natural tooth and the jawbone stays strong. If for no other benefit, dental implants should be your choice to at least preserve jawbone density.

Dental Implants Maintain Teeth Alignment

When you’re missing a tooth, the teeth on either side of the gap the missing tooth makes can shift in towards the gap. This pulls your teeth out of alignment from their original position and greatly affects your bite. It also negatively impacts your ability to chew and alters your physical experience—often drastically. Misaligned bites can also lead to TMJ that can lead to jaw pain and severe headaches that rival migraines in some patients.

Make The Smart Move To Dental Implants

Overall, dental implants are ideal for anyone with missing teeth that wants to retain their appearance and way of life. The process is not a painful one and it can be done in as little as one day for some procedures.

If you’ve been considering your options for missing teeth—don’t delay any longer. The longer you go with missing teeth, the more damage your jawbone takes. At Comprehensive Dental Group of Houston, we’re here to make dental implants easy for you.

Just contact us for your free consultation so you can start smiling again!

 

A: Cosmetic dentistry includes veneers, crowns, Invisalign, as well as teeth whitening.

We know that general dentistry mainly deals with the functionality of your teeth. It handles things like cavities, cleanings, fillings, and other general issues. However, what about a smile that’s perfectly healthy but looks a little off? We’re talking about aesthetic issues such as:

• Yellowed Teeth
• Slightly Crooked or Misshapen Teeth
• Chipped or Cracked Teeth

While some of the above conditions can indeed be considered oral health issues in severe cases, they are mostly superficial issues. They have no bearing on your physical well-being directly, but they can harm your emotional well-being thus indirectly affecting you physically. However, there are cases when cosmetic dentistry will crossover into the field of restorative dentistry. One of these cases involves restoring a smile through dental implants, which we’ll cover in a moment.

All things considered, cosmetic dentistry can touch up the finer points of your smile marred by minor imperfections. There are many different procedures at a dentist’s disposal to correct many of these minor issues.

A smile makeover, for example, makes use of several cosmetic dentistry procedures to perfect one’s smile. This allows a patient to get the dream smile they’ve always wanted with minimally invasive procedures in most cases.

The Different Procedures Within Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is dentistry, but with an artistic aspect. Remember, its primary goal is perfecting the appearance of your smile, not the functionality. Cosmetic dentistry is a specialized field because it not only requires the knowledge of general dentistry but also artistic aptitude.

Often it involves painting, sculpting, 3D printing, carving, and many other things you’d expect in a modeling studio, not a dental lab. But essentially, you can think of it as an art—because it is.

However, instead of painting canvas with oil, there’s painting veneers to look like natural teeth. Instead of sculpting clay, there’s moldings made of a patient’s teeth. You get the idea—it’s where the art world blurs into the dental world.

While many of the procedures in cosmetic dentistry, such as whitening, are simple, some are extremely difficult. They require a very steady hand, an excellent eye for detail, and extensive knowledge of advanced materials.

Some of the most common procedures used in this specialized field of dentistry include:

Teeth Whitening

Enhancing the white color of teeth is one of the easiest ways to make a noticeable difference in one’s smile. It starts with a deep cleaning to remove tartar and plaque built up on the teeth. Then a bleaching agent or whitening compound is applied to the teeth and polished after it sits for a bit.

It is possible, with externally stained teeth, to achieve shades of white brighter than the natural color. However, teeth that are stained from the inside, beneath the enamel can’t be corrected with whitening. That’s where the next procedure comes into play—veneers. One of the simplest ways to improve your smiles is teeth whitening. Firstly, your dentist will clean your teeth from any plaque or tartar that might have appeared on your teeth. Then he will use a bleaching or whitening solution on them. With teeth whitening, you can achieve shades that are lighter than your natural tooth color.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are thin, porcelain or custom resin facades crafted to hide the surface of your teeth. They are permanently affixed to your teeth using a strong adhesive—but there’s a catch.

For the veneers to look natural and remain flush with your neighboring teeth, your teeth must be shaved down a bit. This is done by grinding down the enamel surface slightly so that the veneers fit flush. This means once you decide on veneers—there’s no going back.

Fortunately, with proper care and a good cosmetic dentist, they should last 10-15 years or longer. They can only hide imperfections not correct them. So, aspects such as tooth color, shape, size, and length can be masked with picture-perfect facades.

Dental Bonding

With dental bonding, a tooth-colored resin is applied to the affected tooth and cured with UV or laser light. Once cured, it is trimmed, shaved down, shaped, and polished to match the other teeth. It is used as a way to fill in a misshapen tooth, and hide chipped or cracked teeth.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are an area of cosmetic dentistry that blends into the realm of restorative dentistry. This is mainly because dental implants not only fix the appearance of your smile but restore function. Unlike veneers or bonding, implants actually correct the problem.

However, since implants are handcrafted to look indistinguishable from natural teeth, there’s a high level of artistic skill needed. Additionally, since it does everything cosmetic procedures can do and then some, it can be classified as more than just cosmetic.

Dental implants are biocompatible titanium posts that are implanted into the jawbone where teeth have been extracted or decayed. These implants bond with the jawbone preserving it from disintegration which happens when there’s no tooth to stimulate it.

The titanium implants then have an abutment permanently attached as well as a lifelike restoration on top. They’re indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Teeth Straightening

This procedure also blurs with orthodontics in some cases as there’s several ways to straighten teeth. In most cosmetic dentistry cases, teeth that only need minor straightening employ a cosmetic dentist. More serious bite issues and alignments require traditional metal braces.

Invisalign is one of the procedures that is meant for minor alignment issues. Rather than the invasive nature of metal braces, it uses plastic retainer trays. These trays are given to the patient to take home and they are graduated in effectiveness.

The retainers are made of clear medical-grade plastic that helps pull your teeth gently into position over time. Usually done over a year or more, it’s a very popular procedure among adults who don’t want the metal braces.

Just like with regular braces the adjustment must be continually maintained long after you achieve results. However, it’s a far easier process than traditional metal braces.

How Cosmetic Dentistry Benefits Your Life

With the help of cosmetic dentistry,  you can improve your smile while also improving your dental health. The only way you can get maximum value from your investment in a procedure though; is to follow through.

If you do, your cosmetic dentistry procedures can give you the smile you’ve always wanted and benefits many never know about:

• Improved Dental Health – While your appearance is improved with cosmetic dentistry it can in some cases also prevent future dental issues. For example, dental implants protect the jawbone and any remaining teeth. Cosmetic procedures alongside your regular checkups and good oral health routines will improve dental health.
• Healthier Diet – When you have a damaged or missing tooth, it can hinder your ability to properly chew food. This can mean nutrient deficiencies and issues that arise from that. However, many cosmetic procedures can improve that.

• Better Finances – Many cosmetic procedures have the benefit of preventing further damage to your teeth. This can end up helping you prevent much larger dental issues that require complex and expensive treatments.
• Improved self-confidence – A bright and healthy smile goes a long way towards boosting your self-confidence. Having a higher self-confidence impacts every aspect of our lives.

Get The Smile You Deserve From CDG

Whether your broken smile is something that only requires cosmetic help or a full restoration, we can bring it back!

Contact us today for your free consultation and let us show you how we can make you smile again!

 

A: We ask our new patients to bring their dental insurance cards if they have any. Also, fill out the new patient forms on the patient resource tab on our website.

Choosing the right prosthodontist in Houston for dental implants takes a fair amount of due diligence on your part. It’s comparable to any other investment such as a car or buying a new home.

The difference here is, that you’re making a decision that is going to positively impact all aspects of your life via your smile. So, if you want the best results from your smile restoration, you need a top prosthodontist in Houston.

We know you have many options to choose from, and we’re honored that you’d visit us for your free consultation. It is during your visit that we will get to know your situation, and your expectations and also answer any questions you may have.

To Get The Best Prosthodontist In Houston, Ask The Right Questions

To make the most of your consultation you’ll need to ask some critical questions regarding the procedure. It’s important to ask these questions so that you can make a well-informed decision and know what to expect.

When you’re making the rounds and researching the best prosthodontist in Houston for your needs, make sure you get an answer you’re satisfied with from the following:

Are My Jaw And Gums Healthy Enough For Dental Implants?

When you’re seeking dental implants, you’re looking for a permanent solution that is superior to dentures. Dental implants actually reinforce your jawbone and retain facial structure, but you need to start with a healthy baseline.

Not every patient will meet the following requirements to get dental implants. Even though we have the best prosthodontist in Houston, implants will fail if we overlook conditions that aren’t favorable.

Your oral health should meet these minimum criteria to proceed with dental implants:

• At least one missing tooth
• Your jawbone health and bone density are sufficient to host the implant
• If not, be willing, if you qualify, to get a bone graft procedure to bolster your jawbone
• Your gums are healthy and free of gingivitis
• You don’t have a chronic illness such as uncontrolled diabetes that impedes healing
• You don’t use or are willing to stop using tobacco

If you don’t meet these minimum guidelines listed above, you need to reconsider your options or make the adjustments necessary. This may include smoking cessation tools, dental prep work to improve oral health, and treatments for other conditions.

What Will My Treatment Plan Involve?

We don’t use a blanket treatment plan for all patients because everyone’s situation is unique. We instead, customize your treatment plan to target specific problems in your smile with real, permanent solutions. These solutions may or may not be right for others, because it’s custom-tailored to your circumstances. For example, if you’re only needing one tooth replaced, your solution will be more streamlined than someone needing a full arch.

That being said there are some common components to a treatment plan which include:

• Extracting decayed or damaged teeth
• Treatment of gum disease
• Bone grafts for implant surgery
• Crowns on existing teeth with damage that can be repaired
• Dental implants
• All on Four full mouth reconstruction

Don’t hesitate to ask follow-up questions or seek clarification on specific treatments. Even when dealing with the best prosthodontist in Houston, there’s topics we may overlook that you have concerns about.

Can You Replace All The Teeth In My Mouth?

You may be coming to see us because you have one or both arches of teeth failing. This can naturally be quite a traumatic life event. However, one of the benefits of seeing the top prosthodontist in Houston, is that we offer advanced implant solutions.

When needing to replace all the teeth in your mouth, we specialize in the All on Four method for full mouth reconstruction.

This procedure streamlines replacing all of your teeth into a one-day procedure. You walk in with decaying teeth and walk out the same day with a brand new smile.

All on Four uses a hybrid solution of dental implants and an advanced prosthetic denture. Unlike traditional dentures, this prosthesis is lifelike and is permanently attached via four strategically placed implants.

This not only preserves your jaw but also allows the same functionality as natural teeth with the same oral hygiene routine as well. No messy adhesives, no fizzy cleaning solution, and best of all no effect on your speech or chewing. All of this progress in a single day.

What Are My Payment Options?

There’s not one prosthodontist in Houston that can claim the best dental implants are cheap. As the old saying goes— cheap is never good, and good is never cheap. However, we’re talking about an investment into something for your smile. It’s life-changing, boosts your health, improves self-esteem, and gives you the best quality of life. It’s not like buying a luxury item that’s overindulgent. Fact is, dental implants should be considered a medical necessity by insurance companies, but they aren’t unfortunately.

However, we offer many attractive financing options such as CareCredit which offers very reasonable no-interest payment plans.  Additionally, check with your dental insurance provider as some of the better policies offer some assistance with dental implants.

How Do I Prepare For Dental Implant Surgery?

Preparing for dental implant surgery will vary from patient to patient based on individual circumstances. It’s important to ask the prosthodontist what you can expect. Although your preparation procedures may differ, below is a generic example:

• Tooth extractions— If there’s any decayed or damaged teeth remaining, we extract them so we can make room for your dental implants.

• Bone grafting— If there’s not enough bone mass in the jaw to secure the implants, we will take some bone material from another area of your body and graft it into the jawbone. This is an additional procedure that will significantly delay the implant procedure until sufficient bone mass grows.
• Gum disease treatment— We tackle any instances of gingivitis that if left untreated, will ultimately cause implant failure if implants were installed with that condition. Your gums must be free of disease or we cannot push forward.

Will My Dental Implant Procedure Hurt?

Again, this is where every patient will have a different experience. However, overall since implant surgery is done with the use of anesthesia, the surgery is painless.

Now, post-op, during recovery some patients feel slight discomfort as the site heals, however it’s easily mitigated with OTC pain medication. Our team will work with you to make the best decision for your comfort level with surgery.

Implant surgery also requires a strict recovery regimen, you must follow all the instructions given to you. Ignoring the advice of the doctor can lead to implant failure which is a huge step backward.

Although the pain is minimal, during post-op be prepared that you will likely experience the following after surgery:

• Bleeding
• Bruising around the surgery site
• Discomfort
• Swelling
• Low-grade fever

These are completely normal consequences and usually subside after a few days. Their impact on your life is mitigated through rest and the use of pain medication.

Generally, we recommend the following guidelines during recovery and healing:

• Do not use any tobacco products. Now is a good time to go ahead and remove these products from your life. You will be in a much better position in terms of overall health if you do.
• Be vigilant with oral hygiene
• Stick to soft, non-sticky/sugary foods
• Limit physical exertion

 

The Best Dental Implants In Houston Are Here

If you want to ensure the greatest chance of a successful dental implant procedure, you need the best in the field.

Dr. Hanna at Comprehensive Dental Group of Houston has performed thousands of successful procedures for clients that come from around the world.

To schedule your free consultation for dental implants, contact us today

A: To take care of your dental implants we always recommend a night guard as well as coming at least twice a year for dental cleanings.

Are you considering getting dental implants in Houston? You probably have a lot of questions that most patients ask as well. One of the most often asked questions we get asked is how to care for dental implants.

We understand. Dental implants in Houston dentistry, are one of the most popular tooth restoration options. Patients make a significant investment into their implants because they offer permanent benefits such as:

• Improved oral mechanic
• Boosts self-confidence
• Won’t decay like natural teeth
• Achieves a perfect smile
• Easy to care for

With something so advanced as dental implants, in Houston Q&A sessions most patients are concerned about maintenance. They tend to be under the impression that implants require more care than natural teeth. They assume that something as advanced as the implants we use must require as complex maintenance as dentures do.

Well, the truth is they are just as easy as caring for your natural teeth with one huge benefit—they can’t decay. So, you should be very excited because your smile is about to look perfect—permanently.

Now, even though they can’t decay, getting dental implants in Houston is not an excuse to forego proper oral hygiene. Food particles can still get stuck between the teeth on the prosthetic and in your gums. Failure to brush, floss, and use mouth wash daily can still lead to gum disease which can lead to implant failure among other issues.

If you want to get that perfect smile and keep it—proper oral care is still non-negotiable, it must be consistent. So what do you need to take care of your implants? Not much else than what you likely already have.

Caring For Dental Implants In Houston

Once you walk out of your dentist with your new smile, you’re going to be excited to take care of them. It’s like when you buy a new car, you are overly careful with it, dusting the inside daily, and washing it nonstop. However, over time you get a bit complacent and you slack on caring for your car.

The same thing happens when patients get dental implants in Houston. They see that perfect smile and they are so proud. They commit to taking excellent oral care and follow through—for a few months. Then, life sets in, they get busy and fall into the false sense of security just because implants don’t decay.

We see a lot of patients that come in with inflammation of the gums, halitosis, and other issues from slacking on oral care. It can happen due to:

• Forgetting to floss daily
• Brushing teeth every other day or longer (gross!)
• Missing regular dental checkups
• Only brushing once a day

So, not surprisingly, that’s the wrong way to go about caring for your dental implants. You’re risking your oral health by getting lazy just because implants don’t decay. So, what do you need to care for your implants? Well, it’s simple, keep reading to find out:

Brush Smarter, Not Harder

Once you get dental implants you may go gung ho on brushing and flossing and that’s not a bad thing. You just need to make sure you’re focusing on brushing smart, not hard. If you brush too hard or use a toothbrush with hard bristles you can do some damage.

Dental implants are strong, yes—but not invincible, and repeated brushing with hard bristles can scratch the surface. The solution is to go with a soft nylon toothbrush as nylon bristles are more flexible and perfect for implants.

Depending on your implants, you might also get a Proxabrush, which is a specially-designed toothbrush. It gets around the spaces surrounding your dental implants to make sure no spots are missed.

Either way, continue to brush twice daily (after you floss of course!)

Do Not Use Charcoal Paste Or Other Abrasive Fads

Whether you’re shopping for oral rinse or toothpaste stay away from charcoal products or anything with abrasives. These products are gimmicks that can damage both natural teeth and dental implants alike. Additionally, you might want to also avoid products with intense flavorings such as cinnamon. These flavorings can give you an uncomfortable feeling in your mouth.

Stay Flossy

No, we’re not talking about wearing the latest threads, we’re talking about floss at least twice a day. If you can maintain it, it’s even better to floss after every meal.

Flossing is critical to good oral health when you have natural teeth, and even more important with dental implants. Plaque can easily build up around your implants which can cause a condition called peri-implantitis. It’s the same thing as gum disease, but when you have dental implants. Rather than the result being tooth loss, your implants could fail.

As much of an investment as you make into dental implants, this can be a costly condition that’s easily avoided. Almost 98.5% of peri-implantitis cases are due to failure to properly care for dental implants in Houston.

The symptoms are identical to gum disease— inflamed gums, reddish color, and increased sensitivity. If it’s not treated properly, gums will bleed when you floss and brush. However, the good news is that if you catch it early and take care of it—it’s reversible.

There’s also floss that’s specifically designed for patients with implants, so there’s no excuse to skip flossing.

Avoid Tobacco And Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Avoiding smoking altogether and limiting alcohol consumption is a great way to improve your overall health. However, when you have implants it is even more important. Remember that on average, dental implant healing time is anywhere from 6 months to a year. Tobacco use during and after this time significantly increases your chance of implant failure. Nicotine usage and heavy alcohol consumption slow down your body’s healing process. If you’re consuming these two substances post-op, it’s a mistake that could cost you thousands. If your implants fail, you are liable and then you’re back to square one.

Don’t Skip Your Regular Dental Exams

Dental implants can restore your smile and they will never decay. However, that doesn’t mean you never need to get a checkup. It’s critical to see your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and exam. With proper hygiene and keeping up with your dental visits, your implants can last for the rest of your life.

CDG—The Best Dental Implants In Houston

The best way to care for dental implants is to start with the best dental implant surgeons in Houston. Dr. Hanna has performed thousands of successful implant procedures and can restore your smile in as little as one day.

Contact us today for a free consultation and get your smile back!

A: If you don’t like the shape or the color of your smile, then you are a great candidate for dental veneers.

Have you been considering doing something to improve your smile due to discoloration, or the shape of your smile? Maybe you’re wanting to really knock some socks off at your 20-year high school reunion. If your smile is healthy for the most part but just cosmetically imperfect, then veneers might be the perfect solution for you.

Before you fully commit though, we want to make sure you’re well informed before you decide on something so important.  You should know, that just because they can improve the appearance of your smile, it doesn’t mean you’re a good candidate.

Everyone’s dental situation is different, so it’s important to make sure this is an appropriate solution for your case. Let’s take a look at some basic facts first, then dive deeper.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are thin, cosmetic facades that cover mildly misshapen teeth or stained teeth. They are made from various materials with the most popular being durable porcelain due to their lifelike appearance.  It’s important to consider that this isn’t a permanent fix, but the process to place them does permanently alter your teeth. Your dentist must shave down a very thin surface layer of your teeth so they can be mounted flush.

So, in effect, once you decide to get veneers, you’re committed for life and they will need replacements about every 10-15 years. That number can change significantly depending on habits and how well you care for them.

They Are A Proven Cosmetic Tool

Created by a dentist way back in the late 1920s, these facades were used mainly for actors to enhance their smiles in their films. These, however, were strictly temporary and fit over the teeth without altering them.

In the late 30s, that dentist that created those temporary versions decided to craft a semi-permanent veneer from acrylic. These were designed to be worn all the time and of course, required shaving down the teeth to fit properly.

Over the years many advancements in veneer design and composition have led to some very impressive results. Veneers made from porcelain for example can be painted and given slight texture to realistically mimic natural teeth.  Today, thousands of everyday people with minor cosmetic issues, turn to veneers to dramatically improve the appearance of their smiles.

Veneer Types

Porcelain and composite veneers are the most common types available in cosmetic dentistry. There are a few details you should know about both of these and some other lesser-known variants.

Porcelain

Porcelain veneers are the ultimate choice for the truest to life smile makeover. The dentist will need to do some prep on your teeth, get impressions, and then send it to the lab for the veneers to be created. Aside from their durability, porcelain veneers are extremely resistant to staining, leaving you with a whiter smile.

If you do grind your teeth at night porcelain is also the better option due to them being stronger. However, you need to use a night guard to protect your teeth when sleeping. However, it should be noted that the guard is only a temporary measure. You need to determine the root cause of your bruxism to correct it.

Composite

Composite veneers are created from a resin and usually can be created on-site in the same visit. Even though they aren’t as strong as porcelain, they cost less and still deliver great results.  If you don’t have a lot of issues with your teeth, composite veneers are a great option.

No-Prep Veneers

Used primarily on the front teeth only, no-prep veneers, known by brands such as Lumineers or Durathin, are another option. Usually, there’s little to no prep work needed, no grinding or filing, as they are bonded to your teeth like composite veneers. They are bonded to your teeth like composite resin.

This makes no-prep veneers less expensive as well but it should be noted, they will feel a bit bulkier on your teeth. So, while they are less expensive, they aren’t as lifelike; some patients feel they look “fake.”

However, if you have teeth with a lot of issues, these might be your best alternative to traditional veneers. Just make sure you are extra diligent with your oral hygiene.

Trial Smile

Temporary veneers, often called trial smiles, are a temporary device your dentist may suggest before placing permanent veneers. Since the prep work for placing veneers is irreversible, this is a way to “try” veneers to be sure of your decision.

Trial smile veneers are usually made from a liquid resin on-site and are a bit thicker than actual veneers. They will feel a bit different than your natural teeth unlike veneers which feel closer to natural teeth, but it’s not a permanent commitment either.

Are Veneers For You?

If you have permanently stained teeth that have been unresponsive to whitening procedures, this treatment is a good option.

If you have a slight gap or slightly misshapen teeth, they can hide that and give the appearance of a perfect smile.

Essentially, any minor cosmetic issue you have with your teeth can be hidden using this semi-permanent treatment. You don’t even need to cover all of your teeth. You can simply get veneers for as little as one tooth that has a cosmetic issue if that’s your preference.

Perfect for people with:

• Internally stained teeth (below the enamel) that can’t be altered with whitening procedures
• Cosmetically damaged (not functionally damaged) teeth from trauma
• Overall aesthetic dissatisfaction with your smile

Who Should Opt-Out?

Unfortunately, while this treatment is widely adaptable to most patients, there are some conditions where you should opt-out of using veneers.

• Bruxism (grinding your teeth)
• Cavities
• Advanced Gum Issues
• Functional Alignment or Malocclusion issues

Patients who suffer from grinding their teeth or clenching in their sleep, also known as bruxism, are usually not good candidates. It doesn’t matter what material the ones you choose are made from; bruxism will drastically shorten their lifespan.

Also, if your teeth are in a state of decay or your oral health is in bad shape, this would only complicate things. Veneers do nothing to address decay, oral health, or cavities—they are purely cosmetic.

If you get veneers with unresolved cavities or gum disease, these conditions will worsen and create bigger problems.  In case such as these, you should consider alternative treatments such as root canals, or a crown. For best results, consult with your dentist to determine which treatment is best for you.

Also, they cannot resolve crooked teeth or bite alignment issues. If you get veneers with these issues, it will only be masked. Furthermore, you could actually be leaving yourself vulnerable to deeper issues. Again, veneers merely mask minor imperfections that do not affect the functionality of your teeth or oral health.

Instead of opting for this cosmetic treatment when dealing with alignment and crooked teeth you might want to discuss orthodontic treatments with your dentist instead.

Wanting The Perfect Smile? Come Visit Us!

At CDG of Houston, we are here to give you the best possible option for the perfect smile you deserve. Contact us today to discuss your veneer options with one of our smile specialists.