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“one size fits one” dentistry

San Diego Guide to Dental Implants and Avoiding Gum Disease

A dental patient getting treatment done at the dentist

Over my thirty plus years of practicing dentistry in San Diego, implants have taken a more central role in my treatment of patients. Implants go far beyond cosmetic dentistry in ways few could have imagined 30 years ago. In fact, when it comes to dental implants, I tell my clients they have been the biggest game changer of my career.

 When I was in dental school at UCLA, dental implants had just come to the United States from Sweden. One of the very first continuing education programs for dental surgeons was held at UCLA while I was in dental school. The program organizers asked for students to help on the weekends, handing out forms, setting up tables, that sort of thing. In return, we got the books, and they let us sit in on the classes.

 One of the classes I got to attend was about dental implants, and I was just blown away by what I saw. We had only been told about implants in school because they were so new, and here was the instructor showing patients who were successfully functioning with implants. 

It was a while before I got to do one myself, as it took a while for dental implants to become a regular part of dental care. To me, implants are the most amazing of all dental services, but I’m getting ahead of myself.  

 What Is a Dental Implant?

Today, a typical dental implant is called a root form implant. These implants use a titanium screw that is embedded into the bone. Just like knees and hips, the human body loves titanium. The bone actually grows around it to become a very rigid root form. 

On top of that is a receptacle with threads, on which I can attach a dental crown, a bridge or a denture. I can attach one tooth at a time, a whole arch, or some variation of both.

 Dental implants have changed dentures dramatically, because, let’s face it, the best denture in the world is miserable. There is no way to create any kind of suction, so the denture moves a lot. And, the tongue is always moving, which also pushes the denture around. By attaching a denture to a couple of implants, the dentures can be snapped on firmly—no more moving around.

 Implants are a regular part of my practice now. For a single tooth, I put the implant in, wait a few months for the bone to attach onto it, then screw on an abutment and cement a crown on top of it.

Best of all, dental implants have a 95% success rate. There aren’t a lot of medical procedures with that kind of record.

 How Dental Diseases Factor In

 Teeth are supposed to last our entire lifetimes. The fact that they don’t has a lot to do with the way we care for them. There are two basic dental diseases: cavities and gum disease. Both figure prominently in implant decisions.

 Let’s start with cavities. You have a big cavity and get a crown on the tooth, but then the tooth gets sore. Next comes a root canal, but the tooth gets sore again. 

Why? It turns out that the root split. Now the tooth can’t be saved, and has to be extracted, making the perfect case for an implant.

 In the case of gum disease, where people lose the gums around their teeth — what we call periodontal disease — teeth fall out because the bone and gum have melted away around them. In many cases, a graft is necessary to restore the bone, making it possible to place an implant.

Typically with a fractured root, the surgeon extracts the tooth, then puts in bone grafting material to restore the bone level. In the case of gum disease where you’ve had a lot of bone loss, there are a number of surgical grafting procedures to consider. 

Sometimes we go to the hip to get bone material, which means it’s a big deal. It’s rare, but I’ve only had a handful of patients needing such a procedure in my career. The better you take care of your teeth, the less likely such a procedure will be.

 Signs of periodontal disease include bleeding gums and loose teeth. If your gums are bleeding, it isn’t normal. Not even when you get a new toothbrush. If your gums are healthy, your gums should never bleed.

 What Can You Do?

There’s a good reason why dentists constantly encourage patients to brush and floss. The majority of adult dental problems, like tooth decay and gum disease, start between the teeth. By brushing and flossing, you keep the bacteria out from between the teeth on a daily basis, and the list of problems goes way down.

Brushing and flossing is just as important with implants. Once in, the new tooth has to be cared for just like your other teeth. It will get plaque on it, so it needs to be flossed and brushed just like you would a regular tooth.

I tell my patients this all the time: If everybody flossed, I would be fixing cars, because there just wouldn’t be that much dentistry to do. As with most illnesses, it begins with good hygiene. Take care of your teeth, and your teeth will take care of you. 

However, there are times when losing teeth can’t be avoided: thankfully, dental implants are a great option. If you think you might benefit from dental implants, let’s talk about it: I’m here to take care of you.

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