by Dr. Adkins | Feb 18, 2022 | Blog, Dental Topics 2, Implant Dentistry
Having a hole in your smile is not only embarrassing or unsightly, it also impacts the function of your mouth. It’s much easier to eat and speak with a full set of teeth. In the past, dentures or bridges were the go-to solutions for missing teeth. Not anymore! Dental implants provide a secure and permanent way to restore your smile.
A dental implant is a titanium rod that creates an artificial tooth root in the location that yours is missing. It is surgically implanted into your jaw so that as it heals, it fuses with your jawbone and becomes a permanent part of your body. Once the area has healed, an artificial tooth is placed on top of the titanium rod to give you back a fully functional and attractive tooth.
Dental implants offer many advantages to patients:
- Permanent
- No impact to neighboring teeth
- Attractive and natural
- Feels like a real tooth
- Secure
- Prevents migration of teeth
Implants are installed using local anesthesia, so you will not experience pain during the procedure. Minor swelling may occur afterwards, and any pain can usually be treated with over-the-counter products. Risks are low with dental implants, and long-term results are successful in most cases. Good oral care is important in maintaining your implants, but is no different than your regular brushing and flossing routine. Regular checkups with your dentist will help ensure that your implant remains in your smile forever.
We look forward to seeing you in our McDonough dental office
by Dr. Adkins | Feb 11, 2022 | Blog, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Topics 2
Most people are not born with a perfect appearance. Some people turn to cosmetic surgery to correct or enhance the things they find unappealing about their looks. However, if cosmetic surgery is not on your agenda, cosmetic dentistry offers many procedures and treatments to quickly and successfully improve your appearance. Because your smile is usually the first impression you make on the world, fixing stains, cracks, gaps, and other imperfections can make a dramatic impact.
While many cosmetic dental procedures can be performed by your general dentist, a cosmetic dentist has a distinct advantage when you are seeking to improve your smile.
A cosmetic dentist makes it their business to have extensive knowledge and training in the treatments specific to improving the appearance of your teeth. Just a few of the procedures and treatments provided by a qualified cosmetic dentist include:
- Dental implants
- Dental crowns
- Dental bridges
- Porcelain veneers
- Teeth straightening
- Composite bonding
- Teeth whitening
- Dentures
In cooperation with a qualified cosmetic dentist, you can elect to have one or a combination of cosmetic dental treatments to perfect your smile. You may just need whitening to brighten and beautify your discolored teeth, or you may need whitening as well as bonding for gapped or chipped teeth. You may even need clear braces or veneers to straighten a crooked smile. A cosmetic dentist will have the knowledge to coordinate treatments to achieve the desired result with the least amount of time, discomfort, and complications. With the help of an experienced and qualified cosmetic dentist, you can improve not only your smile but the overall appearance you present to the world.
Our dental office is located in McDonough
by Dr. Adkins | Feb 4, 2022 | Blog, Dental Topics 2, Family Dentistry
Proper dental care and oral health should start early in life. Because children’s needs and dental procedures are different than those of adults, it’s important to find a family dental practice that can meet the needs of even the youngest members of your family. Your child’s first dental checkup should take place before the age of one, as soon as the first tooth has erupted. Some of the pediatric dental care options to look for in a family dental practice include:
- Child specific dental health exams and risk assessment
- Preventative oral care including cleanings, sealants, and fluoride treatments
- Care for dental trauma such as fractured, displaced or knocked-out teeth
- Treatment of dental cavities and defects
- Identification and treatment of gum inflammation and disease
- Early assessment, treatment, and recommendations for misaligned teeth or an improper bite
Along with the proper pediatric training, it’s essential that your family dentist is equipped to make your child feel comfortable and relaxed at dental visits. Many practices offer child-friendly amenities such as game rooms, videos, and prizes and rewards for completing a successful visit. Ask your family dentist if they allow parents to accompany children in the treatment room, as this will put both you and your child at ease.
To ensure a lifetime of excellent oral health, your child should visit the dentist every six months for dental cleanings and checkups. Children are not born with a fear of the dentist, and with the right family dental practice they should never have to develop that fear. Take the time to find a family dental practice that understands the special attention required to treat children so your entire family can enjoy visiting the dentist.
Schedule your appointment at our McDonough dental office
by Dr. Adkins | Jan 14, 2022 | Blog, Dental Topics 2, Implant Dentistry
Are you missing one or more teeth? Dental implants are among the best possible solutions for patients missing teeth. Dental bridges and dentures can fill the gaps left by acute decay or gingivitis, but dental implants have many advantages over these other techniques.
Dental implants are typically made of titanium and serve as an artificial root for a missing tooth. They are fused directly to the jawbone and become an excellent foundation for replacement teeth. They are the best possible substitute for a natural tooth that a dentist can provide.
Dental implant therapy has several benefits, among them:
- Dental implants are very convenient. Bridges necessitate cleaning carefully under and surrounding the bridged tooth, and dentures need to be removed and specially cleaned and can utilize messy adhesives to affix them to your mouth. Dental implants are cleaned exactly as you would clean your natural tooth. Brush and floss normally. There is no slippage or cleaning beneath or between the replacement tooth, which is permanently attached to the gum via the dental implant, which fuses to the bone in a process known as ossification.
- Dental implants look better than other replacement teeth. They are intended to appear and function as your natural tooth would.
- Because they’re fused to your bone, they are more secure than dentures or bridges that can slip in the oral cavity, causing pain, muddled speech and problems eating or drinking. Dental implants are incapable of slippage, leaving you to lead your life with confidence and security.
- Dental implants preserve bone by stimulating the bone in your jaw, something necessary for the health of the bone. Without this stimulation, the bone can begin to shrink.
- Dental implants are very durable and can last for decades, if not for a lifetime, when cared for properly.
- Because dental implants don’t require any alterations to the surrounding teeth, those natural teeth are able to remain intact, lending to your overall good oral health.
If you need a dentist in McDonough contact us today
by Dr. Adkins | Jan 7, 2022 | Blog, Dental Topics 2, Implant Dentistry
People are talking about dental implants. They’re talking about what a secure, longterm solution they are for patients with missing teeth and how successful they are for dental patients of all types. Are you wondering if you’re a candidate for dental implant treatment? The answer is yes, you probably are!
The one factor that’s a must for being a dental implant candidate is that you must have a missing tooth. The AAOMS (American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons) estimates that as many as 70% of all adults have lost a minimum of one adult tooth. If you are among this group and you have a missing tooth, you’re a candidate for dental implants. Some patients are better suited to this particular treatment, however, so making an informed decision regarding your particular tooth replacement is vital.
The healthier you are, the more successful your dental implant surgery will be. Some health conditions and diseases should be strongly factored into whether or not dental implants are the best tooth replacement option. Patients with the following conditions may experience difficulty in the fusing of implant and bone:
- Smoking
- Cancer
- Radiation to the jaws or face
- Diabetes
- Drug or alcohol dependency
- Acute gum disease/periodontitis
Typically, a tooth is lost due to an accident, tooth decay, advanced gum disease or a failed root canal treatment. Even though the cause of the tooth’s loss might be through poor oral health, the healthier your mouth and surrounding teeth are, the more successful a dental implant will be.
Because the health of the bone is directly related to the strength of the fusion of the bone to implant, patients with healthier bones will have more successful experiences with dental implants. Maintain a diet high in calcium and other bone-nourishing nutrients and drink plenty of fluids.
If you live in the McDonough area contact us today
by Dr. Adkins | Dec 24, 2021 | Blog, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Topics 2
With advances in cosmetic dentistry, almost every aspect of your smile can undergo a transformation with a smile makeover. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile, a combination of cosmetic and restorative dentistry treatment procedures can help you to achieve the beautiful smile of your dreams. Some of the dental issues that can be changed with a smile makeover include:
- Dull, yellow or stained teeth can be whitened and brightened up to 10 shades through a variety of teeth whitening methods.
- Chipped, cracked, stained or gapped teeth can be hidden, repaired and straightened by utilizing porcelain veneers or dental bonding.
- Missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants that restore the look, feel and function of natural teeth.
- The problem of missing teeth can also be corrected with the placement of a dental bridge.
- Receding gums, or an uneven or low gum line can be fixed with gum contouring and grafting procedures.
- Crooked or misaligned teeth can be corrected with orthodontic options like Invisalign or traditional metal braces.
In coordination with a qualified cosmetic dentist, a customized treatment plan can be created to address any or all of your cosmetic dental concerns. Your plan may start with just one procedure or include a combination of several treatments to achieve the look you desire for your smile. A smile makeover can not only change the look of your smile through a series of dental treatments, it can also change your self-confidence by giving you a beautiful new smile with which to face the world.
Schedule your appointment at our McDonough dental office
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