(217) 546-3333Caring for Your Dental Implants
March 31, 2014
Dental implants are one of the most common types of tooth replacement used in dentistry today. After receiving dental implants to replace broken or missing teeth, there are a few guidelines you should follow to ensure a speedy and comfortable healing process. Creating a proper aftercare routine will help you maintain your implants for years to come.
It is incredibly important to maintain proper oral hygiene following dental implant surgery. Your dentist may give you a special mouthwash to use a few times each day. Salt water washes can speed the recovery in the healing area and may be recommended a few times each day. Regular brushing and flossing is encouraged for the entire mouth, including the healing areas. Start very gently in tender areas and increase pressure gradually. Daily oral maintenance will keep surgical areas from becoming infected and painful.
Immediately after surgery, you can expect light bleeding and swelling to occur. Apply ice packs around the neck and face to reduce swelling and blood flow to the area following the general rule of 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. Biting down on gauze can also help to stop bleeding near the surgical site. If blood flow cannot be stopped, or lasts for a few days, contact your dentist immediately.
Your dentist will send you home with pain management instructions. Often all that is needed is over-the-counter pain medication. Most dental implant surgeries cause minimal pain and tenderness for a few days. Depending on the specifics of your surgery, you may be given prescription pain meds or antibiotics.
Avoid disturbing the surgical site as much as possible during healing. Spitting, rinsing and using a straw should also be avoided to ensure that clots remain in place. Physical exercise can increase blood flow, and is not recommended for the first few days after surgery.
Dr. Matt VanderMolen will give you detailed instructions for proper after-care following your dental implant surgery. Contact the friendly staff at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, 217-717-4991, to learn more today.
Replace Missing Teeth & Support Bone Structure with Dental Implants
March 3, 2014
How can dental implants support facial bone structure?
Tooth loss is a common occurrence as age increases. Many people do not know that losing teeth can affect your facial bone structure, as bone around a missing tooth tends to deteriorate. Preventative maintenance and regular dental visits can help to prevent tooth loss, but many still find themselves with missing teeth. Dental implants can replace your missing teeth and restore your natural smile.
A Missing Tooth Affects the Facial Bone
When teeth fall out naturally, become damaged from trauma, or are removed for health reasons the jawbone is affected. Pressure on our natural teeth during eating and chewing provide healthy stimulation to the underlying bone which helps keep it strong and healthy. When teeth are missing, this pressure is not maintained and the bone can start to deteriorate. With dental implants, the jawbone will maintain the stimulation it needs and maintain its natural strength.
A Dental Implant Mimics a Real Tooth
A dental implant acts just as a real tooth does in function and design. Since each tooth has a specific role for eating, the loss of even a single one can affect your ability to chew. Replacing a missing tooth helps maintain the dental arch structure of your mouth and your chewing ability.
Not only do teeth function in eating, but they maintain the placement of your facial features as well. When teeth are lost, movement takes place beneath the skin that can alter the look of your mouth and face. Dental implants can prevent this movement while maintaining your outer appearance.
Dental implants, though not true teeth, provide the most natural alternative in both form and function.
Dr. Matt VanderMolen is the dental implant specialist you can trust for all your replacement needs. For more information about how dental implants, contact Advanced Dental Care of Springfield at 217-717-4551. We look forward to working for you!
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Sedation Dentistry for Multiple Dental Treatments
February 24, 2014
When you are considering dental treatments, you want your dentist to not only offer you experience and quality but also the maximum level of comfort with as little pain as possible. Often people avoid dental treatments all together because they are worried about the amount of pain involved. Some avoid procedures that will require multiple visits because they do not have the time or money. Sedation dentistry can eliminate pain during procedures, decrease office visits and allow your dentist to work quickly and efficiently.
Sedation keeps a person in a state of relaxation. If you opt for sedation during your dental procedure you will remain conscious throughout the process; you will be able to answer basic questions about your level of comfort. The sedation medication will reduce your anxiety, uplift your mood, and block pain receptors. You will feel light pressure in place of discomfort. You will be totally relaxed and calm during the entire procedure.
Many dental procedures are time-consuming and can require several appointments. If you have a complicated restoration, you may be weary of the long procedures and return visits. It can be difficult to schedule multiple appointments. Sedation dentistry allows many off these multi-visit procedures to be completed in a single visit. This can save time and money for the patient by reducing the number of clinic visits, time off of work and recovery time.
Many dentists find sedation dentistry beneficial as it raises their level of productivity and reduces the stresses that come with many dental procedures. Because you will be more relaxed during sedation, it is easier for the dentist to complete their work accurately and at a faster pace.
To learn more about sedation dentistry, call our friendly staff at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield at 217-717-4551 for an appointment with Dr. Matt VanderMolen. Our expert team will be happy to answer any of your questions.
Keeping Current with Checkups as an Adult is Necessary
January 20, 2014
Preventative Dental Checkups Keep Your Mouth Healthy
Parents should develop a regular dental care routine for their children, including regular visits to the dentist. Once we reach adulthood, regular checkups are often overlooked. Many of us think that we will maintain a healthy smile as long as we practice good oral hygiene. While good at-home-care is essential for a healthy mouth, regularly visiting your dentist is an essential part of preventative dentistry for both children and adults.
Dental Visits Are Not Just for Emergencies
Only visiting the dentist when you have a problem or dental emergency is not good practice. Keeping your teeth healthy requires routine cleaning and evaluation. There could be more substantial issues developing with your teeth and gums that only your dentist will be able to notice. Early signs of periodontal disease and alignment issues can be detected well in advance during a routine visit to the dentist. No one should wait until they experience pain to visit the dentist. Without regular check-ups, tooth decay and gum disease can lead to costly procedures and additional appointments. These can often be avoided all together if they are caught early enough. Preventative dental appointments help keep your mouth and body healthy.
Teeth Change as We Age
Throughout our life, our body goes through many changes. Many of us work hard to keep fit through regular exercise and a balanced diet. While we clean and floss our teeth daily in our own homes, we are unable to get the deep clean and plaque removal that a dentist can provide over the long term. Deep cleaning and plaque removal help to prevent the development of cavities which, if not detected early, can result in much more expensive and invasive procedures.
Periodontal disease is very easy to detect by a dentist, but not so simple to diagnose by someone without training. Early detection will result in fewer treatments, and in turn, less money spent. To avoid developing serious dental issues, be sure to schedule checkups and annual exams with your dentist.
If you have been putting off those regular check-ups you should act now by calling Dr. Matt VanderMolen at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield today – 217-717-4551.
Repairing a Chipped Tooth with Dental Bonding
January 6, 2014
If you have chipped or cracked teeth, you will be happy to know there is a safe and easy solution. You no longer have to live with unsightly, damaged teeth. Dr. Matt VanderMolen provides dental bonding and other cosmetic dentistry services at Advanced Dental Care in Springfield IL to help make your smile something you can’t wait to share.
What is Dental Bonding?
Dental bonding involves the placement of a plastic-based adhesive which cosmetically fixes flaws in the teeth. The adhesive is colored, shaped, and polished to match the contour of your natural teeth. The entire procedure is quick, easy, and painless. Anesthetics are rarely needed for dental bonding procedures. If you have several teeth that require dental bonding it may be necessary to schedule multiple visits to the dentist; the process requires approximately 30 minutes per tooth.
The Dental Bonding Process
Dr. VanderMolen will perform a general cleaning of your teeth and gums before proceeding with the dental bonding process. A special tool is used to roughen the outer surface of any teeth requiring bonding. A conditioning solution will then be spread to help the bonding material adhere to the tooth. The bonding material, which has been shaped prior to the procedure, is applied on top of the conditioning solution. For long-lasting effects, the bond is then hardened with an ultraviolet light or laser.
Precautions
If you practice good oral hygiene techniques, such as brushing and flossing twice a day and regularly visiting your dentist for check-ups, your dental bond will remain in good condition for many years. However, there are a couple of precautions to take after the procedure.
The material used for dental bonding is not quite as strong as tooth enamel; you should try to avoid biting on hard objects such as the tops of pens, ice cubes or your own fingernails as this can result in a chipped or lost dental bond. For the first 48 hours following the procedure, the resin used in the tooth bonding is particularly susceptible to discoloration. In order to prevent staining your new smile, avoid drinking liquids such as wine, coffee, and tea. Smoking can also discolor dental bonds and should be avoided.
If you have a chipped or cracked tooth and are interested in learning more about how dental bonding can give you back your natural smile, call Dr. VanderMolen at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, 217-717-4551 to schedule an appointment today.