(217) 546-3333Replace 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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Dental Implants: A Natural Alternative to Dentures
February 17, 2014
Are you one of the thousands of people wearing dentures which do not fit correctly? Dentures which have not been fit properly can cause discomfort. While many are happy with the look and feel of their dentures, there is a long-lasting, more natural looking alternative. If you are wearing dentures at the moment and would like a change, dental implants may be right for you.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a replacement tooth root that is fixed into the jaw bone and acts as a foundation to support dental prosthetics. When implants are installed, your dentist will drill small holes into the jawbone, and position small, threaded rods made from titanium. When the process has been completed, the dental implants will be tightened and fixed into place so that they will not move. Dental implants are positioned where teeth are missing so that they can act as a foundation for a dental crown or bridge which can be attached to the threaded rod.
There are many benefits of using dental implants. Most importantly, they form a firm foundation for affixing permanent replacement teeth. Because the teeth are permanent, eating and speaking become easier. Dental implants firmly rooted in the jaw, look, and act just as your natural teeth. Titanium rods do not cause allergic reactions and are therefore a great option to those who have sensitivity to those materials. While implants can cost more then dentures, the long-lasting, durable and natural look of them makes them worth the investment. You will smile, eat, and speak as naturally just as if you had all of your original teeth.
If you have poorly fitted dentures, lost or damaged teeth and would like to know more about how dental implants can benefit you, make an appointment by calling Dr. Matt VanderMolen at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield today at 217-717-4551.
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Laugh Out Loud in 2014
January 28, 2014
By Dr. Matt VanderMolen
Advanced Dental Care of Springfield
Here is a story that is educational and motivational. I sincerely hope it will help you, a friend, or a loved one to laugh out loud in 2014.
Jane liked to bowl and always scored well. She joined a league, and she was on a winning team. Her teammates were happy to have such a high scorer on their team. But they found Jane to be too serious, and even unfriendly, while they played. She rarely smiled or laughed. They also found her to be antisocial because she always said “no” to their invitations to go out for a bite to eat after they bowled. After several rejections to their invitations, her teammates quit asking.
Was Jane really a negative and antisocial person? Years ago, in another community, Jane was the captain of her bowling team. She was always smiling and quick to shout out words of encouragement to her teammates – even to the opposing team bowlers! She usually organized all the parties and celebrations.
So what happened? Jane lost her teeth to gum disease. She got dentures that looked like dentures – not how her real teeth used to be. The lower denture was very loose and hard to manage. She had to limit herself to eating softer foods. Jane was embarrassed that she had lost her teeth, and she was embarrassed about her smile. She also was highly fearful of what embarrassing thing might happen while she ate in front of other people. She suspected her current bowling teammates thought she wasn’t very pleasant and antisocial. This hurt her because they were nice people.
Jane’s daughter encouraged her to see the dentist. She told Jane a lot of things had changed in dentistry in the past twelve years since she had her teeth out. Jane decided to come into the office and found there had indeed been some changes! She was greeted with warm and friendly smiles. She was embarrassed it had been so long since she had been to the dentist, but the dental staff seemed genuinely happy to see her and interested in how they could help her. She learned how her teeth could be replaced so her smile would look natural again. She learned that when you lose teeth you also lose bone in your jaw as well. She also learned how the bone loss made the lower part of her face shrink and how that made the corners of her mouth pull down into a frown.
Thankfully, she was offered the latest dental implant technology to bring back her smile. Her frown lines were gone, and her face looked ten years younger. On top of all these benefits, she found out about dental implants. Dental implants could be placed in her jaws in a way that would allow her dentures to actually snap into place and stay put. No more worries about loose dentures. Jane could now eat what she wanted instead of only eating what loose-fitting dentures would allow.
Jane is back to being the happy extrovert she used to be, and everyone on her bowling team is impressed with the transformation. Jane is laughing out loud and excited to see what 2014 will bring. Go Jane!
As a dentist, I am frustrated by how little the general population knows about what modern dentistry has to offer. There are far too many “Janes” out there who are needlessly, quietly suffering. Your smile defines you. You adapt to your smile. If your smile is broken, you adapt to it and become broken as a person. The good news is broken smiles can be fixed.
Dentistry has amazing technologies and treatments to off
er, and I want everyone to know most everyone can have a great smile. Let me repeat that. Most everyone can have a great smile.
If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, come see what you are missing. At Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, we would be happy to have our fantastic staff show you our amazing technologies and the awesome results we achieve for our patients. There has never been a better time to see a dentist. Call 217-546-3333 or visit us at www.SmileSpringfield.com.
Implant Dentistry: Preserving Natural Dentition
January 27, 2014
Preserving natural dentition
Dental implants have become one of the most comfortable and effective means of tooth replacement. The use of dental implants has become widespread because of the excellent aesthetic and functional properties they offer. Among the numerous benefits of dental implants, the most important is the preservation of natural dentition, or the natural array of the teeth.
When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone loses support from the tooth and can undergo resorption, or bone loss. When a dental implant is placed into the same socket as the missing tooth, it provides support for the jawbone, helping to prevent unnecessary bone loss.
Tooth loss also creates an imbalance in the dental occlusion. The teeth that are near the missing tooth become functionally compromised. The rest of the teeth can drift, causing unnatural gaps between them. Food particles and debris can get trapped in these gaps and become difficult to remove. Trapped food particles can lead to tooth decay, gum disease or more serious dental problems if they are not treated correctly. Proper oral hygiene can become difficult when teeth lose their natural alignment, thus increasing the chances of periodontal disease. Dental implants can prevent these problems by providing a natural, functional replacement for the missing tooth.
In some other options for teeth restoration, such as bridges, the integrity of neighboring teeth can be adversely affected. This is mainly due to the fact that they derive their support from the adjacent teeth. The periodontal ligament and the bone of the adjacent teeth used as support have to bear extra stress which, over time, weakens them. This can eventually lead to loss of support teeth. Dental implants are inserted directly into the bone so they do not require support from the neighboring teeth. They function independently and look similar to your other teeth, leaving you with a natural, healthy smile.
Are you interested in learning more about dental implants? Dr. Matt VanderMolen and our staff would be happy to answer your questions. Call and make an appointment at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield today, 217-717-4551.
5 Things You Should Know About Restorative Dentistry
January 13, 2014
5 Things You Should Know About Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry works to address dental problems associated with diseases and structures of the teeth. Many patients seek restorative or cosmetic dentistry when they are missing a tooth. From filling cavities to dental implants, here are a few things you should know about dental implants and restorative dentistry.
There are many types of restorative dentistry. While simple fillings are a well-known restorative procedure, there are numerous other types of restorations available which can replace or repair a broken tooth. Crowns, bridges, implants and dentures are just a few of the common solutions available.
Restorative dentistry can improve your overall health. If you have missing or misshapen teeth, there are gaps and irregular spaces for bacteria and food to collect. This can deteriorate the health of the mouth by encouraging tooth decay and gum disease. Missing teeth can cause strain on existing teeth and allow them to fall out of alignment.
Dental implants are a very effective way to replace teeth. Dental implants are nowadays, a common procedure where a metal post is attached to the jaw bone and a natural looking crown is then attached to this post. Implants have little to no physical complications and if taken care of properly, can last a lifetime.
Dental implants may be more costly than other replacement options, but last longer. It’s true what they say, you get what you pay for. While dental implants are a substantially higher investment then dentures or other replacement options, they offer durable and long lasting results. The cost of implants will vary greatly depending on numerous factors. Talk with your dentist today to find out more about the exact costs and payment options.
Restorative dentists are not all the same. It is important that you choose a dentist qualified and experienced in restorations and implants if you want to maintain a natural looking smile. Not all products and procedures are treated the same. Ask your doctor which oral restorative methods and products they use, ask for before and after photographs, and what type of experience they have in the procedures they are recommending for you.
If you are looking for a dentist with experience in restorative dentistry and dental implants, call Dr. Matt VanderMolen at 217-717-4551. The friendly staff at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield will be happy to answer all of your questions and help schedule a consultation today.