(217) 546-3333Advanced Dental Care of Springfield Blog
Replace Missing Teeth and Support Bone Structure with Dental Implants
January 15, 2013
How can dental implants support facial bone structure?
Teeth loss has become a more common occurrence as the average age of our population increases. Unfortunately, losing teeth affects our facial bone structure, as bone around a missing tooth tends to deteriorate. It is always best to keep our natural teeth for as long as possible but regrettably, teeth do get lost, and it does affect our appearance. Dental implants can make all the difference.
A Missing Tooth Affects the Facial Bone
When a tooth falls out on its own accord, or is removed because trauma or health reasons, the underlying bone does not need to give support to the pressure that comes from chewing. This pressure offers healthy stimulation that keeps the bone strong and healthy. Going ahead with a dental implant installation means it will provide the jaw bone with the stimulation it needs and will also help to maintain the bone that is still there.
A Dental Implant Mimics a Real Tooth
A dental implant acts in a similar way to a real tooth. Every tooth in the mouth has a specific role and the loss of only one tooth can have a great effect on your bite and your ability to chew. When a missing tooth is replaced it helps to keep the dental arch structure in place and provides better assistance when chewing. Once teeth have been removed, the bone that supports these teeth starts to erode.
The bone and teeth help to keep some of the parts of our face in the right place. When teeth are lost, the face alters because of the movement that is taking place beneath the skin. A set of dental implants can assist in slowing down this process and keep our face and jaw healthy and looking young.
Dental implants take on the role of pushing on the bone in a way that is quite similar to how natural teeth act. Even though they are not true teeth, they are the closest you can get to natural teeth when compared to all other sorts of dental reconstructions. A dental implant provides the stimulation that the bone requires to stay intact.
Dr. VanderMolen is the dental implant specialist you can trust for all your replacement needs. For more information about this and all our other services, contact our office at (217) 546-3333. We look forward to working for you! Click here for more information on all the services available at Advanced Dental Care.
Dental Implants: Full Arch Replacement Solution
January 8, 2013
Full arch replacement is a lifetime dental solution
Dentistry has become so advanced in the 21st century that losing teeth is not as disabling as it used to be. There is no need to have the mouth measured for a full set of dentures as there are options available that can transform your mouth and fill it with a full set of permanently fixed teeth. This is referred to as full arch tooth replacement and offers the additional advantage of keeping the shape of the face intact as well as allowing full use of the teeth.
A fixed bridge is secured permanently into the mouth on dental implants. This allows the person to
- Eat as if the teeth were real
- Have a life long stable solution to teeth loss
- Keep the shape of their face intact
- Maintain bone density
- Have natural looking teeth.
There are a number of stages involved for installing a full arch tooth replacement and each plan and procedure involved is specific to the individual’s situation. It is therefore necessary to be examined by a dentist so that an individual plan for treatment can be organized.
The first stage involves installing dental implants, which replace the tooth roots that have been removed. Five dental implants are put in place and temporary teeth are attached which allow the patient to eat normally while the permanent fixed bridge is being prepared for installation.
The second stage proceeds when the dental implants have healed completely and fused with the jawbone. This then allows the fixed bridge to be installed securely. This type of full jaw replacement normally requires 2-3 visits to the dentist to have the fixed bridge attached.
Once the fixed bridge has been installed and secured by the dental implants, the new teeth will look almost the same as normal teeth.
There are numerous advantages over the traditional removable dentures, particularly when it comes to premature aging when bone is lost around the face and lips. Additionally, the comfort level of the full arch tooth replacement is far superior to removable dentures.
If you have an interest in discussing this life changing procedure, contact Advanced Dental Care and Dr. VanderMolen.
Call (217) 546-3333 today. Click here for more information on the services available from Dr. VanderMolen.
Tips for Keeping Your Teen’s Braces Clean
December 31, 2012
Tips for Helping Your Teenager Keep Their Braces Clean
It’s common for teens to sometimes be a little lax in their day-to-day dental care, but the negative effects of not keeping up on this regular cleaning can be exacerbated if braces or another orthodontics device is involved.
While orthodontics are used to help improve and perfect a smile, if not cleaned daily issues such as gum inflammation, discoloration of teeth, and halitosis may present themselves. A bit of preventative dentistry is all it takes to keep your teen’s mouth in a good state of health.
To assist your teen in preventing painful gum inflammation you should remind them to clean their 
teeth after eating and brush at least twice a day. If you’re family dentistry office hasn’t given them a few spiral dental brushes, pick some up for your teen. These special brushes work well to remove debris that has become lodged in and around the braces and teeth. They are also small enough that your teen can carry them around in their purse, wallet, or backpack inconspicuously and use whenever needed.
If your teen has bracket orthodontics, discoloration could be an issue. The enamel that is covered by the brackets will maintain the same color of the tooth as the day they were placed. If your child is consuming a lot of stain inducing drinks such as tea, coffee, and dark colored soda without brushing afterwards they may be at risk of discoloring their teeth to a degree that they will not match the enamel on the underside of the brackets when removed. Encouraging your teen to brush, or at the very least rinse, after each meal or drink is an easy solution.
Halitosis, otherwise known as bad breath, is a common aliment when the mouth not cleaned correctly or regularly. For a teen it can be mortifying to realize they have bad breath and aren’t able to remedy it, so buying individual use mouthwash packets is a great way to help your teen keep their breath fresh on the go. To keep halitosis from becoming a chronic problem you should remind your teen to brush and floss thoroughly in the morning and before bed.
At Advanced Dental Care, Dr. VanderMolen specializes in family dentistry and is available to help your teen and the rest of your family with their preventative dentistry needs. Call (217) 546-3333 to help your teen get closer to a confident smile.
Minimizing Your Discomfort after Oral Surgery
December 24, 2012
Minimizing your Discomfort with Proper Oral Surgery Aftercare
Oral surgery can be necessary to improve or maintain one’s health and prevent future issues. Following oral surgery, special care must be taken to keep surgery sites clean, preclude complications, and minimize discomfort.
The foremost authority on the post-op treatment of oral surgery patients is the dentist or surgeon himself. At the conclusion of the surgery, there will be a set of patient care instructions given by the dentist. Following these instructions will keep you on the path to recovery, decreasing the healing time and time of discomfort. Ensure the instructions are written down and perhaps request that the person accompanying you to and from the surgery remember additional or specific directions and to help you begin your healing proce
ss as you arrive at home.
If prescribed pain medication, it will need to be picked up following oral surgery. Taking the medication as directed will keep p
ain to a minimum. Other post-op patient care should include eating foods that are cool in temperature and smooth in texture, keeping cold compresses handy, and rinsing carefully with warm salt water. The cool, smooth foods will be easy to eat and comforting on a sore mouth. Cold compresses like frozen gel or ice packs, or even bagged frozen vegetables, in addition to elevation of the head, will work well to reduce any throbbing pain and keep swelling down. Rinsing with warm salt water will remove remaining food particles and kill bacteria in the mouth – make sure this is done gently and that the water is not spat, but rather allowed to fall from the mouth.
As with any healing process, there are behaviors to avoid until healing is complete, or until authorized by the dentist as they may cause dry sockets, or other painful infections. Do not vigorously rinse or spit, use a straw, smoke or use chewing tobacco, rinse with mouthwash, or participate in physical activity. If you have had an extraction, do not remove anything for the extraction site.
These instructions are sure to include plenty of rest, so take it easy and if you have any further questions or concerns contact Dr. VanderMolen and the staff at Advanced Dental Care at (217) 546-3333. We care about your comfort. Click here for more information on the services available at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield.
Dr. VanderMolen on the Jim Leach Show discussing Successful Businesses
December 19, 2012
Dr. VanderMolen was on The Jim Leach Show on WMAY 970 – The News and Talk of Springfield- on December 12, discussing his contributions to The Secret to Winning Big (by Brian Tracy), a book about successful business.
Listen to the interview here and learn more about his strategy: “Be Nice to People”.
