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Dental implant specialist

Innovations in Dental Implants: What Patients Need to Know

Innovations in Dental Implants: What Patients Need to Know

Dental implants are titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone to act as artificial tooth roots. They provide a stable foundation for crowns, bridges, or dentures, offering a permanent solution for tooth loss.

Recent Advancements in Dental Implant Technology  

1. 3D Imaging and Digital Planning

Advanced imaging technology allows for precise mapping of your oral anatomy. Digital planning software ensures optimal implant placement, improving accuracy and reducing the risk of complications.

2. Guided Implant Surgery

Using computer-guided techniques, your dentist can perform implant surgery with unparalleled precision. This approach minimizes invasive procedures, leading to faster recovery times and better outcomes.

3. Immediate Load Implants

New technology enables some implants to support a temporary crown immediately after placement, eliminating the wait for healing before restoring your smile.

4. Enhanced Surface Technology

Modern implants feature surfaces designed to promote faster integration with the bone. This accelerates healing and improves the stability of the implant over time.

5.  All-on-4® and Similar Systems

These systems allow for the placement of a full arch of teeth using just four implants. They are ideal for patients with significant tooth loss and offer a quicker, cost-effective alternative to traditional implant procedures.

6. Advantages of Modern Dental Implants

–     Natural Appearance: Implants look and feel like natural teeth, restoring your confidence.

–     Improved Comfort: Enhanced techniques make the procedure less invasive, with shorter recovery times.

–     Durability: With proper care, implants can last a lifetime.

–     Preservation of Jawbone: Implants stimulate bone growth, preventing the bone loss that often accompanies tooth loss.

–     Better Functionality: Enjoy the freedom to eat, speak, and smile without discomfort or worry.

Is Dental Implant Treatment Right for You?  

Innovations in dental implant technology have made tooth replacement more effective, comfortable, and accessible than ever. If you’re considering dental implants, now is the perfect time to explore your options.

Dental implants are suitable for most patients with healthy gums and sufficient bone to support them. During your consultation at Britten Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, we’ll assess your oral health, discuss your goals, and create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Contact Britten Periodontics and Implant Dentistry today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward a healthier, more confident smile.

How 3-D Technology is Revolutionizing Implant Dentistry for Patients

How 3-D Technology is Revolutionizing Implant Dentistry for Patients

Here at Britten Periodontics, as a periodontist and dental implant specialist, Dr. Todd Britten wants to ensure his dental implant patients have the best care possible using the latest technology available. By using advanced 3-D technology, Dr. Britten explains that he is able to obtain and review high-quality images for dental implant planning and even create a 3-D printed surgical guide.

When a patient is ready for a dental implant, Dr. Britten explains the first step is often to take a 3-D CT scan. Dr. Britten said he invested in a scanner that is both comfortable for patients, but provides high quality images at the lowest radiation levels possible. “The PAX-i3D Green is a digital imaging system that provides multiple views of a patient’s jaw and mouth. A 3-D digital scan can now be taken at the same visit in place of a tradition dental impression.” We have a Medit i-700 scanner, making the scanning experience for our patients comfortable and easy. This digital impression can be done at the same visit as the CT scan.

Broken Crown: Before and After

Broken Crown – Before and After

Your dentist can either repair or replace a broken crown

For a broken crown, your dentist will assess the issue and correct it right away. If the crown is still repairable, the dentist will use techniques like dental bonding to revitalize it. Yet, if the broken crown is beyond repair, replacing it will be the only option. Seeing your dentist for an evaluation will help determine which suits your case.

You can see in this picture the tooth in the middle was repaired with a beautiful new crown by one of our talented referring dentists! Materials in dentistry continue to improve function, esthetics and strength of crowns!

What Does Implant Recovery Look Like?

After a dental implant surgery patients should stick to the following diet recommendations for a good recovery. It’s important to avoid any foods that may physically disrupt the implant or cause discomfort.

  1. The first thing to take under consideration is the importance of not skipping meals, getting the nutrition your body needs is key to gaining strength, feeling better and faster. If you have a special diet requirement related to a medical condition, like for example being a diabetic, you should keep those eating habits or follow instructions that your specialist prescribe.
  2. It is best to start from soft and liquid food to then progress into solids over a few days. Keeping hydrated is key. While some doctors advise to stick only with liquids or pureed foods like ice cream, soups, puddings, yogurt, milk shakes, for the first few days, that it’s not a requirement.
  3. On the day of the surgery drinking plenty of fluids  (up to 2 quarts of liquid per day)  and avoiding hot liquids or hot food because they will promote bleeding and swelling.
  4. Extremely hot food is also something to stay away from and patients shouldn’t use a straw for the first few days after surgery.
  5. Avoiding drinking any alcoholic beverages
  6. Avoid smoking

Comfort is very important at this point, eating should not be a painful experience for the patient, so choosing the right food can vary from one person to the other but general rules still apply. Recovering patients should avoid chewing food until tongue sensation has returned and also stay away from food that may get lodged in the surgical areas like popcorn, rice, sunflower seeds, nuts etc.

Here is a list with a few examples that can help you

  • Softer fruits, such as bananas, peaches, nectarines, melons, and all berries are usually good choices
  • Avoid hard food: Go for oatmeal and soft cereals, soft bread, rice, grits, or mashed potatoes.
  • More water: Staying hydrated is vital to your immune system and overall health, and nothing will keep you hydrated more efficiently than water.
  • Fruits and vegetables: Remember to cut them into small pieces first.
  • When it comes to vegetables, cooked or steamed vegetables are better like broccoli, carrots, and squash.
  • Sauces and soups are the best way to go. Softer fruits like bananas, peaches, nectarines, melons, and all berries are good as well.
  • Protein: eggs, fish and seafood, and beans are safe, and also dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese. Other alternatives include couscous and quinoa, while being a wheat and grain.

More ideas for a speedy recovery:

  • Macaroni and cheese, soft bread, baked or mashed potatoes.
  • Scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, applesauce.
  • Ground beef, baked or broiled fish, broiled or stewed chicken (finely chopped).
  • Cooked cereals, such as oatmeal or cream of wheat, yogurt.
  • Juice, water, milk, coffee, tea.
  • Puddings, pound cake, milkshakes, ice cream.
  • Home cooked broth, bouillon, soups.

Quick, Efficient and Confident Implant Planning: 3-D Printed Dental Implant Surgical Guide and CT Scan Technology

We want to ensure that our patients have the best care possible. By using the latest technology, we are able to review high-quality images for dental implant planning and create a 3-D printed surgical guide.

Step 1: CT Scan taken in our office

Our patients deserve the best service we can offer and that is why we invest only in the finest technology.

The PAX-i3D Green is a digital imaging system that provides multiple views of a patient’s jaw and mouth (called a Cone Beam CT Scan).

 

Step 2:  Digital Scan

In place of a tradition dental impression, Dr. Britten uses a Medit  i-700 scanner to take a digital 3-D impression for the surgical guide. This can be done at the same visit as the CT scan!

Step 3:  Planning the Surgery 

Your CT scan and Digital Impression are uploaded to the Dental Laboratory’s sophisticated software program. Dr. Britten plans your implant surgery and  surgical guide along with an experienced laboratory clinician.

Step 4:  3-D Printed Surgical Guide

Our Dental Lab will fabricate the surgical guide with their state-of-the-art 3-D printer. We usually receive your surgical implant guide in four weeks from the time the digital impression and CT scan is completed in our office.

Step 5: Dental implant surgery

Dr. Britten can perform your dental implant surgery with confidence, using a precision-crafted Scan Implant Surgical Guide. This ensures the highest degree of safety and accuracy of the implant placement.

Do You know Your Numbers?

When you have periodontal disease, space begins to form between your teeth and the gum tissue that surrounds them. This space is called a periodontal pocket. The deeper the pocket, the greater the risk of tooth loss.
 
Your dentist or dental hygienist will perform a full periodontal charting at your visit to check for pocketing, infection (bleeding or pus), gum recession, & bone loss or defects in the bone. #brittenperio #clearwaterperiodontist

What are the consequences of missing teeth?

There are actually several negative consequences of missing some or all of your teeth. First, missing teeth will affect the esthetics of your face. Not only will your smile be affected by the gaps from missing teeth, but if you’re missing too many teeth, the skin around your mouth won’t be supported properly and will start to sag, making your appear older than you are. Additionally, missing teeth will make it more difficult to chew your food properly and may even affect the way you speak. Finally, missing even one tooth may have emotional consequences; many people feel less confident about their smile when they are missing teeth. If you are currently missing any of your teeth, consider replacing them with dental implants, which can look and feel just like natural teeth. For more information about implants, browse perio.org or talk to your periodontist.

–Perio.org

Q: My periodontist informed me that I need implants, but I can’t afford them at this time. Is there any financial assistance for periodontal treatments?

There are a few resources you can research for financial assistance. The first is your periodontist. Many periodontists are willing to set up financing options, such as a payment plan. They also may know of insurance plans that can help cover the cost of your implants.

Another resource is your state dental society. They may be able to give a listing of organizations or individuals that may help subsidize the cost of your implants. Find the contact information for your state society.

Finally, contact a local college or university. Many universities have dental schools that offer clinics that provide care at a reduced cost. Select from a list of schools that have periodontal programs.

–Perio.org

Netflix and… Floss?

We encourage our patients to find ways to incorporate taking care of your teeth into your day, however you can! Even while watching Netflix, if that is what works for you!

“Interdental cleansing (cleaning between the teeth) is necessary for … optimal oral health. Since most toothbrushes have limited access to proximal (in between) surfaces of teeth… interdental cleansing must be included in dental hygiene care plans. Interdental spaces are areas where bacteria can accumulate, multiply and remain undisturbed.
Undisturbed plaque biofilm can cause gingival inflammation and bleeding and increase the risk for and progression of periodontal disease.” Source: “Interdental Cleansing” by Jacquelyn L. Fried, RDH, MS
Actually, cleaning between your teeth with floss, proxabrushes, softpicks, rubber tip stimulators and watching Netflix at the same time is just fine with us. Dr. Britten and his hygiene team encourage patients to find ways to incorporate taking care of your teeth into your day, however you can!

Other than diagnose and treat gum disease, what else have periodontists been trained to do?

Most periodontists spend the majority of their time diagnosing and treating gum disease, but there are a variety other procedures that they are able to perform. Periodontists place dental implants when natural teeth cannot be saved. They also monitor the implants to make sure that they’re properly doing their job. Periodontists may also correct gum recession and cover up exposed root surfaces which can be unsightly as well as sensitive to hot and cold. These procedures are often used to lay the foundation for additional cosmetic procedures to help create a beautiful smile. Finally, periodontists can be integral in the comprehensive planning of your oral care, along with your general dentist or other dental professional.

-Perio.org

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