Everything You Wanted to Know About Dental Implants: A Dentist in Pueblo CO Addresses Your FAQ - 1

This four-part article series provides the answers to the common questions and concerns dental implant patients have about this advanced tooth replacement technology. Have you been told by your dentist that you will likely need to have one or more of your teeth replaced? Or have you wanted to replace a missing tooth for months or years but have felt too “in the dark” about your options? Well, you’re in the right place if you want to learn more about dental implants! In this four-part article series, an experienced dentist in Pueblo CO will be answering every FAQ we could get our hands on so that you can march into your dentist’s office equipped with the knowledge to make the smartest tooth replacement decision possible. Let’s get started with a look at exactly what dental implants are… FAQ: What are dental implants?

Answer: “Dental implants are essentially titanium tooth roots,” explains the Pueblo dental implant surgeon. “They are inserted in the jawbone where your natural tooth root used to be and they provide very strong and stable support for an artificial replacement tooth.” FAQ: What prevents the implant from falling out? Answer: “Dental implants are constructed from titanium metal, which is very strong, lightweight, non-corrosive and bio-compatible. What happens in the weeks and months following your procedure is that your jawbone actually bonds or knits to the surface of the implant as if it were a part of your body. This healing process is called osseointegration and it’s what enables dental implants to function as non-removable replacement teeth!” FAQ: How many teeth can I have replaced with dental implants? Answer: “You can have one tooth replaced or you can have ALL of your teeth replaced with dental implants,” says the Pueblo CO dental implant dentist. “That’s the great thing about implants – they are incredibly versatile in the variety of tooth loss cases they can treat.” FAQ: I heard that just one dental implant costs thousands of dollars. If that’s the case, won’t it be hugely expensive replacing all of my teeth? Answer: “We don’t use 28 dental implants for full mouth reconstruction! That wouldn’t be possible and the risk of complication and infection would be too great, not to mention the enormous expense to the patient. No, if you require a complete set of new teeth, we only need four dental implants per jaw to support a custom-built prosthetic dental bridge. This non-removable bridge will look and function like a complete set of natural teeth and so the expense is a fraction of what you’d expect it to be.”

FAQ: Why is dental implant surgery so expensive? Answer: “In short, the resources, hardware, time, treatment planning and expertise that goes into providing you with new teeth is all costly, so that is reflected by the cost of getting new teeth. But, I don’t think that’s the real issue here,” says the Pueblo dental implant surgeon. “The REAL question is: why are dental implants more expensive than dentures or dental bridges? The answer to that question is simple… dental implants are the closest thing to having natural teeth again as is possible. Their function, aesthetics and benefits are far superior to those offered by the alternative technologies and they can also last a lifetime if cared for properly. Dental implants are worth the investment, purely because they support a much higher quality of life and self-esteem.” Stay Tuned for Part 2 Stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series to read the answers to more of your frequently asked questions about dental implants

Want New Teeth? The Cosmetic Dentist’s Repertoire For Working Magic On Pueblo CO Residents’ Damaged Teeth, PART 2

This four-part article series takes a closer look at the various technologies and techniques available for the repair and replacement of damaged, worn and discolored teeth.

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on the various tools, treatments, techniques and technology available for the perfection of smiles. In our previous article, Part 1, we spoke to a panel of Pueblo CO cosmetic dentists who explained what a remarkable difference a simple professional teeth cleaning or teeth whitening treatment can make for the appearance of one’s smile. If, however, your dental woes are a little more serious and you feel that you’re in desperate need of new teeth, there are still several options for you. We will be exploring those in this article and in the next.

Dental Veneers

Have you ever owned a table that had its fair share of stains, coffee rings and burn marks from the time you learned the hard way that incense ash is as hot as the actual cinder? Most of us have. The solution? Throw a pretty tablecloth over it to make it look like new!

Dental or porcelain veneers are similar in concept. A dental veneer is an ultra-fine shell or covering of porcelain material that is custom-made by a cosmetic dentist to fit over the front surface of a tooth. The tooth in question will be very stained or perhaps deeply discolored. It may even be chipped, cracked or fractured, or it may have a large gap between it and the next one. Whatever the imperfection, your Pueblo cosmetic dentist can custom design a veneer to fit over it, camouflaging it quite neatly!

If you are totally unhappy with your smile, you can have veneers fitted to all of your teeth, quite literally giving you a smile makeover, or you can have just one mounted onto a particularly unaesthetic tooth. The sky’s the limit!

Veneers are considered a cosmetic treatment, but in cases where they are replacing portions of the tooth structure that have been lost to accidental trauma or decay, they can actually help to preserve the health of the tooth. They can actually help to prevent you from needing new teeth sooner rather than later.

Dental Bonding and Tooth Colored Fillings

Gone are the days when dentists would recommend amalgam fillings to patients in need of dental repair. New, tooth-colored fillings are the most aesthetic and beneficial solution for teeth that require a cavity filled, areas of decay patched up or particularly deep cusps filled in (sealants). If you still have amalgam fillings from childhood, it is more than possible to have them replaced with a far more attractive and natural looking ceramic tooth-colored filling, so speak to your dentist!

“A timely filling or dental bonding can go very far in helping to prevent a tooth sustaining further damage or decay and with the development of today’s advanced, durable and tooth-colored restorative materials, the job can be just as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional,” say Pueblo CO dental implant dentists.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To learn more about the various treatments that can be done and dental technologies available to improve the appearance of your teeth and gums, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.