Dental Implants… You Can’t Even Tell

Dental implants make tooth replacement easier than ever today. In past decades tooth loss was not a major concern since most people accepted the fact that they would lose all of their teeth and end up receiving dentures. What any person with dentures will tell you is that they are uncomfortable, they fall out at embarrassing moments, and that eating is never the same again. With today’s technology and lifestyles, people are now living longer and expecting to keep their teeth for their entire lives. And dental implants allow them to do this!

Dental implants replacing an extracted tooth

The crown will be placed in four months, looking like a normal, healthy tooth.

For many people, dental implants can be used to replace one or more teeth in a secure, comfortable way. A great alternative to traditional dentures, implants look and feel more natural, don’t sacrifice the integrity of your surrounding teeth, last for years, and allow you to speak and eat with more confidence. Give us a call at 503.646.2273 to find out if you’re a candidate for implant dentistry.

In the unfortunate event of tooth loss or a tooth that must be extracted, you now have the opportunity to replace that tooth with an implant. Dental implants are placed in the jaws to replace the missing tooth root. It then heals for four months before the porcelain crown is placed on top. In many cases the crown can be placed the same day the implant is placed into the jaw. Missing single or even multiple teeth can be replaced by dental implants.

Dental implants are recommended not just because they look good but there are other implications. When some are missing, remaining teeth have a tendency to gradually shift their position. In the long term, this can lead to disfiguration and is any are missing this can also have a serious impact on the bite of the person. By going with dental implants, there is even distribution of pressure when the person bites and chews. So, if you’re one of those people who are embarrassed with the spaces between your teeth or someone who faces difficulty in chewing, implants will take away every concern you have

Do you want to smile with ease, confidence and comfort? Then it’s time that you throw away your dentures and consider getting dental implants. They make you look natural and also feels as if you’ve had them all your life.

Dental Crowns – Do I Need Them And Why?

Most every adult person that you see on a daily basis probably has at least one dental crown. Dental crowns had their start in the early 20th century, and today they are one of the most common dental procedures performed each day.

Why would a patient need dental crowns?

Teeth are the strongest part of your body, even stronger than bone. While they are strong, they also take a lot of abuse on a daily basis, which can accumulate over your life. Teeth can develop cracks, which eventually can lead to breakage. They can also get cavities, which weaken their strong architecture. Fillings, over time, can leak and break, thereby causing more damage to the tooth. The fact is that every time a tooth gets a cavity or a filling or a crack, it is weakened. If I see that the damage is or will be extensive, I will usually bring dental crowns into the conversation.

After I tell a patient that dental crowns may be necessary, the most natural reaction is, “Can’t you just fill it?” Well, the answer is no. I could put a filling in there, but it will not last, either because it is too large or the cracks are too extensive. If placed, the filling would fall out in the next week or over the course of the next few months, leading possibly to dental surgery from a more serious problem. Now, no one likes more dental visits than necessary, and most patients want to get their tooth fixed right the first time. Dental crowns are often times the only right way to get your problem fixed.

Dental crowns usually take two visits to complete. The first visit involves prepping the tooth, taking an impression, and fitting a temporary crown that you will wear for two weeks. The impression is then sent to the dental laboratory, where the dental crowns are custom-made and fitted to your mouth. The crown is then permanently cemented during the second appointment. You will want to take it easy on your dental crowns the first day, because the cement is undergoing its final cure.

Dental crowns can last a lifetime if properly taken care of. They can be made of porcelain, gold, or a combination of the two materials. Today’s dental crowns are very strong, but I always caution patients about eating sticky or hard foods, due to the risk of pulling them off or breaking them. Most dental crowns done today are made out of very high strength, cosmetic porcelains, and they look just like natural teeth.

Not all dental crowns are the same – get it done right by me, Dr. Lampee. If you are in need of or have questions about dental crowns, please call me at (503) 646-2273.

Did You Know Dental Surgery Is One Of My Specialties?

Dental surgery is a wide field covering many different procedures by many different types of dentists. When people typically think of dental surgery they think of wisdom teeth removal or dental implants.

Who performs dental surgery?

All dentists are trained to do some surgery. This education starts during their formal school education. After school, many general practitioners provide common dental surgery services, such as tooth extraction. Some find a passion to be a more experienced, versatile surgeon and go on to extra training for more advanced dental surgery. Special training is available for those doctors wishing to advance their surgery skills. A few of the courses and classes offered include bone grafting, gum grafting, impacted wisdom tooth removal, and treatment of the medically compromised patient.

Specialists in dental surgery, oral surgeons attend an extra four or six years of school after dental school. They are trained in every aspect of dental surgery. Most of their dental surgery includes tooth extraction and dental implant placement. They also can treat oral cancer, TMJ, cosmetic surgery patients, and a multitude of other problems.

Since dental surgery is such a wide topic, whom should you see when you need dental surgery? A good general dentist who has the proper training can take care of most dental surgery that you may need. Most patients come to my office wanting implant surgery, bone grafting, and tooth removal. They are pleased to know that they can get their dental surgery done by me, without having to go clear across town to meet with a specialist that they have not met before. Going to a specialist also takes more time and costs more money.

Since dentistry includes so much trust, my patients are relieved to hear that their dental surgery needs can be met by me in the comfort of our office. I do sometimes refer to oral surgeons if the case appears too challenging or if the patient is too medically fragile.

Most people do not have to deal with dental surgery on a daily basis. I, on the other hand, do. My practice sees dental surgery patients on a daily basis, from the routine extraction to implants with bone grafts. My staff and I will be sure to explain your options and ensure that you will have a comfortable surgery experience. And yes, we do offer sedation, so that you can sleep through the appointment.

If you have a dental surgery need, please feel free to call our office at 503-646-2273 with any questions or to schedule an appointment.

Dental Bone Grafting Has Become A Very Common And Needed Procedure

Dental bone grafting has become a very hot topic recently. With the advent and rise in popularity of implant dentistry, dental bone grafting has become a very common and needed procedure. Most people don’t understand why they may need this, but I am here to answer the most common questions about this procedure.

Is Dental Bone Grafting Necessary?

Dental bone grafting is really only necessary if you are going to be undergoing implant dentistry in the present or near future, such as a single implant or dental bridges. To receive a dental implant you must have excellent bone quality and quantity (it anchors into bone). After tooth loss, available bone slowly dissolves away. This can be quite severe in certain patients over time.

At my office, if we are taking out a hopeless tooth, I will recommend dental bone grafting at the time of your extraction, which will help preserve the bone for up to a year. This is called socket preservation; we are preserving the tooth socket so that in 4-6 months you can have an implant placed.

If you have already undergone bone loss after tooth extraction, there is hope. With today’s dental bone grafting technology, I have the ability to build bone again, so that you can have a dental implant.

At its most basic level, dental bone grafting involves using your own bone or sterilized bovine bone to create new, healthy bone in your own body. In most cases, small particles are placed in the defective site. If the defect is large enough, small blocks of bone are used and affixed to the afflicted part of the jaw with titanium screws. Collagen barriers are then placed over the bone graft site to help the area grow into new strong bone.

Dental bone grafting has helped so many of my patients achieve their goal of a healthy, strong smile. Without it, treatment options would be very limited. Dental bone grafting generally needs to heal between 4-6 months before it achieves full strength. Sometimes, additional grafts are needed to reach an appropriate amount of bone. Patients with diabetes, autoimmune disorders, who smoke, or with very severe bone atrophy have higher risks of graft failure.

If you are missing teeth or have dentures, a dental bone graft can help change your life. It will give you the strong, healthy bone needed for implant dentistry. Call me, Dr. Lampee, at 503-646-2273 today for a dental bone grafting consultation.

Dental Bridges Are A Great Option To Replacing Missing Teeth

Dental bridges are something you want to investigate if you have missing teeth.

Many patients come to my office either missing teeth or needing a tooth extraction. In today’s day and age, most people do not want to go around with a missing tooth, especially if it is a front tooth. Dental bridges are a great treatment option to replace these missing teeth.

Besides the obvious cosmetic issues, why would you want to replace a missing tooth? The mouth is designed to function in equilibrium and is supposed to be balanced with the right and left sides. When a tooth is missing, the teeth next to the space are put under more force than is normal. In addition, the opposite side of the mouth also has to work harder to compensate for that missing tooth. Thus if a missing tooth is not replaced, then the teeth next to the space and on the other side are put under much more stress, thereby increasing cracking and breaking of your good teeth. So, how can we prevent this? You must replace that missing tooth, and dental bridges are one of the best options available.

Dental bridges are a tried and true technology

In a nutshell, they are dental crowns that are joined together to make a strong, permanently cemented prosthesis for your mouth. They are generally made out of strong porcelain and are at least three crowns/teeth in length. In preparation for dental bridges, the teeth on the sides are prepared for crowns (see diagram). An impression is taken and sent to the dental laboratory, which specializes in making dental bridges and crowns. It generally takes two to three weeks for the lab to make dental bridges, and once this is done your dentist will cement the bridge permanently in your mouth. It will look natural, be strong, and protect your teeth.

Here are a few special notes about dental bridges. Flossing dental bridges generally requires a floss threader that allows you to pass the floss underneath. With any sort of dental work, you must brush and floss to protect your investment. The only potential downside to dental bridges is that your dentist has to prepare the teeth on the sides of the space for crowns. This requires some drilling and removal of tooth structure, which is kept to a minimum.

If you are missing a tooth (or teeth) or need an extraction, call me, Dr. Lampee, today for a consultation about dental bridges. It will help restore and protect you smile for years to come.

Teeth In A Day… Is It Possible?

Teeth in a day has become a very popular thing for patients to ask me about. There has been much buzz about teeth in a day, so I’m here to educate you all about this great procedure. Every commentator seems to have a different approach or opinion on teeth in a day, which can make it a confusing topic for the patient looking for answers and knowledge.

Teeth in a day basically means…

…to replace missing teeth with dental implants, and to do it in one day. This is revolutionary, because ten years ago, no one thought this was possible. Teeth in a day can apply to all the teeth or to just one. Most patients who undergo this procedure have a problem with severe cavities or gum disease. This often arises from neglect due to dental anxiety, but there is often a strong genetic component at play.

When we talk about replacing all of the teeth, we remove all the teeth in each jaw, place dental implants into the sockets, pack bone grafting material and membranes around each implant to allow them to heal, and then put everything back together with suture material. At this point, the teeth are out, and the implants, bone and membranes are in. At the end of the appointment we place a custom fit acrylic denture that will cover the area while it heals.

You can think of this as a temporary denture that looks great and fits well, but is really there to protect the implants while they heal in the jaws. Once the implants heal, which takes roughly three months, we then fasten the denture to the implants to basically make it snap in (like a button). This should be taken out once per day to brush the teeth and also to brush the implants to ensure they stay healthy.

This new set of teeth is strong, looks awesome, and is snapped in to ensure it will not come out at embarrassing moments. Your teeth have never looked so good! We place from 4 to 8 implants on the top jaw and 2 to 4 implants on the lower jaw. The more implants, the better the stability of teeth in a day.

Teeth in a day can also apply to single tooth dental implants. It means that the day we place a dental implant we can attach a temporary tooth to it. This fills in the gap where you were missing the tooth. This is mostly done in the front of the mouth.

Traditionally, the day we place an implant, I would give you a flipper, which is an acrylic retainer with a tooth on it. This is meant to look nice when you smile, but not to eat with (it is fragile).

For teeth in a day, the conditions must be right to place the immediate temporary tooth. The implant must have good stability and excellent bony support. If there is not enough stability or bony support, then placing an immediate temporary tooth is too risky, and can cause the implant to fail. If I feel that you have good enough bone for the implant, I will encourage you to allow me to place the immediate temporary tooth. This has to heal for roughly four months before I place the permanent porcelain crown on top of the implant. It is extremely important for you not to put any force in the temporary tooth. Soft foods are a must for the first four weeks.

I must say that teeth in a day is a favorite of mine. To do the job, and to do it well, is probably one of the most technical things I do, but often it is the most rewarding. I generally do teeth in a day under full sedation, get all the hard work done, and the patient awakes with a whole new cosmetic smile supported by implants. It is quite a transformation. This can only be accomplished with teeth in a day.

Implant dentistry is becoming a very popular treatment option for dental patients.

Most patients seem to know a little about implant dentistry, so I’m here to fill in the gaps and let you know if you may be an implant dentistry candidate.

Implant dentistry basically involves replacing missing teeth with new ones. In the not so distant past, the only options after losing one tooth or more were dentures or bridges.

Dentures are basically metal or plastic plates that make it hard to talk, eat, and laugh with confidence – most people just end up coping with them. While dentures replace all missing teeth, a bridge replaces one or two missing teeth. It is made of porcelain and cemented in place. Bridges are a good option, but they have not changed for the last 100 years. Implant dentistry has evolved to take the place of bridges and dentures.

What does implant dentistry actually entail?

implant dentistry titanium rootA dental implant involves placing titanium tooth roots into the jaw, allowing them to heal for three to six months, then placing a post and crown on top of the strong titanium root. This is different than typical dental crowns. You can then chew, brush and floss just like your own natural tooth. This can be done for one or multiple teeth. Implant dentistry has the potential to last a lifetime, and the great news is that implants can’t get cavities.

If you have already lost all of your teeth and have dentures, there is good news for you. By placing either two or four implants in each jaw, your dentures can be “snapped” in to give them a solid, strong, locked-in fit. This has the ability to dramatically improve your confidence, knowing that your dentures are not going to slip or fall out.

Implant dentistry has been proven by science to be affective, safe, and a great long-term solution to missing teeth. Not everyone is an ideal implant candidate though. Patients with diabetes, who smoke, or who have autoimmune disorders have higher risk of failure with implant dentistry. Some patients may also need additional procedures to ensure there is enough strong bone for the implant to lock into.

A tooth implant can also be a serious time commitment. From start to finish, they can take anywhere from three to twelve months, depending on the case. Good brushing at home and regular cleanings at the dental office are also needed to maintain the health of your implant dentistry.

I hope this article has cleared up any questions or confusion about implant dentistry. Dental implants, like cell phones, are now everywhere around us. Ten years ago they were both rare, but now they are commonplace. Technology has rapidly progressed in the last ten years… let me, an implant dentist, restore your smile and confidence. Call me today with any questions and to see if you are a candidate for implant dentistry.

Implant Dentures Are Now Easy

Implant dentures have become a very hot item in dentistry in the last five years.  Now we all have heard about how awful dentures can be.  Maybe it was your parents or grandparents who could never keep their dentures in or only eat very soft, simple foods.  With today’s dental implant technology available, implant dentures are changing everyone’s opinions on what dentures should be.

What Exactly Are Implant Dentures?

Implant dentures are newly designed dentures that are anchored to implants in the jaws.  The denture snaps in almost like a very tight fitting button and stays in place throughout the day.  You snap them out once at night to scrub the denture and scrub the implants.  You then snap it back in and go to sleep!

Now, how secure are these implant dentures?  You will be absolutely surprised at how strong they are.  You should be able to eat almost all of the foods you eat now: steak, corn, and even apples.  The strength of the implant dentures allows you to eat confidently, strongly, and without the dentures falling out or coming loose.
In addition to excellent fit and security, implant dentures allow you to have less plastic in your mouth than old traditional style dentures.  Because we anchor the top denture with implants, we are able to remove all of the plastic on the roof of the mouth, thereby allowing you have better speech and to taste your food better.  This is a very excellent feature of implant dentures.

Most people don’t think of dentures as being cosmetic.  However, implant dentures can have an incredible cosmetic look.  You can choose the color, length, and straightness of the teeth in the implant dentures.  Your smile is going to look perfect!

I’m going to describe the procedure for implant dentures.  After an initial consultation we will take a Cat Scan x-ray of your jaws to see if you are good candidate for placing the implants into the upper and/or lower jaws.  We then decide on how many implants to place.  The top needs four implants and the bottom can either have four or two.  It is better to do four because it gives the implant dentures better fit and strength.

When we place the implants, we will take out any teeth that need to be extracted, and we will add any extra bone around the implants to ensure they heal properly in the jaws.  We do all of this under sedation dentistry.  You leave the appointment that day with your new cosmetic dentures in your mouth.  To ensure that your bone and implants heal and integrate properly, we do not anchor the dentures to the implants for four months.  The implants take around four months to heal in the jaw, and it is then that we anchor the implant dentures into the jaws.  This procedure is one of the more challenging dental procedures, so it is very important to have each step done correctly and at the right time and by the right doctor.

Implant dentures have become one of my favorite things to do in dentistry.  To take a patient from having no teeth, decaying teeth, and a very poor smile and to see them transformed with a cosmetic, strong, retentive implant denture is extremely rewarding.  Your quality of life, your smile ,and the fit of your new implant dentures is truly remarkable.

Call me for your implant dentures consultation.