Tag Archives: Dental implants

A New Year and a New You with Dental Implants

Here at Ocoee Oral Surgery we believe that dental implants can be life-changing for patients who suffer day-to-day difficulties with their dentures or bone loss. To start 2022 right, why not consider a permanent tooth replacement solution?

Here are some reasons why denture wearers should consider dental implants. 

Get Your Bite Back

You probably noticed a major change in your diet and eating habits after getting dentures. Dentures can make it challenging to chew food thoroughly, and some hard or chewy foods are completely off-limits.

However with dental implants your dentures are firmly held in place. This sturdiness helps expand your diet. Eat what you like without stopping to adjust your teeth!

Be More Confident

Have you ever felt your dentures slide or shift positions in your mouth while you were smiling, talking to someone, or eating with a friend? Tooth loss isn’t something to be embarrassed about, but it’s hard not to feel embarrassed when your teeth are visibly moving.

Again, the adherence provided by dental implants will save the day. Smile with confidence and talk without covering your mouth. Your dental implants will stay in place and free you from worrying about whether or not your teeth are moving.

Have a Permanent Solution

It’s easy to drop slippery dentures while cleaning them, and they can shatter in your sink or on your bathroom floor. Even if you manage to avoid this kind of damage, dentures wear with time and need to be relined or replaced.

Dental implants don’t need to be taken out to be cleaned, you clean them just as you would natural teeth. With good care, they should last the rest of your life!

Patients who have dentures may think that they aren’t candidates for dental implants, but dental implants are appropriate for many. To find out whether or not you’re a candidate for dental implants, read more about our dental implant procedures at Ocoee Oral Surgery here, and schedule a consultation or call us today at 423.479.8544!

7 Reasons You Should See a Chattanooga Oral Surgeon

7 Reasons You Should See a Chattanooga Oral Surgeon

7 Reasons You Should See a Chattanooga Oral Surgeon

You know to see your dentist twice a year for cleanings and exams, but it may not be as clear when you should seek the services of a Chattanooga oral surgeon. It is likely that at some point your life circumstances will warrant a trip to the oral surgery office. Here are seven scenarios in which you absolutely should seek out the specialty care of a Chattanooga oral surgeon.

1– Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Most of us have at least some wisdom teeth, if not all four, and ultimately any dental professional will tell you you should have them removed. If wisdom teeth align properly with surrounding teeth and the neighboring gum tissue is healthy, they do not have to be removed; however, that does not generally occur. If you haven’t undergone wisdom teeth removal surgery, you should probably see an oral surgeon.

2– Impacted Tooth

An impacted tooth is one that has not erupted within the mouth, and this is often the case with wisdom teeth. Impacted teeth can take on many positions in the bone, and they will attempt to find paths by which to erupt successfully. This can be problematic for a number of reasons as they may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gums, or even stay trapped beneath the gums and jaw bone. Impacted teeth can cause all sorts of problems like pain, swelling, stiffness, and even infection, so they also warrant a visit with an oral surgeon.

3– Dental Implants

Another reason to visit an oral surgeon is the need for dental implants. Dental implants offer a permanent solution for missing or damaged teeth. For most patients, dental implant placement involves two surgical procedures. First, dental implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the dental implants are beneath the surface of the gums, allowing them time to bond with the jawbone. Then your surgeon will uncover the dental implants, and attach small posts to them to act as anchors for the artificial teeth. The entire process usually takes six to eight months; however, most patients experience little disruption in their daily lives.

4– Corrective Oral Surgery

Facial trauma is another reason you may need to see a Chattanooga oral surgeon for treatment. Facial trauma can include facial and lip lacerations, knocked out teeth, fractured facial bones, fractured upper and lower jaw bones, and more. In the event that you suffer a facial injury due to a sports or motor vehicle accident, work-related injury, or some other circumstance, you may need to be treated by an oral surgeon.

7 Reasons You Should See a Chattanooga Oral Surgeon

5– Surgically-Assisted Tooth Eruption

Some teeth are just stubborn and will not come in all on their own. If this happens to you or your child, you can seek treatment from an oral surgeon to uncover or expose the tooth and coax it into its proper place, usually with the help of an orthodontist. Tooth exposure is a simple surgical procedure in which the gum is lifted to uncover the impacted tooth, assisting its eruption. If there is still a baby tooth present, it will be removed at the same time.

6– TMJ Treatment

TMJ (Temporomandibular joint) disorders are a family of problems related to the complex jaw joint. Unpleasant symptoms can occur when the joints of the jaw and the surrounding chewing muscles fail to work together as they should. Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and treatment is important. An oral surgeon can suggest avenues of treatment for TMJ such as the introduction of a mouthguard to help protect your teeth from excessive grinding and clenching, orthodontic braces to fix a problematic bite, and injections of Botox into the jaw muscles to help manage pain and promote relaxation.

7– Oral Pathology

Another reason to see an oral surgeon is if you think you may be exhibiting symptoms of oral cancer. Things to look for include sores that bleed easily and fail to heal, chronic sore throat or hoarseness, trouble swallowing or chewing, reddish or whitish patches in the mouth, and a lump or thickening on the skin lining the mouth. Any alterations in the appearance of the inside of the mouth could be an indication of an issue. Through our oral pathology services, our oral surgeons at Ocoee can help detect and diagnose these problems in office.

If you find yourself in need of oral surgery care, contact our team at Ocoee Oral Surgery today. We are accepting new patients, and no referral is necessary. We’d love to take care of you.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants look like natural teeth and restore full functionality.

Dental implants look like natural teeth and restore full functionality.

Of course we all hope we never need dental implants, but if you find yourself in a situation where you do, our team is here to explain the process, as well as the benefits of going with dental implants. Some reasons you may end up needing one include having lackluster dental hygiene and limited preventative care, or other reasons like lifestyle, smoking or unhealthy diet, or a traumatic event. All that said, if tooth loss is affecting your quality of life, dental implants are a great treatment choice, and their benefits are as follows.

Natural Look

One great thing about dental implants is they are aesthetically pleasing. This is a great option cosmetically, because dental implants are expertly fashioned to look just like natural teeth. Having a healthy smile is paramount, but we think loving your smile is extremely important too. We want you to enjoy a tooth loss solution that, in addition to being pragmatic, also enhances your smile and the way you feel about yourself.

Restore Chewing Power

On top of looking like natural teeth, dental implants also behave like them. This means that when you opt for an implant, your oral surgeon will help restore full chewing power. After getting your dental implant, you’ll be able to eat normally, and brush and floss your teeth normally as well.

Prevent Bone Loss

Dental implants also serve patients in the area of preventing bone loss. The jaw bone begins to deteriorate more quickly in areas where no tooth is present as a result of the lack of stimulation. If no implant is placed where a patient has suffered tooth loss, that bone area loses approximately 25% of its volume within the first year, and that bone loss only continues with time. But the dental implant not only restores chewing and functionality, but also provides necessary stimulation necessary for bone growth.

Dental implants are also an aesthetically pleasing fix for tooth loss.

Prevent Premature Facial Aging

As we grow older, the lower third of the face begins to collapse, gradually shortening the distance between the tip of the nose and the chin. This facial sagging that accompanies aging can be accelerated by tooth loss and consequently bone loss. These changes include excess and premature formation of wrinkles around the mouth, thinning lips, and a more pointed appearance of the chin. This process can make a patient with bone loss look a lot older than he or she really is, but dental implants can help mitigate these issues.

If you have any questions about tooth loss treatments or dental implant procedures, our team would love to help answer them. Contact us anytime with questions or to schedule a consultation with one of our oral surgeons. We’re here here to preserve your smile!

Dental Implants– Tooth Loss Managed

Dental implants provide a host of benefits such as durability, ease of care, and aesthetic appeal.

There are millions of adults struggling with tooth loss, and it can be painful, embarrassing, and make one feel unattractive. On top of all that, tooth loss can cause difficulty eating and other issues for dental patients. One potential solution for tooth loss is oral surgery for dental implants. Dental implants can help resolve the aforementioned problems that stem from tooth loss, and restore your confidence too. As opposed to the alternatives of dentures and bridges, dental implants provide a lasting, more permanent solution to missing teeth.

Dental implants offer an ideal, long-term solution to tooth loss that helps to prevent other issues down the road, such as bone loss.

Dental implants have advanced over the years, becoming a preferred tooth replacement approach for both oral surgeons and patients alike. Each implant consists of a small titanium post that sits below the gum line, and is attached to a crown. From their natural appearance and ease of care to their lifetime durability, dental implants offer an ideal solution for tooth loss in many cases.

Aesthetics– Natural Appearance

Similar to natural teeth, dental implants are secured to the jawbone. Over a period of months after being inserted, the implant becomes fused to the bone. This fusion provides for a natural look and feel, allowing you to eat and talk without any worry of slipping or shifting, as the implant looks and performs just like real teeth.

Durability– Lasting Appeal

Unlike bridges or dentures, dental implants do not need to be replaced over time if they are well maintained. This means dental implants offer the best long-term value for tooth loss. The ceramic used to fashion implants is extremely durable, in many cases lasting more than 25 years.

Dental implants provide a host of benefits such as durability, ease of care, and aesthetic appeal.

Ease of Care

Dental implants should be cared for just like natural teeth. Brushing and flossing regularly will help to maintain dental implants, and ensure their success. Unlike dentures, they don’t have to be removed at night. Dental implants will not decay, nor will you have to be concerned with needing fillings, but the surrounding gums are still susceptible to gum disease. Even with implants, it is important to visit your dentist regularly for dental exams and cleanings.

Bone Loss Prevention

Choosing to address tooth loss with dental implants can also help patients avoid bone loss that inevitably follows tooth loss when left untreated. Along with tooth loss comes bone loss. When a tooth is lost, the bone below begins to resorb. The reason for this is simple. Bone mass is made up of living tissue, and needs stimulation to remain healthy. Teeth stimulate the jawbone, and help to keep that bone healthy. Dental implants help to prevent bone loss by fusing and stabilizing the jawbone.

A Safe Treatment Option

Unlike other methods of tooth replacement, dental implants will not weaken surrounding teeth. In fact, opting for dental implants can actually result in a decreased risk of decay for surrounding teeth.

If you have experienced tooth loss and are considering dental implants, the oral surgeons at Ocoee Oral Surgery can help. Let our team create for you a lasting, healthy smile you can feel great about. Contact us today to get started!

Dentures vs Dental Implants: Pros and Cons

cleveland-tn-oral-and-maxillofacial-surgeons-dentures-vs-dental-implants

There are many reasons you might be missing a tooth: an accident, tooth decay, gum disease, dental fracture. Whatever the reason, there are a couple of good options for tooth replacement. The choice of which solution is best should be made after consulting with your general dentist about your unique situation. Our Cleveland TN Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons can perform the procedure for surgical placement of dental implants or secured dentures.

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