Category: Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental implants are a fantastic approach to enhancing your smile and function. Dental implants have grown in popularity as an alternative for patients seeking restorations due to their affordability, simplicity of use, and long-term success rates. There are over 3 million dental implant users in the United States, with 500,000 replacement procedures done each year.

It’s impossible, however, to expect your new implants to do the job alone. It would be beneficial to ensure you adequately cared for your implants. Check out our dental implant care guide to see how it’s done.

How to clean your implant

Dental implants, unlike teeth, are not susceptible to cavities or decay. The gum around them is more sensitive and prone to inflammation/infection than teeth. Perio-implant disease/infection must be avoided for implant health and performance.

Implant Hygiene tips:

For single/multiple implants

• Brush your teeth twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Regular dental cleaning
• Use a low-abrasive toothpaste
• Brush around and under the implant crown
• Floss daily with unwaxed tape or implant-specific floss
• Use a recommended oral irrigator at a slow speed.
• Oral rinse without alcohol twice daily

For Implant Over Dentures

• Remove denture daily and soak in the denture cleaner for the recommended time
• Gently brush the underside of the denture with a denture brush
• Inspect attachment caps or clips and alert your dentist if they are worn or missing
• Clean around implant attachments/locators using a small brush or special tools provided to you by your prosthodontist
• Rinse overdenture thoroughly with water before placing it into your mouth
• Visit your prosthodontist every 3 -6 months

For implant fixed dentures or bridges

• Rinse daily with a non-alcoholic mouth rinse
• Brush daily with a soft brush and low abrasive toothpaste
• Use small brushes or a water pick/dental flosser at low speed for cleaning under the bridge/denture
• Visit your prosthodontist every six months for professional cleaning

Know What to Avoid

After you’ve gotten your dental implant prostheses put in, there are a few things you’ll need to avoid. This includes:
Gum disease and inflammation can be caused by smoking.
Heavy bit or hard foods may apply too much pressure on the implant.

Your implants may be harmed or destroyed by non-approved cleaning solutions, baking soda, bleach cleansers, or toothbrushes with a stiff bristle.

Furthermore, if you grind your teeth, go to a dentist as soon as possible. Excess pressure on your implants may result from this. If this is possible, you should use a night guard to preserve your teeth.

Are You Ready to Care for Your Implants?

Now that you’ve gone through this dental implant care tutorial, it’s time to put everything you’ve learned into action.

If you have any other questions, call us today, or contact us for a free consultation.

A knocked-out tooth is more common than most people realize. It often occurs to kids and active adults and especially those who play contact sports. If a tooth is chipped, you can gather up the pieces and take them to your Glen Ellyn, IL dentist to get the tooth repaired. But what are you supposed to do if a whole tooth gets knocked out?

What to do With a Knocked-Out Tooth

Here are a few tips from Dr. Gibbs on what to do if you or a child has a tooth knocked out.

• If it was a child who lost the tooth, check to see if it is an adult tooth (a permanent tooth) or a baby tooth. Baby teeth are not re-implanted.
• Do not touch the root of the tooth. The root has fibers called periodontal ligaments. These are needed for the tooth to heal properly once it is reimplanted. Only handle the tooth by the surface or top area.
• If you can tell that the tooth is dirty, carefully, and briefly rinse it with tap water. Don’t rub or scrub the tooth.
• If at all possible, go ahead and place the tooth back in its socket and call your Smile Glen Ellyn dentist.
•  If you cannot put the tooth back in the socket for any reason, take the tooth and go immediately to the dentist’s office or the emergency room. While you are en route to the emergency dentist or the ER, place the tooth in the mouth between the cheek and gum. Or put it in a small container of milk to keep the root moist.

Why Timely Action is Important

Time is extremely important when it comes to saving a knocked-out tooth. If it can be placed back in the socket within five minutes, it has a better chance of being saved. If you store the tooth properly there is still a good survival rate up to an hour. However, once the tooth is out of the socket over an hour the chances of its survival decrease significantly.

What the Dentist can do with a Knocked Out Tooth

Once you get to Dr. Gibbs’ office, he will try to re-implant the tooth in its socket. Then, it is splinted to the adjacent teeth for at least two weeks to give it time to heal. Sometimes, putting the tooth back in the socket is a simple process. Other times, it is complicated, such as if a bone or the tooth are broken. Dr. Gibbs will rinse the debris from the socket and then attempt to gently slip the tooth back in place.

If needed, a root canal will be performed. This may give the tooth a better chance of surviving. If the bone near the tooth wasn’t fractured, the root usually reattaches firmly in three or four weeks. Of course, if there is more significant physical damage to the area, it can take longer for it to heal.

Why Protect Your Teeth with a Mouthguard?

Do you have a mouthguard in your gym bag? You may not have thought about it before. But getting injured while playing sports or working out is real. Wearing a mouthguard during any kind of workout such as cycling, CrossFit, or running can help protect your teeth. And it’s certainly a must for any kind of sport where you may come into contact with other people. Why should you wear a mouthguard?

• Knocking out a permanent tooth can be expensive to fix, especially if your insurance doesn’t cover sports-related injuries.
• It’s easy to get a tooth knocked out while exercising, especially if you are participating in contact sports like kickboxing, martial arts, or boxing. A mouthguard can protect your teeth from accidentally being knocked out by a sparring partner.
• If you break an adult tooth, it’s permanent. They do not grow back. There are restorative treatments that can help improve their appearance, but it’s not the same as having your natural teeth.

How does a mouthguard protect your teeth during exercise?

If you fall or get punched in the head, your teeth can tap each other. They can crack, become loosened, or get knocked out during rigorous activities. A mouthguard absorbs the force of the fall or other contact and protects the teeth from chipping, breaking, or getting knocked out. Mouthguards are designed to protect your teeth from impact. Any type of mouthguard (ready-made, custom-formed, or boil-and-bite) can add a much-needed layer of protection for your teeth while playing sports or participating in rigorous activities.

Contact Us

If you knock a tooth out or have another dental emergency and it’s not during our regular office hours, please call us! We can help you get the care you need. A Glen Ellyn dentist can also recommend a mouthguard to help you prevent tooth injuries. He can make a custom-made mouthguard for you to wear during activities or sports. Or he can recommend a style that will be suitable for your activity level and provide your teeth with the protection they need. 

Cosmetic dentistry is responsible for improving millions of smiles around the globe. It can truly be a life-altering experience for those who are missing teeth or need to have teeth pulled. There are many different treatment options available, and thanks to advancements in technology, they are more easily accessible and convenient. Cosmetic dentures are one of the latest in cosmetic dental procedures.

What are cosmetic dentures?

When you think of dentures, it may conjure up an image of old-school false teeth. With the recent advancements in dental technology, many people are choosing implants. However, some still prefer dentures. They restore your ability to eat naturally while enhancing your smile. The latest technology makes it possible for dentists to create a natural-looking partial or full denture that gives you the smile you always wanted.

Top 5 Benefits of Cosmetic Dentures

Gives Your Appearance a “Lift”

For those who lose their teeth, the cheeks and jaws can begin to sag. We use advanced equipment to construct cosmetic dentures. The use of precise measurements helps construct a denture that fits accurately and comfortably. These measurements are used to create the perfect arrangement of teeth to fit your face. It’s like giving your entire facial appearance a lift.

Boosts Your Self-Esteem

Some people are embarrassed about their smiles. Cosmetic dentures fix your smile making you feel more confident and happier. You will feel better about yourself when you look in the mirror. You may find you are more excited about attending social events.

More Stable than Traditional Dentures

Traditional dentures are known to move around while eating, speaking, or laughing. Thanks to the latest technology, you get a better fit. Cosmetic dentures provide better stability and fit. For some patients, titanium rods are implanted surgically along the jaw. These posts can secure partial dentures or a full set.

Ability to Customize

At Dr. Gibbs’ office, we can customize your cosmetic dentures. This gives you the option of a more natural look. You can have a whiter smile. Maybe you’d like your teeth to appear longer, or you’d like more or fewer gums showing. They are constructed to give you a more beautiful smile, the smile you’ve always wanted.

More Natural Look

One of the most popular things about cosmetic dentures is that they are not as noticeable as traditional dentures. They are crafted to have the same luminosity and opalescence as your natural teeth. You’ll have a smile that feels and looks natural. Most people will not even know you are wearing them unless you choose to tell them.

Different Types of Cosmetic Dentures

There are three basic types of cosmetic dentures. During your visit to Dr. Gibb’s office, discuss which option is best suited for you and your situation. He will make his recommendation and help you choose.

1.  Full Cosmetic Dentures. A full cosmetic denture allows you to eat and speak with confidence. They fill out your cheeks and lips naturally. 
2. Partial Cosmetic Dentures. A partial is used to fill in a gap created by one or more missing teeth. Unlike a dental bridge, they do not require surrounding teeth to be altered. Partials are either removable or secured using dental implants. 
3. Implant-Supported Dentures. These dentures are attached to dental implants using titanium screws that provide a root to support the teeth. This type is the most stable and just four implants can support all the teeth.

Contact Dr. Gibbs Office

If you would like to know if you are a good candidate for cosmetic dentures, schedule your appointment with Dr. Gibbs today. His office is conveniently located in Glen Ellyn just west of Route 53 off Roosevelt Road and Park Boulevard. Our goal is to provide you with optimal results and a smile that makes you smile.