Tag: Dental Implants

Thanks to modern dentistry, false teeth are no longer the only option for replacing missing teeth. If you are missing one or more teeth, you have more options available than ever before. Drs. Gibbs may recommend dental implants or partial dentures. While either option is reasonable, improves your smile, and restores tooth function, there are pros and cons for both dental implants and partial dentures. To make the right choice, you’ll want to consider several things.

Your Current Dental Health

Most people are candidates for dental implants, but it can depend on your dental health and whether or not you have a healthy jawbone capable of supporting implants. If you do not, it is still very likely you can be fitted with dental implants Dr. Thomas Gibbs can perform bone grafts to rebuild the jawbone. A partial denture is suitable in most cases on a temporary basis and can often be worn until your mouth is healthy enough to support implants.

 Aesthetic Appearance

Generally, dental implants tend to be more aesthetic than partial dentures. Both provide a realistic appearance. However, the clasps that attach partials to your natural teeth can be visible. In terms of teeth replacement, implants and dentures help preserve your natural smile. Implants look and function closer to your natural teeth.

 Comfort of Partial Dentures vs Dental Implants

Dental implants are fused to the jawbone, so they remain securely in place. Partial dentures are attached to natural teeth but are mostly supported by gums. They can rub or slip which can cause sore spots. Partials can make it difficult to eat crunchy and chewy foods comfortably.

 Cost of Dental Implants and Partial Dentures

The price of dental implants continues to be affordable for many, and some insurance companies now cover them. They are still more expensive than dentures. However, implants are a permanent solution that will last as long as natural teeth with proper care.

 Stability and Strength

Partial dentures restore about 25% of your natural bite strength. When bite strength is inadequate, it’s harder to eat foods like steak or corn on the cob. Dental implants feel more like natural teeth and help restore over 90% of your biting strength. This allows you to continue enjoying all your favorite foods, and can often have a beneficial impact on allowing you to continue eating nutritious and healthful foods.

 Future of Your Oral Health

When a tooth or multiple teeth are removed, gum tissue and the jawbone begin to shrink. Over some time, this causes the face to have a sunken appearance which can make you look older. Even if your dentures are well-fitted, they eventually become loose. Wearing dentures long-term can also cause chronic sores and inflammation in your mouth. This raises your risk of developing gum disease. Since dental implants replace both the entire tooth including the root which helps prevent or reduce bone loss. They also reduce your risk for gum disease, mouth sores, and inflammation.

 How long do implants and partial dentures last?

With proper maintenance, partial dentures can last for between six and eight years. Implants, on the other hand, can last a lifetime with proper care. Since they are made from porcelain and metal, they are not susceptible to bacteria that cause cavities and decay.

 Implants vs Dentures

Partial dentures are removable whereas implants are not. Partials are anchored to natural teeth. Implants create a stable base, and each implant supports a single crown. If you are missing a few teeth in a row, an implant-supported bridge is an option that only requires two implants.

 Contact Smile Glen Ellyn

If you are ready to smile again, contact Dr. Gibbs at Smile Glen Ellyn. After a thorough exam and x-rays, Dr. Jessica Gibbs can make recommendations to help you make the best choice for you. Call us today to schedule your exam.

Dental Implants might just be your new best friend! Why? If you have been faced with some challenging dental health issues in the past or are currently, you may want to consider this procedure. This American Dental Association-approved procedure is not only safe, but very cost-effective and long-term. Dr. Thomas Gibbs wants to help you get on the path to a healthier, more beautiful smile.

Tooth decay, loss and ill-fitting dentures are all potential causes for bone loss in the jaw, wrinkles around the mouth area, and bad breath. Dental health is very important and that’s why we want to provide you with options.

Dental Implants

What are they? They’re small metal parts that are surgically placed where your old tooth’s root once was. A new implant will then go right on top of that metal part and voila – you have a natural-looking brand-new smile you can feel confident about.

Smile Glen Ellyn can answer any questions you may have about this procedure.

Cost-Effective

Not only will you receive a thorough consultation about a solid treatment plan with payment options, but you will be supported by your Glen Ellyn, IL dentist from point A to point B throughout the process.

Our mouths are one of the very first things people see when they look at you. We want you to feel good about your smile, so do come in if you’re considering dental implants.

Losing teeth is not a good thing, but it’s much more common than you may realize.

Most American adults are missing at least one tooth, and 10 percent of Americans between the age of 50 and 64 no longer have any of their original teeth, according to the National Institute of Dental Craniofacial Research.

Losing one tooth is inconvenient and maybe somewhat embarrassing, but losing several or all of your teeth can have a big impact on your quality of life.

We may not be able to give you back your teeth, but we may be able to give you the next best, All on Four dental implants. Keep reading or call the Smile Glen Ellyn dentist office to learn more about this life-changing system.

Life without teeth

If you are missing a full arch of teeth, you already know it has changed your life.

Edentulism, the condition of being without teeth, often occurs as a result of poor dental hygiene.

In some cases, embarrassment prevents patients from seeking dental care. Trust us, we would rather see you while you have some teeth to save then see you when it is too late to help.

When you don’t have any teeth, it can change the appearance of your face. As you lose teeth, you lose bone density as well. This can give your face a collapsed appearance and make you appear older than you are.

This may make you uncomfortable going out in public or even spending time with your family and friends. When you don’t interact with the people you love and care for, it can lead to a sense of isolation. We want you to stay involved in the lives of your loved ones, and we believe they would say the same thing.

In additional to the emotional impact of missing several teeth, you will have physical consequences as well.

When you don’t have teeth, you can’t bite into things, and you can’t chew your food. This could mean a diet of soft foods and liquids. You may be able to survive that way, but we can’t imagine you want to spend the rest of your life dining on mashed potatoes, applesauce, and milk shakes.

Dental implants can save you from dealing with the problems mentioned above and help you begin enjoying your life again.

How All on Four can help

Before we explain All on Four, we need to first explain dental implants.

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth. When you lose a tooth, it leaves a space in your smile and below your gumline.

The roots of your teeth are the anchors that hold you teeth securely in your mouth. Dental implant replaces the roots of your teeth. Like your roots, your dental implants stimulate the jawbone, and this spurs new growth. This growth keeps your jawbone healthy and prevents bone loss.

To get the full impact of a dental implant, you need to attach something to replace the crowns of your teeth as well. If you were missing one tooth, we would add a dental crown. If you lost three or four teeth, we would recommend a dental bridge.

If you need to replace a full arch of teeth, however, All on Four may be your best option. With All on Four, you can go from having no teeth to having the appearance of a full set of teeth in a day.

All on Four is just what it sounds like. We start by strategically placing four dental implants inside your jawbone. Then, we attach a set of implant-secured dentures to your implants.

In other words, you regain the appearance of all your teeth on four dental implants.

But All on Four dental implants aren’t just about looks. If that’s all you were interested in, then dentures might be an acceptable option. 

The problem with most dentures is that you have significantly less bite force than you did when you had all your teeth. All on Four dental implants give you back both the look of your real teeth and something very close to the function of those teeth as well.

You dental implants are held securely in place by your jawbone, and that give you significantly more stability than you can expect with other kinds of dentures. With All on Four, you can eat all the foods you love without worrying about your dentures coming loose when you bite or chew.

Be happy, be healthy

Is there a better gift to give yourself than an improved quality of life?

Don’t hide from your loved ones because of your lack of teeth. Don’t deprive yourself of the foods you love, either. All on Four dental implants will make you want to smile and allow you to keep eating whatever you like.

To learn more, contact Dr. Gibbs, our dentist at Smile Glen Ellyn, by calling 630-858-8800 or by filling out our online form.