Dental Implants Done To Perfection!

Posted on Jul 23, 2024 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

In our Western NC periodontal dental office, we see many patients who are contemplating tooth replacement through dental implants. This can be a complex decision, as today’s implant dentistry offers many choices that are important to achieving a desirable outcome.

This is why accurate, personalized information is best left to a credible, knowledgable source. As a periodontal dental specialist for over 30 years, I have advanced training in all types of dental implants as well as the procedures that may be needed to ensure your investment brings lasting satisfaction.

Over the years, I’ve found that many patients have misconceptions when it comes to dental implants. My desire is to help to dispel the incorrect information so each individual understands the realities when it comes to dental implants.

There are over 40 different implant systems, each designed to accommodate various needs and goals. For example, one consideration in determining which type of dental implant is recommended is in the amount of jaw bone mass.

An implant needs a particular amount of bone structure to support it. After several years of missing tooth roots, the bone begins to decline in mass. For people who wear a denture or partial, the pressure of wearing these appliances can actually speed up the rate bone loss.

So, depending on the amount of bone present to support the implant(s), the choice of which implant system to recommend can be made. For some, we may recommend a bone rebuilding process prior to implant placement. Or, we may advise an implant that uses unique implant lengths and placement angles (the “All-On-4”) that can overcome the challenges of bone loss.

There are also many considerations in selecting the right type of dental implant. The final choice, of course, is the patient’s preference. Does he or she want an implant that is non-removable (“fixed”)? Is cost the determining factor? Does the patient need just one implant or several? Can one implant support a “bridge” of teeth in one area? And so on.

These are just some of the factors we take into consideration when discussing dental implants with patients. It is in our experienced, skilled hands that we recommend one system over another. What’s online or from opinions of others may create confusion and even dissuade you from pursing this ideal option to replace missing teeth.

One misconception is that dental implants are more expensive than other tooth replacement options (dentures, partials, crown-&-bridge). However, they are actually a bargain when all areas are considered. Dental implants do not rely on the support of neighboring teeth. This means that crowning otherwise healthy, natural teeth is not necessary.

The investment made in dental implants is a wise one. Dental implants have one of the highest of all success rates of any implant-in-bone procedure (such as hips, knees), up to 98 percent. Made of titanium, this metal successfully bonds with living bone. This means the bone will grow around your implant(s), integrating it into your bone mass to restore dependability and stability.

Being implanted into the jaw bone, dental implants also restore stimulation that reduces risks for further bone loss. This halts bone shrinkage so you avoid problems associated with resorption. These include an aged facial appearance (such as deep wrinkles around the mouth and formation of jowls), a weakened jaw bone, and the higher risks for continued tooth loss.

Some people also assume that an implant is needed for each missing tooth. That’s not the case for many of our implant patients. The implanted portion of a dental implant can often support two teeth or a bridge of several teeth. When 4 – 8 implants are strategically placed, they may be able to support a full arch of teeth, which often includes non-removable types.

To optimize dental implant success, we have specialized skills to incorporate the more-complex procedures involved in implant placement. For example, a periodontist can incorporate bone rebuilding procedures into treatment to a proper depth. This specialist can also help to restore bone that has occurred in the mandible (lower jaw) or maxilla (upper jaw), which may also require a sinus lift.

In our Asheville periodontal dental office, we offer implant diagnosis (using the benefits of advanced technology) for placement with the pre surgical advantages of achieving optimal oral health. Here, we feature some of the most advanced imaging and computerized technology available in the industry. Those specific to dental implant diagnosis and placement include:

LANAP Protocol Using PerioLase MVP-7: Efficiently and effectively treats periodontitis (advanced gum disease) with laser technology. It causes very little discomfort and has a quick recovery time. This has also been found to stimulate bone regrowth in damaged areas.

Dental Radiology With 3-D Cone Beam Technology: This imaging is ideal for diagnosis and treatment planning. The imaging covers the entire dentition area with clear views of the mandible and maxilla (upper and lower jaw).

Simplant Dental Software for Computerized Dental Implant Placement: This system helps in pre-surgical positioning of dental implants on the computer, using a 3D model of the patient’s jaw. This aids in the selection of the implant type that ensures a precision fit.

These technologies help to optimize patient comfort and treatment success as well as minimize treatment, meaning that patients are never over-treated. Too, healing time is typically reduced, thanks to these specialized measures.

Additionally, we make patient comfort a high priority. We are known for making patient comfort a high priority in all procedures. In addition to many measures of creating a comfortable visit, we offer Oral and IV sedation (“twilight sleep”). Both are safely administered by highly qualified medical professionals who use advanced safety monitoring equipment.

Dental implants are the next best thing to natural teeth. They feel like “real” teeth, look beautiful, and restore a confident, comfortable ability to bite and chew. If you have thought about replacing missing teeth or are frustrated with a denture or partial, call 828-274-9440 to arrange an appointment.

When it comes to your smile, be an informed consumer and avoid hype or misguidance. In one visit, I feel we can help you understand how the selection of a periodontist can be your first step in a successful outcome and a smile you’ll love to share!

 

 

 

Dental Implants Gaining Ground In Tooth Replacement Preferences

Posted on Jun 20, 2024 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

For adults who have lost natural teeth, I have good news and bad news. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first…

Missing natural teeth, whether replaced by a full denture, partial denture, bridge, or not being replaced at all, can lead to problems that impact your oral health, even the lifespan of remaining natural teeth. I’ll address those problems further on, but let’s move on to some good news.

According to the National Institutes of Health & Nutrition Examination, by 2026 nearly 23% of adults are estimated to opt for dental implants as their choice to replace teeth.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6854267/

This is great news for our rapidly aging population. Dental implants come with a number of advantages that effect overall health. These include:

• The ability to bite and chew food thoroughly, aiding digestion. It has been found that people who wear dentures take more medications and have more gastro-intestinal problems.

• Eating comfort so a diet of fibrous and healthy food choices can provide sufficient vitamins, minerals and protein.

• Confidence in social situations, which (according to an article by the Mayo Clinic News Report): “Socializing not only staves off feelings of loneliness, but also it helps sharpen memory and cognitive skills, increases your sense of happiness and well-being, and may even help you live longer.”

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-the-benefits-of-being-socially-connected/

• Helping to support remaining natural teeth by preserving jaw bone mass. When a tooth root is removed from the jaw bone where it was once supported, a process known as resorption begins. Once underway, it continues at an ever-increasing pace, accelerating with each passing year. As the bone shrinks, adjacent teeth are subject to movement and root damage. On average, the next teeth you’ll most likely lose are those bordering areas of missing teeth.

Since the mid to late-60’s, dental implants have been fine-tuned and perfected. Today, there are nearly 40 different types of dental implants. These systems are designed to accommodate specific needs and goals.

For instance, using just 4 or 6 implants placed at unique angles, the All on 4 Dental Implant system is able to evenly distribute the forces of biting and chewing in minimal bone. This is ideal for people who have experienced severe bone loss, helping them avoid the need for bone rebuilding procedures.

With all the great reasons to replace missing teeth with dental implants, an important decision in having a successful outcome is in who places your implants.

Although some generalists take courses in dental implant placement, many of these are offered by the manufacturers of particular implant systems. Thus, these courses primarily focus on the implant available through this one company, which may not be the most ideal choice for your specific needs.

This is why many dentists refer the placement portion of implants to a periodontal specialist. A periodontist has advanced training and skills in the diagnosis and placement of all types of dental implants. This means that this dental specialist can determine which implant system will work best for your individual needs.

Another benefit of a periodontist’s skills for implant patients is in their ability to conduct additional procedures, such as a sinus lift, needed in treatment. This ensures the patient’s implant(s) are positioned in the proper bone mass at a healthy depth so it does not pose risks to surrounding structures.

As a specialist in treating all stages of gum disease, a periodontist is also able to help optimize your gum health prior to implant placement. By pretreating any periodontal inflammation, the implant has a healthy foundation from the very beginning.

In our Western NC periodontal dental office, we incorporate the advantages of some of the most advanced technology in dentistry; many of these options which are not readily available in other dental offices in our region. These computerized marvels offer advantages to patients in helping to minimize treatment needs, speed healing, and optimize comfort.

These include laser dentistry, Cone Beam imaging, Cone Beam computerized tomography imaging, intraoral scanning, and computerized dental implant placement.

Additionally, in our Asheville periodontal dental office, we offer oral and IV sedation (“twilight sleep”) for optimal comfort. Both have an amnesiac effect, leaving most with little or no memory of treatment afterward. Here, anesthesia is overseen by a Medical Doctor (MD) who is a board certified Anesthesiologist. With both sedation options, patients are closely monitored with advanced safety equipment throughout treatment.

If you’ve considered dental implants, take the first step to a new you today! Begin by calling our Asheville periodontal dental office to speak with a friendly staff member at: 828-274-9440.

If the cost of dental implants has prevented you from choosing this optimal tooth replacement option, most of our payment plans require no down payment, are interest-free, and have no prepayment penalty. Feel free to ask about those during a consultation.

Dental Implants – Advantages of Specialized Skills, Advanced Technology, Optimal Comfort

Posted on Jan 10, 2024 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

It wasn’t that long ago when shopping for Christmas presents was quite the time-consuming ordeal. Today, we do searches for gift ideas online, check price comparisons, and have the items show up on our doorstep within a day or so.

Advancements through computerized technology have things running more efficiently and, in many cases, culminate into superior outcomes. This is true in dentistry, especially for those who opt for dental implants to replace missing teeth.

There are many reasons for people to choose dental implants, including:

– Designed to last a lifetime

– Look, feel and function like natural teeth

– Won’t decay or need repairs

– Restore chewing and biting comfort and stability

– Enhance overall health and confidence

– Halt the process of facial bone loss

Occasionally, dental implants are occasionally offered by general dentists. As a periodontist, however, I am referred most of our dental implant patients by other dentists and dental specialists. This is because a periodontist has advanced education and skills in the diagnosis and treatment of all areas of the tissues in the mouth (including the reshaping of gum tissues).

Periodontists are also specialists when it comes to the diagnosis and placement of dental implants. They are trained to understand the intricate concepts involved in selecting the proper type of implant based on each individual. These skills include the understanding of precision placements of implants at proper depths and angles. Additionally, periodontists are able to optimize your comfort and treatment outcome.

Still, another reason we are referred patients for dental implants because we can offer patients a wider variety of choices when it comes to implant systems.

There are many types of dental implants. Various systems are designed to support one replacement tooth (the “restoration”), a bridge of two or more teeth, or a full denture supported by several strategically-placed implants. Understanding the unique advantages of all systems enables us to choose the best type for the patient’s individual needs and goals.

For example, the All On Four dental implant system is designed to support non-removable teeth on just 4 implants (per arch). With its specially-designed implanted portions, these longer implants can fully distribute biting and chewing forces.

All-On-4 is an ideal choice for people who have lost bone mass due to lengthy periods of tooth loss. Because “All On 4” implants can be placed in minimal bone, many patients are able to avoid the need for bone rebuilding procedures prior to traditional implant placement.

In the placement, a periodontist is also the best “go-to” in dental implant skills. Here’s why…

For a dental implant to serve as a lasting tooth replacement system, it must be positioned in the jaw bone to specific depths and angles. An implant that is wrongly positioned can function less efficiently and lead to the need for removal.

For example, a periodontist can incorporate bone rebuilding procedures into treatment to a proper depth for patients missing a great deal of bone mass (typically due to missing natural teeth for many years). This can help to restore bone that has occurred in the mandible (lower jaw) or maxilla (upper jaw), which may also require a sinus lift.

Another example is a patient who has lost teeth due to periodontal (gum) disease. Because a periodontist combines advanced skills in treating gum disease as well as in dental implants, these patients have an added advantage when it comes to treatment success.

When it comes to the best way to pinpoint and tackle specific issues with our health, it makes sense to see a doctor who has received specialized training in that area. This helps to take the guesswork out of diagnosis and enhances the potential for a successful outcome in an efficient process.

A periodontist also has a reputation for being able to optimize patient comfort. Because a periodontal specialist is uniquely skilled in the care of gum tissues, he or she can provide a conservative approach to the placement process. Through respectful treatment of oral tissues (in both placement and exposure for restorations), less disruption to the gums allows for faster healing and higher comfort levels.

In our Western NC periodontal dental office, we incorporate our care with the advantages of some of the most advanced technology in dentistry; many options which are not readily available in other dental offices in our region. These computerized images offer advantages to patients in helping to minimize treatment needs.

These include:

• LANAP (Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure) with PerioLase MVP 7 – an advanced protocol that efficiently and effectively treats advanced gum disease with the added advantages of a dental laser. This offers a non-surgical alternative for patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease and has even been found to stimulate bone regrowth in damaged areas.
• Cone Beam Imaging – is ideal for diagnoses and treatment planning through images that provide a clear view of the upper and lower jaw (including nerve canals), with rotations that show sagittal, axial, and coronal planes in a process that is quick, painless and at minimal radiation levels.
• CareStream Cone Beam Computer Tomography Imaging – is enhanced tomography that works with 3D imaging for exceptional detail and range.
• CS 3600 Intraoral Scanner – quickly and comfortably captures digital impressions to create precision models or appliances accurately and easily (crowns, inlays, onlays, bridges, orthodontic appliances, aligners, custom abutments) without the need for bulky, goopy trays.
• Computerized Dental Implant Placement – an advanced system for pre-surgical positioning of dental implants using a 3D model of the patient’s jaw. Once the implant type is selected, a template is developed for optimal treatment success.

For optimal comfort, we offer several sedation options, including oral and IV sedation. Oral sedation is a pill that helps patients relax. It also has an amnesiac effect, leaving most with little or no memory of treatment afterward. I.V. sedation (also known as “twilight sleep”) places the patient in a deeper sleep state and erases memory of the procedure. It is administered by a doctor of anesthesiology for optimal comfort and safety.

In our Western NC periodontal dental office, anesthesia is overseen by a Medical Doctor (MD) who is a board certified Anesthesiologist. With both sedation options, patients are closely monitored with advanced safety equipment throughout treatment.

Our goal is to help people move forward with treatment affordably for enhanced appearance, self-confidence and sense of security.

For those who have bypassed dental implants because of cost, our payment plans are often able to help patients enjoy the benefits of their dental implants without straining their budget. Most of these payment plans require no down payment, are interest-free, and have no prepayment penalty.

If you’ve considered dental implants in the past but have held back because of obstacles that may actually be overcome, begin by calling our Asheville periodontal dental office and speaking to our friendly staff at: 828-274-9440. Many dental implant patients find they were able to achieve the healthy smile they desired once they consulted with us and learned the options based upon their individual needs.

Achieve Smile Goals With A Periodontist

Posted on Dec 11, 2023 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

If you’re like me, I’m usually looking at the end of each year feeling like there are several things I wanted to accomplish for the year, but kept putting them off until I ran out of time.

For some people, their oral health and appearance goals are on this list, with some who keep moving the goals to the next year and the next. These goals may include:

• Improving the appearance of a smile

• Having a “cleaner” mouth with fresh breath, etc.

• Replacing missing teeth

• Getting past fear or anxiety of dental visits

If you have one of these on your list, you may be surprised that a periodontal specialist can play a major role in helping you achieve your goals. And, because of the advanced skill level of a periodontist, your comfort, time in treatment and overall results can make the process easier for you.

Many general dentists and other dental specialists refer their patients to a for their specific skills. A periodontist is a dental specialist who is the expert in caring for the gum tissues in your mouth and in the placement of dental implants.

The majority of patients arrive because of periodontal (gum) disease. Common symptoms are red, swollen and tender gums. It often causes gum that bleed easily (often noticed when brushing teeth) and persistent bad breath.

Gum disease (sometimes referred to as ‘perio’ disease) only worsens without treatment. It is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Additionally, it has been linked to the development or worsening of a long list of serious health problems elsewhere in the body.

Because the inflammatory bacteria disease can enter the bloodstream through diseased gums, their presence can activate conditions that are seemingly unrelated to oral health. Yet, the connection is severe. These health problems include stroke, heart attack, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, preterm babies, some cancers, arthritis, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction (ED).

In our Asheville periodontal dental office, we are able to treat all stages of gum disease to restore your oral health and minimize the risk of tooth loss. For those who have developed gum disease because they’ve been afraid of dental visits, we offer oral and IV sedation (“twilight sleep”).

Sedation is administered safely by a doctor in anesthesia who uses advanced safety equipment. Our priority is always patient comfort with their safety equally so.

Too, our advanced technology is able to minimize treatment time with amazing results. For example, LANAP (Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure) combined with PERIOLASE MVP-7 is designed to efficiently and effectively treat periodontitis (advanced gum disease) with the advantages of a dental laser. This offers non-surgical treatment for patients with moderate to severe periodontal disease. LANAP treatment minimizes discomfort and has a quick recovery time. It has also been found to stimulate bone regrowth in damaged areas.

When tooth loss has occurred (whether from gum disease, an accident, or due to genetics), our NW NC dental specialty office also works with a number of dentists in the diagnosis and placement of dental implants.

With over 40 different implant systems, the one suited best for you depends on factors that an experienced dentist must take into consideration. For example, the number of implants you need and how much jaw bone mass exists.

For individuals who have lost a great deal of bone, specific implant types may be recommended. Some, like the “All On 4” implant system, uses specially designed implants which are placed at specific angles.

Bone loss can also be overcome by incorporating a bone rebuilding process into treatment. This is done prior to implant placement and does not require a bone graft. In many cases, we can apply a bone rebuilding material that restores ample bone mass.

The same is true when the sinus cavity will be too close to the proximity. This can be remedied through a “sinus lift.” We provide complete services of these procedures as well as dental implant placement – all performed with advanced skills and technology, such as our Cone Beam 3D imaging.

These images are ideal in diagnosis and treatment planning by giving a clear view of the mandible and maxilla (upper and lower jaw). Cone beam radiographs provide images in sagittal, axial, and coronal planes. This makes it possible to locate and trace the mandibular nerve canal for pre-surgical planning for an ideal implant position. Patients are exposed to only minute levels of radiation through a process that is fast and comfortable.

When the enhanced appearance of a smile is being sought, a periodontist also plays a part in helping to create a balanced smile line. In the procedure known as “crown lengthening,” the arch of gum tissues over teeth visible in a smile can be repositioned. This is done in a procedure known as a gingivectomy.

A gingivectomy is also performed to repair a “gummy smile.” This is when too much gum tissue shows above the teeth most visible in a smile. While the condition is not detrimental to oral health, some individuals seek to have it corrected by a periodontist.

Get the coming year started with your smile goals achieved! Call our Asheville periodontal dental office to schedule a consultation. Our friendly staff can help you arrange this private time together by calling 828-274-9440.