Implant Dentistry Blog

Today’s generations understand the importance of replacing missing teeth. Still, selecting the appropriate option for tooth replacement can be challenging. It is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of all available choices. Which option is best for your needs?

Discussing your tooth replacement needs with a dentist who understands the fundamentals of cosmetic dentistry can yield beautiful results. A cosmetic dentist is a highly qualified and experienced dentist with a particular focus on esthetics. After all, your teeth serve many important functions in addition to chewing. Having a smile that looks natural and attractive says a lot about your personality.

Your dentist may recommend a dental bridge to prevent a missing tooth from damaging your eating habits as well as your smile. As a permanent (or fixed) restoration, a dental bridge allows you to bite and chew comfortably with no removable parts and minimal maintenance. The bridge is securely connected to at least one natural tooth on either side of the missing tooth and is joined in the middle by an artificial tooth. By cementing the bridge firmly in place, your dentist can prevent the neighboring teeth from shifting or moving out of alignment.

The dental bridge has been considered to be a great option for replacing missing teeth for a number of decades. This is partly due to the permanent nature of the restoration, and partly due to the esthetic appeal. Bridges can be constructed from various materials including gold and metal alloys. When the bridge is used in an area that is visible when you speak or smile, porcelain is often recommended.

Utilizing the concepts of cosmetic dentistry, your dentist can design a dental bridge that includes anatomic details for a more natural result. The shade and size of the bridge can also be customized according to your dentist’s specifications.

If you are missing one or more teeth in the Fort Smith AR area, consult with our experienced team at Ozark Prosthodontics about the possibilities of a dental bridge

If you are at risk of losing all of your remaining natural teeth, it is important to understand all of your tooth replacement options. A full set of dentures is typically the solution of choice, and with proper planning, your dentist can help you to achieve excellent results. 

For patients who are already missing all of the upper or lower teeth, a conventional denture can yield a fantastic outcome. In the dental office, a series of impressions are taken to record the shape, size, and anatomy of the gums and jaw bone. These records are used to construct a full denture that fits comfortably and securely.

Patients who are planning to have all of the teeth removed will need to wait approximately 4-6 weeks as the gums heal prior to taking impressions for the denture. This is due to the fact that the gum tissue will naturally shrink as it heals. Dental impressions that are taken too early typically result in less than accurate impressions and a poorly fitting denture. During the healing phase, denture patients will be required to manage daily life without teeth.

Understandably, most adults find it unacceptable to endure even a single day without teeth. Rather than extract the teeth and wait 4-6 weeks for new teeth, your dentist may suggest an immediate denture.

Impressions for an immediate denture are obtained prior to removing the natural teeth. These impressions provide enough information about your anatomy to enable your dentist to fabricate a full denture in advance. On the day that your teeth are removed, the immediate denture is placed into the mouth. The denture is designed to be worn during the healing period, and can be adjusted and relined as the tissues begin to shrink.

Utilizing an immediate denture is an excellent way for patients to move through the healing period with a full set of teeth.

Whether you are interested in a conventional denture or an immediate denture, discussing the options with our dental team serving Rogers AR can ensure that you are ultimately pleased with your smile. Call Ozark Prosthodontics at 479-582-3360 to schedule your appointment for more information.

Dentures have been a commonly recommended solution for replacing missing teeth for hundreds of years. When all of the upper or lower teeth are missing, patients have turned to dentures in order to rebuild their smiles and restore their ability to chew.

On the surface, it may seem that all dentures are created alike. In reality, it is now possible to customize each denture to the specific needs of each patient. Patients who are in need of dentures in Springdale AR can now enjoy dentures that are as stable and comfortable as they are beautiful.

With dentures, chewing comfortably is a high priority. Rather than fabricating a denture that rests on the gum tissue, or depends on denture glue for support, your implant dentist can design a denture that is anchored to the jaw bone with a series of dental implants.

A relatively pain-free procedure, performed with the help of local anesthetics, the dental implants can be placed in the dental office. In as little as one day, the implants are strong enough to support your new teeth.

Snap-In dentures, also referred to as implant retained dentures, have redefined the typical denture experience. A specially designed denture can be made to “snap” securely onto the implants, then “snap” off for easy cleaning and maintenance. Patients may choose to have their existing denture modified to connect to the implants, or a new custom denture can be designed.

A great deal of chewing and biting efficiency can be regained when a Snap-In denture is used to create stability and comfort. The denture will no longer rub or irritate the gum tissue, nor will it slip out of place or obstruct your speech. Many patients will begin to enjoy a new sense of confidence and satisfaction on the same day that the implants and dentures are placed.

A stronger, more durable smile is a new reality for millions of adults who have suffered complete tooth loss. Dentures that snap firmly into place have changed the perception of dentures and improved the lifestyles of patients. To learn more about how you can enjoy a new life with Snap-In dentures, call Ozark Prosthodontics at 479-582-3360 and schedule your appointment today.

There are a number of reasons for restoring your teeth. Our teeth are exposed to a great degree of forces and stresses on a daily basis, and are under attack from all angles. Tooth decay, accidents, fractures, and wear can take quite a toll on our teeth. Even developmental anomalies can affect the shape, size, and integrity of our teeth. 

When a tooth has been compromised, you can depend on cosmetic dentistry in Rogers AR to restore your teeth and your smile. Porcelain crowns are often used to rebuild the teeth, while providing strength and beauty to your smile.

Porcelain is frequently used in cosmetic dentistry due to its unique capacity to provide durability, function, and esthetic value. Porcelain can be customized to mimic a natural tooth in terms of shade, shape, size, and even minor anatomical details. The crowns are designed to completely encase, or cover, the entire tooth, producing a uniform and attractive new tooth.

Porcelain crowns can be used to restore the front or the back teeth, and are known to have virtually no allergenic potential. When additional strength is necessary, a metal crown can be coated with porcelain for a more natural-looking tooth.

There are numerous instances in which your cosmetic dentist may recommend a porcelain crown:

• To restore a broken or fractured tooth
• To restore a tooth which has a worn or large filling
• To restore a tooth that has been treated with a root canal procedure
• To finalize a dental implant
• As a part of a smile makeover
• To reshape a tooth that is too small, too large, or out of alignment

Once your porcelain crown is in place, you may resume your normal eating, drinking, and dental hygiene right away. It is important to practice diligent brushing and flossing in order to prevent tooth decay and gum disease around your new crown (as well as to protect your natural teeth!).

If you have wondered about your options for restoring your teeth, schedule an appointment today to discuss porcelain crowns.

If you have made the decision to pursue the smile of your dreams, you may have wondered about the financial aspect of cosmetic dentistry. Understanding your financial responsibility is an important part of the treatment planning process.

Your new smile is within your reach. Remember that there are a number of available options for achieving your new smile, and just as many available options for affording your new smile. You must first sit down with your dentist to discuss your goals and how to achieve those goals using cosmetic dentistry in Fayetteville AR 72703.

Together, you and your dentist can plan the details of your treatment. It is your dentist’s mission to fully understand your expectations and help to guide you towards the end result.  It is critical that you understand your dentist’s recommendations and feel comfortable with each step of the proposed treatment.

Once the treatment plan has been finalized, you can sit down with the financial coordinator to evaluate your financing options. If you have dental insurance, your plan’s benefits will first be reviewed in order to determine your coverage and limitations. For treatment that is not covered by dental insurance, there are a variety of financing options, both internal and external, that may suit your particular needs. For established patients, reasonable and flexible payment plans may be an ideal option.

As an added convenience, your dentist and financial coordinator have taken the time to gather financing information from some of the most credible and trusted financial institutions in the country. CareCredit, a GE Money company, as well as Springstone patient financing have established financing options specifically for dental or medical care.

These financial institutions have designed an assortment of no interest plans as well as plans that offer affordable fixed rates, some as low as 5.99%. For more extensive treatment plans, financing terms can even be extended to 84 months. Your dentist’s front office staff will be glad to assist you in selecting the financing option that is best for you.

Call Ozark Prosthodontics at 479-582-3360 for your appointment today to discuss the ways that you may finance your cosmetic dentistry treatment.

No two patients have the same restorative or cosmetic needs. For this reason, it is important to have access to cosmetic solutions that can be customized to meet your specific needs. Porcelain veneers are versatile enough to be used to address a number of cosmetic concerns. In fact, our cosmetic dentist is choosing veneers in Fort Smith AR to design beautiful, strong smiles with a great amount of success. 

Porcelain veneers can be used on the front teeth to conceal discoloration, chipped teeth, and broken fillings. Veneers can also improve the smiles of patients who are concerned about spaces or gaps between the front teeth, crowding or crooked teeth, or teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the smile.

Understandably, both cosmetic dentists and patients expect cosmetic treatments to be as durable as they are beautiful. Porcelain veneers have been celebrated as one of the strongest cosmetic solutions available. Made from a strong grade of porcelain, veneers are bonded directly to the front surface of the teeth. They are able to withstand the forces of normal chewing (although patients are encouraged to avoid excessive forces such as biting on pens, nail biting, and biting directly into brittle foods).

Veneers are customized for each individual patient and tooth. The shape and size of the veneer is determined after an in-depth discussion between the cosmetic dentist and the patient. The exact shade of the veneer can be selected to match your natural teeth, or you may opt for a lighter shade if your desire a whiter smile.

For many patients, porcelain veneers are the ideal cosmetic solution. They require only a minimal amount of preparation of the natural tooth, making them a very conservative choice. They can be cared for in the same manner as the rest of the teeth, in terms of brushing and flossing. Most importantly, they can truly enhance your smile, drawing attention to you, rather than your dental work.

Contact Ozark Prosthodontics at 479-582-3360 and schedule an appointment today to learn more about the custom options for your porcelain veneers.

Today’s dental patients are asking for more from their dental restorations. Patients expect restorations that are highly functional, attractive, and low maintenance. They want dental procedures that are quick and comfortable. Patients are opting for materials that are known to be environmentally safe.

Patients who are seeking cosmetic dentistry in Fayetteville have the same high expectations for their dental treatment. For several decades, composite fillings have consistently met or exceeded those expectations.

It is easy to appreciate the esthetic value of composite fillings. By blending with the shade of the tooth, these tooth-colored restorations are virtually invisible during normal social interaction. Composite fillings do no stain or discolor at the same rate as silver fillings. In fact, many patients choose to replace their silver fillings with composite fillings as a part of their cosmetic treatment plan in order to obtain a brighter, whiter smile.

Beauty aside, your cosmetic dentist recommends composite fillings for functional reasons. Composite fillings are just as strong as other filling materials, but also increase the integrity of the tooth. Composite fillings actually form a chemical bond with the tooth structure, strengthening and holding the tooth together. This bond also prevents the potential for microleakage (a condition in which bacteria and saliva leak into the space between the filling material and the tooth).

Composite filling materials are proven to be safe, both for the patient and for the environment. This filling material is generally made from a specially blended combination of commonly used materials such as resins (plastics), glass, and porcelain. These materials do not break down or separate when subjected to moisture, temperature, or pressure.

Composite fillings fit conveniently into our busy lives. Patients are able to eat or drink immediately after these fillings are placed into the mouth. There is no waiting period since this material reaches its maximum level of strength as soon as it is activated by a special curing light.

If you desire fillings that are both functional and attractive, composite fillings may be the solution. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Dean McNeel at Ozark Prosthodontics today to learn more.

There are several available options for replacing a missing tooth. Not surprisingly, there are some options that are more desirable than others in terms of function, comfort, appearance, and longevity. Still, it is important to understand all of the options in order to determine the solution that is best for you.

Among all of the available options, patients who have chosen dental implants in Springdale AR can fully appreciate the many advantages of their choice. By integrating directly with the jaw bone, dental implants are the most permanent tooth replacement solution available. With an astoundingly high success rate, dental implants are designed to last throughout your lifetime. Whether they are placed in the front or rear of the mouth, implants are also designed to look and feel exactly like a natural tooth. Due to its conservative design, the implant does not link or attach to the neighboring teeth. Therefore, there is no unnecessary damage or burden to any other teeth in the mouth. 

Fixed, or permanent bridges, are another alternative for replacing a missing tooth, although there are a few notable disadvantages. Bridges are typically used where there is a natural tooth on either side of the missing tooth. This is due to the fact that the bridge relies on the support of the natural teeth for stability. An artificial tooth is suspended above the gumline at the location of the missing tooth. These design limitations often prevent bridges from being used to replace the last tooth in the mouth (since there it must be anchored to at least two teeth). Patients may also find that chewing feels different, as the replacement tooth is suspended above the gumline, rather than anchored into the bone.

Removable dentures or partials are probably the least attractive alternative for replacing a single missing tooth. The design for these restorations requires a framework consisting of a large amount of acrylic or metal. The framework, designed to cover the roof or floor of the mouth, must also clasp onto several other teeth in the mouth as well as rest on the delicate gum tissue.

Seek the advice of Dr. Dean McNeel today to learn more about your options for replacing your missing tooth. Call Ozark Prosthodontics at 479-582-3360 to schedule a consultation.

If you have one or several missing teeth due to trauma, disease or any reason; or maybe you have been told that you need to have one or more teeth removed, perhaps it is time to investigate dental implants in Fort Smith AR.

There are many reasons that dental implants are quite often the best answer to missing teeth. First of all, a space in your mouth where a tooth should be can create long term problems. Your remaining teeth can shift causing problems with your bite. This can lead to grinding or clenching, jaw problems or TMJ.

Eating, speaking, even smiling can be impacted by that blank space. Not being able to eat a proper diet due to chewing problems can lead to serious health issues. If your speech is altered, or your smile has dimmed due to an empty space, this can affect your overall self-confidence and happiness.

One might turn to the other alternatives such as a partial or perhaps a denture. But there is a better, more permanent solution that can return you to the life you enjoyed before your tooth loss. Dental implants do require a longer time and financial investment initially, but there is no comparison in the result when considering those other options.

A dental implant is a small device made from a titanium that is placed in your gum tissue. The implant is designed to graft to your bone during the healing process. Once the implant has healed, your implant dentist will finish your treatment with a final restoration that will look like your natural tooth.

The implant gives your new tooth strength and stability acting much like the root of your other teeth. And since this is a permanent solution, taking care of your implant is as easy as your natural teeth. Daily flossing and brushing plus visits to your dentist twice per year are all your new implant should require.

With partials or dentures, there are continuous visits to your dentist for adjustments or needed relines. In addition, the need to replace a partial or denture is much more likely than that of the dental implant.

Overall when comparing the benefits of a dental implant to a more temporary solution, isn’t your time and investment well worth it to enjoy many years of the tooth replacement solution that most closely resembles your natural teeth?

To learn more and to schedule a dental implant consultation, please call 479-582-3360 today.

A dental veneer is a very thin cover that is placed over the front of one or more teeth that you wish to improve in appearance. Our team at Ozark Prosthodontics can provide you with all the benefits of veneers in Rogers AR.

What are the advantages of porcelain veneers? If you have cracked or chipped teeth, dental veneers can come to the rescue. If teeth are stained or discolored due to wear and tear, diet, medications taken or any reason, your cosmetic dentist would very likely recommend porcelain veneers.

If you feel you have stopped smiling or attempt to hide your teeth when you smile due to misshapen teeth, gaps or spaces between your teeth or feel your teeth are crooked, veneers could restore that confident smile.

When making the decision about dental veneers, it is important to know the process and any limitations you will have once your porcelain veneers have been delivered.

Once you have made the decision to enhance your smile with dental veneers, your dentist will remove a small amount of your tooth surface, prepare your tooth and take the dental impressions needed to make your veneers. A temporary covering is placed on your teeth to protect your teeth until your veneers are permanently placed.

The porcelain for your dental veneers is made to match the shape and shade of your natural teeth, but with the subtle changes needed to improve your smile.

The durability of your porcelain veneers is similar to the strength of your natural teeth. As with your own teeth,  chewing on hard objects like ice; biting your fingernails; opening packages with your teeth or any other habits you have been told to avoid to save your teeth still applies to your dental veneers. Chipping the porcelain of your veneer is possible like chipping the enamel of your tooth – they are both strong, but not invincible.

Repairing a veneer is very difficult, so practicing some caution when biting or chewing is highly recommended. A porcelain veneer should last for many years, and requires no special care. The same excellent hygiene you practice now like daily flossing, brushing with a fluoride toothpaste or gel twice per day and visiting Ozark Prosthodontics for a professional cleaning and exam twice per year should provide you and your porcelain veneers many years of happy smiles.