Do you suffer from missing or severely damaged teeth? Looking for a dental treatment to permanently restore the function and appearance of your smile? With dental implants from Town Square Dental, the perfect treatment is possible. We are proud to offer dental implants for our patients that have one or more missing teeth or teeth that need to be extracted.

About Dental Implants

Dental implants function, feel and look just like natural teeth. They consist of an artificial root, an abutment, and a prosthetic crown. A tiny titanium post serves as the artificial root, with an abutment attached so that the crown can be placed and secured. Certain issues caused by missing teeth such as bite and speech problems as well as an aged appearance can be improved once dental implants have been placed. For patients with bone loss, a bone graft or even sinus lift may be necessary before treatment to fully support the implant.

Dental Implant Treatment

Before dental implant treatment, an evaluation of your teeth, gums, bone and overall oral health will be necessary to determine if you are a candidate and if a bone graft or sinus lift may be necessary. Once this has been completed, the dental implant procedure can commence:

• The artificial titanium root will be surgically placed into the jawbone.
• As the mouth heals, the titanium post and natural jawbone will grow together, creating a long-lasting foundation for artificial crowns. This can take weeks to months depending upon various factors.
• Once the mouth heals, and your jawbone has fully grown around the implant, abutments will be placed on top of the post so that the prosthetic crown can be attached.
• An individual prosthetic crown, bridge or denture will then be attached to the abutment.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Many patients at our Pasadena, TX dental office wonder if dental implants may be the right dental treatment option for their situation. Here are some of the benefits of dental implants in comparison to other options:

• Feel, Look & Function like Natural Teeth
• Improved Bite
• Improved Speech
• Improved Oral Hygiene
• Decreased Bone Loss
• More Youthful Appearance
• Permanent Solution
• Requires No Adhesive

To see if you’re a candidate for dental implants, book an appointment with Town Square Dental today!

Of course, we know what we’re supposed to do to take care of our teeth – brush and floss daily, stay away from overly-sugary foods and drinks, see our dentist regularly – and we do our best to keep up with that (…right?). But it’s important that we are also instilling that same diligence in our kids, which may be easier said than done. Here are five tips on how to maintain healthy teeth for your kids.

1. Take regular visits to the dentist.

Your child’s first visit to the dentist should be when their first tooth appears, or within six months of that event (but no later than their first birthday). During this first visit, the dentist will: obtain a dental history for your child; inspect for oral injuries, cavities or other problems; let you know of any risks in terms of dental health; clean your child’s teeth; and guide you on proper brushing habits and cavity prevention.

2. Eat healthily and drink fluoridated water.

Most cities fluoridate their public supply of water, so residents can receive their dose of fluoride easily. (If you live in a city where this is not the case, fluoride supplements are available.) Sugary snacks and drinks should be avoided; fruits and vegetables should be a big part of your child’s diet instead. Good snacks for healthy teeth include apples and carrots (for the vitamins and cleaning factor from the crunchiness) and cheese (for the calcium).

3. Use fluoridated toothpaste.

Fluoride is a very important part in helping to prevent cavities as it helps to build strong enamel. Though it’s a naturally-occurring mineral and you can get it through your diet and tap water (in most cities), it’s important also to be using toothpaste that contains that extra boost of fluoride.

4. Practice positive brushing habits.

Supervise your child’s brushing until you’re confident that they can do it properly and safely on their own. Then, make sure that they are brushing for at least two minutes, twice a day (morning and night).

5. Start flossing regularly.

This is a habit that’s important to instill early on. Parents may think that it’s not necessary until the permanent teeth have come in, but flossing should actually begin once teeth start to touch, since that’s when just brushing will not be enough to get rid of all that food and plaque.