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When faced with the prospect of replacing one or several teeth due to infection, trauma, or disease, dental implants offer an excellent option to regain the appearance and functionality once enjoyed before tooth loss.

Your implant dentist will conduct a thorough dental exam and review your general overall health to make sure you are a good candidate for dental implants. Patients that are at risk for implant failure are those suffering from autoimmune diseases like diabetes or those who have periodontal disease. Smokers are advised to quit before embarking on the implant process as smoking is a major contributor to implant failure.

Your implant dentist will also discuss the commitment required for a successful dental implant. Infection can result in implant failure so keeping the implant area flossed and clean during the healing process is critical.

Once the decision to move forward has been reached, a dental implant is surgically placed in the gum tissue where the tooth has been lost. The implant resembles a small screw, and is made of titanium or a similar metal that is designed to fuse to the bone.

After the implant has healed, which is typically four to six months, the strength and stability the implant offers to the replacement tooth is much like the benefit obtained from the roots of our natural teeth.

When your implant dentist is satisfied that the implant has healed and has successfully anchored to the bone, it is time to place the final restoration. This restoration has been fabricated to match the shape and shade of the surrounding teeth making it virtually undetectable.

The implant has now become part of your permanent dental anatomy. The restoration that was affixed to the implant is secure and functions much like your natural teeth. The ability to eat the foods you love, speak with confidence, and smile without hesitation are restored.

Moving forward, caring for your dental implant is no more difficult than observing the excellent oral hygiene habits of daily flossing and brushing at least twice per day. A visit to our Long Island dentist twice per year for a professional cleaning and exam will allow you to enjoy your dental implants and restoration for many years. For additional information, call the office of Dr. Richard Sousa at 516-484-6600.

When faced with the loss of several teeth due to infection, trauma or disease, a consultation with your dentist will help guide you and answer any questions you may have about dentures and the best options available for your situation.

A denture is a dental appliance made up to replace the number of teeth needed. A partial denture is the solution when only a few teeth are missing. However, when the entire upper or lower arch must be replaced, a complete denture is needed.

Replacing missing teeth is critical to our ability to eat, speak and smile. Tooth loss is not to be taken lightly as missing teeth can result in the shift of remaining teeth and bone loss over time. These facts can result in a poor diet, diminished overall health and even a change in facial appearance.

Dentures are made from acrylic resin which allows your dentist to match the shape and shade of the surrounding teeth making your partial denture indistinguishable from your remaining teeth.

When replacing either the upper or lower arch (or both), your dentist will help you select the closest fit to enhance your appearance while offering you comfort and functionality.

Whether you are fitted with a complete or partial denture, an adjustment period is generally needed to get used to your new dental appliance. Quite often saliva production is increased and the ability to eat and speak requires a little time to feel natural again.

Taking care of your denture is like taking care of your own teeth with a few exceptions. A partial denture should be removed before brushing your permanent teeth. Toothpaste and gel can contain abrasives that can scratch a denture. You should only use a product intended for dentures to brush your dentures.

When not in your mouth, it is best to store your denture in a glass of water or cleaner. A denture can dry out making it susceptible to cracking or breaking.

Never place your denture in boiling water to clean it, as heat can warp your denture.

The dentist will probably have you return to the office several times during the initial period of wearing your new denture to make sure you are getting the benefit of a perfect fit and to make the adjustments needed for you to get the most out of your new dental appliance.

To learn more and to schedule your consultation, call the office of Dr. Richard Sousa, serving Long Island, today.

For patients who are faced with a decision on how to proceed when told they have a large cavity in a  tooth, there are multiple options to consider. A large filling might weaken the tooth or result in the tooth breaking. A dental crown is certainly an option, but if you’re seeking a resolution that falls somewhere in between those two choices, your dentist might recommend a porcelain inlay or onlay.

For a cavity on the chewing surface of the tooth, a porcelain onlay would be best. For dental decay in between teeth, a porcelain inlay is the appropriate treatment.

What makes porcelain onlays and inlays such a beneficial course of action?

• The aesthetics of porcelain trumps any other material we have today. Porcelain will not fade and is stain resistant. Porcelain is designed to match tooth color making it the choice of many patients who desire the natural look you can obtain versus gold or metal restorations.
• The porcelain onlay is designed to withstand the chewing pressure a tooth sustains during the course of a normal day. Your dentist might recommend composite resin to repair a small cavity, but when faced with a larger restoration, a porcelain onlay offers durability and strength to the treated tooth.
• With porcelain inlays and onlays, your dentist is able to reduce the amount of your natural tooth that must be removed for treatment as compared to a dental composite or crown.

At the onset of treatment your dentist will prepare the tooth and take an impression that will be used to fabricate the restoration. A temporary will be placed on the tooth to protect it until treatment is completed. When placing the onlay or inlay, the restoration is fitted to the tooth. And because it is made of porcelain, there is no possibility of shrinkage as sometimes happens with a traditional filling.

Your dentist will ensure an exact fit and permanently place the restoration. Any adjustments will be made to make sure the margins are correct and your bite is precise.

Taking care of your onlay or inlay requires nothing more than the excellent oral hygiene habits you already practice of flossing daily and brushing twice per day. A visit to our Glen Cove dentist twice per year for a professional cleaning and exam will help ensure your onlay or inlay will serve you well for many years. Call East Hills Dental Associates at 516-484-6600 if you are in need of filling a cavity.