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Patients who are on the verge of getting dentures express many concerns, but the most common is how the appliances will affect their ability to continue to enjoy a varied diet. This can be an important consideration for patients who are curious about dentures of any type, particularly implant dentures.

The good news is that after a brief adjustment period, most denture-wearing patients can continue to partake of their favorite foods.

There have been significant advances in the design of conventional dentures in recent years, making these appliances much more effective at chewing than they used to be. A qualified dentist can discuss these features with you in greater detail.

However, implant-supported dentures do tend to be somewhat more stable and generally more effective at replicating the natural chewing mechanism.

Implant dentures have a physical link to the underlying jawbone because the bone fuses with the implants after the dentist inserts them into the jaw. Therefore, an implant denture is secure, and it helps to anchor the jawbone and prevent any erosion as well.

The bond between bone and implant also leaves implant dentures able to withstand fairly significant chewing forces similar to those that can be tolerated by biological teeth.

Receiving dental implants to support a denture doesn’t necessarily create the need for extensive oral surgery either. Depending on the technique used, as few as four dental implants can be placed to support a denture. In such cases, the patient often undergoes the placement procedure in an outpatient setting in a single appointment. Many patients can even be fitted with their new appliance right after that session.

Dentures provide a number of good options that can help the patient to replace their missing teeth with maximum functionality. The patient will be able to enjoy a diverse diet including foods of differing textures – and a beautiful appearance. Call our office to learn more about the various appliances that may be suitable in your case.

If you’re less-than-enthralled with your natural smile, have you considered a smile makeover for a major upgrade? With certain cosmetic techniques and treatments, your dentist can give you a star-quality smile.

A smile makeover can consist of a single treatment, such as teeth whitening, or a comprehensive overhaul entailing multiple interventions designed to alter the appearance of the teeth and/or the gums.

Here are a few of the treatments your dentist might provide as part of a smile makeover:

• Teeth whitening: Whether as a stand-alone treatment or as the capstone of a series of aesthetic enhancements, professional-grade teeth whitening treatments can leave your teeth up to 10 shades whiter. Over-the-counter options can’t compare to a custom-designed teeth whitening treatment delivered in a dental office.
• Porcelain veneers: Any number of dings or defects can detract from your smile, like chips, stains or cracks. Porcelain veneers can cover up any of them. These tooth-shaped shells can even create the illusion of proper alignment in a line of slightly crooked teeth. Plus, although they are made of porcelain, veneers can last for decades with proper care.
• Dental implants: Missing teeth can be devastating to a smile’s appearance, especially when they are in highly visible areas. Dental implants can help, replacing the absent tooth with a lifelike replica, complete with a root-like structure. The artificial root helps to stabilize the jaw, reducing the likelihood that its shape will change over time.
• Gum contouring or lift: Sometimes the appearance of the teeth isn’t the patient’s only problem. A gummy smile can be as unattractive as a crooked one. When excess gum tissue is removed, the frame of the smile becomes more proportionate and thus, more attractive. Gum contouring can target a small number of teeth or the entire gum line.

The patient’s desired outcome will determine the interventions that are recommended, but many of those listed above, in addition to other cosmetic treatments, can be used in combination for even better results.

Don’t settle for a smile that is anything less than spectacular. Consult with one of our experts to learn how you can significantly upgrade your pearly whites. Call us at 516-484-6600 to speak with a member of our caring team today!

Patients who need to restore the appearance of a tooth extensively damaged by decay or injury are unlikely to have the patience to wait for weeks before they can confidently sport a smile again. Fortunately, CEREC dental crowns offer patients a better option that eliminates that wait.

In the traditional process of placing dental crowns, your dentist would take an impression of your tooth and send it to a dental lab, which would then be tasked with creating the crown. After that was complete, the patient would return to the office to have the crown bonded to the tooth. In the interim, the patient could wear a temporary crown, but these devices were often problematic and could easily be lost.

That entire process could take up to a couple of weeks. In contrast, CEREC dramatically reduces this treatment timeline to just a few hours.

CEREC is an acronym that stands for Chairside Economic Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. With this system, the dental lab is housed within the same office where the patient receives the crown. The dentist collects all of the data needed to determine the crown’s design, and a dental tech utilizes advanced software to create a three-dimensional image of the crown.

Based on those measurements, the crown is created from a block of dental ceramic in a milling machine that is housed at the office. It’s ready to be placed a short time later.

This method offers patients a more convenient way to upgrade their smiles and protect their teeth, eliminating the need for multiple trips to the office. There’s virtually no disruption to your routine.

CEREC also can be tremendously valuable for patients who need some sort of emergency repair in advance of a big event, like a wedding, important job interview or high school reunion.

Prospective patients who want a minimal wait time for a new crown should contact our office, East Hills Dental Associates, to learn more about our CEREC system and its benefits.