Some people who lose a posterior tooth question whether to replace it. After all, it doesn’t show when you smile and there are other teeth to take over the chewing functions. Why not avert the cost to replace it and save some money? Actually, there are several important reasons to replace a back tooth with a permanent dental implant if possible:
1. The adjacent tooth (or teeth) may start shifting.
If a tooth tips, moves, or rotates, it can influence the bite. The unopposed tooth can also move, though it generally moves outward from the bone (over-eruption). Teeth that are displaced can become more vulnerable to gum disease, decay, or TMJ pain.
2. The underlying bone will eventually loosen.
Without the tooth root, the jaw bone pulls back. This changes the dimensions of the face and gives it a sunk-in look due to a decrease in supporting bone. The vertical shortening progresses and becomes more pronounced as you get older.
3. There will be extra stress on the teeth that take over the chewing functions.
If you have a missing posterior tooth and want to learn about dental implants, call Your Time Dental Urgent Care at 813-519-0128 to schedule an appointment.
At Your Time Dental, we understand the importance of having a healthy and beautiful smile. Our team of dental professionals is dedicated to helping you achieve your desired results. We believe that dental implants are an excellent investment for your oral health and can provide long-lasting benefits. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the benefits of dental implants and how they can improve your quality of life.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a permanent tooth replacement option that provides a foundation for a new tooth or a set of teeth. They are made of titanium, a lightweight and durable metal that is biocompatible with the body. The implant is surgically placed into the jawbone, where it fuses with the bone over time. When the implant is stable, a customized crown is attached to the top of the implant to complete the restoration.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a popular choice for tooth replacement because they offer many benefits. Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, implants provide a permanent solution that looks and feels like your natural teeth. Dental implants can also help preserve the natural structure of your jawbone and prevent bone loss. Additionally, implants can improve your speech, ability to chew, and overall comfort.
The Implant Process
The process of receiving dental implants typically takes several months and involves multiple appointments. During your first appointment, our team will evaluate your oral health and determine if you are a candidate for implants. If you are a candidate, we will develop a personalized treatment plan and take impressions of your teeth to create a customized crown. We will also schedule the surgical placement of the implant into your jawbone.
After the implant is placed, you will need to wait several months for the implant to fuse with the bone before the crown can be attached. During this time, we will provide you with temporary teeth to ensure that you can chew and speak comfortably.
At Your Time Dental, we understand that the decision to get dental implants can be intimidating. However, our team of experienced dental professionals is here to guide you through every step of the process. We believe that dental implants are a valuable investment in your oral health and overall quality of life. If you are interested in learning more about dental implants or would like to schedule a consultation, please contact our office today.
Your oral health plays a vital role in maintaining overall well-being. Many people tend to neglect their oral health, leading to various dental problems. While a regular dental visit is crucial to maintaining good oral health, it’s equally important to ensure that you’re eating habits support it. Proper nutrition is a fundamental aspect of developing and maintaining strong and healthy teeth. Even if you brush and floss regularly, unhealthy eating habits can sabotage your oral health, resulting in serious issues over time. In this blog, we’ll discuss how your eating habits could impact your oral health and give you some useful tips to maintain healthy teeth.
1. Foods that damage your teeth: Consuming too many sugary and sticky foods is the primary cause of tooth decay. Sugar is the primary food source for the bacteria that produce acids leading to cavities and other dental problems. Besides, citrus fruits, coffee, tea, and soda can also reduce the protective enamel coating on your teeth, making them more vulnerable to tooth decay. Avoiding these foods or limiting their intake can help you maintain healthy teeth and gums.
2. Foods that support healthy teeth: Certain foods like fruits, vegetables, cheese, and yogurt are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients that are necessary for healthy teeth and gum growth. For instance, Calcium-rich foods strengthen tooth enamel, while vitamin D helps the body absorb Calcium. Vitamin A supports healthy gum tissue growth, while vitamin C enhances its ability to repair wounds and fight off bacterial infections. Therefore, incorporating these foods into your daily diet can contribute to healthy teeth.
3. The importance of hydration: Drinking plenty of water is crucial to maintain proper oral health and hygiene. Saliva is essential in neutralizing acids produced by bacteria when breaking down food particles, washing away harmful food debris, and discouraging tooth decay. However, adequate hydration is necessary to ensure the saliva levels in your mouth are always optimal. Dehydration can lead to dry mouth, which promotes bacterial growth, causing tooth decay.
4. Timing of meals plays a significant role: The timing of your meals also plays an important part in developing good oral health habits. Consuming sugary or acidic foods throughout the day, instead of limiting them within mealtimes, results in continuous acid production, which damages tooth enamel. Therefore, it’s advisable to limit your snacking habits and consume sugary or acidic foods along with your meals.
5. Practicing mindful eating habits: In addition to what you eat, how you eat also plays a crucial role in maintaining good oral health. Chewing your food correctly and taking time to eat can significantly decrease your chances of experiencing dental issues. Eating slowly and thoroughly chewing your food reduces the amount of food debris trapped between your teeth and gums, reducing tooth decay while improving digestion.
In conclusion, nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining good overall health, including oral health. A diet rich in essential nutrients, while avoiding harmful foods, can prevent tooth decay, encourage healthy teeth, and promote good oral hygiene. Therefore, it’s essential to practice mindful eating habits, limiting snacking behaviors and ensuring you’re eating habits promote good oral hygiene. Maintaining a consistent and regular dental hygiene routine complements a balanced diet, ensuring healthy teeth, gums, and overall oral health. Visit Your Time Dental, San Francisco, to get professional advice on maintaining healthy teeth through good eating habits.
Most Gibsonton residents know that frequently eating foods high in sugar can cause cavities. Therefore, it’s important to limit candy, soda, cookies, etc. Also, remember that frequency is as dangerous as the amount of sugar.
Research has found that a higher frequency in sugar consumption may lead to demineralization more than the amount of sugar consumed. In other words, eating sugary foods in small amounts on a regular basis can do more harm than eating the occasional sugar-laden dessert. (Healthline)
Tooth Enamel Varies in Density
Before we discuss the issue further, let’s review the miracle substance that protects our teeth: enamel. While enamel is the hardest substance in the body, it’s not invincible. In fact, it demineralizes (loses some of its density) when it comes in contact with sugar, acids and bacteria.
Let’s consider additional eating habits and how they can affect oral health.
Acid is as Bad as Sugar
First, let’s talk about acids. A plethora of both healthy and unhealthy foods and drinks are acidic. Soda pop and energy drinks are especially detrimental because they have sugar and acid, a dangerous combo. Plus, they provide virtually no nutrition. However, you probably don’t want to limit all acidic foods like citrus fruits and tomatoes. Many acidic foods and beverages are high in Vitamin C and other nutrients.
You can protect your teeth by eating these things as part of a meal to reduce the acidic effects. It is wise to eat a variety of healthy foods such as chicken, cheeses, chicken, other meats, nuts and milk. The calcium and phosphorus will support tooth remineralization.
Meal Timing Makes a Difference
The more frequently you eat the more often your teeth are subject to the decay process. This can be eased by deciding on healthy snacks. And keep in mind, the later at night you eat, the more likely you will skip brushing and flossing altogether.
Enamel Erosion
While the enamel is soft, the tooth is susceptible to losing a microscopic outer layer of enamel. If the onslaught continues, the much softer dentin underneath is exposed. The dentin erodes more quickly. Eventually, you may lose the tooth.
Understand Which Foods are Acidic
Broadly speaking, the ordinary diet is becoming more acidic. The list of acidic foods may surprise you. They include eggs, gravy, asparagus, chicken, cottage cheese, honey, fish, ham, butter, sour cream, aged cheese, and yogurt with active cultures. Generally, foods with a high sugar or artificial sweetener content are especially acidic. We don’t recommend cutting out the healthy foods. We just want you to be aware of them so you can make better choices.
If your teeth have become more sensitive in general, or in response to hot or cold foods or drinks, you may have enamel erosion. Call us to schedule an appointment and Dr. Kernagis can examine your teeth and discuss it with you.
Is Your Go-To Beverage Affecting Your Teeth?
Now let’s talk about drinks. You probably already know that soda pop and wine are not good for your teeth. Gibsonton teenagers that sip soda all day can have acid erosion while their young teeth should be at their most durable. As mentioned, energy drinks have a multitude of teeth-damaging ingredients. Dentists are noticing the consequences of their increasing popularity.
If you drink soda or energy drinks often, you may want to drink water or chew sugarless gum after downing a can. Increasing saliva production can stimulate the remineralization process.
Xylitol Gum
If you choose to chew gum to stimulate saliva production, a good choice is gum with Xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that was first discovered in birch tree bark but is also found in many fruits and vegetables. Unlike most other sweeteners (natural or synthetic), xylitol is actually useful for your teeth.
Today’s message explains how specific foods and eating habits affect our teeth.
The Sugar Problem
Sugars get converted by bacteria in the mouth to acids. It is the acids that begin to assault enamel and initiate decay for men and women of all ages. Fruits have high water content which can dilute the effects of the sugars they contain and get the saliva flowing so they aren’t really taboo. It’s the chocolate bars, hard candies, cookies, cakes and pies that are.
Acidic Food Coupling
Oranges, tomatoes, lemons and the like should be eaten as part of a meal to minimize the acidic effects. It is a good idea to eat a variety of healthy foods such as cheeses, chicken, other meats, nuts and milk. The calcium and phosphorus will encourage tooth remineralization.
Timing of Meals
The more often you eat the more frequently your teeth are subject to the decay process. This can be eased by choosing healthy snacks. And keep in mind, the later at night you eat the more likely you are to not only eat unhealthy foods, but to skip oral hygiene altogether.
I’m Richard Kernagis, DMD at Your Time Dental Urgent Care. If cosmetic dentistry, including the cost of veneers, the cost of implants, teeth whitening and the like interest you, call 813-519-0128 to set up a consultation. We can discuss anything from emergency same day dental care to urgent dental care. Our comfortable staff is ready to make you comfortable.
Good oral health is essential for overall well-being, and a smile-healthy diet plays an instrumental role in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. The food and drinks we consume impact our oral health and can either promote healthy teeth and gums or increase the risk of dental decay and gum disease. At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, we are committed to helping our clients maintain optimum oral health by providing expert dental care, education, and tools to help them make informed decisions about their dental health. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of a smile-healthy diet and what foods and drinks to incorporate to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
1. Understanding the connection between diet and oral health Your diet plays a significant role in your oral health. Sugary and starchy foods and drinks encourage the growth of bacteria in the mouth, which produces acid that erodes tooth enamel and causes cavities. Furthermore, sugary drinks like soda, sports, and energy drinks increase the risk of gum disease by promoting the accumulation of plaque and tartar on teeth. A smile-healthy diet, on the other hand, provides vitamins and minerals that fortify the teeth and gums, promote saliva production, and reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
2. Foods and drinks to incorporate into your diet When it comes to maintaining a smile-healthy diet, here is a list of recommended foods and drinks: – Fibrous fruits and vegetables (such as apples, carrots, and broccoli) that help stimulate saliva production, which washes away food particles and bacteria from the mouth – Hard cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese, which are high in calcium and phosphorus that strengthen tooth enamel – Nuts, seeds, and lean proteins like fish and chicken that provide beneficial nutrients for your oral health – Water, which helps flush away food particles, bacteria, and plaque from the mouth and keeps the mouth hydrated.
3. Foods and drinks to avoid Here are some foods and drinks to avoid to maintain good oral health: – Sugary drinks and snacks, including candy, cookies, sports drinks, and energy drinks – Sticky foods like dried fruit and chewy candy which can cling to teeth and cause tooth decay – Starchy foods like potato chips and bread which can stick to teeth and contribute to plaque buildup.
4. Other tips for good oral health Maintaining a smile-healthy diet is just one aspect of taking care of your oral health. Other tips to consider include: – Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day to remove plaque and bacteria from the mouth – Scheduling regular dental checkups and cleanings to detect potential issues early and prevent serious dental problems. – Considering fluoride treatments or dental sealants to further protect your teeth and gums.At Your Time Dental Urgent Care, we are committed to helping our clients achieve and maintain optimum oral health. A smile-healthy diet is an essential aspect of a healthy mouth, and we encourage our clients to incorporate the recommended foods and drinks into their diets while avoiding sugary and starchy foods and beverages. However, good oral health requires a comprehensive approach, including daily brushing and flossing as well as regular dental checkups and cleanings. We hope this blog post has provided you with valuable insights into maintaining excellent oral health and invite you to schedule an appointment with one of our expert dental professionals to learn more about how we can help you achieve your dental health goals.
One common excuse often given by people who don’t floss is that the practice is difficult to fit into their daily schedule. If you’ve found this to be true, and feel like you are too busy to floss, here are some suggestions for when to fit this important dental health habit into your day.
The most common time is right before bed, but make sure you aren’t too tired to do a good job.
Right when you wake up is also an option, but if food is left between teeth all night, it can lead to plaque.
Try just after lunch, before you go back to work.
Floss while you are in the car sitting in traffic. It’s easier one-handed with the pre-strung floss pics. (You might get some strange looks from other drivers, but it’s worth it.)
Keep some floss in your gym bag so you can floss after you exercise.
While you’re watching the nightly news.
I hope this gives you some beneficial ideas to help you make flossing part of your daily routine. Flossing is important for anyone in Gibsonton who wants to have a healthy smile.
If you want to improve your smile, look into cosmetic dentistry procedures such as porcelain veneers, invisible braces, teeth whitening, or dental implants.
My name is Dr. Richard Kernagis. Helping my dental patients establish good habits is important to me, as well as helping them attain the smile they want with cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers, teeth whitening, and complete smile transformations.
At Your Time Dental Urgent Care in Gibsonton, our cosmetic dental smile makeover patients believe that life-changing cosmetic dentistry is a worthwhile investment. Indeed, for most people, the value of a healthy, desirable smile cannot be measured in dollars. We agree, however, that cosmetic dentistry is not cheap.
In many cases, dental bonding can be used to correct a tooth that has been chipped. When Richard Kernagis repairs a tooth with dental bonding, a pliable resin material is applied to the tooth. Dr. Kernagis expertly molds the material to create the desired shape. The resin is then hardened using a special light. After hardening, Dr. Kernagis performs any needed trimming and shaping followed by a final polishing.
Dental bonding is usually less costly than porcelain veneers or dental crowns. Call us at 813-519-0128 to discuss cosmetic dental financing options.
Be Skeptical if the Price Seems Too Good to be True
Beware of brand-new Tampa area practices that advertise immensely low prices for dental bonding, veneers, or dental implants. The competence and artistic ability needed to achieve minuscule tolerances should not be undertaken by a beginner. Thoroughly research any new cosmetic dentist you are considering for any cosmetic dental procedures or complete smile makeover.
Tooth Whitening
Most Gibsonton people are aware that there are several different tooth whitening techniques. Richard Kernagis recommends scheduling a tooth whitening consultation to discuss your options. Even inexpensive OTC tooth bleaching systems can be misused and bring about tooth sensitivity, damage to tooth enamel, and spotty coloration.
Regarding the cost of teeth whitening: if you decide on an at-home system from a drugstore, you may have to buy several packages to achieve even slight whitening. In-office whitening or a take home system from our office may be more affordable in the long run.
A dental implant is a tooth replacement that is screwed directly into the jaw bone. It is not attached to the adjacent teeth like a dental bridge. The post replaces the tooth root and is anchored where the tooth root used to be. When the post fuses with the bone, the dentist attaches an abutment and then a crown for the visible portion of the tooth.
It’s important to understand that a tooth implant involves several elements:
The post (screw)
The abutment
The crown
So, how much does a dental implant cost?
Give me a rough estimate….
In Florida, you can expect to pay from $1,000 to $3,000 for one implant (the post that is screwed in).
Then there is the abutment (connector piece) and crown. These components could cost from $900 to $3,000.
This would bring the total price from $1900 to north of $5,000.
Remember, this is for ONE post, abutment, and crown.
What if I need a whole bunch of implants?
Some people spend between $20,000 and $50,000 for a total mouth reconstruction.
Wow!
Implants seem really costly…
An implant procedure is an oral surgery. It requires a consultation and additional visits. It requires X-rays and impressions. You might need bone grafting to augment the bone where the implant will be placed.
There are indirect expenses as well…
Your dentist will pick up the components from a dental supplier. The dental crown is custom-made in a lab. Dental laboratories have pricey equipment. They employ professionals who are specially trained.
Consider your dentist’s schooling. Just one year of dental school costs between $30,000 and $70,000… (Don’t forget, your dentist earned an undergraduate degree before attending dental school.)
Your dentist employs a team of professionals. A dental office must buy and maintain expensive equipment and supplies.
According to the American Dental Association, it costs at least $500,000 to open a dental practice. The yearly overhead can run over $200,000.
Does my dental insurance cover dental implants?
Some Florida dental insurance carriers cover dental implant procedures. Some only cover the crown portion. Others don’t cover any portion of the procedure. It’s unfortunate that more dental insurers don’t cover implants. They are cheaper over the long run. They preserve bone. They don’t require removing tooth structure like dental bridges. They don’t have as many complications as dental bridges.
Talk to your provider. If your insurance company doesn’t cover them, or if you don’t have dental insurance, meet with us about financing.
Permanent dental implants are costly. No doubt about it.
Are yellowing teeth getting you down? If so, you are not alone! Some of the most common concerns of Apollo Beach, Fish Hawk, and Lithia dental patients pertain to cosmetic dentistry procedures like teeth whitening.
Because many dental products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes say they can brighten your teeth, it’s natural to examine changing your brand of toothpaste.
Whitening toothpastes work by adding chemical agents that can gently polish and whiten teeth. However, these substances can only remove stains that are on the surface of the teeth. This generally results in whitening by roughly one shade.
On the other hand, plenty of Gibsonton dentists offer rapid in-office teeth whitening procedures that can generally lighten your teeth anywhere from three to eight shades. That is quite a difference!
Once you see the dramatic changes that can happen with in-office whitening, why not go for the whole smile makeover? Using cutting-edge cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers, crowns, inlays, braces, dental implants, bonding, gum contouring, Tampa dentists are helping patients get the marvelous look they desire.
Hi, I’m Dr. Richard Kernagis, a Gibsonton dentist. If you are looking for quality dental care in the Apollo Beach, Fish Hawk, or Lithia area, I hope you’ll give us a call at 813-519-0128.
Here at Your Time Dental Urgent Care, we offer weekend dental care, sedation dentistry, root canals, and dental implants.
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