Did you know that there are more than 20 million people in the U.S. who are missing all of their natural teeth, and more than 100 million that are missing between 11 to 15 teeth?

Thus, if you are also missing a tooth or more, don’t worry. We have the perfect solution for you. If you are missing a tooth or several teeth, dental implants are the best solution for replacing them and are a permanent way to restore your healthy smile.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are designed to look and function just like your real teeth. They are made of titanium which is resistant to decay and provides a very strong structure. The titanium implant is bonded to your bone and a perfectly fitting crown extends from the screw implant. When it is complete, the implant resembles a real tooth.

Dental implants are fused to the jaw-bone and can be placed in either the upper or lower jaw to restore your smile. Depending on your specific condition and the type of implant chosen, tailored to meet your needs.

Are dental implants the right thing for me?

Dental implants could be recommended by your dentist, if you:

• are missing one or more teeth
• have had tooth extractions
• want to maintain a youthful smile and appearance
• want to improve your self-confidence

How can I benefit from dental implants?

Dental implants are the best teeth replacement option that is available in modern dentistry. Some of the main benefits of dental implants include:

• Look and function just like your real teeth
• Restore your ability to speak and chew food properly
• Stable structure and great durability
• Stimulate the bone just like your real teeth to prevent deterioration
• Helps to improve the natural beauty of your smile
• Can improve your self-confidence and overall quality of life

If you live or work in Durango, you can make use of the latest technology in dental implant treatment and in the same time take advantage of the knowledge and experience of Doctors from Holistic Dentistry in Durango, CO who is one of the best dental specialists in Durango, CO would offer you a thorough examination and help you chose the best solution for your needs.

Do you experience painful toothache that just won’t go away or you feel some tenderness and pressure around a tooth? In that case you may have a severe infection that requires a root canal treatment. And if you do need such a therapy, you should know you are not the only one. In fact, millions of teeth are treated and saved each year with root canal, or endodontic treatment.

And yet, millions of teeth are left untreated, as many people are afraid to get a root canal therapy and may even delay treatment for years just to avoid going through with the procedure. According to recent study by the American Dental Association, an estimated 50% of Americans do not visit a dentist on a regular basis and approximately 15% of these patients avoid dental care altogether because of fear and anxiety about going to the dentist.

However, you should never delay undergoing a root canal therapy, as it will prevent a serious infection from spreading and can ward off damage to nearby teeth.

What is a root canal treatment?

HEALTHY TOOTH VS. INFECTED TOOTH THAT NEEDS ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

To understand a root canal treatment, it helps to know about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue, and helps to grow the root of your tooth during development. In a fully developed tooth, the tooth can survive without the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.

Root canal, also known as endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. A root canal treatment helps prevent the infection from spreading and reduces the risk of tooth loss.

Signs, you might need a root canal treatment

If you observe any of the following warning signs, you should contact your Burien dentist as you might need a root canal treatment:
• Toothache that won’t go away
• Pain that comes and goes in waves
• Swelling around the tooth
• Inflammation and tenderness
• Extreme tooth sensitivity
• Pain when chewing or biting down

Benefits of root canal treatment

The main benefit of root canal treatment is that you can save your natural tooth and:
 Chew efficiently
 Normal biting force and sensation
 Natural appearance
 Protects other teeth from excessive wear or strain

Endodontic treatment helps you maintain your natural smile, continue eating the foods you love and limits the need for ongoing dental work. With proper care, most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last as long as other natural teeth and often for a lifetime.

Many patients resist getting a root canal, because they think it will be extremely painful. If you are a resident of Durango, you are lucky that you can use the services of Best Doctors from Holistic Dentistry in Durango, CO who can offer you sedation dentistry to reduce your discomfort and ensure you have a stress free experience.

Many of you may remember the commercial from the 1990’s that talked about seeing “pink in the sink”.  This brought awareness to the fact that bleeding gums are not normal.  In fact, if you see pink in the sink after you spit while brushing or flossing, it is very likely that you have gingivitis.

Healthy Gums do NOT Bleed.

It is very important to not ignore bleeding gums.  The bleeding is an indication of inflammation somewhere in your mouth, usually in the gums lining the teeth.  Acute inflammation is a response to some type of injury or irritant, and it causes redness, swelling, tenderness, bleeding, and sometimes a little heat.  The bleeding is a red flag that something unhealthy is going on.

What Causes Bleeding Gums?

Bleeding means that there is acute inflammation present in the gums, and we call this gingivitis.  There are basically two underlying causes of inflammation, and there are lots of other conditions that can predispose you to those causes.

1. Plaque Buildup – Dental plaque is a collection of bacteria, food debris, and exfoliated mouth-lining cells that sticks to the teeth and gums. It builds up constantly throughout the day and night.  The bacteria in plaque produce toxins that infiltrate and irritate the surrounding gum tissue, causing acute inflammation.  To prevent bleeding gums, it is essential to remove plaque on a daily basis.
   
   Predisposing Conditions:

1. Poor Oral Hygiene – Poor oral hygiene means that you are not effectively removing dental plaque from the teeth. By leaving the plaque in place, you are allowing inflammation to occur.  In order to have good oral hygiene, you must brush twice a day (after breakfast, and before bedtime) and floss every night before bed.  Because no one perfectly removes all of the plaque from his or her teeth, professional teeth cleanings are necessary on a consistent basis to ensure that you prevent inflammation in the gums.
   • Hormone Surges – Drastic changes in hormone levels also put you at high risk for gum inflammation. This commonly occurs during pregnancy, puberty and menopause.  Because these hormone swings put you at high risk for gingivitis, it is extremely important that you practice great oral hygiene during these times.  Some of our pregnant patients even need to have professional teeth cleanings on a more frequent basis to prevent this acute gingivitis.
   • Crooked Teeth – Crooked teeth are more difficult to clean. They providing many great hiding spots for collections of plaque.  Scientific studies show that the type of bacteria present in the plaque on crooked teeth are actually more dangerous and likely to cause disease than those on straight teeth!
   • Dry Mouth – Dry mouth is a condition that affects millions of Americans. Often it is a side effect of prescription medications.  Dry mouth is dangerous because it allows increased buildup of plaque inside the mouth.  Saliva is the body’s natural defense against plaque and its inherent bacteria.  Without saliva, plaque can take over, becoming larger, stickier, and more difficult to remove from the teeth.
     
2. Injury – In the rare cases that inflammation is not the result of plaque buildup, it is the result of an injury to the gums. The most common culprits are popcorn shells, sharp edges of tortilla chips, and splinters from wooden toothpicks.  As these small items become lodged in the gums, the body responds to that injury with inflammation.  The good news is that the inflammation quickly subsides when the foreign object is no longer present, and you keep the area clean from any plaque buildup.

What Can I Do About Bleeding Gums?

In many cases, you will need to see a Durango, CO Dentists about bleeding gums.  Anytime you experience bleeding in your gums that persists for more than 2-3 days, call to schedule a visit with us so that we can find the cause and treat it.  This is especially important in areas of injury.  Often there is a fragment of the offending object remaining in the gum tissue, and we must remove it in order to allow your gums to heal.

In the meantime, you can help reduce inflammation in your gums by improving your oral hygiene.  It is tempting to avoid an area of the gums that is tender or bleeding, but if you avoid it, you are then allowing plaque to accumulate, which will only compound your inflammation problem.

Adding a mouthwash to your regimen can also help reduce inflammation.  Avoid any that contain alcohol, as that can lead to dry mouth and aggravate the problem.  If you do not have any mouthwash at home, you can simply use warm salt water to swish and flush out those areas of inflammation.

Should you have lost some or all of your natural teeth and you experience difficulties while eating and speaking, you might be a good candidate for dentures. Modern dentistry has elaborated on dentures that look just like natural teeth and can really improve the quality of your life.

Even though, you might think that dentures are not popular anymore, statistics show that you are wrong. About 20 million women in America wear full or partial dentures. In addition, the number of US adults needing dentures is projected to increase from 33 million to 37.9 million by 2020, according to research published in The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.

Should you consider yourself a candidate for dentures, here are few things you should know.

What are Dentures?

Dentures are prosthetic devices, used to replace missing teeth. They are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity.

According to the way they are fitted in the patient’s mouth, dentures could be of several types:

• Fixed partial dentures – Also known as permanent bridges, these dentures are made from crowns that are fitted on natural teeth
• Removable partial dentures – Ideal for patients missing some but not all teeth
• Complete or full dentures – Ideal for patients who are missing all their teeth in the upper and lower jaw
• Implant supported dentures – A set of dentures that are stabilized by dental implants

What is the process of making dentures?

Denture development can take up to several appointments. Once your Burien dentist determines what type of appliance is best for you, the process goes like this:

1. Your Mancos, CO Dentists is going to take series of impressions of your jaw, as well as measurements of how your jaws relate to one another and how much space is between them.
2. Afterwards, a model of your dentures will be created. You will try on this model several times to be sure it fits before the final denture is cast.
3. When you and your dentist are happy with the fit and appearance, the final denture will be cast.
4. Your Dentists Mancos, CO will insert your dentures and adjust as necessary

How to take care of your Dentures?

With proper care dentures can last for several years. Here are some tips for better care of your dentures:

• Use a special brush, designed for dentures to clean them
• Don’t expose dentures to hot water
• Store dentures in a denture-cleaning solution overnight
• Kill bacteria with an effervescent cleansing tablet

How can you benefits from dentures?

• Dentures can restore your ability to eat and speak properly
• Dentures prevent facial muscles from sagging
• Dentures can last for several years with proper care
• Modern dentures look very natural and can increases your self-confidence

Modern dentures can improve your quality of life. To achieve best results, however, be sure to consult a real dental professional, who will guide you in the process of choosing the best solution for your individual needs.

Are there alternatives to Dentures?

Even though, dentures are a practical and viable solution for replacing missing teeth, you could enjoy even better results with a tooth replacement procedure such as dental implants or dental bridges.

Dental implants are permanently fused to the jawbone and are designed to function just like your real teeth. They also stimulate the jawbone which can prevent bone loss that many denture wearers experience.

Most American adults believe that a better-looking smile can improve significantly their quality of live. If you also believe in the power of a beauty smile, but you have chipped or cracked teeth, dental bonding might be the ideal solution for your smile makeover.

What kind of procedure is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding is a dental restoration procedure, involving application of a tooth-colored composite resin (plastic) to repair a decayed, chipped, fractured or discolored tooth. Unlike veneers, which are produced in a laboratory and require a customized mold to achieve a proper fit, bonding can be done in a single visit to your Durango, CO Dentists. The procedure is called bonding because the material bonds to the tooth.

Bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures. In addition, it doesn’t require any preparation and in most cases, anesthesia is not necessary, unless the bonding is being used to fill a severely decayed tooth.

Is Dental Bonding a good option for me?
Dental bonding could be the perfect choice for you, if you need any of the following:

• Repairing chipped or cracked tooth
• Closing gaps between teeth
• Repairing decayed tooth
• Changing the size or the shape of your teeth
• Enhancing the appearance of discolored teeth

How will I benefit from Dental Bonding?
The main benefits of dental bonding include:

• Restoration of chipped teeth
• Filling in cracks and gaps
• Helping mask discolored teeth
• Involving very little enamel intervention
• Improving your overall appearance
• Boosting your self-confidence

Bonding is one of the easiest and yet, effective ways of restoring and improving the appearance of your smile. For achieving best results, however, be sure to consult a proven dental specialist, who would come up with the most appropriate treatment plan for you. Should you live or work , you can always rely on a professional advice from.

Believe it or not, dental bonding is not an uncommon dental treatment among celebrities. In fact, one of the most famous Hollywood bonding procedures appears to be the iconic chipped tooth, which Jim Carey demonstrates in the movie Dumb and Dumber. The actor chipped this same tooth when he was younger. Of course, Jim had it bonded before he became a celebrity, but when the directors realized this, they asked Jim to remove it, just for the movie, so his character could look a little more perplexed.