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Posts for tag: dental implants

Do You Have A Missing Tooth?

By Michael S. Pugh, DMD
December 10, 2021
Category: Cosmetic Dentistry
Tags: dental implants   dental bridges   Dental Appliances  

Your cosmetic dentist in Huntsville, AL, can rebuild your smile.

If you have one missing tooth or several missing teeth, it can dramatically affect your appearance, your self-confidence, and your self-esteem. Lost teeth can also diminish your ability to chew properly, which can affect your digestion and your overall health.

Fortunately, there are several tooth replacement options to give you back your smile. Your cosmetic dentist in Huntsville, AL, Dr. Michael Pugh of Artistic Dentistry, offers a wide range of dental services, including dental implants, dental bridges, or dental appliances to rebuild your smile.

Let’s take a quick look at the main tooth replacement options:

Dental implants, which are the next best option to having your original teeth. They look just like natural teeth, and are anchored in place by bone, giving them complete stability. You never remove dental implants, so they become a permanent part of your smile. You can replace one missing tooth, several missing teeth, or an entire arch of teeth with an implant-supported denture.

Dental bridges, which consist of a combination of prosthetic teeth, known as pontics, and crowns which are cemented onto the teeth on both sides of the space. Bridges are also fixed in place, so you never remove them. Dental bridges can replace one, two, or several missing teeth.

Dental appliances, which include partial dentures, to replace one or more teeth, and full dentures to replace an entire arch of teeth. Dental appliances are the least expensive option and are fully removable for cleaning and sleeping. They provide years of excellent service.

You deserve a whole, complete, beautiful smile, and your dentist can help you achieve it. When you are considering tooth replacement options, don’t make the decision alone. The right tooth replacement can improve your smile and your life.

To learn more about dental implants, dental bridges, and dental appliances, talk with an expert. Call your cosmetic dentist in Huntsville, AL, Dr. Pugh of Artistic Dentistry, at (256) 536-3386 now!

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Top 5 Reasons Not to Fear Bone Grafting

By Michael S. Pugh, DMD
November 19, 2012
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: dental implants   bone grafting   missing teeth  
Top5ReasonsNottoFearBoneGrafting

Dentists often recommend bone grafting to ensure the success of dental implants. And it is likewise common for people to squirm a bit at the thought. Bone graft? That sounds serious. And maybe a bit, well, unappealing. These feelings are completely understandable. After all, this may be something you've never had to consider before. But there's no reason to worry. Here’s why:

  1. Bone grafting is not new or experimental. It is actually a very routine part of the implant process, as well as other types of oral and periodontal surgery. And it is very successful when performed by an experienced doctor.
  2. Bone grafting materials are processed for safety. The grafts used — whether synthetic or from a natural source, such as cow or human bone — have been specially treated for medical use.
  3. Only a small amount of this bone-grafting material is needed. Once placed in the site of the missing tooth, it serves as a helpful scaffold your body uses to build more of its own bone in that spot.
  4. Your implant will be more ideally positioned and may work better. It needs a good, strong foundation with which to fuse. But when teeth are lost, this supporting bone is often lost, too. This loss is often unpredictable and bone grafting limits the change that occurs. In fact that's one of the main benefits of replacing missing teeth with implants: they help prevent bone loss just as a natural tooth does.
  5. Your implant will look so much better! Think about it: Your original tooth was supported to a certain height by the underlying bone. If that bone is now gone, the replacement tooth is going to be much longer because of the missing bone height. It may not look quite right without that additional support.

So if you want the best-looking and best-functioning implant possible, have no fear of bone grafting. And please contact us to discuss any of your concerns, or schedule an appointment for an implant consultation.

You can read more about this topic in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Can Dentists Rebuild Bone?”

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When Teeth are Lost, Bone is Lost

By Michael S. Pugh, DMD
July 17, 2012
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: dental implants  
WhenTeethareLostBoneisLost

Most people think of bone as rock-solid, but it's actually a living tissue that's constantly changing. This has significant implications for your oral health, general health, and appearance — if you are one of the 70% of Americans missing at least one tooth.

Throughout the day, your top and bottom teeth make hundreds of fleeting contacts with each other. These small stresses are transmitted though the periodontal ligament (“peri” – around; “odont” – tooth) that supports each tooth in its socket like a hammock. Think of it as a gentle push on the hammock, which causes the tooth to gently bump the underlying bone. The bone then builds up in the spot that's receiving stress to counteract it. This constant remodeling of bone is what allows bone to stay healthy and strong.

When a tooth is lost, the bone does not receive that gentle stress. It reacts by literally melting away. Sometimes this happens fairly quickly — in a matter of months. After the tooth-supporting bone is lost, the jawbone itself begins the same process of deterioration. This could eventually change the shape of the face, as the distance from nose to chin can decrease — even if only a few back teeth are missing. The results aren't pretty. But the good news is, there's a way to prevent all this.

Dental implants, which function as substitute tooth roots, actually save underlying bone when teeth are lost. They do this because they are made of titanium, which fuses to the bone in which it's set, stabilizing it. The implant is topped by a realistic-looking crown, which replaces the part of the missing tooth that was visible in the mouth. Together, they look and function just as your natural tooth did.

If you are missing a lot of teeth, implants can also be used to anchor bridges or even removable dentures while providing that same bone-saving benefit. And when you consider that they are so durable they should never need replacement, implants are a great investment.

If you have any questions about dental implants, please contact us, or schedule an appointment for an implant consultation.

You can read more about this topic in the Dear Doctor magazine article “The Hidden Consequences of Losing Teeth.”

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Not Just Filling in the Gaps: Lost Teeth Have Unexpected Consequences

By Michael S. Pugh, DMD
May 30, 2012
Category: Oral Health
Tags: dental implants   tooth loss  
NotJustFillingintheGapsLostTeethHaveUnexpectedConsequences

Why is it important to replace missing teeth with restorations such as dental implants? You might be surprised to find that the damage caused by missing teeth is much greater than the simple gaps left in your smile.

As the years go by, teeth lost early in adulthood cause structural changes in a person's face. By age 45 changes in facial structure are already visible in the form of sunken cheeks. By 60, cheeks and lips lose their support, resulting in an aging look. This process continues and if the teeth are not replaced, much of the structural support of the person's face is lost.

These changes are caused by loss of bone. Although it may seem static, bone is actually living tissue that needs constant stimulation to maintain its form and density. With normal stimulation it is in a constant state of resorption (breaking down) and deposition (building up). Teeth provide the needed stimulation for the bone that surrounds them (called alveolar bone) as they meet each other during biting, chewing, and speech. When the stimulation continues, the bone continues to rebuild itself. Without this stimulation, the bone resorbs, does not build up again, and loses substance.

Without stimulation, alveolar bone loses width, height, and volume. Since your teeth and their surrounding bone support your chin, cheeks, and lips, this has a powerful effect on your appearance. It may also affect your ability to chew and to speak.

As alveolar bone diminishes, the next layer of bone also begins to resorb. This is the bone of the jaw itself. The lower part of the face begins to collapse, and the cheeks become hollow. This effect is especially noticeable for people with no teeth (edentulous).

Usually the first tooth to be lost, due to infection and decay, is a molar (back tooth). In the past, a missing single back tooth was frequently replaced by a fixed partial denture (FPD). A crown is provided for each of the two teeth on the sides of the gap, called abutment teeth, to support a false tooth in the middle. However, if they are not well cared for, the abutment teeth may be the next to succumb to decay.

Today the treatment of choice is an implant. A dental implant is a tooth-root replacement made of titanium, which fuses with the bone — making it very stable. Above the gums it is covered by a crown that looks like a natural tooth. The benefit of the implant is that it continues to provide stimulation to the alveolar bone, preventing bone loss.

Implants are also a good choice in the case of multiple missing teeth. They can be used to support bridges or false teeth (dentures). The results are an improved, younger appearance and better functionality.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your questions about missing teeth. You can also learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “The Hidden Consequences of Losing Teeth.”

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Testing your Knowledge: Dental Implants vs. Bridgework

By Michael S. Pugh, DMD
November 06, 2011
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: dental implants   bridgework  

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, we have numerous options. However, two of the most common treatment options include bridgework and dental implants. See how much you really know about dental implants and bridgework by taking our quick and easy true/false self test.

  1. When it comes to costs, dental implants may initially cost more than bridgework but are less expensive than bridgework over a lifetime.
    True or False
  2. Both bridgework and dental implants can last a lifetime when properly maintained.
    True or False
  3. Prior to placing a three-unit fixed bridge, if the surrounding teeth have crowns, they must be redone so that the bridge fits and wears properly.
    True or False
  4. Replacing a single tooth with a three-unit bridge, requires removing the enamel on the adjacent teeth even if these teeth are disease-free.
    True or False
  5. In addition to being permanent tooth replacements, another advantage of dental implants is that they don't decay like teeth supporting bridgework.
    True or False
  6. It is not uncommon for root canal treatment to be required to save teeth that support bridgework if they have been subjected to severe decay and their nerves become infected.
    True or False
  7. Placing a dental implant requires more time when compared to placing a three-unit bridge.
    True or False
  8. Both bridgework and dental implants require minor surgery to replace a missing tooth.
    True or False
  9. Dental implants are more desirable than bridgework because placing them does not affect the adjacent teeth.
    True or False
  10. Studies indicate that bridges are only 67% successful at 15 years whereas dental implants have success rates into the 90s.
    True or False

Answers: 1) True. This fact shocks many people. 2) False. This is more commonly true for dental implants. 3) True. 4) True. This is one of the disadvantages of bridgework. 5) True. This is just one of the advantages of a dental implant. 6) True. 7) True. 8) False. Dental implants require surgery to be placed. 9) True. This fact is a significant advantage for dental implants. 10) True. Your results may vary; however, this statistic represents what you might expect.

To learn more, continue reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Implants vs. Bridgework.” Or, you can contact us today to schedule an appointment or to discuss your questions.

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Older Posts dental implants (4)
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Archive:

  • 2022
      • April (1)
        • What You Need to Know
      • March (1)
        • Restoring Your Smile With Veneers
  • 2021
      • December (1)
        • Do You Have A Missing Tooth?
      • November (1)
        • Veneers and Your New Smile
      • September (1)
        • Protect Your Teeth From Stains
      • July (1)
        • What Are Dental Bridges?
      • May (1)
        • How Dental Crowns Can Help Your Smile
  • 2020
      • December (3)
        • 5 Signs Its Time To Visit the Dentist
        • Don't Wait When You Have a Toothache
        • Build a New You With Dental Veneers
      • August (1)
        • How Crowns and Bridges Can Help Your Smile
      • June (1)
        • Preventing Gum Disease
      • April (1)
        • The Importance of Proper At-Home Oral Care
      • March (2)
        • How Teeth Whitening Can Improve Your Look
        • Straighten Your Smile Discreetly With Invisalign
  • 2019
      • November (1)
        • Improve Your Smile With Veneers
      • August (1)
        • Rebuild Your Smile with Crowns and Bridges
      • May (1)
        • Do You Have Periodontal Disease?
      • March (1)
        • Don't Ignore A Toothache
      • January (1)
        • Are Dental Crowns Right for Me?
  • 2018
      • December (1)
        • Root Canal Treatment FAQ
      • September (1)
        • Why You Shouldn't Neglect Regular Dental Visits
      • June (2)
        • Do You Need a Dental Filling?
        • Signs You May Need a Root Canal
      • May (1)
        • How Crowns Help Your Smile
  • 2017
      • November (1)
        • How’s Your Oral Hygiene?
      • August (1)
        • What You Can Do About Toothaches
      • July (1)
        • The Effects of Soda on your Teeth
      • June (1)
        • When to Visit Your Dentist
      • May (1)
        • Breathe Life Back into Your Smile with Dental Veneers
      • March (1)
        • What Dental Crowns And Bridges Can Offer Your Smile
      • February (1)
        • Don't Neglect Your Regular Dental Cleanings
      • January (1)
        • Teeth Whitening: What Are My Options?
  • 2016
      • November (1)
        • Do I Really Have to Brush Twice a Day?
      • September (1)
        • Improve Your Smile With Veneers
      • July (1)
        • Dental Crowns And Bridges Stabilize Your Smile
      • May (1)
        • A Dentist for Your Whole Family
      • March (1)
        • Protect Your Family's Teeth with Sealants
      • January (1)
        • What Should I Do if I Have a Toothache?
  • 2012
      • November (3)
        • Don't Let Tooth Pain Linger — The Cost May Just Be Too High
        • Top 5 Reasons Not to Fear Bone Grafting
        • Tooth Replacement: It's Come a Long Way
      • October (5)
        • Crowns: Do You Know Your Options?
        • Some Facts About Thumb Sucking
        • Facts You Need To Know About Root Canal Treatment
        • Are You at Risk For Oral Cancer?
        • Sleep Apnea - a Hidden Danger
      • September (3)
        • Tooth-Colored Fillings - Do They Really Look Natural?
        • Don't Like the Drill? Now There's Drill-Free Cosmetic Dentistry
        • Grrr! FAQs about Teeth Grinding
      • August (10)
        • Your Cure for Bad Breath
        • Understanding The Maintenance And Lifespan Of Porcelain Veneers
        • What Is A Veneer?
        • How Modern Dental Fillings Mimic Real Teeth
        • Dental Implants: Quiz
        • Rebuilding Your Smile With Dental Implants
        • Father's Day Tip: Step Up & Improve Your Dental Health!
        • Actress Florence Henderson Shares Her Secrets for Keeping Your Natural Teeth as You Age
        • Nancy O'Dell Helps Put New Moms At Ease About Infant Oral Health
        • Five Reasons to Choose Dental Implants
      • July (4)
        • If Your Child Chipped A Tooth, What Should You Do?
        • When Teeth are Lost, Bone is Lost
        • Frequently Asked Questions about Bumps in the Mouth
        • Frequently Asked Questions About Heart and Gum Diseases
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        • How Does Tooth Bleaching Work?
        • Nine Things to Expect During Your Appointment with the Dental Hygienist
        • Oral Health Tips for Special Needs Children
      • May (4)
        • Not Just Filling in the Gaps: Lost Teeth Have Unexpected Consequences
        • Understanding Dry Mouth
        • Whitening a Discolored Tooth from the Inside Out
        • How Tooth Decay Can Cause A Root Canal Problem
      • April (4)
        • Are You at High Risk for Tooth Decay?
        • Questions You Should Ask Before Whitening Your Teeth
        • Dental Injuries: The Type Of Sports You Play Really Matters
        • Aspirin: Not Just a Harmless OTC Medication
      • March (4)
        • Understanding the Latest News on Fluoride
        • Full Dentures: Frequently Asked Questions
        • Facts You Should Know About Tooth Wear
        • Gum Disease & Diabetes: Two Diseases With A Common Enemy — You.
      • February (3)
        • Determining Your Risk For Tooth Decay — And Reversing It
        • Tooth Brushing: Don't Overdo It!
        • Testing Your Knowledge on Caring for Your Dentures
      • January (4)
        • Can A Root Canal Save My Tooth?
        • Little Known Facts About Bad Breath
        • TV's Nate Berkus Discusses Dental Sealants, Fluoride Treatments and Flossing
        • The Secrets Behind Vanna White's Smile
  • 2011
      • December (4)
        • Cracks in Corners of the Mouth: Are They Serious?
        • TV Wellness Guru Jillian Michaels Discusses Breaking Her Two Front Teeth
        • Seal Your Children's Teeth from Decay
        • How We Make Dental Implants Match Existing Teeth
      • November (3)
        • Bleeding Gums Mean Something is Wrong
        • Don't Keep It A Secret: Tell Us About Your Dry Mouth
        • Testing your Knowledge: Dental Implants vs. Bridgework
      • October (5)
        • Root Canal Treatment FAQs
        • Are Dental Implants A Good Choice for My Teenager?
        • Tooth Sensitivity FAQs
        • Are Tooth-Colored Fillings Right for You?
        • Are Porcelain Veneers Right For You?
      • September (4)
        • Testing your Knowledge on the Facts and Myths of Thumb Sucking
        • Can Thumb Sucking Harm Your Child's Teeth?
        • Your Guide to Whiter Teeth
        • Testing your Knowledge on Tooth Pain
      • August (4)
        • The Facts About Thumb Sucking
        • A Chewing Gum That's Good for your Teeth: A Quiz About Xylitol
        • Your Crowning Achievement
        • Six Ways to Get Whiter Teeth
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        • Rate Your Oral Hygiene
        • Fluoride: You Can Have Too Much of a Good Thing
        • Is Thumb Sucking Really that Bad?
        • Can You Whiten Traumatized Teeth?
        • Test Your Dental Injuries IQ
      • June (4)
        • Sinus Surgery — Creating Bone for Dental Implants “Out of Thin Air”
        • What Can A Deep Cleaning Do For Gum Disease?
        • How The Biggest Loser Star Jillian Michaels Keeps Her Winning Smile
        • Testing Your Knowledge: Do Your Children Have Good Oral Health?
      • May (5)
        • Test Your Knowledge: Frequently Asked Questions About Tooth Whitening
        • The Effects Ordinary Tap Water Has On Your Oral Health
        • What Are Baby Teeth, And Why Do They Come Out?
        • Oral Piercings — Tongue & Lip Bolts: Trendy But Dangerous
        • Sealants FAQ: How Do Sealants Prevent Decay and Protect Your Child's Teeth?
      • April (4)
        • “Prepless” Porcelain Veneers: Are They Right For You?
        • The Top Ten Reasons To Consider Porcelain Veneers
        • Dental Implants: The Best Solution For Missing Teeth
        • Questions You Should Ask Before Getting Porcelain Veneers
      • March (4)
        • Questions You Should Ask Before Getting A Dental Implant
        • Testing Your Oral Health IQ
        • Sports-Related Dental Injuries: Do You Know What To Do?
        • Oral Health Tips: Brush Up On A Great Smile
      • February (2)
        • Can A Dentist Help Treat Sleep Apnea?
        • Oral Health: When Should You Call Our Office?
  • 2010
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      • April (1)
        • Welcome to Our Blog!

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