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Dental Implant Treatment – Common Questions | Watertown MN
What can I expect during dental implant treatment planning?
The qualified dentist will:
1. Physically examine the gap in your mouth where you’re planning to get a dental implant placed.
2. Capture the necessary dental imaging including X-rays, CT scans, and/or panoramic films in order to assess the quality and quantity of jawbone.
3. Review your medical history for things like infections, allergies, bleeding disorders, existing medical conditions, and medications to ensure that you’re healthy enough to undergo dental surgery and heal and recover properly
4. Carefully plan your dental implant placement procedure
How can you help me relax for the surgical procedure?
During all your surgical procedure appointments, the dental surgeon will administer a local anesthetic to numb the surgical site, as well as any sedatives that you may require to calm your anxiety and make you comfortable.
Is bone grafting necessary?
If the site has sufficient bone tissue after tooth extraction, the implant may be placed immediately without bone grafting. But if there’re signs of bone loss, the dentist may place a cadaver or synthetic bone at the site in order to build up the bone tissue and achieve a solid base to support the implant. This process is referred to as alveolar bone grafting, and takes 2-6 months to heal before you can proceed with implant placement.
Can implants be placed in the upper jaw?
Though there is insufficient bone tissue in the upper jaw, especially in the back where the maxillary sinus is located, dental implants can still be successfully placed after building up the bone tissue with sinus augmentation or sinus lift procedure.
How safe are dental implants?
First, you should note that dental implant placement has been used in dentistry since the 1950s. Second, implants tend to be very successful with a success rate of 98%, and are even considered the standard of care for replacing missing teeth.
For more information on dental implants in Watertown MN and to find out the cost of your individual treatment, please contact us today.
Dental Crown Types, Procedure, When It’s Done | Watertown MN
A dental crown or tooth cap is a long-term restoration that provides a permanent solution for both restorative and cosmetic dental problems. Dentists particularly recommend them for large cavities, either as the only restoration, or to complement large unstable dental fillings or root canal therapy.
Crowns for Cavities
Dental fillings are the most common restoration for cavities. But if the cavity is too large, it may result in a weak filling with no durability. In such a case, your dentist may recommend that you get a crown instead of fillings to repair the cavity. Crowns can also be used to replace previously placed fillings to strengthen the tooth.
When you have severe decay that has infected the tooth pulp (section inside the tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels), the condition is considered irreparable and you may end up losing the tooth. However, it is possible to save the tooth through root canal therapy, whereby the pulp is removed and replaced with dental filling material. The procedure requires a substantial amount of the natural tooth to be removed in order to thoroughly clean the pulp and completely remove the infection.
While you retain the original tooth, its structure will have weakened considerably, affecting its normal function. As such, your dentist may recommend that you get a dental crown to encase the restored tooth to strengthen it. The crown also serves an aesthetic function as it covers up the filler material, giving your smile a natural appearance.
Crowns for Cosmetic Dental Applications
Cosmetic reasons
Dental crowns are custom-made to restore the shape, size, and even shade of a damaged tooth if you use a tooth-colored crown. As such, your dentist may recommend crowns to enhance the appearance of imperfect teeth such as:
- Excessively or unevenly worn down – resulting in very short teeth
- Badly shaped teeth
- Severely stained teeth
- Widely gapped teeth
Other Applications of Dental Crowns
Crowns can also be used to repair a chipped, broken, or fractured tooth that is experiencing sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks; to support dental bridgework for replacing missing teeth; or to replace a missing tooth with dental implants.
There are different materials that can be used to fabricate dental crowns. Your dentist will help you choose the best material for your specific need. To learn more about Dental Crowns in Watertown MN please contact us today.
Best Value for Dental Implants in Watertown MN
Dental implants tend to cost a lot more than alternative tooth replacement treatments such as dentures and dental bridgework. This cost can partly be attributed to the requirement of a skilled oral surgeon to perform the procedure, as opposed to a general dentist. As a surgical procedure, it also requires careful planning to eliminate any risks and ensure successful treatment. Moreover, dental implants often require additional procedures such as tooth extraction, bone grafting, sinus augmentation, crown placement, and so on depending on the position of the implant, individual treatment plan, and the patient’s general health. All of these factors add to the final cost of dental implants placement.
Generally, there is a variety in the price range for a single dental implant. This amount is distributed across service costs, cost of all components involved in the procedure, and the cost of the replacement crown.
A costly dental implant procedure may involve the following steps:
- Tooth or teeth removal – to remove any tooth fragments during site preparation.
- Bone grafting – If the implant site has signs of bone loss after tooth extraction, your oral surgeon may recommend bone grafting to build up the bone tissue and achieve a solid base to support the implant. Bone grafting in the upper jaw is known as sinus augmentation or sinus lift
- Titanium Implant placement – A titanium post will be inserted into the jaw bone using a special drill and tools, and a “healing cap” placed over the implant before stitching up the gum.
- A temporary denture will be placed at the site for aesthetic purposes during healing
- Abutment placement – It is connected to the implant using a screw
- Crown fabrication – Impression of the abutment will be obtained and sent to a dental lab to fabricate your custom crown.
- Tooth replacement – When the crown is ready, it will be secured to the abutment by cementing or with a screw.
How Much Will the Insurance Pay?
In the cost breakdown above, dental insurance providers only accept to pay for the replacement crown. This is because dental implants are considered an elective procedure by most dental insurance providers, even though it has become a standard of care for tooth replacement.
For more information on dental implants in Watertown MN and to find out the cost of your individual treatment, please contact us today.
Dental Cleanings & Checkup in Watertown MN
At your six-month dental checkup, your dentist should perform dental cleaning as a preventive procedure to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Professional teeth cleaning is necessary to remove accumulated plaque and tartar from in between your teeth and gums, which may be responsible for various oral issues such as cavities, gum disease, bad breath, oral cancer, and so on.
During your routine dental visit, which should be every 6 – 12 months, your dental hygienist will first examine your teeth before cleaning them. The examination involves physical assessment of your teeth, gums, tongue, and the entire mouth for any concerns using a small mirror. If there are any noticeable problems, the dental hygienist will consult the dentist to determine whether it’s safe to proceed with the cleaning. But in some cases, it may be necessary to first clean your teeth and then perform the examination in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Your dental professional will determine the right sequence for your specific case.
What to Expect
Routine dental cleaning takes about 30 minutes depending on how long it has been since your last cleaning. This is because plaque will continuously calcify and mineralize on the surface of your teeth to form tartar. During this time, the dental hygienist will:
- Use a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from the surface of individual teeth, between the teeth, and around the gum line.
- Polish the teeth using a high-powered brush with a soft rubber cup. This not only removes any surface stains, but also makes your tooth surface smooth and shiny to make it harder for plaque to form.
- Perform professional flossing in order to thoroughly clean the area between your teeth to remove any leftover plaque and toothpaste from the previous steps.
- Rinse your mouth using a solution containing liquid fluoride to remove any debris and clean your mouth.
- Apply flavored fluoride by putting it in flexible trays that are then placed over your teeth for 30 seconds. This helps to strengthen your teeth and enhance the protection against plaque and calculus.
Schedule Your Appointment
While many dental procedures can be dreadful, teeth cleanings are easily tolerated by most people because they’re not only simple and painless, but also an important part of maintaining your long-term oral health. To learn more about what to expect from a routine dental cleaning in Watertown MN, please contact our office today.
Dental Exam & Cleanings in Watertown MN
Dental professionals agree that you should schedule a dental assessment at least once a year. This is an important examination that aids in the early diagnosis of potential oral problems, such as chips and cracks, cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer. Besides evaluating your dental health, dentists also perform professional teeth cleaning to remove plaque and calculus or tartar, which are responsible for most common oral problems.
A dental cleaning is typically performed by a dental hygienist. But before the cleaning commences, they will first physically check your teeth, gums, tongue, and the entire mouth for any concerns using a small mirror. If there are any noticeable problems, the dental hygienist will consult the dentist to determine whether it’s safe to proceed with the cleaning.
A typical professional teeth cleaning procedure involves the following five steps:
Step 1: Plaque and Tartar Removal
Your dental professional uses a scaler to remove plaque and calculus from the surface of each tooth, targeting the area above the gums, between the teeth, and around the gum line. The duration of this step depends on how long it has been since your last cleaning.
Step 2: Polishing
When all the plaque and tartar has been removed from your teeth, the hygienist will use a special brush with a soft rubber cup. This not only removes any surface stains, but also makes your tooth surface smooth and shiny to make it harder for plaque to form.
Step 3: Expert Flossing
Professional flossing helps to thoroughly clean the area between your teeth to remove any leftover plaque and toothpaste from the previous steps.
Step 4: Rinsing
The dental hygienist uses a mouth rinse containing liquid fluoride to remove any debris and clean your mouth.
Step 5: Fluoride Treatment
As the final step, your dental hygienist may apply flavored fluoride by putting it in flexible trays that are then placed over your teeth for 30 seconds. This helps to strengthen your teeth and enhance the protection against plaque and calculus.
Keep in mind that this is the standard dental cleaning process. If you have gum disease, your dental hygienist may recommend deep scaling to remove plaque from your tooth roots as well. To learn more about what to expect from a routine dental exam & cleaning in Watertown MN, please contact your dental office today.
Affordable Dental Implants Near Me, Watertown MN
Dental implants are now the preferred option for replacing missing teeth because they use a conservative technique that doesn’t damage surrounding healthy teeth, like bridgework, and provides predictable results. However, getting a single dental implant carnage in prices depending on a variety of factors, including:
- The position of the implant site in the mouth
- The experience of the oral surgeon performing the procedure
- The location of the dental practice
Getting dental implants is also a lengthy process, so the cost will be distributed across the various steps including:
Tooth or Teeth Extraction
This is usually the first step of your dental implant surgery. Unless you had the tooth/teeth professionally removed, there is a high likelihood that the site of the dental implant will still have some pieces of the damaged tooth present. Any tooth fragments must be completely removed to allow for proper site preparation before placing the dental implant.
Bone Grafting / Sinus Lift
If the implant site has signs of bone loss after tooth extraction, your oral surgeon may recommend bone grafting to build up the bone tissue and achieve a solid base to support the implant. This takes 2-6 months to heal before you can proceed with implant placement.
Surgical Implant Placement
When the site is ready, a dental implant (titanium post) will be placed into the bone using a special drill and tools. The surgeon will then place a “healing cap” over the implant before stitching up the gum.
Temporary Crown
You will have to wait for 2-6 months for the site to heal and the implant to integrate with the bone tissue. A temporary denture will be placed at the site for aesthetic purposes.
Abutment Placement
After successful integration of the implant to the bone, an abutment will be connected to the implant using a screw.
Crown Fabrication
A general dentist can then take an impression of the abutment and send it to the dental lab to fabricate your custom-made crown. Keep in mind that the choice of material for your crown will also affect the cost of your dental implant treatment.
Tooth Replacement – When the crown is ready, it will be secured to the abutment by cementing or with a screw
For more information on dental implants in Watertown MN and to find out the cost of your individual treatment, please contact us today.
Natural Looking Dental Crowns in Watertown MN
A dental crown refers to a cap that is bonded over the entire surface of a damaged tooth to encapsulate the portion of the tooth above the gums. It can be used to repair different types of tooth damage including cracked teeth, large cavities, discoloration, and misshapen teeth. They can also be used alongside other tooth restoration procedures such as root canal therapy, to strengthen the tooth, and dental bridgework to support a tooth replacement.
A cap helps to restore the size, shape, and strength of a tooth while improving its appearance. If you’re a suitable candidate for dental crowns, your dentist may recommend one of the following materials for your permanent crown:
Tooth-Colored Crowns
Tooth-colored crowns that are fabricated entirely from porcelain are referred to as all-porcelain crowns, while those made entirely from ceramic are known as all-ceramic crowns. Dental composite resin is another tooth-colored material that can give you an aesthetic restoration. Composite crowns are highly affordable, but are arguably the weakest material for crowns since they’re prone to chipping, cracking, and rapid wear.
Your dentist may also recommend Zirconium, which is a fairly new dental material that produces crowns that are as strong and durable as metal crowns and natural-looking for an aesthetic restoration. They’re also biocompatible, meaning that they won’t cause allergic reactions, and can be fabricated at the dentist’s office for same-day crown restorations.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are generally fabricated with a metal base and porcelain coating, which gives them the strength of metal crowns and the aesthetics of tooth-colored crowns. However, porcelain-metal crowns tend to be abrasive to opposing teeth, which increases their wear rate. The metal ring on the crown may also become visible in the event of gum recession.
Metal Crowns
Crowns made from metal are the strongest and most durable option, plus they’re not abrasive to opposing teeth. Different metals can be used to fabricate crowns, including gold, platinum, copper, and alloys like nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium. Most metal crowns are made from a blend of metals, like gold and the base metal alloys.
Tooth-Colored vs. Metal Crowns
Tooth-colored materials give the restoration a natural look, which makes them a popular choice for repairing front teeth in order to preserve the aesthetics of your smile. They come in different shades, so you can choose a specific color that closely matches the shade of your teeth to make the restoration unnoticeable.
Metal crowns are primarily used to repair back teeth because they’re strong and highly resistant, and they’re not visible when smiling, which makes aesthetics less of a concern. But they may not be suitable for people who’re allergic to metals or those with aesthetic concerns.
To learn more about Dental Crowns in Watertown MN please contact us today.
Teeth Cleaning Near Me, Watertown MN
There are both beneficial and harmful bacteria in your mouth. The beneficial bacteria aids in digestion, while the harmful kind is associated with gum disease, dental caries, bad breath, and many other oral issues. Through daily brushing and flossing at home, you can maintain a low level of harmful bacteria in your mouth to such a level that it doesn’t adversely affect your oral health in the short-term. Unfortunately, there are areas in your mouth that are hard to clean with a toothbrush, where bacteria may build up in your mouth and cause harm.
Professional cleaning helps to prevent this by targeting every corner of your mouth to remove built-up plaque and calculus. This offers many benefits, including:
- Reduced tooth wear and cavities from acids in the mouth – plaque, the biofilm formed by bacteria colonies living in your mouth, is responsible for producing acid that can erode your teeth, cause cavities, and damage your gums.
- Maintaining your bright smile – when plaque is not removed properly, it may calcify and mineralize into a hard substance (tartar) that not only changes the aesthetic appearance of your teeth, but also attracts more harmful bacteria. Tartar or calculus can only be removed during dental cleanings using specialized tools.
- Reduced risk of gingivitis – bacteria in your mouth can accumulate to a point where it becomes active and destructive, resulting in gum infection. The first stage of gum infection is known as gingivitis, and is characterized by gum inflammation, swelling, and reddening. Due to sensitive gums, you may also notice some blood on your toothbrush or when rinsing your mouth after brushing. Fortunately, gingivitis can be successfully treated with professional dental cleaning and an improved at-home oral care routine.
- Prevention of periodontitis – If there are no interventions, gingivitis can advance to a more serious, chronic, and irreversible case of gum disease known as periodontitis or periodontal disease. It affects the foundation of your teeth – the bone tissue connecting your teeth to the jaw. If not treated promptly, periodontitis can cause severe bone loss that loosens your teeth with some even falling out. Though it’s irreversible, dental professionals can help you manage the symptoms and improve your oral health.
Schedule Dental Cleaning Today
Professional dental cleaning can help you enjoy a healthy mouth and smile. Please visit your dentist for a thorough examination of your mouth and to determine the best type of dental cleaning in Watertown MN to improve your oral health.
Types of Dental Cleanings in Watertown MN
Scheduled professional teeth cleaning is a key component of your preventative dental care to maintain optimal dental health and minimize the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. The American Dental Association recommends that dental cleanings be performed every six months by a dental practitioner. However, some people may require more frequent cleanings depending on their risk factors.
Your dentist may recommend one of the following types of dental cleanings after examining your teeth and gums:
1. Prophylaxis (prophy)
This is commonly referred to as “teeth cleaning”, and involves the removal of accumulated plaque from your teeth, which cannot be removed by regular brushing at home. The process also includes tooth polishing, and should be done every 8 to 16 weeks. Generally, a good candidate for prophylaxis should have firm, pink gums with no bleeding or gum pockets over 3mm.
2. Full Mouth Debridement
If your teeth are not professionally cleaned for more than a year, your teeth may have heavy plaque and tartar (calculus) build-up. In such a case, regular prophylaxis may not be sufficient. So your dental professional may recommend full mouth debridement using hand tools and a micro-ultrasonic scaler to remove the plaque and calculus from your teeth and gums, and restore the health of your mouth.
3. Scaling and Root Planing
Commonly referred to as “deep cleaning”, this procedure is usually recommended for patients who exhibit signs of periodontal disease, such as deeper gum pockets (over 3mm), inflammation and bleeding gums, accumulation of plaque and tartar below the gumline, and/or loss of bone tissue supporting the teeth.
4. Periodontal Maintenance
Following treatment for periodontal disease through scaling and root planing or periodontal surgery, your dental professional may recommend this specialized cleaning every 8 – 12 weeks as part of your periodontal treatment follow up to reduce the risk of gum disease recurrence.
Schedule Your Dental Cleaning Today
The right type of dental cleaning in Watertown MN will be determined by your dental professional depending on the clinical condition of your teeth and gums, as well as your risk and history of periodontal disease and treatment. Please visit your dentist to discuss your cleaning needs today.
Dental Cleanings Near Me, Watertown MN
While many dental procedures can be dreadful, teeth cleanings are easily tolerated by most people because they’re not only simple and painless, but also an important part of maintaining your long-term oral health. Ideally, dental cleanings should be performed every 6-12 months to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar that can cause oral problems such as bad breath, cavities, gum disease, loose teeth, and so on. But your dentist may recommend shorter intervals if you’re at greater risk due to pregnancy, your lifestyle habits, or your general health.
So what exactly happens during a regular dental cleaning?
1. Tartar and Plaque Removal
The actual teeth cleaning process involves the use of specialized tools, such as scalers to remove plaque and calculus from the surface of individual teeth, between the teeth, and around the gum line. This step may take longer if it has been a long time since your last cleaning.
2. Polishing
When all the plaque and tartar has been removed from your teeth, the hygienist will use a special brush with a soft rubber cup. This not only removes any surface stains, but also makes your tooth surface smooth and shiny to make it harder for plaque to form.
3. Expert Flossing
This step helps to thoroughly clean the area between your teeth to remove any leftover plaque and toothpaste from the previous steps.
4. Rinsing
The dental hygienist uses a mouth rinse with liquid fluoride to remove any debris and clean your mouth.
5. Fluoride Treatment
As the final step, your dental hygienist may apply flavored fluoride by putting it in flexible trays that are then placed over your teeth for 30 seconds. This helps to strengthen your teeth and enhance the protection against plaque and calculus.
Following the cleaning, your mouth may feel fresher and your teeth appear brighter. This is because teeth cleaning helps to prevent and treat gum disease and maintain tooth health, but also enhance the appearance of your smile. To learn more about what to expect from a routine dental cleaning in Watertown MN, please contact our office today.
New Patient Exam Xrays and Regular Cleaning $67
Includes consultation, exam, and x-rays. In the absence of periodontal disease. New Patients Only
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