Don’t Let That Blank Space in Your Mouth Fool You

Dental Patient Shyly Covering Her Missing Tooth

So, you had teeth extracted and/or are missing a few teeth? No big deal, right? Do not fool yourself! There are plenty of issues that come with missing teeth in Omaha, NE. You lose the confidence in your smile, you can’t chew the foods you use to enjoy, and so much more. Beyond these though, there are also adverse health effects to missing teeth.

 

What Happens When We Are Missing Teeth?

From gum disease to infection, there are several reasons why you should consider replacement of your missing teeth!

In many cases, the gums where the tooth used to be will get infected which will cause inflammation. This is known as gingivitis, commonly referred to as gum disease. Gingivitis can cause your gums to bleed when you floss, changes in your bite line, pain when chewing, pus to form between the gums and teeth, and other symptoms. This, of course, makes day-to-day life more difficult as the pain from chewing causes great amounts of anxiety about eating and can cause other teeth to loosen or fall out.

Another problem that may occur is weakness in your jaw and other teeth. Other teeth surrounding the missing one have to work harder to chew due to the lack of teeth and can cause jaw pain, weakness, and in some cases temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD). Your TMJ attaches your lower jawbone to the rest of your skull and when it is being worked on one side more heavily, it can cause disorders to form which will result in pain when chewing and many other issues.

 

Fill Those Gaps

To avoid these diseases and others that are caused by the loss of teeth, consider calling us at (402) 800-1268. Contact our office in Omaha, NE to schedule an appointment with our doctors, Dr. Jerome M. WeesDr. John Wewel, and Dr. Benjamin J. Anderson, so we can give you our options to fill in that missing tooth! With years of experience in supporting those like you, we will work with you to find the best treatment option to fit your unique situation. We look forward to helping you!

 

References

Gum Disease (Gingivitis and Periodontitis), Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/gingivitis

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) Disorders, Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/tmj-disorders

Are Dental Implants Right for You?

Questioning Dental Patient Wondering About The Efficacy Of Dental Implant Procedures

If you are experiencing tooth loss or had a tooth extracted, you may be considering getting corrective dental procedures, such as dental implants, in Omaha, NE. Before doing so, however, a dentist will need to assess your mouth to ensure you are a candidate for your new smile. There are many factors that can influence this and are discussed below.

The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Sufficient bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues with no signs of tooth decay or periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. If you are showing visible signs of gum disease, including swollen, red, tender, and bleeding gums, you may need to visit a dental specialist that focuses on treating gum disease, known as a periodontist. This is particularly important before potentially becoming a great candidate for dental implants.

As stated, good jawbone support is one of the main characteristics of being a candidate for dental implants. A strong jaw construction supports the implant once installed. The reasoning behind this is if the implant is not reinforced by a strong bone than it can become loose from chewing.

Candidates who are dedicated to oral hygiene are excellent applicants for implants. Flossing, brushing and using a good mouthwash several times in a day assist in removing plaque which in turn are protecting the applicant against infection during the implant procedure. Visits to a dentist twice per year for that routine checkup makes for a good candidate.

 

About the Procedure

A dentist in Omaha, NE will evaluate your oral health and assess your candidacy for dental implants. There are various types of implant options that a dentist will consider for your treatment plan. These can include:

  • Replacing a Single Tooth. If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it.
  • Implant-supported bridges. These can replace several teeth If they are missing or damaged.
  • Implant-supported full bridge or full denture. These can replace all of your teeth if they are missing or damaged.

 

Contact Us!

Schedule a consultation today to discuss your questions and get started with dental implants! We invite you to meet our experienced and friendly doctors, Dr. Jerome M. WeesDr. John Wewel, and Dr. Benjamin J. Anderson, in our office in Omaha, NE!