DENTAL IMPLANTS

A dental implant is a small titanium screw that will simulate a natural tooth in root function. The implant is placed in the bone and then bonds with the bone to serve as an anchor for the replacement tooth. Dental implants can be used to replace a single lost tooth or many missing teeth. Dental implants help prevent further bone loss which will help maintain facial structure. Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth.

Implants are not for everyone. You must be in good general health, have healthy gums and enough bone in your jaw to support the implant(s). You must be willing to see your dentist or dental specialist several times until the treatment is complete, and take very good care of your implant(s). In addition, implants can cost more than other kinds of replacement teeth.

It's normal for bone to shrink if it no longer has teeth to support. Because an implant bonds to bone, the bone is less likely to shrink. But if you have been missing teeth for some time, you may have lost bone. A bone graft can build up the bone so it can support an implant.

Because implants bond to the bone, teeth attached to implants look and act much like natural teeth.

Extraction of wisdom teeth

The wisdom teeth, or third molars, grow at the back of your gums and are the last teeth to come through. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in each corner.

Wisdom teeth usually grow through the gums during the late teens or early twenties. By this time, the other 28 adult teeth are usually in place so there isn't always enough room in the mouth for the wisdom teeth to grow properly.

Due to the lack of space, the wisdom teeth can sometimes emerge at an angle or get stuck and only emerge partially. Wisdom teeth that grow through in this way are known as impacted.

Wisdom teeth are removed because they have become impacted or haven't fully broken through the surface of the gum can cause dental problems. Food and bacteria can get trapped around the edge of the wisdom tooth, causing a build-up of plaque, which can lead to dental caries (tooth decay), gum disease, cellulitis (infection) or other problems.

Sinus Lifts

A sinus lift is surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars. It's sometimes called a sinus augmentation. The bone is added between your jaw and the maxillary sinuses, which are on either side of your nose. To make room for the bone, the sinus membrane has to be moved upward, or "lifted." A sinus lift usually is done by a specialist.

A sinus lift is done when there is not enough bone in the upper jaw, or the sinuses are too close to the jaw, for dental implants to be placed. There are several reasons for this:

• Many people who have lost teeth in their upper jaw – particularly the back teeth, or molars – do not have enough bone for implants to be placed. Because of the anatomy of the skull, the back of the upper jaw has less bone than the lower jaw.
• Bone may have been lost because of periodontal (gum) disease.
• Tooth loss may have led to a loss of bone as well. Once teeth are gone, bone begins to be resorbed (absorbed back into the body). If teeth have been missing for a long time, there often is not enough bone left to place implants.
• The maxillary sinus may be too close to the upper jaw for implants to be placed. The shape and the size of this sinus varies from person to person.

Sinus lifts have become common during the last 15 years as more people get dental implants to replace missing teeth.

GUM Grafts

Gum grafts are essential in treating a patient's receding gum lines. This condition often follows advanced cases of gingivitis and may ultimately lead to exposed roots and the deterioration of the bone surrounding the teeth. When left untreated gingivitis can cause the gums to recede deeply allowing bacteria to enter beneath the gum line. This can lead to a more serious form of periodontal disease called periodontitis. In many cases, receding gums calls for surgical gum grafting as the most appropriate solution.

In many gum grafting procedures the patient's own tissue would be used for the graft. This tissue is usually taken from the roof of the mouth. A very thin piece is removed and carefully placed onto the area where the gums have receded. It is then carefully attached there with fine sutures. The following are before and after images of connective tissue surgeries.

Laser Gingival recontouring

Laser Gum Contouring is a gentle, painless procedure that allows the dentist the ability to precisely recontour, or reshape, the gum line of each tooth.

Laser gum recontouring is a very straightforward procedure where a soft tissue diode laser is used to reshape the gums to create a more even and esthetic look. The gums will feel quite comfortable following the procedure and they will heal fully within 2-3 days, offering a better look almost immediately.

SEDATION DENTISTRY

Because of the special place the mouth has in our psyche, development, nutrition and emotional expression, it isn't surprising that one of the most common source of anxiety in our society is the thought of having extensive dental treatment done. The sounds, the sights and the odours of the dental office causes significant stress and anxiousness for many. Other people who require extensive dental treatments to achieve a healthy mouth prefer to have their treatment done in one or two long appointments instead of many traditional appointments. If you are one of these people, sedation or general anaesthesia for dentistry can help make your dental appointments comfortable, convenient and pleasant.

Patients who have medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or asthma also benefit from sedation by reducing the body's stress and response to medications contained in local anaesthetics (freezing).

Sedation and anaesthesia developed specifically for dentistry offer a range of choices from mild relaxation to twilight sedation to being completely asleep.

Sedation is only for adult patients. Our dentists at York Lanes Dental will schedule a consultation appointment first to answer any questions and screen for any medical reasons you may not be eligible for Sedation Dentistry.

Call us today to discuss your sedation dentistry options!