There are certain basic criteria that are required for someone to establish an oral surgery practice. Specialists in oral surgery must complete a post-graduate residency after graduating from dental school, during which they gain knowledge and hands-on experience in placing dental implants, along with other surgical procedure. This residency, which lasts at least four years, is centered in a hospital, with oral surgery residents working side-by-side with medical residents.

An oral surgeon’s learning experience doesn’t end when the formal education is complete, though. Continuing education is an important part of oral surgery training. Oral surgeons are required to accumulate a certain number of CE hours to maintain their licenses. These sessions can cover a wide variety of topics relevant to the profession.  

The dental implant seminar is an important tool to help the oral surgeon keep informed on the latest developments in dental implant technology. These devices have changed in many ways over the years. Manufacturers have introduced new shapes and surfaces that improve dental implant performance.

Because oral surgeons are required to maintain licenses, you can always check with the state licensing board to see if your surgeon’s license has been subjected to any disciplinary actions or suspensions.

Of course, you want an oral surgeon who is well-versed in the practice of placing dental implants in addition to classroom-based knowledge. How many years has the oral surgeon been performing this procedure? How many patients has he or she treated? Has he or she ever worked on a case similar to yours?

Do your homework when picking an oral surgeon for dental implants. Be sure to investigate the surgeon’s qualifications and education before making a commitment to the procedure. For more information and to schedule your informative consultation, contact our knowledgeable and dedicated team at EverSmile today.

The amazingly precise design of a dental implant is proof that it’s the most lifelike and effective alternative for tooth replacement. The procedure has forever changed the way we think about the lifespan of our smiles, and most patients can report high levels of satisfaction for decades after the initial placement of the implant.

When you invest your valuable time and financial resources into your smile, there is almost a natural instinct to treat it with special care. In the case of the dental implant, this rule easily applies. Although your implant is designed with durability and function in mind, it is certainly not indestructible. You’ll need to take some reasonable precautions in order to protect your teeth as well as your investment.

So, what should you do to keep your implants in peak condition?

• Practice thorough and responsible oral hygiene. Although your implants are not susceptible to cavities, they are vulnerable to gum disease. Inflammation, plaque accumulation, and bone loss can undermine the integrity of your implant, eventually leading to failure.
• Prevent trauma. Extreme forces from grinding the teeth or athletic contact can dislodge a dental implant just as though it were a natural tooth. A protective mouthpiece or nightguard is an easy way to prevent an injury.
• Stay healthy. There are numerous health conditions which are known to contribute to tooth loss, and your implants are not excluded. Uncontrolled diabetes, cardiovascular disease, smoking, and even chronic stress can affect the stability of your teeth.

Remember that your oral surgeon is a fantastic resource for information about caring for your dental implants. For more information, call 214-234-9143 to schedule your appointment today.

For example, if you were to poll any group of denture patients, you would find that many of them are struggling with this very problem. Most patients with dentures would like to improve their comfort, chewing ability, or appearance with dental implants, but are unsure about how to move forward with the process.

Dental implants are the current standard of care to which all other forms of tooth replacement are compared. They can be designed to work together with false teeth to create a new level of stability and increase your current level of function.

To move from dentures to implants, there are a number of important points to consider:

• What would you like to change about your current set of teeth?
• Which implant option would be most beneficial for you?
• What are the financing options for your new and improved smile?

Your oral surgeon will partner with you to ensure that you have all the information that will be necessary for you to make an informed and viable decision. You may find that a single dental implant provides a sufficient anchor-point for your teeth, or you may find that the All-on-4 (permanent teeth in a day, based upon four dental implant posts) solution is most ideal.

According to the solutions that you are considering, there are several reasonable financing options to aid you in completing your treatment. Your Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account (HSA or FSA) make it possible for you to contribute pre-tax income towards your dental care. You might also seek assistance from reputable health financing companies by visiting websites like:

• ChaseHealthAdvance.com
• CareCredit.com
• SpringStonePlan.com

If you would like to improve the way that you feel about your teeth, contact our skilled and dedicated team today to learn more about your options.

• Invest in quality
• Understand the potential return on your investment

Applying these concepts as you consider the cost of dental implants will ensure that you ultimately receive the smile that you desire, the high level of function that you require, and the cost savings that you prefer.

Naturally, any tooth replacement solution is better than not replacing the teeth at all. However, dentures, partials and bridges are known to have far more limitations than dental implants, and some of those limitations have financial consequences.

Tooth replacement solutions can be made from a wide range of materials. Acrylic and plastic restorations like dentures and partials are not as strong or as durable as porcelain or metal alternatives. Plus, removable restorations tend to be subjected to more wear and tear than fixed (permanent) choices like bridges and dental implants. It’s this potential for wear and tear that translates into increasing ongoing maintenance, repair and replacement costs for the rest of your life.

Tooth replacement solutions that are unable to maintain the stability of your overall oral health can also present ongoing challenges that can become inconvenient as well as costly. For example, as the jawbone begins to shrink and the gum tissue loses its tone, dentures and partials will no longer fit snugly without denture paste or denture relines. As well, fixed bridges do not extend into the bone to provide the stimulation that is necessary to prevent the bone from shrinking.

Fortunately, when you invest in dental implants, you will be investing in high quality replacement teeth that are made from the strongest available materials, teeth that do not need to be repaired or replaced, and teeth that will maintain long-term stability for better oral health.

To learn more about reducing your long-term dental costs with dental implants, contact our team at EverSmile today. Call 214-234-9143 for to schedule your visit.

This continuing education is required by the American Association for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, along with state licensure boards, and it gives practitioners the opportunity to stay current on the latest dental technology. Ultimately, your oral surgeon’s continuing education experience helps to enhance your care. 

Continuing education is particularly important for practitioners who place dental implants due to the ever-present technological advances that improve patients’ experiences with the devices. Dental implants have come a long way since the mid-twentieth century discovery that titanium fuses with bone, and conscientious implant dentists keep up on those developments to improve patient care.

Modern dental implants have evolved significantly in the past several decades, with changes in shape, surface materials and surgical techniques all leading to better patient outcomes. Dental implant manufacturers continue to engage in research that produces superior products.

While attending a dental implant seminar, oral surgeons gain knowledge of these latest developments in surgical techniques and materials used in manufacturing the implants. Other practitioners may fall behind if they don’t attend such courses, but our EverSmile network of dental professionals is dedicated to achieving clinical excellence through improving our skills and knowledge base.

Most oral surgeons fine tune their skills by placing dental implants in numerous patients, but if they don’t keep up with changes in the field, all of that experience may be meaningless. When selecting an oral surgeon for your dental implant treatment, consider this aspect as well.

Dental implants require a significant commitment on the patient’s part, and it’s important to choose a qualified, knowledgeable and experienced practitioner. Be sure that your oral surgeon keeps up with dental implant continuing education, and ask about how the knowledge gained in those endeavors will impact your treatment.

Dentures alone often leave patients feeling like they have an incomplete solution. The appliances tend to lose their fit over time, and they require unpleasant tasting adhesives. Conventional dentures don’t come anywhere near replicating the chewing function of the missing teeth.

Using dental implants to secure the denture gives patients better peace of mind for a number of reasons. The denture stays in place, which is a huge benefit, and it is more effective at chewing. Implant-supported dentures also tend to have a more lifelike appearance.

An oral surgeon can insert the implants into the jaw in an outpatient procedure completed in a matter of hours. Depending on the case, some patients may leave that appointment with a complete replacement arch of teeth, as well.

The dental implants are made of titanium, which allows them to fuse into the jaw. This process, known as osseointegration, allows the implants to secure the denture in the same way that a tooth’s root serves as an anchor.

Furthermore, the implant’s structure also helps to stabilize the jawbone. When the teeth’s roots are absent, the jawbone naturally wears away, which leads to the phenomenon of dentures losing their fit.

Dental implants do require a sufficient amount of bone to integrate successfully, but even patients who have worn dentures for many years and have significant bone loss as a result may still be eligible for implant-supported dentures. An approach known as All-on-4 places four implants toward the front of the jaw, where the bone erodes more slowly. Those four implants then can support an entire denture.

Patients who choose implant-supported dentures can rest assured that the appliances will stay put. This can ease the mind when facing a public appearance or a special private moment. Talk to our skilled and dedicated team at EverSmile to see if you can take advantage of this treatment method. Call 214-234-9143 to schedule your professional consultation today.

Prior to the procedure, you will have a preliminary appointment that allows the oral surgeon to evaluate your case and determine your suitability as a candidate for dental implants.

At that initial dental implant consultation, the oral surgeon will visually examine the jaw and the projected implant site. The patient also will have impressions taken of the site and undergo a three-dimensional scan that provides an interior view of the patient’s bone structure.

All of this information is then used to formulate the treatment plan. In particular, the oral surgeon will be closely examining the patient’s bone structure. The quality of available bone heavily influences the dental implant process, as the implant must have sufficient bone material to facilitate its osseointegration.

If patients are not immediately appropriate for implant placement, they may be able to improve their chances by undergoing an additional procedure, such as a bone graft. The data gathered at the consultation can also be used to determine whether immediate function procedures are possible in your case. These procedures allow patients to get their replacement teeth more quickly.  Not everyone will be a candidate, though.

That first appointment will also give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the procedure itself. This information can also help you make decisions about the process, such as the type of sedation that will be used.

Additionally, you can take advantage of the consultation to develop a checklist of tasks that you’ll need to do in advance of the implant placement appointment. For example, patients who choose IV sedation will need to fast after midnight before undergoing the procedure.

You should also plan for aftercare in the hours and days immediately following the surgery. If you receive prescriptions for painkillers or prophylactic antibiotics, it’s best to get those in advance rather than waiting until after the procedure. You may also need to buy certain foods to adhere to a softer diet for a few days.

To learn more about treatment with dental implants, contact our experienced team at EverSmile and schedule your professional consultation today.

Fortunately, no matter the type of denture that you desire, there are options that can make your new teeth as comfortable and as attractive as real teeth. A common challenge for denture wearers is the ability to stabilize the bite. To overcome this obstacle, you oral surgeon may suggest the placement of one or more dental implants.

Whereas a traditional partial denture must clasp or hook onto your natural teeth for stability, a partial denture can be anchored by dental implants to gain strength from the underlying jawbone. This implant foundation reduces the stress and strain on your natural teeth and can also improve the appearance of your smile by eliminating the need for clasps or hooks. It also transfers your chewing forces to the bone, a relationship that provides positive stimulation to your jaw. In fact, it is this form of chewing stimulation that helps to prevent the loss of bone density within the jaw.

A dental implant is composed of a strong titanium cylinder that is inserted into the upper or lower jawbone. With healing, the implant becomes permanently fused to the bone and is typically well-accepted by the human body. The result is an anchor that is sturdy enough to stabilize your replacement teeth for a lifetime. You’ll have the ability to speak and chew with the confidence of a securely fitted denture.

The exact denture or partial denture that is right for you can be determined by your dentist and oral surgeon. To find out more, contact our skilled and professional team at EverSmile, serving the DFW area, at 214-234-9143 for your personalized consultation.

Dental implants are artificial roots that are made of titanium, which fuses with the jawbone. The osseointegration process allows the implant to become a fixture in the mouth. A prosthetic crown sits atop the implant, anchored to an abutment. For edentulous patients, a number of dental implants can be used to hold an upper or lower denture (or both!) in place, as well. 

An oral surgeon inserts these highly functional devices into the jaw in a straightforward outpatient surgery that takes just a few hours.

Dental implants can improve a patient’s quality of life in a number of ways. Merely replacing the missing tooth offers aesthetic benefits, and dental implants do the best job of creating a lifelike replication of a tooth. They look and feel like natural teeth. In comparison, fixed permanent bridges can stand out from the rest of the smile, while dentures are prone to slipping and sliding out of place.

Implants also give patients more options when it comes to dietary choices. Other tooth replacement methods are not nearly as effective at maintaining the chewing mechanism, often forcing patients to forego their favorite foods. Dental implant patients can have a more well-rounded diet.

Because dental implants are intended to last for decades, they don’t require additional trips to the dentist for re-fitting or replacement, like bridges and dentures do. In fact, the upkeep for dental implants is practically identical to the routine maintenance used for the natural teeth. Just be sure to let your dental hygienist know where the implant is located for extra care during professional cleanings.

Dental implants offer convenience and comfort. They’re an excellent choice for tooth replacement for patients in need of such a device. Contact our Dallas office today to explore your options.

The fact is, the best way to replace missing teeth is by imitating nature. Our natural teeth are firmly anchored to the underlying jaw bone, and covered with gum tissue for a double layer of permanent support. When dentures and partials are made to sit on top of the gums, a great deal of that support structure is unfortunately lost.

Your implant dentist may recommend a series of dental implants to anchor your false teeth and eliminate the need for denture adhesive forever. The post of a dental implant is surgically inserted into the underlying bone and, in time, will become permanently fused to the bone. This relationship between the bone and the implant post represents the most ideal imitation of nature’s design for your teeth.

Once the post has properly fused to the bone, its position will never change. That stability creates a fantastic foundation for your false tooth, whether it is a single tooth, a group of teeth, or a complete denture. In fact, the implant post will actually prevent future bone loss in the surrounding area, ensuring long-term success for your smile.

Without an artificial tooth root to stimulate the bone, gradual resorption occurs, and your once comfortable denture will begin to slip, shift, and slide out of place. Chewing becomes increasingly difficult, and many patients find that their teeth begin to click together when chewing. Even during speaking, an unsecure denture can slide out of place, creating an embarrassing dilemma during social situations.

Your oral surgeon can place single or multiple dental implants that can connect to your existing denture or a new denture can be created to work together with your implants. Ultimately, you’ll notice a great improvement in the function and appearance of your false teeth, and you’ll never miss your denture adhesive at all!

Contact our dedicated and experienced team serving Dallas at 214-234-9143 to schedule an informative consultation today.