Gum Disease and Bone Loss

Periodontitis or gum disease is an infection that damages your gums and destroys the bones supporting the teeth. It is one of the causes of tooth loss, but it can lead to an increased risk of serious health problems and conditions, too—including strokes and heart attacks. Although common, gum disease is highly preventable and can be treated before it is too late. It is a silent condition with virtually no symptoms until a dentist sees and inspects your mouth, so be sure to make regular dental appointments for proper diagnosis and treatment. Regular dental visits can help you avoid gum disease and bone loss.

You also need to make a daily effort to prevent gum disease in the first place. The best way to do this is by brushing at least two times a day and flossing once daily. Cosmetic dentists in Reston VA diagnose gum disease by examining your gums and looking for signs of swollen, purplish, or bright red areas. You might also have gum disease if your gums feel tender when touched or when they start pulling away or receding from your teeth. Other symptoms of gum disease include bad breath, loose teeth, pus forming between your gums and teeth, a bad taste in the mouth, and a change in your bite.

Bone loss is the result of severe and untreated gum disease. Digital imaging may be used to assess the condition of your facial tissues and bones, and the dentist may provide treatment to clear the bacterial infection causing gingivitis and plaque.

Healthy gums are pale pink and firm, so if you see that they have become red, puffy, or they start to bleed easily, then make an appointment with the dentist in Reston VA as soon as you can. The sooner you make that appointment and get checked up, the better your chances of minimizing the damage caused by gum disease. The dentist can provide the right treatment to reduce your chances of losing your teeth due to this condition.

CBCT Scan for Diagnosis Of Dental Implants

CT scanners have been around for decades, but certain types are designed to be more advanced and effective in generating highly detailed images for precise diagnosis and treatment. The CBCT scanner is one of the more advanced CT scanning technologies. A dentist may order a CBCT scan when a regular facial or dental x-ray is not enough for a proper diagnosis. CBCT can produce multiple 3D images of your soft tissues, bone, teeth, and nerve pathways in different angles with a single scan, making it faster and reliable for diagnosis of oral disorders and diseases such as TMJ disorders, jaw tumors, and bone loss around dental implants in Northern VA. Likewise, the scan is useful for treatment planning for surgery and if you are considering implants.

A CBCT scan can help the dentists in Reston, Virginia in accurately planning and placing dental implants. Moreover, the results can help in determining tooth orientation and bone structure. Implant planning requires proper evaluation of the jaw, your tissues, and the condition of your bones to make sure that they can handle the implants. High-end CBCT scanners come with a software specifically developed for implant planning. That way, dentists can easily see where the implant must be placed in the jaw and avoid hitting any nerves. Likewise, the images can let dentists see if there is enough bone for the implant to minimize your risk of complications for your dental implants in Chantilly VA.

CBCT scanners are also referred to as ‘dental cone beam’, and they have become the standard for assessing the bone quality for dental implant planning before surgery. Traditional dental x-rays may not provide accurate and clear images for determining the quality of the bone to be used for implant support. The scan has been helpful and deemed reliable so far in bone density measurements, which require precision and a highly stable system. The scan uses a more focused x-ray beam that minimizes scatter radiation. Hence, better and clearer images are generated.

Benefits of Single Stage Teeth in a Day

Have you lost some of your teeth? You do not have to live without them for good. Simply go to a dentist in Reston Virginia and ask about dental implants. As long as you are a healthy individual, a Reston VA dentist can recommend dental implants like single stage teeth, which is one of the most common procedures for replacing missing teeth. Single stage dental implants are surgically placed into your jaw; the implant’s top is level in the gum tissue, which is then closed via sutures to leave the head of the implant visible. After healing, the temporary restoration and dental implant abutment will be attached to the head without additional minor surgery.

The best thing about single stage teeth is that the Reston VA dentist can place the dental implant at the same time as the healing cap. This means that you only have to go through one surgical procedure to restore your teeth. Moreover, it can be used in patients who are missing multiple teeth. The procedure should be successful as long as there is enough strong bone to hold the implant and the neighboring teeth and gums must be in good condition. If you lack bone, the dentist may conduct bone grafting or bone augmentation.

Before getting any dental implants, it is important to consult with a qualified Reston VA dentist for a full evaluation and to know your options. A seasoned dentist in Reston Virginia will use only high-quality implants for a single stage teeth procedure. Titanium is typically preferred because it is durable and stainless, and the abutment can be made of the same material or another like porcelain or gold. The crown or the restoration is typically made of porcelain, so it can fuse with PFM or a metal alloy and look more natural. Some dentists may suggest an all porcelain or all metal restoration.

Gum Grafting Treatment

Gum grafting or gingival graft refers to any surgical dental procedure that aims to graft gum tissue. The goal is to cover the exposed teeth root in case the gums have receded. In some cases, it is conducted as a cosmetic procedure to alter a band of tissue that has been keratinized. Gum grafting must be conducted only by a qualified and seasoned dentist that practices Reston cosmetic dentistry. A dentist may recommend gum grafting as part of emergency dental care in Reston VA if your gums have receded to the point that they will cause damage to your teeth.

Gum recession is more common than you think. In fact, it affects four to 12 percent of adults, and it typically remains unnoticed until it turns severe. Receding gums occur gradually, and over time, the exposed teeth can become sensitive or eventually fall out. One of the solution used in Reston cosmetic dentistry to repair the Gum grafting damage and avoid further oral problems.

Three different types of gum grafting methods can be conducted in an emergency dental care clinic in Reston VA:

1. Connective tissue grafting – The procedure involves cutting a flap of your skin from the roof of your mouth, and the removal of tissue from under that flap to be stitched to the gum tissue around an exposed root. After removing the graft from under your palatal flap, the flap is sutured back down. This is the most common procedure used in gum grafting.
2. Pedicle grafts – Tissue is taken from near the teeth or the gum that needs to be repaired. Hence, this method is only used in patients who still have a lot of gum near their affected teeth.
3. Free gingival grafting – The process is similar to connective tissue grafting, but without making the flap and extracting tissue from the palate. Instead, a small amount of tissue will be removed directly from your palate before being attached to the receded gum area. This procedure is typically recommended for patients who have naturally thin gums but require additional tissue to enlarge them.

Some cosmetic dentists in Reston may consider using graft materials from tissue banks, or they rely on proteins to stimulate tissue growth before extracting it. Rest assured--the dentist will determine the best treatment method for you.

Why Avoid Dentures

Dentures are essentially false teeth made out of materials like porcelain, acrylic, or cast metal. They are fitted into the empty space left behind when teeth are lost.

To make conventional dentures, your dentist has to first to evaluate your needs and various other parameters which include the size of the gums, etc. It is only after all the information is available that they make the dentures in Northern Virginia. For immediate dentures, the broken tooth is extracted and dentures are implemented the same day. Most dentures need to be realigned or even redesigned 3 to 4 months after the extraction. The actual time depends on how the patient responds and how the mouth adjusts.

Dentures do not cost much but they can cause some issues, especially while a person is adjusting to them. Dentures obstruct the remodeling process of the jawbone as they are not connected to the bone they are placed upon it. They also affect how the gums react and often become loose after a few weeks.

Dental implants are an alternative to dentures for individuals who do not want to wear removable dentures. Dental implants are made from biocompatible Titanium that acts as an artificial root for your teeth. For implementing dental implants a 3D scan is essential for the right assessment of bone quality and planning.

A dental implant is considered as a permanent solution for the problem of tooth loss as it has various benefits associated with it.

•    It is a permanent solution that poses no risk of moving or dislodging.
•    It looks and feels more like natural teeth.
•    After the implant, it requires less maintenance than dentures.
•    Dental implants easily merge with your oral routine like brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. With dentures, you have to remove your teeth every time to clean your mouth.
•    It does not cause any type of bone loss and aids in the health and protection of jaw bone.
•    With dental implants, the neighboring teeth will be less prone to be affected by cavities.

The cost of dental implants is more than that for dentures but the advantages are definitely worth the extra cost. There are other factors that increase the overall cost of dentures such as maintenance, fixatives, and cleaning solutions.

At Ridgetop Dental, we understand and appreciate the value of dental implants. Our dentists in Reston, VA are always willing to provide you with the best advice and care.

‘All-on-4’ Success Reports

‘All-on-4’ dental implants are a way of supporting the teeth with only 4 dental implants. People who have severely broken down or bad teeth can now opt for this solution and regain their smile.

From Ridgetop Dental, the All-on-4 dental implants in Northern VA, gives you the bite quality and functionality of natural teeth. With this unique innovation, you no longer have to avoid particular foods because your dentures cannot handle the strain. It allows you to replace a full set of teeth with a simple and effective solution. All-on-4 uses a specially designed dental implant that works as a strong anchor for your new teeth. It is complete rehabilitation for your tooth loss condition with a fixed and customizable dental bridge.

All-on-4 requires a surgical method that involves a careful placement of Titanium implants that act as an anchor for the entire dental bridge. It is the only technique that is able to provide full support for all your replacement teeth with only 4 implants. It drastically reduces the overall treatment and recovery time. In some cases, Ridgetop Dental has been able to install temporary provisional teeth on the same day placement of the dental implant in Reston. They will work and look like your natural teeth and allow you to regain the bite quality and strength faster.

There are several advantages to this method that define the overall success rate of the implants.

•    There is no bone graft occurrence.
•    Fewer dental implants are placed towards the back for deliberate angulations.
•    Dental implants can be placed at the same day as an extraction.
•    The cost is significantly reduced because of clever and innovative engineering.

The success rate of All-on-4 dental implant is excellent and in most of the cases, the prognosis is close to 100%. The Titanium used in the procedure is biocompatible and corrosion resistant. It also shows a high survival rate and does not fail even if one of the implants is broken or damaged.

The Reston clinic of Ridgetop Dental in Northern Virginia has been successfully able to return hundreds of lost smiles to the faces of its patients. Our support staff and dentists in Reston, VA are always ready to assist you with high-quality care and support.

Advanced Cosmetic Dental ImplantsFor Your Smile

Out of all the common facial expressions, a smile commonly denotes amusement, pleasure, happiness or sociability in the majority of cultures around the world. A smile is said to have a favorable influence on others, making it a very important gesture. A smile is also linked to the attractiveness of a person. Teeth play an important role in the formation of a smile.

Since anterior teeth are usually visible on a smile, they look good if they are aligned. Misaligned teeth can force people not to smile openly and confidently, since they are afraid of showing their teeth. This can lead to the lack of confidence. Many people may even avoid smiling or speaking in front of people to hide their anterior teeth.

Cosmetic dentistry can help you deal with misaligned, damaged, discolored or missing teeth. For misaligned teeth, various procedures like Invisalign, braces, etc. can be used. If you are dealing with damaged or missing teeth in addition to the teeth discolorations, you can opt for cosmetic dental implants in Reston.

For discolored teeth that do not turn white despite so many attempts, you can get porcelain veneers to cover the teeth. It is a laminate that matches the color and shade of the tooth and adds some strength to them as well.

For missing or damaged teeth, you can consult the best dentists in Reston for dental implants. Cosmetic dental implants are very popular these days because it gives quick and long-lasting results. For missing teeth, you can get dental implants fixed in its place. The implant, usually made out Titanium, acts as a root of the teeth. On the same day, a temporary tooth-like cap is fixed on it. Once the implant has integrated with the bone, a prosthetic tooth is fixed. They act and look like natural teeth.

People, who have only a few or no teeth left, can go for All-on-4 dental implants in which a full denture is supported on the gums with just four dental implants. For one or more damaged teeth, you can get them extracted as per your dentist’s prescription and wait for the bones and the gums to heal before getting dental implants. A temporary cap followed by a prosthetic tooth completes the whole procedure giving you a beautiful smile.