The American Academy of Periodontology
Patient Information Pages
March 2007
www.perio.org
If you had a choice between a set of removable dentures or permanent replacement teeth that look and feel like your own, which would you choose? What if the replacement teeth would also allow you to speak and eat with comfort and confidence, offer you freedom from irksome clicks and wobble s of dentures, and allow you to say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures and messy pastes and glues? Dental implant are growing in popularity and advancing in technology. They are a permanent and effective alternative to dentures.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root laced into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth saving than traditional bridgework, since they do not rely on neighboring teeth for support. The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general health and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal diseases.
Once you decide to get a dental implant, there are some different options. Some implants take two to six months for the bone and implant to bond together to form anchors (osseointegration). During this time, you can wear a removable temporary tooth replacement option over the implant site(s). However, there is now the option of immediate loading, whereby a periodontist places the implant immediately following tooth extraction and attaches a temporary fixed tooth replacement. Depending on your specific condition and the type of implant chosen, your periodontist will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs.
Perhaps the most important decision you need to make regarding your dental implants is who should perform the procedure. Since periodontists are the dental experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team. Not only do periodontists have experience working with other dental professionals, they also have the special knowledge, an additional three years of training and facilities that you need to have teeth that look and feel just like your own. Speak with your periodontist about dental implants today.
Just like your own teeth, dental implants require the proper care. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing still apply! After treatment, your periodontist will work closely with your dentist to develop the best care plan for you. Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy.
For more information about dental implants Philadelphia, mini implants Philadelphia, Montgomery County Dental implants, Camden, NJ implant dentist visit www.theperiogroup.com or call Dr. Stephen Brown at (215)735-3660.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Philadelphia Mini Dental Implants - A New Approach to Replacing Multiple Missing Teeth
Looking for a simple and affordable approach to replacing your missing teeth? Mini dental implants may be the technology you've been waiting for.
What are mini dental implants?
A mini implant is a man-made titanium replacement for a tooth root. These mini, man-made tooth roots act as a retaining fixture for a denture. The head of the implant is shaped like a ball, and the retaining fixture acts like a socket that contains a rubber O-ring. The O-ring snaps over the ball when the denture is placed and retains the denture at a predetermined level of force. When seated, the denture gently rests on the gum tissue. The implant fixtures allow for micro-mobility while withstanding natural lifting forces.
How are mini dental implants placed?
The mini implant placement procedure is a quick and relatively simple surgical procedure performed in a dental office setting. Local anesthesia and a light sedation is typically administered before the patient undergoes a precise, controlled, minimally invasive surgical technique. Mini Dental Implants are placed into the jawbone, while the heads of the mini implants protrude from the gum tissue. These protruding mini implant heads provide a strong, firm foundation for retaining dentures. This one-step procedure is not only minimally-invasive, but it also negates the need for sutures and months of healing time as with a typical dental implant.
How does mini dental implant technology broaden your options?
Dental Implant therapy has been one of the most significant advances in dentistry in the past 25 years. Thousands of grateful patients testify to the benefits derived from having the opportunity to replace missing teeth, while restoring their smiles and confidence. While several different types of implants and restorations are avaliable, the choice not only depends upon the amount of bone avaliable, but also on the patient's general health as well as his or her restoration preferance. These mini dental implants (1.8mm in diameter) enable your dentist to broaden the spectrum of preferences even more. The Mini Implant System provides greater denture stability and make a permanent restoration possible for those patients without enough bone to undergo conventional implant surgery.
What are mini dental implants?
A mini implant is a man-made titanium replacement for a tooth root. These mini, man-made tooth roots act as a retaining fixture for a denture. The head of the implant is shaped like a ball, and the retaining fixture acts like a socket that contains a rubber O-ring. The O-ring snaps over the ball when the denture is placed and retains the denture at a predetermined level of force. When seated, the denture gently rests on the gum tissue. The implant fixtures allow for micro-mobility while withstanding natural lifting forces.
How are mini dental implants placed?
The mini implant placement procedure is a quick and relatively simple surgical procedure performed in a dental office setting. Local anesthesia and a light sedation is typically administered before the patient undergoes a precise, controlled, minimally invasive surgical technique. Mini Dental Implants are placed into the jawbone, while the heads of the mini implants protrude from the gum tissue. These protruding mini implant heads provide a strong, firm foundation for retaining dentures. This one-step procedure is not only minimally-invasive, but it also negates the need for sutures and months of healing time as with a typical dental implant.
How does mini dental implant technology broaden your options?
Dental Implant therapy has been one of the most significant advances in dentistry in the past 25 years. Thousands of grateful patients testify to the benefits derived from having the opportunity to replace missing teeth, while restoring their smiles and confidence. While several different types of implants and restorations are avaliable, the choice not only depends upon the amount of bone avaliable, but also on the patient's general health as well as his or her restoration preferance. These mini dental implants (1.8mm in diameter) enable your dentist to broaden the spectrum of preferences even more. The Mini Implant System provides greater denture stability and make a permanent restoration possible for those patients without enough bone to undergo conventional implant surgery.
Friday, September 18, 2009
NEED A DENTAL IMPLANT? FEAR NOT!
Need a Dental Implant? Fear Not!
March 2008 Patient Page
from the American Academy of Periodontology
For some people, there is nothing more terrifying than the thought of a trip to the dentist. Even scarier for some is the prospect of replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant. However, as dental implants grow in popularity as a permanent solution to tooth loss, it is time to put nervous minds at ease.
March 2008 Patient Page
from the American Academy of Periodontology
For some people, there is nothing more terrifying than the thought of a trip to the dentist. Even scarier for some is the prospect of replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant. However, as dental implants grow in popularity as a permanent solution to tooth loss, it is time to put nervous minds at ease.A recent survey conducted informally by the American Academy of Periodontology asked periodontal patients what factors stopped them from getting a dental implant. The second most popular answer given by respondents was “fear or anxiety”. However, the same survey also revealed that of those patients who had previously received a dental implant, more than half reported “very little to no pain or discomfort” experienced during the process and only 33% described the procedure as “somewhat painful or uncomfortable”. These survey results help demonstrate that although dental implant procedures illicit fear or anxiety in potential patients, the reality is that the actual experience is not something to be frightened of.
Why is everyone so afraid of procedures such as dental implants? Perhaps fearing the dentist and certain dental procedures is something that is ingrained in our minds from a young age. Perhaps it is the result of ongoing, perpetuated stereotypes. Regardless of the cause, it is important to find ways to “unlearn” this fear, especially if your dental professional recommends a dental implant as the best course of treatment. Seeing a dental professional regularly and trusting his or her advice will help you to best maintain your oral health and minimize expense, time, and discomfort.
If you decide to get a dental implant and are feeling anxious or fearful, find ways to feel more in control of your experience.
- Ask your periodontist to explain the procedure. Knowing exactly what will occur when the dental implant is placed can help put your mind at ease.
- Have your periodontist explain your options for techniques to control pain and stress, such as medications, anesthesia, sedation, or relaxation techniques that can make your treatment virtually painless.
If you need a dental implant in the Philadelphia, PA area visit http://www.theperiogroup.com/ for more information or call the Perio Group 215.735.3660 for a Philadelphia dental implant specialist.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Tooth Loss Linked to Cognitive Impairment
According to a study published in the June 2009 Journal of Clinical Periodontology, a scientific link has been established between tooth loss and cognitive impairment. The study set out to prove that since Chronic subclinical inflammation may elevate the risk of cognitive impairment, and periodontal disease is responsible for the subclinical inflammation and accounts at least in part for tooth loss, that a link indeed exists between tooth loss and cognitive impairment in the elderly.
1336 subjects were studied with a composite age of 6079 years. Each individual's cognitive impairment was assessed with the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE). A high MMSE score indicated normal cognitive behaviors, while lower MMSE scores indicated some degree of cognitive impairment.
The study found that a decreased number of teeth was associated with lower MMSE scores in females and males in age-adjusted models. While in the fully adjusted models, tooth loss was associated with cognitive impairment in females but not in males.
The study concluded that a significant association between tooth loss and cognitive impairment was found in females. The study also showed that since former periodontitis accounted for this association because periodontitis was frequently the cause of the tooth extractions.
Therefore, this study showed that there is at least potential for a strong correlation between cognitive impairment in many elderly patients and tooth loss as a result of the chronic subclinical inflammation brought on by periodontal disease. This association between periodontal disease and cognitive impairment is just one of the many systemic implications of chronic periodontitis or gum disease.
For more information about the link between gum disease Philadelphia and a variety of systemic afflictions, contact Dr. Brown at http://www.theperiogroup.com/ or by phone at 215.735.3660. Submit your gum disease questions online at by filling out one of the online contact forms.
1336 subjects were studied with a composite age of 6079 years. Each individual's cognitive impairment was assessed with the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE). A high MMSE score indicated normal cognitive behaviors, while lower MMSE scores indicated some degree of cognitive impairment.
The study found that a decreased number of teeth was associated with lower MMSE scores in females and males in age-adjusted models. While in the fully adjusted models, tooth loss was associated with cognitive impairment in females but not in males.
The study concluded that a significant association between tooth loss and cognitive impairment was found in females. The study also showed that since former periodontitis accounted for this association because periodontitis was frequently the cause of the tooth extractions.
Therefore, this study showed that there is at least potential for a strong correlation between cognitive impairment in many elderly patients and tooth loss as a result of the chronic subclinical inflammation brought on by periodontal disease. This association between periodontal disease and cognitive impairment is just one of the many systemic implications of chronic periodontitis or gum disease.
For more information about the link between gum disease Philadelphia and a variety of systemic afflictions, contact Dr. Brown at http://www.theperiogroup.com/ or by phone at 215.735.3660. Submit your gum disease questions online at by filling out one of the online contact forms.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Placement of Dental Implants Results in Minimal Bone Loss
A major concern for a patient who is facing the possibility of losing a tooth is bone loss at the extraction site. A recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology and evaluated by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) suggests that replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant results in minimal bone loss. Read about this important study below or visit the AAP website.American Academy of Periodontology
The following information from the AAP Web site is located at:http://www.perio.org/consumer/implant-placement.htm
Five-year follow-up study observed marginal bone remodeling occurs between implant placement and prosthesis placement.
Subsequently, little mean bone change was observed in the five years following the implant placement, independent of type of restoration or implant length. The study, conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, evaluated 596 dental implants placed in 192 patients over the age of 18. Patients were screened for adequate oral hygiene and bone volume. Exclusion criteria included heavy smoking, chewing tobacco use, drug abuse, and untreated periodontal disease, amongst others.
Study author Dr. David Cochran, DDS, PhD, Chair of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and President of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), believes that this study provides additional support for the use of dental implants to replace missing teeth. "As a periodontist, I am committed to saving my patients" natural dentition whenever possible.
However, the results of this study help further indicate that a dental implant is an effective and dependable tooth replacement option. Since the patient's host tissue surrounding the dental implant largely remains unchanged in the five years following placement, the dental team can now focus on periodic assessment and treatment of other areas in the mouth as needed, and know that the implant is doing its job as a viable substitute solution.
Free oral health brochure samples including one titled "Dental Implants: Teeth That Look and Feel Just Like Your Own" are available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP's Web site at www.perio.org.
For an implant consultation in the Philadelphia area, call implant specialist, Dr. I. Stephen Brown (215) 735-3660 or visit him on the web at http://www.theperiogroup.com/. Find out if you are a candidate for dental implants Philadelphia today.
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