Dental Implants – You & Your Surgeon. Why That’s Best.

For some dental patients the idea of a ‘one stop shop’ might seem appealing, but before you make that decision, here are some things to think about:

1. “Specialists have a place in the dental community,” says Dr. Judith Ko, your Hemet Valley, CA Top Dentist in the Inland Empire. “While general dentists see a few patients a week or month needing specialized care, your dental specialist sees that type of patient every day and all day. Consequently, they are much better at handling the challenges that may arise.”

2. Implants are an amazing service provided to a patient to replace missing teeth. Generally speaking finding the right surgeon to work with your general dentist is the best option for you as a patient – it allows you to benefit from the surgeon who has significant experience placing implants and the general dentist who is the most appropriate to restore the implant. Also having two dentists discuss placement and agree on treatment is always in a patient’s best interest for a final outcome.

3. While many times the placement of an implant seems easy and straight forward, there is more to it than that. “Implants are often recommended to replace missing teeth that may have been lost due to damage or decay,” adds Dr. Ko. This means the implant site might have reduced bone due to infection. This presents a special challenge. When bone is lost, tissue may also be affected and so the need for bone and tissue grafting may become part of the treatment. Using a specialist who frequently handles tissue, means that they understand the desired outcome of a healthy smile and they know how to make that happen.

If you are considering an implant, call us today for a consultation and let us help you repair the smile you love.

Are Implant Supported Teeth Right for You?

While the vast majority of taste buds reside on the tongue a few are located in the soft palate. These are the ones that are affected by a traditional denture. For many, the choice to remove their teeth and go to removable dentures is done after careful consideration, for others there is a feeling that I will do this and get it done and then I won’t have to worry about my teeth again.

“That thought isn’t quite true,” says Dr. Judith Ko from her Hemet Cosmetic and General Dental Practice. Extracting all the teeth and placing a denture does take care of the immediate problems of your teeth, but our mouths are always changing and this means that in a few years, your denture may no longer fit.

For some the change to an upper removable denture is easy, but a good number more miss the taste of foods they used to enjoy. A conventional denture uses suction for stabilization and so the palate is covered. For others the bone that is used to support the denture is inadequate and results in an unstable denture that moves when speaking or eating favorite foods.

An implant supported denture is a good solution to these problems. When implants are used to support the denture stability can be gained without the need for suction, so the palate can be open and allow for the enjoyment of food.

If you are suffering with a denture you are unhappy with, call today and begin the process to see if you are a candidate for an implant supported denture.

Re-Considering Dental Implants

Over the years, dental implants have gained in popularity. It’s easy to understand why. A dental implant is placed into bone and, once integrated, will provide stable support for individual teeth or even dentures. But for some they may have been told they were not candidates.

“Years ago, a number of contra-indications kept some patients from having access to dental implants,” says Dr. Judith Ko from her Hemet Valley, California Cosmetic and GeneralDental Practice, “but things have changed since then and perhaps it’s time to discuss dental implants with your dentist again.”

Recently there have been significant changes, not only to the implants themselves, but also in the techniques and designs that allow many patients previously unable to consider implants to enjoy the stability they provide. “If you once had thought about implants only to learn you were not a candidate, perhaps it’s time you revisit the issue with your dentist,” adds Dr. Ko, “You might find that a dental implant could be a possibility.”

For example, not long ago, diabetics were not considered good candidates for implants. Now the consensus is that controlled diabetics can many times find success with implants, as can patients who previously had radiation therapy and those who it was felt did not have enough bone to work with.

One of the best reasons to re-consider dental implants is the success rate of implants. “Dental implants can provide people with improved enjoyment of food, better digestive health and a lovely appearance,” says Dr. Ko. Find out today if you might now be a candidate for a dental implant.