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dental-implant

Why Are Dental Implants Best For Tooth Replacement?

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Our teeth are one of the strongest body parts and are quite essential. They help us chew food, speak and provide good aesthetic value to our face. However, a natural set of teeth may be lost due to various reasons, like tooth decay or gum disease. These missing teeth must  be replaced, as they are responsible for some important functions.

Teeth made of ceramic or zirconia, are considered common options for replacement of missing teeth. However,  the most recent advancement in the world of dentistry is a dental implant, which are becoming widely popular.

What is a dental implant?

Natural teeth are made up of a visible portion known as the crown and lower portion known as the root. The roots of teeth are embedded into the jawbone and are not seen.

A dental implant also consists of parts similar to the natural tooth. The root portion of the dental implant is made up of titanium material, which is easily compatible with the jaw bone and strong enough to withstand chewing forces. Titanium has a special quality of fusing with the bone, which is known as ‘osseo-integration’.

Why dental implants?

The answer is simple. Dental implants function the same way as your real teeth. Instead of natural tooth roots, your tooth is held in with a titanium implant post that is surgically implanted in your jawbone. Over time, your jawbone heals in and around the titanium implant, through a process called osseo-integration. The strength of your jawbone, and your jaw’s ability to heal around the implant directly influences the strength and stability of the implant. Implants also have excellent stability. They provide optimal support and are very comfortable. Moreover, they are one of the most aesthetic tooth replacement options.

Who can get implants?

While living with missing teeth can be distressing and difficult, dental implant surgery is a completely comfortable procedure. It is minimally invasive and leaves little to no post-procedure discomfort. For most people, the placement process is very simple. In more complex cases, the procedure can span over several months. However, people with basic cases can  get same day dental implants. Thanks to advances in dentistry, same day dental implants are becoming more common. To see if you’re a candidate for treatment, you first have to get a complete dental examination. If you have a sufficient amount of jawbone, you can have the procedure at any time. If not, you will need to strengthen the bone with bone grafts, which can increase the cost of dental implants.

Implant placement procedure

Dental implant placement is a simple procedure. There are  3 basic steps.

Step 1

The first step is placing an implant post, or the root. It is fixed deep into the gums so that it can support the implant, just like the root of a natural tooth. It is a minor surgery and is done under local anaesthesia.  At this point your tooth may still appear missing, as the upper portion of the crown has not been replaced yet. A type of temporary cover prior to replacement is done for appearance, if required.

After this step is done, there is a waiting period for bone growth around the metal post. During this time, the process of jaw bone fusing to the implant material begins. This is known as osseo-integration.  During this process, the jawbone grows in and around the surface of the dental implant and locks it in place. The process can take several weeks or months. It will mainly provide strong support for the new artificial tooth.

Step 2

Your dentist will do a thorough assessment of the bone growth with the help of an x-ray or a CBCT and decide whether you are ready for the next step. Once the osseo-integration is complete, you will need to place the upper portion (support for the crown), known as the abutment. This is where the crown will eventually be  attached.

In some cases, the abutment is attached to the dental implant post when the post is implanted. That means you may skip this surgical step. Some people don’t like that appearance and prefer to have the abutment placed in a separate procedure.

Step 3

After the abutment is placed, your gums will adapt and heal around it. This will take another week or two.  Then the artificial tooth, matching the shade and colour of your other natural teeth, can be attached to the abutment. Your dentist may take certain measurements and impressions during the entire procedure. These impressions are mainly used to fabricate the crown of your implanted new tooth. The crown can’t be placed until your jawbone has enough strength to support the use of the new tooth.

At Bellevue Dental Health, we believe in providing the best services to give you a beautiful and healthy smile. You can discuss with our team to know the best tooth replacement options for you. Our surgeons are highly skilled and we promise you affordable and durable dental implants. Our aim is to create a healthy smile for you, that can help build the foundation for overall health and confidence. So, make a decision today to have a functionally sound smile.

Discover how cosmetic dentistry will enhance your appearance and self-confidence with us!

Request an appointment today at https://www.bellevuedentalhealth.com/ or by calling (425) 641-3311.

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Best Dental Implants in Bellevue

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If you live in Bellevue, on the Eastside, or even in Seattle, it helps to know which dentists can best help restore your smile… if need be.

If you need dental treatment, especially dental implants, it is important that you choose the right dentist in Bellevue. Dr. Libbi Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health is one premier dentist performing dental implants on the Eastside. She can work with you to restore lost teeth with dental implants. She also practices a full range of smile-enhancing general and cosmetic dentistry.

Dental implants are often the “go to” option if you have lost teeth due to injury, periodontal disease, or other reasons. At Bellevue Dental Health, Dr. Finnessy can replace your lost teeth through inserting dental implants, so that you can gain fresh confidence and restore normal tooth function.

But what is a dental implant? Well, a dental implant is a cylindrical tapered post made of titanium that works as a substitute for a tooth’s root.

A dental implant is then placed in the jawbone so that it can fuse with your natural bone and become a strong foundation for replacement teeth. Dental implants can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. Dental implants are the closest you can get to natural teeth.

Dental implants are often the best treatment for missing teeth when you are being treated by an experienced dentist, such as Dr. Finnessy. You may be eligible for dental implants if you:

  • Are in good general health;
  • Have one or more missing teeth;
  • Do not suffer from any chronic illness that can interfere with healing;
  • Have a jawbone that will support dental implants – otherwise, bone grafting may be needed in certain cases.

You should consult Dr. Finnessy at her Bellevue dental office. She will work with you based on your dental history, needs and goals, to determine if you are the right candidate for a dental implant. She will also help you determine which type of dental restoration is right for you.

Bellevue Dental Health believes in a treatment philosophy that is incredibly personalized and care-based. Dr. Finnessy is one of the best dental implant specialists in Bellevue. She treats your overall health and listens intently to your needs and concerns. She brings her unique warmth and sense of humor to even the most routine or complicated dental procedure, and dental implants are no exception.

Dr. Libbi Finnessy and her staff employ the latest technology to enhance the quality of your dental care. For example, they use a 3D scanner for making fast, precise digital dental impressions. With a 3D scanner, they can ensure that they insert dental implants that have an exceptionally well-planned and perfectly executed fit and finish.

The experienced team at Bellevue Dental Health have several years of combined experience in the dental field. They don’t just treat you as any other patient, but as a family member and friend. Dr. Finnessy cares for you as a whole person and not just as a number or a patient.

Dr. Libbi ensures that her office is not the typical, sterile space, but is a warm and welcoming environment, where patients feel comfortable, even as they undergo their dental implant procedure. So, if you need the best dental implants in Bellevue or on the Eastside, visit Dr. Finnessy at Bellevue Dental Health for the best treatment possible!

For more information about the best dental implants in Bellevue, contact Dr. Libbi Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health at 425-641-3311 or at contact@bellevuedentalhealth.com.

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Achieve a Beautiful Smile with Dental Veneers

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Everyone wants a beautiful smile. To have a beautiful smile, you need beautiful teeth. This is where dental veneers help. A dental veneer may be the reason you can have a dazzling smile. So, what is a dental veneer? Well, a dental veneer is a wafer-thin, custom-made shell of tooth colored material designed to cover the front surface of your teeth to improve their appearance.

These tooth like shells are bonded to the front of your teeth changing their color, shape, size, or length. Dental veneers are typically made from porcelain or from resin composite materials. Porcelain veneers resist stains better than resin veneers and reflect light off of your teeth better. In this article, we’ll talk at length about dental veneers and how they can help you achieve that million-dollar smile!

Dental veneers can fix a variety of problems. Some of them are:

  • Teeth that are discolored
  • Teeth that are worn down
  • Teeth that are chipped or broken
  • Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped
  • Teeth with gaps between them

Dental veneers offer a minimally invasive and straightforward technique to make your smile look more bright, natural, and healthy looking. If you are self-conscious or embarrassed about your teeth, you can take advantage of a dental veneer for that beautiful smile. However, dental veneers are strictly cosmetic procedures that restore your smile but do not affect the function and strength of your teeth.

Dental veneers can restore your smile without the need for any surgical procedures. This means that you do not need to resort to expensive, time-consuming, and invasive procedures while eliminating any associated risks or pain. Your veneers will look like real teeth enamel and will mimic their shine and translucent quality. These veneers have high stain-resistant properties as stain-causing substances slide off the smooth surface of the ceramic material.

Dental veneers require some caution but are durable are durable enough to last for years. They generally last from 7 to 15 years, after which they may need to be replaced. Dental veneers do not require any special care. You should continue to follow good oral hygiene practices, including brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash as you normally would.

The dental veneer procedure can be completed in about two visits to your dentist, over the course of about six weeks. The visits are comprehensive and may require several hours of examination and tooth preparation. Your dentist will typically administer a local anesthetic to make you comfortable. Your dentist will then prepare your natural tooth by minimally shaping it with a small, handheld rotational cutting device called a bur.

If your treatment involves direct composite resin veneers, your dentist will apply the appropriately shaded composite to your teeth, shape the material, and then harden it using a high intensity light. Your dentist may also apply additional layers of composite to build the veneer so that it is the correct shape, length, and form for your smile. When all composite is placed, the veneers will be finished and polished using burs and polishers to create a dazzling smile.

If your treatment involves porcelain veneers, your dentist will make an impression of your teeth from which a mold of your mouth will be made. This impression may then be sent to a dental laboratory where the veneers will be professionally fabricated.

At Bellevue Dental Health, we specialize in dental veneers. We work with each individual patient and create top-quality veneers that will suit their mouth and teeth. You can consult us for any questions or concerns you may have regarding dental veneers. We help restore your smile with carefully crafted dental veneers. So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us and restore your million-dollar smile…today!

For more information about dental veneers, contact Dr. Libbi Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health at 425-641-3311 or at info@bellevuedentalhealth.com.

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Dental Phobics: Ways To Ease Your Dental Fears

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Do you avoid going to the dentist until you absolutely have to? Do you tense at the thought of a cleaning appointment? Do you experience intense fear when in the dentist’s chair? If you’ve answered “Yes” to these questions, you are a dental phobic and let me try to help you.

Dental phobia is more common that you think. In fact, it is one of the top 10 fears that people experience. Some studies have concluded that 75 percent of people experience at least a little fear regarding dental visits and that 10 to 15 percent experience intense fear that prevents them from seeking dental treatment. Also, about 8% of Americans avoid dentists all together due to fear.

There are various reasons that patients can suffer from dental phobia. These could range from a bad dental experience you may have had as a child to a pre-existing anxiety disorder. It could also be due to a feeling of lack of control or a biological mechanism. The latter is because our ancestors had a deep-seated desire to protect their noses and mouths, as this helped them survive predators. We have evolved since then, but we still have that deep-seated desire to protect our mouths and noses.

So, what can be done about the dental phobia? Well, there are certain tried and trusted techniques that can help you cope with your fear. That’s what we’ll talk about in this article…

  1. Involve your dentist: The most important solution is to choose a dentist is who will listen to your fears then talk to them about a strategy to overcome it. They need to know that you suffer from dental phobia so that they can work with you to help you overcome your fear. We, at Bellevue Dental Health, listen to our patients who are dental phobic and ensure that we talk to them in detail about the treatment needed and do not rush them in any way. Visit us here.
  2. Acknowledge that you suffer from dental phobia: This is the first step on the way to overcoming your fear. You need to accept that you are afraid of dentists but acknowledge that there are friendly dentists that can help you!
  3. Seek professional help if you need it: If you have a mild anxiety disorder you can cope with it yourself. However, if you suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), you need professional help. This is especially the case if you are having dental implants, oral surgery or a more extensive dental treatment plan.
  4. Seek distraction when in the dentist’s chair: I have found that when I have patients listen to their favorite music while in the dentist’s chair or watch TV in the office, the distraction makes a huge difference. Try anything that will take your mind off the procedure.
  5. Try breathing and relaxation techniques: Doctors recommend relaxation techniques, such as controlled breathing, which means taking a long breath, holding it, and then releasing it very slowly. This will slow your heartbeat and relax your muscles. You can also try progressive muscle relaxation, which involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups in turn.
  6. Review with your dentist which sedatives are available and appropriate: The vast majority of patients I see with dental phobias do well with some TLC. However, for those that don’t, we can use other methods such as nitrous oxide, oral sedatives, or even intravenous sedation (with a specialist).
  7. Bring a family member or friend with you: Most patients go to dental appointments alone. However, if you bring a family member or friend with you, they can help distract you away from your fears. Knowing that someone is there waiting for you can help you cope with your dental phobia better.
  8. Use noise-cancelling headphones: With these headphones, you can cancel out all the noise in the dentist’s office that can cause anxiety. This can include the sound of a drill or any other instruments. This will help you in relaxing that tad bit more and help ease your fear.
  9. Visit a psychologist: If you still cannot overcome your dental phobia with these simple techniques, you may need to see a psychologist. The latter will provide specialized treatment and intervention to help you cope with your dental phobia.

 

So, now you know how to deal with dental phobia. It’s helpful to remember that you are not the only one suffering from dental phobia. There are many like you out there. So, do recognize that fact and work with your dentist to overcome your fear…Here’s to comfortable and fear-free dental visits!

For more information on dental phobia and how it can be overcome, contact Dr. Libby Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health at 425-641-3311 or at info@bellevuedentalhealth.com.

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Benefits of an Implant versus a Bridge

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I frequently talk with patients after they have had a tooth removed about their options to replace the gap. They don’t know whether to pursue an implant or a dental bridge. The most common questions they have are “what is the best option and which is the most expensive?” Since these are so commonly asked I thought it would help to answer these questions as well as the benefits of an implant versus a bridge here.

What exactly are Dental Implants?

Definition: A dental implant is a titanium screw that is placed into the jaw bone and allowed to fuse for several months before a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, or denture prosthesis is later placed . The biggest benefits of an implant is that more tooth structure can be preserved with the usage of implants since the adjacent teeth are not drilled.

Advantages Disadvantages
Adjacent teeth are not affected Minor surgery required
Does not decay Minor surgery required
Reliable, aesthetic More expensive
Doesn’t develop gum disease Healing time required before permanent teeth replacement.

 

Implants are a good option if you have lost teeth due to an injury or decay. Your dentist will wait a process called as osseo integration, to form an intimate bond between the titanium used and surrounding bone and this is the reason we have to wait. The success rate of dental implants is very high and they are commonly done in many dental and surgical offices.

 

Now, Dental Bridges-

Definition: These bridges are used to bridge the gap between one or more missing teeth. It gets its support from natural teeth or the implants on either side. It is made of two or more crowns for the teeth on each part of the gap. The anchoring and the false teeth that lie in between are called as abutment teeth and pontics respectively.

Advantages Disadvantages
Functional, predictable Requires enamel removal of adjacent teeth
Less costly Adjacent teeth’ crowns must be redone
Less time for final results Root canal required if nerves are affected
  Potential problem of tooth decay
  Gum disease can develop
  Lesser longevity than dental implants

 

Types of Dental Bridges

 

Traditional bridges

These are made of either ceramic or porcelain material fused to metal. This bridge is created by a crown for the tooth or by implants on either side of the gap, and the pontic (false teeth) lies in between.

Maryland bonded bridges

The false tooth is fused to the metal bands that are bonded to the abutment teeth with a resin which is hidden from view. This resin bonded bridge is made of porcelain fused to metal or plastic teeth supported by a metal framework. The pre-existing teeth on both the sides of the gap are bonded to the metal or porcelain made wings on the bridge. These bridges are often used in the areas of your mouth that are under less stress such as your front teeth.

Cantilever bridges

These are an excellent solution when traditional bridges can’t be used. These bridges are most often used when abutment teeth are located on only one side of the missing tooth or in areas of the mouth that are under a lot of stress. The layout is different even though this bridge uses the same number of dental crowns.

 

Implant vs Bridge

Key Aspects Implant Bridge
How long does it last? 15+ years 5-7 years
Long-term dental health Little to no bone/gum loss Some bone/gum loss
Oral Hygiene maintenance Brush & Floss normally Needs special floss & brush
Appearance matters Best Possible Aesthetics Very Natural in appearance

 

The final verdict is implants have a very high long-term success rate. But unique situations call for a choice between the two (and every patient is unique), for which you would need to consult your dentist. I hope this review has been helpful.

 

For more details on the benefits of implants versus dental bridges, feel free to contact me Dr. Libby Finnessy of Bellevue Dental Health at 425-641-3311 or at info@bellevuedentalhealth.com.