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Dental implants are a popular and effective option for replacing missing teeth. They are a long-term solution that can help restore your smile and improve your oral health. However, to ensure that your dental implants last for a long time, proper care and maintenance are essential. Keep reading as we are going to discuss some of the top tips on how to properly take care of your dental implants.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small metal posts or frames that are surgically inserted into the jawbone beneath the gum line. Once the implant is in place, it fuses with the jawbone and provides a stable base for a replacement tooth or teeth. The replacement teeth, which can be a crown, bridge, or denture, are attached to the implant using an abutment connector.

They are considered a long-term solution for replacing missing teeth because they provide many benefits, including improved oral health, speech, chewing ability, and a more natural-looking smile. Dental implants also help prevent bone loss in the jaw, which can occur when a tooth is missing. They are typically recommended for people who have lost one or more teeth due to injury, decay, or other oral health issues.

Now that we know what dental implants are, here are ways to properly take care of them:

1. Brush and Floss Regularly

The golden rule for keeping up with your oral health, especially if you have dental implants, is brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. To properly maintain them, brush your teeth twice daily, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Floss your teeth at least once a day, making sure to clean between your dental implants and natural teeth.

2. Use an Antibacterial, Dentist Approved Mouthwash

Using an antibacterial mouthwash can significantly help reduce the risk of infection and keep your mouth clean. Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash at least once a day. While there are plenty of options to choose from, make sure to consult with your dentist for the right mouthwash to utilize. Using the wrong type of mouthwash has the potential to seriously harm your teeth, gums, and teeth implants.

3. Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods

Dental implants are designed to be highly durable but not indestructible. Avoid hard or sticky foods that can damage or dislodge your implants. Also, avoid biting on complex objects, such as pens or pencils. General hard and sticky foods to involve when you have dental implants include:

Hard candies
Chewing on ice
Popcorn
Sticky candy, like taffy or caramel
Nuts and seeds
Hard bread and bagels

4. Schedule Regular Dental Check-ups

Aside from brushing and flossing your teeth, regular dental check-ups are one of the most important steps to take in ensuring that your dental implants are in the best possible condition. SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT with your dentist at least twice a year for a routine dental exam and cleaning. Twice a year is the general recommendation for patients; however, make sure to consult with your dentist to develop a personalized treatment plan designed for your specific condition.

5. Quit Smoking

If you have dental implants, it is important to quit smoking to avoid potential problems that can compromise the health and longevity of your implants. Smoking can increase the risk of implant failure and a variety of oral health problems that can affect the success of your implant surgery. Here are some reasons why quitting smoking is crucial for dental implant success:

Reduced Blood Flow
Increased Risk of Infection:
Delayed Healing
Gum Disease

6. Wear a Mouthguard

Take the necessary steps to protect your implants from damage and preserve their longevity by wearing a mouthguard. Here are some reasons why a mouthguard is essential for patients that have dental implants:

Protection During Sports: If you participate in sports or other physical activities, wearing a mouthguard can help protect your dental implants from impact and prevent them from becoming dislodged or damaged.
Bruxism: Patients with this condition can put excessive pressure on your dental implants and cause them to shift or become damaged over time. Wearing a mouthguard at night can help prevent this type of damage.
Implant Stability: A mouthguard can help support the stability of your dental implants by reducing the stress and pressure placed on them during daily activities.

Signs That You May Need a Dental Implant?

Determining whether or not you need dental implants can only be determined by a professional dentist. However, there are many signs that you may need dental implants, including the following:

Missing Teeth

If you are missing one or more teeth, a dental implant may be a good option for restoring your smile. Dental implants can replace individual teeth or support dental bridges or dentures.

Difficulty Chewing or Speaking

Missing teeth can make it difficult to chew food properly or speak clearly, affecting your overall quality of life. A dental implant can help restore normal chewing and speech function.

Gum Disease

You may be at risk of tooth loss if you have advanced gum disease. In this case, a dental implant may be necessary to replace missing teeth and restore oral health.

Bone Loss

When a tooth is lost, the bone tissue in the jaw can deteriorate over time. This can weaken the surrounding teeth and affect the stability of dental bridges or dentures. A dental implant can help prevent bone loss and provide a stable foundation for replacement teeth.

Uneven Bite

If you have an uneven bite due to missing teeth, a dental implant can help restore proper alignment and improve your overall oral health.

Contact Beautiful Smiles Dental Center for Dental Implants Today

If you’re in Palos Park, IL, and are considering dental implants, Beautiful Smiles is a leading choice for your dental needs. Their team of experienced and skilled professionals offers a wide range of dental implant services to help restore your smile and improve your oral health. They use state-of-the-art technology and techniques to ensure you receive the best possible treatment, and their compassionate approach to care ensures you feel comfortable and well-cared for throughout your visit. Beautiful Smiles is here to help. Schedule a consultation online today and take the first step toward a healthier, more attractive smile.

Dental Implants Vs Dental Root Canals

Benefits of Dental Implants in Gurnee, IL

At Beautiful Smiles Dental Center in Gurnee, Illinois we want to provide the facts to make the most informed decision possible. Dental implants in Gurnee, IL have significant advantages; here are a few:

Dental Implants Provide A Natural Look

Even though you do not keep your natural tooth, that doesn’t mean you lose a genuine smile. At Beautiful Smiles, we take pride and care in our work; your dentist will carefully remove the affected tooth, match the new implant with the color of your other teeth, and fit it in properly.

Functions Like a Real Tooth

Scared about not being able to eat the foods you love or having your implant affect the way you talk? With dental implants, you will have peace of mind knowing it is just like any other tooth. After being properly placed by Beautiful Smiles, your dental implant will act and perform as if it were a real tooth!

Dental Implants Last a Long Time

Root canals last a long time, there is no doubt about it, but one of the main advantages of dental implants is that they last much longer. With proper dental care and constant check-ups, dental implants have a low failure rate that can last decades.

Root Canal vs Dental Implants in Gurnee, IL

When you come to see us at Beautiful Smiles, you won’t need to make this decision on your own. We will examine the affected tooth or teeth and then help you decide if a root canal or a dental implant is best for you. Each patient is unique, and things like budget, other dental issues, and preferences influence your decision. With years of experience treating all types of tooth-related problems, you can trust the team at Beautiful Smiles to guarantee that you are given the best care. Whether you choose a dental implant or a root canal, we at Beautiful Smiles can help.

Contact Beautiful Smiles Dental Center for Dental Root Canal Treatments in Chicago (Gurnee, IL)

The dentists at Beautiful Smiles are highly experienced in root canal procedures and are on hand to provide you with advice and an expert diagnosis for your tooth pain. You can contact us by phone or by scheduling an appointment through our website.

Tooth extraction is the only alternative to root canal procedures. After a tooth extraction, the patient will either have a denture, bridge or dental implant fitted to fill the gap left by the extracted tooth. While this process is sometimes beneficial, it’s normally true that a dental root canal treatment:

Is more affordable than fitting dental implants
Requires less treatment sessions/shorter procedures
Doesn’t rely on additional treatments to other teeth/tissue
Preserves natural teeth
Treats infection

The most beneficial treatment procedures will be all depends on the patient; it’s better to discuss all your options with a dentist before having dental treatments & procedures.

Dental Root Canal Procedures in Gurnee, IL

If the idea of root canal treatment makes you uneasy, you’re not alone. Many people have a fear of the dentist, especially when they require more extensive treatment than a simple dental exam. Root canals are a dreaded treatment for many, but often for unfounded reasons! You may be surprised to learn what’s fact and what’s fiction about this common dental treatment, and just how important it can be for good dental health. It’s time to explore many elements of root canal treatment, debunk some myths and take a closer look at the key treatment advantages, to hopefully put your mind at ease if the time ever comes for you to have root canal procedures in Gurnee, IL.

Root Canal Procedures – What to Expect

Knowing what to expect from any dental treatment you need can make the procedure much less worrying – you may find that a root canal isn’t as scary as you once imagined! A person may require a root canal if one or more of their teeth are infected or seriously decayed. The main aim of the procedure is to remove pulp and nerve tissue from the root canal, which is a cavity inside the tooth. Removing damaged pulp and nerve tissue stops bacteria multiplying and the infection spreading to other tissue.

During the procedure, the dentist will create a hole in the tooth and remove the damaged contents of the root canal. They’ll carefully clean the cavity using specialist files and get rid of any remaining debris. Once the cavity is clean, they’ll seal the tooth with a temporary filling. The procedure may then be followed by restoration work to fit a permanent crown or filling.

Root Canal Procedures – Who’s Involved?

You don’t need to worry about a crowded room during root canal treatment, as the whole procedure normally only requires a dentist/endodontist, dental assistant and sometimes a dental technician – and the patient, of course.

The dentist/endodontist performs the majority of the work on the patient’s teeth during a root canal, which normally takes either one or two appointments. They’ll take x-rays, apply the anesthesia, create the access hole, remove the damaged pulp, clean the cavity and seal it. After the procedure, the dentist will discuss options for restoration and any further dental work the patient needs. A dental assistant can have many responsibilities during a root canal procedure, including assisting the dentist before, during and after the treatment. If a patient requires dental crowns in Gurnee,IL, then a dental technician will normally make them.

Dental Root Canal Treatment Myths

The concern that many patients have about root canal treatment is often the result of having heard one or more of the large number of myths surrounding the procedure. Here are three common myths, and why they shouldn’t have an impact on your decision to have a root canal:

Myth One: Root Canal Treatment Leads to Illnesses

The primary research that suggests root canal treatment can result in illnesses like heart disease and arthritis is around a century old. No modern or valid evidence exists to prove that root canals are the cause of any illnesses or disease.

Myth Two: The Results After a Root Canal Don’t Last

Root canal treatment can be a very long-lasting way to remedy the serious problem of irritated, inflamed and decaying pulp and nerve in a tooth. While it’s true that the treatment sometimes doesn’t last as long as patients expect, this is normally due to the restoration treatment being ineffective, rather than because of the root canal treatment.

Myth Three: Root Canals Are Only Performed on Painful Teeth

A dentist may advise root canal treatment if a person is experiencing severe tooth pain, but also on occasions where the patient is feeling no pain at all. If a dentist discovers that a tooth is dead during an exam, they might suggest root canal treatment in order to prevent infection.

Who Is Qualified to Perform Dental Root Canal Procedures?

For root canal treatment, you’ll either need to visit a dentist or an endodontist, both of whom are fully qualified to perform the procedure. An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in endodontic treatment, such as root canals, dental implants, endodontic surgery and endodontic retreatment.

Endodontists have the same training as dentists, plus extra training in diagnosis and treatment for problems that affect the tooth interior. The expert knowledge that endodontists have of dental pulp and their experience performing root canals using cutting-edge technology means that patients are often referred to them for difficult root canal procedures.

Is Dental Root Canal Treatment Painful?

Another common root canal treatment myth is that the treatment is painful. It’s very easy to understand why so many people believe this to be true, as some aspects of the treatment – like drilling the access hole – sound like they would cause a lot of pain. While once upon a time root canal treatment would have been very painful, modern advancements in dental techniques and resources have virtually eliminated all pain from the procedure. Today, dentists can easily manage pain using anesthesia and the sensations during the procedure are often no more uncomfortable than what you’d experience when having a filling.

Benefits of a Root Canal in Gurnee, IL

Choosing a procedure that will make any changes to your teeth is a big decision, and there are a variety of factors to consider before investing in one or the other, such as money, lasting-effects, and pain. At Beautiful Smiles, we care about the facts, so here are a few of the advantages of choosing a Root Canal:

You Don’t Lose Your Original Tooth

We want to do whatever we can to keep your teeth shining brighter than ever, and we want to keep your original teeth to do that. A root canal’s main benefit is that you don’t lose your teeth, unlike a dental implant that completely removes and replaces the tooth.

You may still need a crown to fix any significant tooth decay, but this procedure gives you a more natural look without having to make substantial changes to the structure of your smile.

Less Invasive

As a root canal preserves some of the natural teeth and only takes away what it needs to, root canals are the way to go if you want to avoid a more painful and longer treatment. Yes, that means no yanking or pulling out your teeth, a big plus.

Easier on the Wallet

Depending on your particular case, in most situations, a root canal is more cost-effective. Of course, if your insurance completely or partially covers your dental, this may not seem like a big issue, but saving money is always music to the ears.

Shorter Time in The Dentist’s Chair

It’s not uncommon that a trip to the dentists isn’t everybody’s piece of the pie, so extended treatment options like dental implants may seem unflattering. Root canal procedures take less time, and if a permanent crown is needed, then there is always the option for a temporary one while you wait.

Benefits of Dental Implants in Gurnee, IL

As we mentioned before, we want to give you all of the facts to make the most informed decision possible. Dental implants in Gurnee, IL also hold significant advantages; here are a few:

A Natural Look

Functions Like a Real Tooth

Dental Implants Last a Long Time

Root Canal vs Dental Implants in Gurnee, IL

Contact Beautiful Smiles Dental Center for Dental Root Canal Procedures & Dental Implants in Gurnee, IL

If you would like to learn more about root canal treatment in Chicago or book an appointment with a dentist to discuss whether a root canal is the right choice to relieve your tooth pain, get in touch with Beautiful Smiles Dental Center in Gurnee IL.The dentists at Beautiful Smiles are highly experienced in root canal procedures and are on hand to provide you with advice and an expert diagnosis for your tooth pain. You can contact us by phone or by scheduling an appointment through our website.