Thursday, March 23, 2017

The Benefits of Dental Implants

Here at Bertagnolli Dental, we regularly help patients suffering from tooth loss and want to share with you the benefits of dental implants. People usually choose to get dental implants if they have one or more missing teeth. The implants are anchored to the jawbone itself, so they have a solid foundation and are fully functional replacements for your natural teeth. The practical and aesthetic benefits of implants make them a very attractive solution for anybody who has lost teeth.

The most obvious benefit of a dental implant is that it can drastically improve your smile. When people lose teeth due to injury or accidents, it is often the front teeth that are knocked out. This can leave an obvious and embarrassing gap. People with obviously missing teeth often end up smiling less, hiding their teeth and losing confidence. A dental implant is almost impossible to distinguish from a real tooth. With a completely natural looking implant, you can smile with confidence!

The sheer strength of a dental implant is another one of their key benefits. Implants are made from a material with the same durability as your natural enamel. This means that you don't have to restrict the types of food you eat. Many people with missing teeth, especially if they don't have all their molars, will avoid tough foods that need chewing, simply because they can't break them down effectively with their remaining teeth. An implant allows you to eat everything that you would eat with your natural teeth, meaning you can choose your food freely.

Dental implants can help prevent osteoporosis in both men and women. Osteoporosis is the gradual loss of bone density as we age. One way to combat osteoporosis is to ensure you are getting exercise and putting your bones to work with weight bearing activity. Without a full set of teeth, it is difficult to chew strongly. The jaw is one of the first places hit by osteoporosis. With dental implants firmly anchored in your jawbone, you will be able to chew better and give your jaw the resistance training it needs to keep strong for years to come.

Dental implants can play a part in improving the shape of your face and slowing down the signs of aging. When you are missing teeth near the front of your mouth, your lips don't have anything to rest against, and they start to fold inwards. Filling out the empty space in your mouth with dental implants means your face will retain its youthful structure. The muscle and skin of your cheeks and mouth need a full set of teeth to stretch over if they are to look their very best.

If you are suffering from the practical and aesthetic difficulties relating to missing teeth, there is a solution. Now that you know the benefits of dental implants, the next step is to book a consultation with your dentist to discuss your options. For more information, you're welcome to contact us here at Bertagnolli Dental. Let us help you restore your health and your smile with dental implants.

Friday, March 3, 2017

Tips for Managing Your Child's Dentist Anxiety

Bertagnolli Dental has put together some tips for managing your child's dentist anxiety and ensuring they have a positive experience. At our offices, we see many children and their parents for dental check-ups and procedures. A significant percentage of children do not look forward to their visit to the dentist. Usually, their anxiety disappears during the actual visit, but it can be stressful for parents and kids to deal with tears and meltdowns in the lead-up to a visit. So, let’s see if these tips do the trick: 
  1. Lead by example. If parents have dental anxiety, this can often be picked up by children and internalized. If you do dislike going to the dentist, try not to show this to your kids. Make sure you lead by example regarding dental hygiene and regularly visiting the dentist. When children see their parents doing this without a problem, they are more likely to accept it as a normal part of life, and not something they should be afraid of.
  2. Create positive associations. By this, we do not mean bribing your kids to got to the dentist. Creating positive associations with dentist visits is something you can do consistently as your child grows up. Start by reading them books about going to the dentist where the main character has a positive experience. Make an effort to tell your kids about their family members and friends going to the dentist and the positive results they have experienced (a healthy mouth, strong teeth, beautiful smile, no more toothache, etc.). If you ever talk about going to visit the dentist in terms of a punishment or a threat, this will quickly create a negative association and teach your child to fear the dentist.
  3. Go to a family dentist. A pediatric or family dental clinic will have plenty of experience in working with the kids and will often be more sensitive to their needs. Visiting a family focused dentist can make all the difference to your child's attitude. The presence of toys, other kids, and fun distractions during procedures can put their mind at ease. A pediatric dentist will also be able to provide suitable sedation for children if required.
  4. Start young and keep up with appointments. Hopefully, your child's first visit to the dentist was before their first birthday. Usually, the first tooth will appear when your baby is between six months and one year old. Starting their visits to the dentist at this age and then following up every six months will get your child accustomed to the routine and procedures of the dentist appointment early. Leaving too much time between visits can allow the child to forget the reality of the dentist and let anxiety to grow.
Often, children who suffer from dental anxiety carry this into their adult life, where it can have a serious impact on their oral health. Starting them off with healthy habits and routines at a young age will pay off in the long run. If you have any questions about these tips for managing your child's dentist anxiety, do not hesitate to contact us here at Bertagnolli Dental in Westminster, Colorado.