You probably have heard of dental implants. They’re among the most versatile equipment available to restorative dentist practices, such as Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry. They come handy in replacing missing teeth and restoring a natural, healthy smile. This is vital because gaps can cause a shift in the rest of your teeth. They can also result in severe bite issues from crooked teeth.

But the question is what is a dental implant made of? What do we mean by dental implant materials? Let’s explore what makes up the best dental implant materials used in today’s dental implant world.

For so many years, virtually all dental implants were derived from one material called titanium. But with the advent of technology, more and more dental implants are now made from different dental implant materials. These materials have seen extensive research, critically considering the physical and chemical properties that affect their clinical applications. Such properties include the microstructure and the surface composition of an implant. Preferably, dental implant materials should appear biocompatible. They should also be resistant to both corrosion and fracturing.
Dental implant materials can consist of titanium or zirconium material design. Notwithstanding the dental implant materials, they must be sturdy and robust. The strength of the dental implant materials and its design must remain compatible with physical property.

Below are the common types of dental implant materials used in making dental implants today.

1. Titanium dental implant materials - Made from metal, Titanium is regarded as the most common type of dental implant materials. Its great characteristic was discovered in 1950. During this time, findings show that implants made from titanium metal allow the bone to grow aright. That is, when placed in contact with the bone and is not disturbed; the bone will grow next to them. This will, in turn, create a permanent affinity.
   
   From the time of this discovery, titanium dental implant materials have been the most sought-after implants. It provides long-lasting results, and the cost is very reasonable. It remains one of the best dental implant materials of all times.
   
   
2. Zirconia dental implant materials - In contrast to titanium, zirconia is a recent invention. It is regarded as the most promising future of dental implant materials. Zirconia dental implant materials saw full abutment uses in the early 1990s. But during this time, titanium implant materials were still in vogue.
   
   It was not until 2003 that coralroot released the first dental implant materials-based all-in-one crown. Although they are relatively new, zirconia dental implant materials are rising in popularity.
   

As discussed earlier, the two primary dental implant materials are titanium and zirconia. Each of these two dental implant materials has their unique features.

For instance, titanium has been tested and provided a high success rate in both medical and dental procedures. Its versatility set it apart from the zirconia. As a metal, titanium has been the first choice in all forms of bone and plate implant. Millions of patients have reaped the benefits of titanium.

Below are reasons why titanium remains better than zirconia as the most efficient dental implant materials in history.

• Titanium dental implant materials and its designs can be produced in a two piece system. These are, a separate abutment sitting atop the implant and connecting to the replacement tooth. The other is a post that is surgically implanted in the bone. The zirconia doesn’t have this capability. Instead, it is manufactured as a single piece.
  
• Again, titanium is the best dental implant materials because it is biocompatible. This means it is right and closely matched the human body. It can also fuse with the human bone.
  
• The two pieces system allows for a customizable implant that solves low bone deficiencies. This means you can still have a pleasant smile even if you are experiencing bone loss.
  
• However, the zirconia dental implant materials combine both post and abutment into making one unit. This reduces the fear of bacteria hiding and affecting the gum. Despite this good advantage, zirconia dental implant materials and their ceramic designs are not fully appreciated yet. This is because it has not been around for too long. So, unlike the titanium dental implant materials, it hasn’t seen any tests yet.      
  

If you are still not sure what dental implant materials to use, we can help you. At Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, we can take you through the pros and cons. Call us at (971) 462-9800.

There are times when teeth need to be extracted. For instance, if your teeth are suffering from massive decay, it has to be extracted and repaired using crowns. Now, this might have got you wondering; what are dental crowns?

Dental crowns, which are also known as caps are used for covering misshapen or decayed teeth. They are very helpful in restoring the tooth size, shape, and proper functioning.  Dental crowns have the power to restore the beauty of your decayed or chipped teeth through the process of placing porcelain, a metal shell, or gold over the affected tooth or teeth. However, like your teeth, taking care of your crowns is very essential, if you want it to stay healthy and functional for years to come.

At Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, we just don’t take care of your teeth; we take care of your smile also. Quality oral health is critical to your overall health and your sense of self-confidence. We can help you: call us at (972) 462-9800.

If you are visiting us for the first time at Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, the help we render in taking care of your crowns will include an examination of your tooth, creating its impression, and where necessary, placing a temporary crown. A temporary crown is to help in preserving the tooth until placement of a permanent crown is complete.

Typically, the process will take 2 to 3 weeks to complete a turn-around time. This temporary crown needs to be cared for with all due diligence. Here are tips to ensure you are taking care of your crowns.

1. Stay away from any chewy food, such as caramels or chewing gums. This will ensure your temporary crowns remain undamaged and in good shape for the time being.
   
2. Try as much as possible to reduce your chewing force on the temporary crown. It is an excellent method to prolong the longevity of your dental crown.
   
3. When it comes to a temporary dental crown, one way to ensure you are taking care of your crowns is to avoid eating hard food. Such foods are capable of breaking your temporary dental crown as well as limiting its long life.  
   
4. Ensure thorough and regular cleaning of your gums, as they have the potential of becoming sore after completion of the treatment.
   
5. A workable method of taking care of your crowns is by carefully using dental floss. When doing this, try as much as possible to slide it gently, and never lift it out with force.
   
   

If you have a broken dental crown, we have the means and expertise to help in taking care of your crowns. Contact your dentist at Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry (972) 462-9800, and our professional dentist will do more for you in taking care of your crowns than what a dental adhesive in pharmacy can do to help you. Taking care of your crowns temporarily also means you will have to remove it when going to sleep.

After we have provided you with a final crown at Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, we strongly advise you follow the same rules mentioned earlier when taking care of your crowns temporarily. This is more important during the first period after the placement. That is, you should avoid eating or chewing hard object, refrain from biting with force, use floss and brush your teeth gently. During the week, make sure you rinse your mouth with warm and salted water. If you feel any form of hypersensitivity after the procedure, get yourself some over-the-counter pain relievers, especially if a tooth below the crown has a nerve, which will cause you to feel sensitivity towards cold or hot for a while.

At Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, we recommend some rules you can follow to ensure you are permanently taking care of your crowns after recovery. Here they are:

1. Oral hygiene - When taking care of your crowns, you have to understand that every dental crown comes with an edge where it meets with the tooth. At Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry (972) 462-9800, we try everything necessarily to ensure that this edge is smooth, but it is practically impossible to keep it perfectly smooth. Therefore, ensure this area of your dental crown and tooth is thoroughly cleaned to prevent the development of any potential gum or cavity disease. To ensure you are taking care of your crowns in this regard, do the following:
   
    - Brush your teeth two times every day, using fluoride toothpaste.
    - Then floss them with solid floss.
    - After that, use interdental cleaners to take out any plaque
   
   Are you prone to developing cavities? Visit your dentist at Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry (972) 462-9800, and we will provide you a unique, top-quality fluoride gel that you can use during the night to prevent the teeth from decaying.  
   
   
2. Reduce biting force - We have mentioned this before, but we have to repeat it because, dental crowns are not as durable as your regular healthy teeth. Therefore, it is good that you avoid biting fingernails and hard objects to ensure you are taking good care of your crowns and prolonging their lifespan. Another thing you will have to stop doing is teeth grinding or bruxism.
   
   Sometimes, you may be advised to use a safety night guard during sleep. You may also need them to protect your dental crowns during sports activities. Guards will also to help generally in taking care of your crowns.

Like bridges, dental crowns are made to last. And with proper care, you can enjoy every bit of the restoration process for a lifetime. That is what we are committed to do. We can assist you in taking care of your crown through regular check-ups. At Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, we will assess your dental crown and underlying structure of the tooth for any sign of damage. This gives us the ability to stop any possible problems from arising. It doesn’t stop there. We will also be able to clean the area thoroughly, using advanced technology—something you cannot get at home. We are proficient in providing the best and most innovative means for taking care of your crowns.

We can help you to smile again. Call Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry today at (972) 462-9800 for more information on taking care of your crowns.

There are both surgical and non-surgical gum disease therapy options. The type of treatment you need depends on the level of your gum disease. Non-surgical gum disease therapy options are best for those in the early stages of gum disease. That is because these therapy options are not as invasive, which becomes necessary when gum disease gets more advanced. If you struggle with early signs of gum disease, you should come in and check out what non-surgical gum disease therapy options we offer.

There are a few procedures that fall under the umbrella of non-surgical gum disease therapy options. The main one that people get when gum disease becomes apparent is called scaling and root planing. Basically, this is a super deep cleaning of every tooth in your mouth. We use electronic scalers and get all of the plaque off of your teeth, both above and below the gum line. This helps leave the tooth much cleaner than when the process started.

Once the scaling is done, we take specialized tools and clean off the roots of your teeth. This involves us opening up the gaps between your teeth and your gums with miniature tools. We then smooth off the surface of the tooth, all the way down the root of the tooth. This leaves a smoother surface for the gums to adhere to. Once the process is done, it allows for the gums to reattach to the teeth more firmly. This helps repair much of the damage done by early-stage gum disease.

We also make sure to get all of the bacteria out of the pockets between your teeth and your gums. This helps to restore the health of your mouth, and push back the gum disease. We may also prescribe antibiotics to help with your recovery, since they will keep bacteria levels down. With proper treatment, you can rid your mouth of gum disease and restore your overall oral health. The longer gum disease goes untreated, the worse the effects of it become. By getting non-surgical gum disease treatment right away, you improve your chances of a full recovery.

Another aspect of non-surgical gum disease therapy is putting medication in your mouth to aid in killing off the diseased bacteria. We do a careful job at ridding your mouth of bacteria during scaling and root planing. However, that is not all that we can do to help. We can also apply medication directly to your gums to help kill off anything else that may be alive in or directly on your gums.

How we get the medication where it is necessary is with the use of trays. They are trays that fit over your teeth, and you wear them for a bit of time. The trays are filled with medication prior to going in your mouth. As the trays sit, the medication interacts with your gums, killing off any bacteria left on your gums. This helps kill off any diseased bacteria still trying to call your mouth home. Plus, it also helps your gums heal since it keeps the levels of bacteria so low. The length of time you have to wear the trays depends on how severe your gum disease is when we prescribe them. We will discuss specifics with you, depending on what your mouth needs to get healthy.

There are a few things that we want to make sure you know when it comes to non-surgical gum disease therapy. First, scaling and root planing can be slightly uncomfortable, but most would not say it is painful. However, we never ask you to go through it without any type of anesthesia. We can numb up your mouth before the procedure begins, so you do not feel any discomfort at all. Then, we recommend a few doses of over the counter pain relievers in the first 24 hours after the procedure is over. This is often all anyone needs to remain comfortable as they heal.

Second, the process takes a little bit of time to heal completely. Since we have to open the gaps between your teeth and gums, it takes a little bit of time for them to re-adhere. During this time, we ask that you be very careful and vigilant on keeping up with your oral hygiene routine. This means that you need to brush as we direct you to, at least two times a day. Plus, we want you to keep up with flossing. We will make sure you understand the importance of these before you go home from the procedure. We may also prescribe an antibacterial mouthwash for you to use as part of your oral hygiene routine.

Finally, for most people, getting these types of non-surgical gum disease therapy is enough to stop gum disease in its tracks. You will likely not need further treatment for gum disease if it was caught early. However, we will need to see you to maintain your overall health and make sure that your gum disease is staying away.

When you notice the first signs of gum disease, reach out to us. We want to see you at the very first sign. For some that is noticing their gums are red and puffy, while for others that means noticing a bit of bleeding when they brush. Call our office and talk to us about what is going on. If we hear things that sound like gum disease in your list of symptoms, we will have you come in for an exam and subsequent non-surgical gum disease treatment when necessary. We want your mouth as healthy as you do!

It is time to make sure that you get your gum disease under control. The sooner you get it under control, the less damage it can do. Reach out to us here at Walker Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, by calling (972)462-9800. We can get you started with non-surgical gum disease therapy right away.