Cosmetic dentistry focuses on how your teeth are affecting your confidence. With Steven C. Hewett, DDS, in Champions Gate, FL, you can share your dental goals and our team will work together towards the right treatment for your needs.
What Is Included in Cosmetic Dentistry?
Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry
Reconstructive or implant dentistry can be considered cosmetic dentistry, but it also can support the patient’s oral health. In addition to offering patients a way to enjoy a full smile again, implants can also make daily tasks like eating easier and more convenient. This is possible since implant-supported tooth replacements or dentures can fulfill the role of normal teeth.
Other Popular Cosmetic Dental Treatments
Any dental treatment with a focus on visual improvement could be considered cosmetic dentistry. Regardless of the reason you’re looking into cosmetic dentistry, our team would be happy to talk through your options with you. Patients who are looking to improve the appearance of their smile may look into teeth whitening treatments, fillings that are tooth-colored, veneers, or smile makeovers.
It may be helpful to write yourself a note of exactly what you’re hoping to improve when it comes to your teeth, so you can go over your goals with us during a consultation. Our extensive experience will help us point you in the right direction when it comes to treatments we believe have the best chance of being the right fit for you.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Protect Your Jawbone
Dental implants function the same way the roots of your natural teeth do. Implants provide structure for the artificial teeth of your choosing, securing them firmly in place. They also serve to protect your jawbone, by fusing with it and preventing the jaw deterioration that follows tooth loss.
Why Is This Important?
This loss of jawbone material can start to affect the structure of the patient’s face, and can also lead to additional skin laxity and wrinkles throughout the facial skin. Even lip support can be lost in this process.
This is one reason we recommend reaching out as soon as you suffer tooth loss, or before you are scheduled to have a tooth removed. By receiving an implant as soon as possible, you can rest easy knowing your jaw is being protected as you look into artificial tooth replacements.
Protect Your Healthy Teeth
Losing a tooth can cause a sort of domino effect throughout your other teeth. Teeth play an important role in supporting each other. When that support is lost, the healthy teeth will start to migrate towards the empty space left behind by a missing tooth.
Over time this can weaken the integrity of your healthy teeth, putting you at risk for even more tooth loss. This shifting can also have a significant effect on the alignment of your bite.
Avoid Tooth Misalignment
As we mentioned before, tooth loss can cause your healthy teeth to migrate. In many cases, tooth misalignment will naturally follow this migration. When your bite isn’t properly aligned, it can cause uneven wearing of the teeth. It can also contribute to jaw pain, due to the uneven strain on the jaw, and headaches.
Eat With Ease
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. Implants can allow patients to enjoy the foods they had to give up when they got their dentures. With implants, you can bite right into an apple, enjoy corn on the cob, or cut into a delicious steak without a second thought.
Comfort
Many patients struggle to achieve a good fit with their dentures. Since dentures are supposed to help patients feel more confident, having to compromise comfort for that confidence can be very discouraging. With dental implants, you don’t have to make that compromise.
Not only will you not have to worry about ill-fitting dentures, but you also won’t have to deal with messy adhesives.
Implants Can Be Used To Support Dentures
One of the primary reasons dentures can be uncomfortable is when they shift around. This unwanted movement can irritate the mouth. With implants, we can secure your dentures to improve your comfort and the denture’s functionality.
To make sure the dentures are evenly and securely fastened, usually four or more implants will be used for this purpose. With implant-supported dentures, you can have a seamless smile while enjoying the permanent benefits dental implants have to offer. You will still be able to remove your dentures every night for cleaning, but the implants themselves will remain in place. This leads to easier maintenance, a healthier jaw, and greater comfort and security.
Implant-Support Can Increase the Lifespan of Your Dentures
Usually, traditional dentures will only last between five to ten years. A big contributor to this is jawbone deterioration.
As the jaw changes, your dentures will stop fitting properly. With implants supporting the health of your jaw and keeping your dentures in place, you should be able to extend the life of your dentures when coupled with proper care.
Powerful Technology
Tooth replacement technology has come a long way. It used to be that the only options available to replace missing teeth were either a removable prosthesis or a fixed bridge. These options can be helpful in some cases, but they’re not a good fit for every patient.
Some patients aren’t able to comfortably adjust to a removable prosthesis. When it comes to bridges, they require that healthy teeth be shaved down so they can support the bridge. Neither option will protect your jawbone. Thankfully, now we’re able to fill in that gap without modifying your other teeth.
The Benefits of Titanium
Dental implants are usually made of titanium. This material has the unique ability to fuse with bone, which is how the implants can be used to strengthen your jaw instead of allowing it to degenerate. Once this fusion takes place, the rods are a perfect foundation for either false teeth or secured dentures.
Titanium is known to be biocompatible and is used for all kinds of implants, such as shoulder or knee implants. In most cases, the human body has no problem accepting a titanium implant.
Why Us?
Next-Level Imaging Equipment
Not only do we offer implants, but we use cutting-edge technology to do it. This technology is able to create a 3D model for us to work with, so we can carry out our treatments with exact precision for each of our patients. It also shows us the strongest placement for the implant.
Convenience
Our office offers the convenience of both implant placement and restoration in a single location, which can be challenging to find elsewhere. You’ll receive the surgical implant placement in our surgical suite. Then, we can make a crown for you in one of our operatories to cap your implant.
Compassion
We understand that dental appointments can be nerve-wracking for many patients. Our office strives to create a warm and welcoming environment to put our patients at ease, but we also recognize that some patients may need additional help managing their anxiety. That’s why in addition to providing gentle and understanding treatment, we also provide oral minimal sedation if a patient wants help relaxing for their appointment.
If you’re interested in oral sedation for your appointment, let us know. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have about it, and let you know what to expect.
Consultations Are Complimentary
Some patients may hesitate to set up a consultation for monetary reasons. They may be concerned about wasting their money setting up an appointment if they end up not being a good candidate for their desired treatment.
At our office you don’t have to worry about that. We offer complimentary dental implant consultations, so you can learn more about your options without being hit with an unexpected bill.
What Comes Next?
Once we determine that you’re a good candidate, you can choose to move forward with the treatment. We will then set up a time for a records appointment and develop your complete treatment plan, including impressions and digital X-rays.
Ready To Achieve Your Smile Goals?
If you’re interested in learning more about how cosmetic dentistry can improve your life, our compassionate and experienced team is ready to help. The same imaging technology we use to place our implants can be used to check if a patient is a good candidate for implants. Reach out to Steven C. Hewett, DDS, of Champions Gate, FL, today to get the process started!
