We all want to live our lives to the fullest. This means ensuring that each aspect of daily life is as fulfilling as possible. The big hitters are your job, relationships, and hobbies. But your teeth play a role in personal satisfaction that many underestimate.

While you may not realize it, the state of your smile actually dictates a great deal of your happiness. Your teeth lead the way in every interaction, allow you to comfortably speak and eat, and help determine your self-esteem and confidence. If they’re in disrepair, you won’t enjoy the myriad benefits of a full grin.

What’s the solution? With contemporary restorative dentistry, you have a few options for rebuilding or replacing pearly whites. We can't deny that dental implants stand out from the pack. By choosing implants, you guarantee stable tooth replacement and ongoing support. Read on to learn just how this is possible.

Replace Missing Teeth Without Making Compromises

The field of restorative dentistry continues to evolve. Patients enjoy more and more options for rehabilitating their teeth, with increasingly ideal results. If you’ve waited to replace your teeth because you weren’t confident that dental work would look and feel natural, it’s time to stop hesitating. Dental implants change the restorative game.

Implants have become one of the most talked-about tooth replacement methods due to their longevity and unparalleled support. Here are just a few ways implants differ from (and surpass) other restorations:

• They reach below the gum line – Most restorations only address the crown portion of the tooth, which is the visible structure above the gum line. Implants dig deeper, as they are placed in the jaw bone. This creates new foundations for dental work, and removes the need to rely on neighboring teeth for support. Implants are individual anchors that hold restorations in place.
• They bond with natural tissues – The titanium material of an implant is biologically compatible with osseous (bone) tissue. This allows implants to integrate with the bone surrounding them, forming an incredible bond.
• They last – All dental work has a set lifespan. Because implants become a part of your jaw, they manage to last for many years to come (and, in some cases, for life).
• They can be paired with nearly any restoration – Implants are versatile. They support most restorations, including individual crowns, bridges, partials, and dentures. This allows you to rebuild teeth the way you want.

Are Dental Implants Worth It?

Implant placement is a surgical procedure. This means that there are some qualifying factors, and that treatment will be followed by necessary downtime and healing precautions. Is it really worth it to spend that time and energy, when you could replace teeth without implants anyway?

Of course, individual needs make this answer slightly different for everyone. But there are certain things implants offer that lone restorations can’t match. This is especially true for patients using partials or dentures. Common problems with these restorations include a loose fit and unnatural feel. Partials can also weaken the remaining teeth that they use as supports.

Getting implants will eliminate these concerns. Once your dental prosthesis is attached to one or more implants, it will look and feel far more natural, and function well. Implants therefore work to improve your overall satisfaction. Without the frustration and anxiety that come with ill-fitting restorations, you’ll move confidently through your daily activities and interactions. And we think that’s well worth the investment.

Finding An Implant Dentist in Schenectady

Dr. Robert Scotto and his team are ready to rebuild your smile. If you’re interested in implants, contact us today to begin a conversation.

Schenectady Dental Implants | Schenectady Tooth Implants | Schenectady Implant Dentist

We spend quite a bit of time on this blog talking about how wonderful dental implants are. And tooth root replacements definitely deserve that hype. While dental implants replace missing teeth to rebuild your smile and restore your abilities, they also have myriad health benefits. Once your implants are in place, your oral and even systemic health will be supported for many years to come. Read on to learn more about how implants aid your mouth, bones, and facial structure.

Tooth Implants’ Effects on Your Health

Implants are titanium posts that sit in your jawbone. Over time, they connect with your bone to form naturally secure foundations for dental restorations. By replacing missing teeth and connecting restorations to your jawbones, you enjoy a number of corresponding health benefits. Dental implants:

1. Preserve facial structure – Losing teeth and losing bone density leads to your facial structure changing. Your face may begin to sag, your lips to look less full, and your appearance to gradually become altered. Implants will help you maintain a youthful, strong facial structure.
2. Maintain your bone density – Without a tooth root supporting an area of your jawbone, the bone will begin to resorb. It will dissolve and weaken the area. Dental implants will keep that bone strong and whole.
3. Improve oral and periodontal health – When there are spaces in your smile, bacteria are able to take hold. This leads to a higher chance of tooth decay and periodontal disease. Bacteria can also enter your bloodstream through infection in these gaps, potentially causing disease in other areas of the body. Implants and restorations close those spaces to return your smile to wholeness.
4. Keep your teeth from shifting – When your teeth shift, your bite can change. This often leads to serious problems with your occlusion. Crooked teeth and misaligned jaws can aggravate your TMJ, leading to a jaw disorder. Implants will keep your teeth from shifting and maintain a healthy bite.

Beginning the Implant Process

In order to determine whether implants are right for your missing teeth, simply contact our Schenectady team!

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – preparing for a dental procedure pays off! By reading up on the treatment and communicating with your dentist prior to the big appointment, you’ll grow more mentally comfortable with what’s coming up. A comfortable patient is a calm patient, and we strive to ensure that everyone in our dental chairs feels good about their time in our office. Read on to learn more about dental implant surgery and begin to prepare for your implant placement.

The Dental Implant Procedure

Because dental implants are an involved procedure, the steps will differ for each patient. Your oral health, bone density, and age all play a factor. We’ve accounted for special cases and included a range of potential steps in this list.

1. Bone graft. Bone grafts are necessary for patients lacking sufficient bone density. Because the implant is placed deep in your bone, it will need to offer adequate depth for the implant to be a success. Should you need a bone graft, you will then be required to heal for some time prior to implant placement.
2. Strengthening oral health. If you are not in good dental/periodontal health, implant surgery could make you vulnerable to infection, and the implant could fail. We will guide you through the process of improving your oral health with hygiene tips, excellent products, and personalized care.
3. CT Scan. We take CT scans of our patients’ jaws before every dental implant procedure, to ensure we know exactly where to place the implants and to allow us to precisely predict the results.
4. Implant placement. During implant surgery, you will receive local anesthesia, which will prevent you from feeling discomfort. If you are anxious about treatment, we will offer dental sedation. Dr. Scotto will make an incision in your gums and place the implant in your jawbone. In some cases, we will not need to make an incision, but will be able to make a small punch and place the implant in the bone. This eliminates the need for sutures and fast tracks your healing. We may also be able to place abutments at this appointment.
5. Healing. You will need several months to heal and ensure the implant is a success. During this time, follow the aftercare instructions we provide and get plenty of rest. This will stimulate tissue healing.
6. Abutment placement. Abutments are connectors that hold your implants to the restorations. Depending on your case, you may receive abutments at the time of implant placement, rather than after some healing. After abutment placement, you will then recover for another period of time, before…
7. Restoration placement. Your crowns, dentures, or other restorations will be connected to the implants. Your smile is whole and complete!

Deciding on Dental Implants

Implants may take a few months of healing, but they will provide a lifetime of tooth root replacement. If you’re interested in implants, give our office a call.

A surgical procedure often causes dental patients some trepidation. The best way to cut down on unease leading up to your oral surgery is to prepare, prepare, prepare. There’s really no level of preparation too great (as long as you don’t decide you’re ready to step in and perform the surgery yourself!). With this week’s blog post, our Schenectady dentist offers a brief overview of the best ways to prepare for your oral surgery. By understanding the how to get ready for your surgery, what your procedure will be like, and what the aftercare/healing period will entail, you will eliminate so much anxiety that you find yourself relaxed on the day of your appointment.

Schenectady Dentist on Preparing For Your Oral Surgery

1. The most important step to take is communicating with your dentist. Only by talking to a professional knowledgeable on your personal case will you be able to discuss procedure specifics. Your dentist or oral surgeon will be able to give you a step-by-step breakdown of what your appointment will be like, and how this surgery will help you.
2. Do some research of your own to get better acquainted with the procedure. We’ve listed a few common types of oral surgery below so that you may peruse their descriptions.
3. Take the correct precautions before your surgery: stock your fridge with soft foods and liquids you will be able to consume afterward, arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to and from your appointment, and take a day or two off work.

Common Oral Surgical Procedures | Schenectady Dentist

• Dental implants – Dental implants are tooth root replacements that are placed in your gums so that they fuse with your jawbone. Click the link to learn more about the dental implant procedure.
• Extractions – A dental extraction is when you have a tooth removed because it is severely damaged, decayed, or causing problems for other teeth/your bite. Click the following link to learn more about extractions.

Schenectady Dentist On The Period After Oral Surgery: Care and Healing

It’s important that you follow the exact instructions given you by your dentist or oral surgeon. Only those will heal the site of your surgery properly. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call your dentist or oral surgeon. We are always here to help!

Life-Changing Dental Implants from our Schenectady Dentist

Are you aware of what dental implants could do for your smile? Dental implants help patients missing teeth regain their former lives, with restored dental stability and the unyielding support of these tooth root replacements. Our Schenectady dentist will place your implants and then work with you until you have beautiful dental restorations in place and are completely satisfied with your new smile. Today's blog post is an in-depth look at this incredible dental restoration.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants are titanium screws that connect with your jaw bone. Since titanium is a biocompatible material, over time it actually fuses with your bone, creating a support system that will not fail you or your restorations. Dental implants are connected to accompanying restorations by means of an abutment. Once the three parts of the fully restored tooth are in place (implant, abutment, and restoration), your treatment with our Schenectady dentist is complete!

What dental restorations can dental implants support?

Dental implants work with every dental restoration. The general support that implants provide can benefit all the dental restorations our Schenectady dentist offers. You may  use dental implants in conjunction with:

• Crowns
• Dental bridges
• Dentures
• Partial dentures

The foundation provided by the dental implants will keep these restorations from feeling like anything other than natural tooth structure. This makes an especially profound difference in the case of dentures. Implant-supported dentures will not click or slip, and you will be able to use them for both speaking and chewing (there is less of a need to remove them).

How will dental implants change my life?

Dental implants provide you with replacement teeth that really feel and look natural. They will improve your speaking, chewing, and the look of your jaw and face. Because dental implants provide new root structures, they can keep bone surrounding a missing tooth from disintegrating and preserve your bone structure. Most importantly, dental implants will give you a boost in confidence by returning your smile to a whole and beautiful state.

Don't understimate the difference a solid, full smile makes to your self-esteem and your life. Contact our office today to begin a dental implant discussion.