Many people love their dentures. Indeed, dentures provide reliable tooth replacement that can look beautiful. However, as wonderful as dentures are, it must be acknowledged that they come with some drawbacks. For instance, they may become destabilized and slip around in the mouth. They also do not support the health of the jawbone. Implant-supported tooth replacement, on the other hand, is incredibly sturdy and helps to keep the jawbone healthy and whole. Are you ready to transition from dentures to dental implants? Here is a general overview of what you can expect as you make the switch.
Capital Smiles Blog
Your Guide for Transitioning from Dentures to Dental Implants
February 25, 2021
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Will My Dental Restorations Affect My Candidacy for Invisalign?
January 18, 2021
Countless individuals have crowns, bridges, or porcelain veneers. Depending on their specified purpose, such restorations can improve the appearance of your smile, enhance dental function, protect your teeth, and bolster your oral health. However, if your teeth are not properly aligned, and you already have some restorations on some of them, an important question arises — will you be able to get Invisalign in the Capital District? For many people, the answer to that question is yes.
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Video FAQ: What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
January 14, 2021
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is sleep apnea associated with obstruction of the airway during sleep. Simply put, something is blocking the airway while you are trying to sleep — and in turn, causing complications such as loss of air and less restful sleep. Lingering lifestyle effects such as brain fog, grogginess, weight gain, high blood pressure (and many more) are usually warning signs associated with OSA. An obstruction during sleep could be too large of a tongue — where when you lay your head down to rest, the tongue falls back and blocks the airway. Other times, anatomical considerations can be in play where someone has too small of an airway.
After a simple exam, our dentists can determine if very little airway space is available — and, through a discussion of sleep patterns, we can further figure out if Obstructive Sleep Apnea is inhibiting restful sleep.
Sleep studies are also usually recommended, where a physician monitors your sleep and can tell how many times you have woken during the night and if there are episodes where breathing stops.
Are you searching for a medical professional in the Capital District to help with sleep apnea treatment and/or snoring therapy? As airway experts, our dentists are uniquely qualified to help. Give us a call or request an appointment on our website to learn more.
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5 Signs that Dental Implants Are Right for You
December 28, 2020
In discussions about tooth replacement, dental implants emerge as the undisputed champion when it comes to functionality, longevity, and health benefits. As wonderful as they are, however, not everyone with missing teeth qualifies for them. Are they right for you? Your dentist is the only person truly qualified to answer that question. However, before you schedule your consultation with them, you can read this blog post to learn about five characteristics that mark a good dental implant candidate in the Capital District.
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Video FAQ: What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is often related to TMD. At Capital Smiles, we see a lot of bruxism cases that have no symptoms associated with them except for loose or worn down teeth. We also see a lot of TMD/TMJ (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction) issues which have no bruxism associated with them at all. They are related because bruxism is associated with the overuse of the same jaw muscles. In many situations, the treatment is similar for these different problems.
Bruxism is a damaging, destructive process. We often recommend a soft nightguard so long a patient’s bruxism isn’t associated with any other diseases or problems. If TMJ problems are present, we recommend different types of splints that protect the teeth and remove a lot of the joint discomfort from the overuse of the jaw and facial muscles. Our dentists also offer BOTOX treatments that can help loosen and relax these muscles and prevent them from further damage.
Are you searching for a dentist in the Capital District to help with Temporomandibular joint dysfunction treatments? We’re ready to put our years of experience to work for you. Give us a call or request an appointment on our website to learn more.
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How to Prepare for Your Next Major Oral Procedure
November 18, 2020
Dental implants in Schenectady and other major oral procedures may instill some mixed feelings in you. On one hand, you may be excited by how your treatment will improve your smile’s function and appearance. On the other hand, you could be a little nervous because you don’t quite know what to expect during your treatment journey. In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips that will help you head into your next major oral procedure with total confidence.
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Video FAQ: How Can You Protect My Dental Restorations?
November 3, 2020
Excessive grinding and pressure from jaw muscles can lead to tremendous TMJ problems, loss of teeth mobility, loss of bone, notches in teeth, and excessive wear. We understand that when a dental patient is suffering from the loss of teeth, there are multiple reasons. When you are taking steps to correct the issue and receive replacement teeth from our office (dentures, crowns, bridges, or dental implants), we always make it a goal to provide relief and protection from pressure (especially with dental implant patients), A tried and true method of ensuring your restorations stay healthy is through delivering Botox to the chewing muscles as a quick post-operatory procedure. This method weakens the force placed on implants and tooth restorations during the healing period, ensuring your dental work lasts. We also have the ability to make our dental patients nightguards that provide protection from involuntary clenching and girding while sleeping.
Are you searching for a dentist in the Capital District? We’re uniquely qualified to help restore missing teeth and ensure you can keep them… for life! Give us a call or request an appointment on our website to learn more.
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Video FAQ: What Causes TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)?
October 31, 2020
The temporomandibular joint hinges between the lower and upper jaw with the ability to both rotate and translate. When the muscles that control the movement of the jaw and the disc overwhelm the ligaments that hold it in place, stretching occurs and muscles overreact and get tense. The bite gets dislocated, and patients experience pain in the lower, upper jaw, and temple areas. Sometimes TMD is mistaken for ear pain and ringing in the ears. TMD is a chronic condition that is unfortunately incurable, but at Capital Smiles, we can help you manage it. We can make it more comfortable. And, we’ve had excellent results with many of our patients.
Are you experiencing head, neck, or jaw pain? Our dentists at Capital Smiles have decades of experience helping alleviate TMD and control its symptoms so you can live life to the fullest — and more comfortably. Call us today to request a complimentary consultation and learn about your options!
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Jaw Pain and Cracked Teeth Are on the Rise — Why?
October 2, 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit, dentists temporarily closed their doors to everyone except emergency patients. After one dentist with a practice in New York City reopened, a friend asked how her business was doing. The friend expected that perhaps patients were staying away due to concerns over COVID-19. However, the dentist responded that she had been busier than ever. Why? She said, “I’ve seen more tooth fractures in the last six weeks than in the previous six years.”
Indeed, many dentists may have noticed a similar upward trend in fractured teeth and jaw pain. What is the reason behind this troubling phenomenon, and what can you do to find jaw pain relief in the Capital District? Let’s discuss these important questions.
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Video FAQ: What is a Dental Implant?
September 30, 2020
When you lose a tooth you have three options: 1) you can utilize a bridge to anchor onto two neighboring teeth, a removable partial denture, or restore a tooth to its most natural state using a dental implant.
A dental implant uses a titanium screw placed in the jaw bone with an abutment attached to a crown. Dental implants are great restorations that mimic natural teeth and allow patients to enjoy the benefit of ultimate function and aesthetics.
If you are missing one or more teeth, contact our Capital District dental practice today! We have been helping friends and neighbors around the area love to smile since 1982, and our two talented dentists have restored countless teeth with dental implants. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation and learn more.
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