Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Myths about Dental Implants


Dental implants are a popular dental treatment that has revolutionized the way patients think about replacing teeth. For those who are still learning about this dental treatment option and might have gotten some inaccurate information from friends or online sources, Dr. Carr busts the following myths about dental implants:

Getting a dental implant is major oral surgery –While getting a dental implant is a surgical procedure, it is not as intense as some people believe. Common oral surgical procedures, like wisdom teeth removal, are more invasive and involved than getting a dental implant. 

Placing an implant takes a long time – The portion of the dental implant that is surgically placed at the site of a missing tooth actually only takes about 10 minutes. With his 3-D imaging equipment, Dr. Carr can precisely pinpoint the exact location for ideal implant placement, cutting down on some of the educated guesses that other dentists might have to make about where to put your implant.

A dental implant isn’t any better than a bridge or other treatment for replacing teeth – Dental implants offer oral health benefits that you can’t get from other teeth replacement methods. The post portion of the implant is surgically placed into bone in your jaw --- this allows the dental implant to nurture bone health in ways that a permanent dental bridge or a denture can’t. Dental implants are sturdier, since the post naturally bonds with bone. 

Recovering from a dental implant takes a while – Recovery time varies and can be 3-6 months, but for some patients – your dental implant treatment can be finalized immediately by placing a dental crown (or dentures) soon after placement of the implant post. This is called “immediate load” and accommodates patients who prefer not to complete the month-long waiting period.


If you’re considering getting a dental implant in Hemet or Temecula, contactDr. Carr for more information on how implants can replace one tooth, a group of teeth, or even all of your natural teeth.


Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Denture Options – Which One is the Best for You?

Replacing lost or extracted teeth means making a decision about the best way to fill out your smile and get back full bite function. Many patients, especially those who have lost groups of teeth, or all of their teeth, go with dentures. And you have choices when you pick dentures too! Consider the following options for denture treatment in Temecula and Hemet:

Removable Dentures -  A removable denture is often the most cost-effective way to get a full smile and improved bite function when you’re missing one tooth, a few teeth, or all of your teeth. Removable dentures are a great option for those patients who wish to avoid invasive treatment for replacing teeth.

        Removable dentures can be full or partial; full dentures are what most people think of when they hear “dentures” – a complete set of false teeth. But with a partial denture – which is essentially a replacement tooth attached to a retainer-like device, you can replace one or a few missing teeth quickly and easily.

Implant Supported Dentures – These are sometimes called permanent dentures or over-dentures and are a way of permanently attaching a set of dentures. Unlike removable dentures that you take out each night and re-apply each morning, implant-supported dentures are a full set of teeth that are held in place by a few dental implants. While getting permanent dentures requires placement of dental implant posts, the final result is more stable and restores even more of your natural bite function. Implant-supported dentures are the preferred option for those patients who would rather not have a removable oral appliance.

Did You Know? If you need a tooth extracted before you can receive your dentures, Dr. Carr can remove damaged teeth at his Temecula or Hemet Dental offices. If you choose to go with implant-supported dentures for total tooth loss, Dr. Carr uses 3-D imaging to ensure that your implants are placed with precision for best final result.


Do you have more questions about dentures? We’re here to help! Contact us at our Hemet and Temecula dental offices to learn more about how dentures can help you solve tooth loss and get complete smile.