New Study Shows Dental Implants Have 90 Percent Success Rate

If you want to replace missing teeth and correct your smile and bite, there is a fantastic solution that’s available to you that utilizes the latest and greatest advancements in dental medicine: dental implants. But how effective are dental implants, and what success rate or failure rate do they have for patients in the long term?

According to a recent study that was conducted by researchers at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in the US, the success rate is pretty good, to the tune of about a 90 percent success rate. However, the success rate, according to the study, also greatly wagers on the dentist who is performing the procedure and their experience.

Common causes for implant failure include: improper care of teeth by the patient, smoking, bruxism (teeth grinding) and the type of prosthesis that’s being used.

To assess the efficacy of the study, researchers used the records of patients who had received full-arch maxillary and/or mandibular supported fixed complete dentures over a period of ten years.

Success Rate of Dental Implants Wagers on Dentist Experience

According to the study, the more experienced that your dentist is, the more successful that you can expect your dental implant to be. The records of patients who were treated with 297 implants at the school over the past decade were reviewed and compared.

• 12 percent of implants failed when the dentists had fewer than five years experience.
• Implants were twice as likely to fail if the dentist had completed fewer than 50 implant procedures.
• One-third of patients with diabetes or bruxism experienced failed dental implants.
• 90 percent of the time, overall, dental implants are successful, regardless of risk factor or practitioner experience.

Considering Dental Implants to Replace Missing Teeth?

Interestingly enough, one of our doctors graduated from the same school that fomented this study, Dr. Sweet, who graduated from the  Loma Linda School of Dentistry in 2002 (learn more about our doctors).

At Dental Design Studio in Arizona, we are your oral health care partners. With four modern, inviting and relaxing offices in central Arizona to serve you, we can help you maintain your oral health. As dental implant specialists, we are pleased to offer consultations for those who are seeking dental implants to replace missing teeth. Learn more about dental implants.

We also have a unique program where you can get same day dental implants right away. Learn more about same day dental implants.

New Molecule Could Cavity-Proof Your Teeth

 

Could it be possible that a simple molecular discovery enables the beta prototype for cavity proofing teeth, a molecule that could be added to cavity inducing products like sweets, candies, chewing gum and even soda pop? Considering everywhere that technology and medical breakthroughs have taken mankind, nothing is impossible at this point. And in answer to the question poised above, a solution of this sort is already well in the works.

Research Began in 2005

Back in 2005, research began on such a molecule. The goal was to develop something that inhibited bacterial growth in the mouth. Bacteria are what cause tooth decay. There are more than 100 bacterium that inhabit the mouth and that generally like to feed off the sugars we ingest. When bacteria consume these sugars, they emit acidic compounds that eat away or demineralize the protective coating on the teeth (enamel), and that ultimately contribute to tooth decay and rot. Additionally, bacteria emit an odoriferous compound that is the key cause of bad breath (halitosis).

Basis of the Solution

The hypothesis of such a compound would be to eradicate and eliminate bacteria that contribute to tooth decay and halitosis. Two researchers, José Córdoba of Yale University, and Erich Astudillo of the Universidad de Santiago in Chile, set out to answer this question and to see if they could create such a compound that combated bacteria in the mouth at the molecular level. They’ve discovered a molecule that does just that, something they have affably named “Keep 32.” It’s a powerful antibacterial agent that can be added to many types of sugary foods known to cause cavities. It takes about one minute to fully cleanse the mouth and prevent cavities from bacteria.

Human, Clinical Trials Forthcoming
The primary hang-up for the duo will be getting the Keep 32 approved in a similar category to fluoride; which helps remineralize teeth, and that works to combat Streptococcus Mutans (the most common bacteria in the mouth). The molecule is set to enter human test trials over the months to come. Pending the outcome of those trials, and the efficacy that’s established at the clinical level, it could very well end up being licensed to major toothpaste makers like Colgate or Proctor and Gamble. The only setback would be the FDA labeling this molecule as an antibiotic—which would place it in an entirely different and controlled and regulated category that may prevent it from being as widespread in use as the makers intended.

Four Simple Daily Tips for Good Oral Health Care

It’s a busy, stop and go world in which we live. Sometimes we can feel so overwhelmed by our day to day lives that it’s difficult to even imagine being able to have any time for anything else except for work and our family lives. But your teeth and gums need some love and care, too. So even if you find yourself always on the go—these simple oral health care tips can really come in handy for preserving your teeth, gums and smile.

Portable Floss, Mouth Rinse & Toothbrush

Stock up on your workplace dental supplies. A travel toothbrush and floss kit with miniature mouth rinse is all that you will need. Dedicate a few moments of your lunch break to brushing, flossing and rinsing. Your teeth and gums will greatly thank you.

Drink Water with Acidic Beverages

Many people like to enjoy energy drinks or coffee to wake up in the morning. The problem with these drinks is that they are very acidic, and acid can wear down the enamel (the protective outer coating on your teeth), making teeth more prone to decay, sensitivity and infection. The easy answer: drink a sip of water here and there when drinking such beverages; the water will help to neutralize the acids and prevent enamel erosion.

Use a Straw; Don’t Sip

As opposed to drinking any sugary or acidic beverages by sipping, use a straw instead. This helps protect your teeth, as most of the liquids don’t touch your teeth as they would when sipping. A straw is the safest way to consume sugary or acidic beverages.

Avoid Sugar

This one is an obvious dental tip, but necessary and useful. Refined sugars are the key culprit in tooth decay. That’s because bacteria love to thrive on sugars. There are more than one hundred bacteria that inhabit the mouth. Sugar is sticky and clings to teeth, making it easy for bacteria-laden plaque to form. The simplest solution: avoid sugar as much as possible when you are unable to brush or floss directly afterwards.

Need an Oral Health Checkup?

At Dental Design Studio in Arizona, we are ready to become your oral health partner. With four offices located valleywide to serve you, it’s easy and convenient to stop in at one. If you have not seen a dentist in six months, you will want an oral health checkup to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy. Call or click to schedule your appointment today!

Learn more at: http://www.dentaldstudio.com

Dentists Nationwide Remind Patients to Brush 2x per Day, Floss, Use Mouth Rinse

You more than likely heard it before from your dentist if you are bad brusher: “Your teeth are decayed and we have to drill and fill some cavities.” The primary reasons dentists have to fill cavities in your teeth – or why you may suffer from other oral health problems such as bleeding gums, receding gums, gum disease, enamel erosion and tooth decay – is due to improper brushing, infrequent flossing, lack of using mouth rinse, and not seeing your dentist twice per year for an oral health checkup. Dentists nationwide are reminding people to revisit their oral hygiene habits. By adhering to a simple five minute ritual twice per day, you could easily get your oral health in check in a jiffy. And ten minutes per day for good teeth and gums is a small price to pay in lieu of what you could otherwise be spending on dental treatments and the possibility of getting a devastating toothache. So what habits do you need to embrace for good oral health?

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Top Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Postpone Dental Checkups

According to the ADA, a person should see their dentist for a dental checkup at least twice per year; and in some cases more frequently depending upon the nature of their oral health. The primary reason to see your dentist two times per year is to help keep your teeth and gums healthy with regular dental cleanings, and to catch any problems while they are still minor, and treat them, in order to prevent major dental problems from occurring later on down the road. While some people are really good about diligently seeing their dental practitioner, it’s not a long shot to say that most people are not so fond of going to the dentist. So before you put off that next appointment, find out why it’s so critical you see your dentist at least twice per year.

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Is Your Toothpaste Too Abrasive? One Research Firm Aims to Find Out

 

The toothpaste that you buy from the store is designed to perform several functions when used. It’s supposed to help you brush any plaque away using abrasive cleaning agents; it’s supposed to help combat bacteria that thrive inside of the mouth; it’s supposed to deliver fluoride to help your teeth remineralize; it’s supposed to help you keep your gums healthy; and allow you to enjoy fresher breath. But is the toothpaste that you are using too abrasive for your teeth’s enamel? Which paste is the best for enamel, and which one is the best for cavity prevention? A new evaluation method aims to shed some light on this matter and answer these questions.

New Toothpaste Evaluation Process

Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Hall has a team of researchers who aim to find out the answers to these important questions and ultimately present a new evaluation method and system for toothpastes. They’ve developed a new process that will test the effects of toothpastes and their abrasiveness so consumers can make better informed decisions on which one is best for their oral hygiene.

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Early Trips to Dentist Will Help Protect Your Toddler’s Teeth

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should have their first dental visit by the age of one. The strange sounds, different smells, new people and oddly shaped tools and chairs can certainly be unsettling for some children, and can make any child nervous to visit the dentist. However, the most assured method of helping children overcome dental anxiety early on is by getting them used to seeing the dentist from a very young age.

According to Dr. Buddy Brice, a board certified practitioner with the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, the younger that children become used to visiting the dentist, the better they are prepared for good oral health care, and the more easily parents can be educated, too.

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