Don't Let Tooth Loss Control Your Smile

Don't Let Tooth Loss Control Your Smile

If you find you are too embarrassed to smile because you're missing some teeth, please consider this: you can take control of your dental implantsappearance and your oral health, too. How? At South Berwick Dental in Eliot, ME, Dr. Robert Orendorf invites you to explore dental implants. Natural-looking and as stable as real teeth, dental implants are today's premiere tooth replacements, and the good news is, most people qualify for them.

The amazing dental implant

That's just what this modern tooth replacement is--amazing. Made up of a titanium root, metal extension post, and porcelain crown, the single-tooth implant provides strong biting and chewing, clear speech and realistic appearance. Plus, it does something that conventional bridgework and dentures cannot: the dental implant resides right in the jaw and actually strengthens the bone every time the patient bites and chews on it.

How can a titanium cylinder improve bone density? This happens because of osseointegration, a natural process whereby bone and titanium bond together.

Osseointegration occurs over several weeks after implant surgery, but the wait is well worth it. Dr. Orendorf says that osseointegration practically guarantees implant success and long-term retention. According to the Institute for Dental Implant Awareness, a dental implant should stay in place and function for the rest of the patient's life--40 to 50 years on average.

Who qualifies for a dental implant

As long as your overall health is good and your jaw has sufficient bone, you're a candidate. If your bone is thin, there are augmentation procedures which can strengthen it before implant placement.

Additionally, non-smokers have better success with dental implants. Toxins in cigarette smoke actually burn the soft tissues of the mouth and encourage infection around implant sites. So smoking cessation helps implant success and of course, is good for systemic health as well.

Caring for implants

If you receive one or more dental implants or get implant-supported dentures or bridgework, you should brush twice a day and floss daily as the American Dental Association advises. Also, see Dr. Orendorf every six months for a check-up and cleaning. These good hygiene habits keep plaque and tartar from accumulating around implant sites, avoiding peri-implantitis, a destructive infection which is similar to gum disease.

Learn more in Eliot

As a member of the Seacoast Implant Study Club, Dr. Orendorf has the most up-to-date knowledge and skills needed to successfully place dental implants in Eliot, ME. For a consultation with him on how to take back control of your smile with innovative implants, call his office at (207) 384-2176.

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Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday:

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday:

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Thursday:

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

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Sunday:

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