Vancouver Periodontal Blog

Vancouver General Practice Dentists

Most general dentists are able to determine which of their patients are good candidates for dental implants. Because surgery is required, only people with healthy gums and strong jawbones should be considered good candidates for dental implants. Older people often feel they may not qualify for tooth implants but that is rarely the case.

Some general practitioners have the skills to perform dental implant surgery, but in most cases it is better if the family dentist refers you to a Vancouver periodontal professional that specializes in dental implants.

Restore Your Smile

Vancouver Dental Implant Specialists

A periodontist that specializes in dental implant surgery relies on superior training in periodontal procedures and specialized experience. A dental implant specialist is better able to decide which type of implant is right for your treatment, minimize your discomfort and provide a long term solution for your tooth loss.

Dental implants by a periodontal professional assure you of a natural-looking smile with no gaps. The anchor of the implant is surgically implanted in the jaw and the bone is then allowed to fuse around it for a period of several weeks. After the implant has taken root, an artificial tooth is created and fitted to the post of the implant. Your implant tooth will look and feel like your own.

Care for your tooth implants as you would the rest of your teeth, with daily flossing and brushing, as well as regular visits to your family dentist. With proper care and maintenance, your dental implants should last for many years.

Referrals from a dentist are not necessary to see a periodontist, but you should check with your insurance policy regarding coverage.

Visit your Vancouver dental implant specialist

Tooth Drift

Trauma, disease and decay can lead to tooth loss. If a lost tooth is not replaced immediately the surrounding bone begins to collapse and shrink. Without the support of the adjacent tooth the neighboring teeth begin to drift towards the area left by the missing tooth. Once the two neighboring teeth begin to drift, others lose their support and can begin to move as well.

While tooth movement can mar your smile, there are other considerations as well. Tooth drift can make it difficult to properly clean your gums and teeth. Periodontal disease and decay often follows. Gums may recede and further tooth loss may result.

If you lose a tooth it’s important to seek treatment immediately to minimize the impact of tooth loss.

Visit your Vancouver periodontist

Periodontal literally means “around the tooth.” Periodontal diseases are serious bacterial infections that can destroy the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold your teeth in place in your mouth.

Left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss. There are many forms of periodontal disease: Gingivitis, chronic periodontitis, aggressive periodonitis, periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases and necrotizing periodontal diseases.

Resources:

Vancouver periodontal services
Schedule a visit with a Vancouver periodontist