Generally speaking a soft bristled toothbrush is best. Whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush, anything harder than a soft brush, is too hard. Stiff bristles may give you a clean feeling but they can also abrade your teeth and cause gum recession.

Tooth decay and periodontal disease are the most common causes of tooth loss. Tooth decay takes place when most of the tooth’s mineral makeup has been dissolved away and a hole (cavity) has formed. While tooth decay primarily affects children, periodontal disease, or gum disease, affects mostly adults. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums caused by the buildup of plaque, and its earliest stage is known as gingivitis.

Most dental professionals recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Brushing after every meal (and flossing at least once a day) is also a good way to maintain dental health.

A child should have their first dental appointment no later than his third birthday. Many dentists recommend a child have their first appointment when his first tooth comes in.

Tobacco (cigarettes, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff) is the most common cause of oral cancer. Combining tobacco use with heavy drinking can also foster the development of oral cancer. Bad hygiene, prolonged irritation of the oral cavity, and extended exposure to strong sunlight on the lips are among other causes of the disease. Many dentists believe vitamins A and E can help prevent the acquisition of oral cancer.

Early symptoms of oral cancer include: a sore on the lip, in the mouth, or in the throat that does not heal; a lump on the lip, in the mouth, or in the throat; a red or white patch found anywhere in the mouth; unusual pain or bleeding in the mouth; swelling of the mouth; and any difficulty or discomfort felt in chewing or swallowing.

A periodontist is a dentist who works to prevent and treat diseases of the gums and bone around the teeth. Most periodontists are also involved in the placement and maintenance of dental implants.

Periodontal disease is a serious, chronic bacterial infection that attacks the gums and bones that support your teeth. Left untreated it leads to tooth loss and may contribute to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and pre-term/ low birth weight infants.

The major cause of periodontal disease is the buildup of bacterial plaque, which results from the overgrowth of the mouth’s naturally occurring bacteria. In order to prevent the development of periodontal disease, an individual needs to maintain sound hygiene practices by brushing his / her teeth and flossing daily.

If periodontal disease is caught at an early stage (when it has not progressed beyond the point of gingivitis), it can be treated with scaling (removing plaque around the tooth). If the disease progresses to a later stage, the patient may need scaling and root planning (removing plaque around the tooth and smoothing the roots’ surfaces), surgical treatment, which involves cutting the gums, eliminating the hardened plaque build-up, and repairing the damaged bone. Lasers are also available to periodontitis, in fact the nd:yag laser wavelength has been shown to have similar results to conventional methods of treatment with less post operative discomfort.

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums around the roots of the teeth. It marks the early stage of periodontal disease, and it is characterized by red, swollen gums.

No. Modern implantology began in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. However, popularity really grew in the 1980’s with the increased success of the titanium cylinder. Since then, many brand name implants with minor variations have been approved.

Long-term success depends on multiple factors. Firstly, success will depend on the quality and quantity of bone. The better the bone and the more available, the greater the chance of long-term success. Secondly, the experience and ability of the dental surgeon will be a factor. As with any surgical procedure, there is no substitute for the experience and individual talent of the dentist. And finally, the quality of the restoration placed on top of the implant will play a big role in long-term success. If the design of the implant crowns or overdentures are poorly constructed, and biting forces are not balanced, even the best-placed dental implant will have a compromised survival rate.

A periodontist, an oral surgeon, or some general dentist place dental implants. The periodontist and oral surgeon are teamed with a restorative dentist. They will place the implants and then the patient will be seen by a restorative dentist for completion of the crowns or overlying appliance. There will be two dentists during the course of treatment.

A general dentist trained to restore implants, or a prosthodontist can restore teeth.

No. Any person at any age can have dental implants as long as there is enough bone available in which to place the implants. Children need to have completed their skeletal growth prior to implant therapy.

There are some medical factors that might prevent a person from being a good candidate for dental implants. Some of these may be uncontrolled diabetes, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, parathyroid disorders, blood disorders, bisphosphonate therapy, and rare bone disorders or bone marrow cancer.

The success of your implants will depend greatly on how well you maintain them. They will need to be professionally cleaned by a hygienist and examined by your implant dentist every three to four months. This hygienist should be trained in the specific procedure of maintaining dental implants. Also, brushing and flossing daily is absolutely necessary for long-term success.

No. An effective local anesthetic is used during the surgery so that you do not have any discomfort during the placement of the implants. The mild discomfort you might experience after surgery can be controlled with medications.

You can go to work the next day, unless some particular surgical circumstance arises. Your implant dentist will discuss all postoperative instructions with you.