Dentist in Peru

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 "The best definition of comprehensive dental care is whatever type of dental treatment that is required to either maintain your dental health (if you are a “dental youth”), or to restore your dental condition to be as close to a dental youth or dental adult, as possible.

How do people get into trouble with their teeth, and why should we restore these teeth?  After all, many of us have that family member or relative who is able to eat anything with a minimum of teeth.

There are really Four Reasons Why People get into Trouble with Their Teeth.

1. Decay.  Did you know that there are between 32 and 37 types of bacteria in our mouths that cause dental decay?  Scary, huh?  Dental decay is definitely on the decline, thanks to fluoride, availability of regular dental care, and education about the importance of regular dental care. But for some people, with “bad genes” or who take many medications , dental decay can become rampant and debilitating.

2. Gum Disease (periodontal disease, or what used to be called, ”pyorrhea”).  Back in the “old days” of dental care, this was often ignored because there were so many decay related problems to treat! But now, with the well known and published links between gum disease and heart disease, these problems can no longer be ignored. Fortunately, the treatment of gum disease has probably advanced more than any other aspect of dental treatment. 

3. Stress.  This can be stress on your teeth from improper alignment or bite, or stress that causes abnormal wear (grinding).

Your dental bite is influenced by many things; the health of the jaw joint and associated chewing muscles, the alignment of the teeth, the direction that you chew and the muscle activity of the muscles of your face.

About 10% of people grind their teeth at night (actually about 20% of people grind their teeth during the day!). Many of these folks are totally unaware of this condition, but  grinding (bruxism) can accelerate the wear on teeth 10 to 20 times normal!

A dental bite (occlusion) that is misaligned can put extra, unbalanced forces on teeth and chewing muscles. This can also cause extra wear on the teeth or headaches from muscle strain.

4. Medical or systemic problems.  Did you know that 25-50% of patients suffer from Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and are totally symptomless? The only sign of the disease is inappropriate wear or loss of enamel on the teeth. So half of all GERD patients could only be diagnosed by your dentist. Unfortunately, undiagnosed or untreated GERD can lead to the pre-cancerous condition of Barrett’s Esophagitis.  Many medications today (or just Father Time) can cause  “dry mouth syndrome”. Patients with deficient salivary flow often develop extensive tooth decay.  Diabetes is another common cause of deficient salivary flow. 

Comprehensive dental care is about dentistry that is predictable and long lasting. It considers every aspect of your life, medical condition, and your dental condition.  It’s about the dental care that is best for you. We often call this “adult dental care”.

It all starts with an in depth interview with you, to determine your dental goals. We want to determine your dental, medical and emotional history. That’s right , your emotions, your feelings and past experiences can often play a huge role in the dentistry that we will recommend, and how we will go about delivering that care. Part of adult dental care is customizing the treatment plan to satisfy the patient’s dental and emotional needs too!

When there is extensive dental work needed, we go beyond a regular dental checkup (such as a dental youth would require), and  complete more of a “dental physical”.  This usually involves a complete set of dental x-rays and digital photographs, periodontal (gum) measurements or probing,  impressions and bite registrations of your teeth, and analysis of your jaw joints and chewing muscles. Just like when you go to your regular doctor, they order a series of tests if you have advanced problems, we will order tests to study your dental problems. The dental tests are just a little different than the medical tests.

Our goal is to leave no stone unturned, so that we may restore and engineer your teeth  to last the maximum time.  More importantly, we can use these records to show you and explain to you what is going on in your mouth, so you can make an informed decision about your dental health.

We also want to think that we can “over-engineer” your teeth, to last 20 or more years. Just like buildings and bridges wear out with time, dental materials wear out with time. Today’s materials are much better than just five or ten years ago, but they still will wear out. We just cannot compete or better what the Creator placed first!

Over-engineering does take more time, effort, skill, and  judgement, but we don’t want to count on luck! We want to be sure. I’m sure that you do too. Unfortunately, typical dental insurance companies do not reimburse at a level for long lasting, complex dental care. They are more in tune with single tooth, simple dentistry, that  usually only lasts three to five years.  Regular, “check-up” dentistry that is designed for dental youth and routine dental adults is very different from comprehensive, dental elder dentistry.

If you have comprehensive or complex dental care needs, be sure to find a dentist trained in complex care.  You want to ask questions, look at cases similar to yours, ask for testimonials, and ask for credentials and training that the dentist has completed. As you may know, I have had extensive advanced training in all aspects of adult dentistry, far beyond most “regular dentists”.

As you might guess, there is far more to dental care than just these parts. There are also biologic concerns of the gum tissue, cosmetic and smile design components and bifunctional parameters of the chewing mechanism. Your dental success also requires for you to be a partner in your care. We require that you maintain your regular professional hygiene maintenance visits in our office . Don’t worry. We can make it easy and understandable for you! 

Are Dental Implants right for you?! 

 "Complete and partial dentures are removable appliances that allow you to replace missing teeth in a very non-invasive way. On the other hand, a dental implant requires a surgical procedure in which a titanium post is rooted into your jaw bone, creating a sturdy foundation for your replacement tooth or teeth. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. When you are faced with deciding between a denture or an implant, it’s essential to be well-informed so that you can choose the option that will work best for you. 

Not everyone is born with a perfect smile, and accidents can happen that cause missing teeth. Perhaps you grew up in an area that didn’t use fluoride in the water or genetics played a role in tooth loss thanks to gum disease. Whatever the reason, if you are missing a few or all of your teeth, dental implants or dentures can be the answer you’ve been looking for. 

Dentures, or “false teeth,” are prosthetic devices created to replace missing teeth. Conventional dentures are removable, either as partial dentures or complete dentures. Some denture designs rely on clasping to dental implants while others are not attached to the jaw at all, merely resting on the gums. When a person doesn’t have any teeth but has enough bone to support implants, an implant-supported denture is often recommended.“Hybrid dentures” are a method of replacing both missing teeth and gum tissue with a prosthetic device. This type of denture is recommended if you have severe bone loss in your jaw, and it provides a denture that is stable, looks natural, and provides full functionality – including the ability to enjoy almost any type of food.“Full dentures” are used when all of your teeth are missing. An impression is taken of your mouth and then transmitted to a dental laboratory so that custom-made dentures can be crafted. These dentures have a horseshoe shape with a flesh-colored base that fits over your bottom gums to accommodate your tongue, while the base of the upper denture covers the roof of your mouth. The price for a set of complete dentures can vary greatly, depending on how quickly they are needed and what material is used to cast them. 

Dental implants are permanent, cylinder-shaped posts made of titanium that are surgically placed into the jawbone. They are covered by prosthetic teeth that are usually made of porcelain or zirconium. As the implant heals over several months, it will fuse with your natural jawbone. This fusion creates a stable foundation for your replacement teeth.Traditionally, missing teeth are replaced via a bridge, where abutting teeth are ground down to attach one or more teeth. A similar fixture, called an “implant-supporting bridge,” is used when natural teeth are not available as anchors for the bridge. In such cases, one implant is placed in the jawbone for each missing tooth to create the bridge anchor.Implants can be used to replace multiple teeth, one tooth, or your entire mouth. Depending upon the number of implants placed, the connecting device, or abutment, that will hold your teeth in place will be tightened onto the implant itself or fastened using a clip or anchor.The cost of implants varies significantly based upon the condition of your gums and jaw bone. The cost for a single implant is dependent on whether or not you need crowns, gum grafting, or any other dental procedures to prepare your mouth for the insertion of the implant. 

There are many factors to consider when deciding which option is best for you.Ask yourself:

• How many teeth need to be replaced?
• How many implants would be required?
• What is the total cost, including x-rays, crowns, and appointments?
• How old are you and how long can you benefit from dentures or implants?
• Does your dental professional work with your insurance?
• Is he or she cognizant of your goals? 

While there are many considerations for both options, you will experience renewed confidence in your smile regardless of which one you choose. While dental implants offer a more permanent solution for missing teeth, dentures are less-intrusive and can still get you back to eating the foods you love.Every patient is unique and has different needs, so consult your dentist before making any decisions. If you have any questions, feel free to give Ideal Dental Solutions a call. We will work with you to determine the best treatment plan to fit your need and your budget. All of this info and more can be found at https://www.idealdentalsolutions.com/are-dental-implants-right-for-you/" At LADD Dental Group, we provide our patients with both options! We have highly trained general dentists and dental specialists that are board certified in both treatment modalities. At the end of the day, it really comes down to what is best for the individual patient, and that is the reason that we offer our patients the ability to choose what works best for their lifestyle. Give us a call today, and experience the LADD Dental difference!