Many of our patients with dentures complain of movement while speaking or eating. Some have sharp pain associated with the rocking movement. Most complain of an increasingly poor fit. Denture wearers can experience progressive bone loss that makes conventional dentures ever more difficult to wear. They often suffer from poor function and inadequate facial support. This adds years to their appearance and robs them of many of the basic joys people with good dental health and function take for granted.
Quality of life is dramatically improved for patients replacing their conventional dentures with an overdenture. The average person with teeth can have a bite force of 400 pounds per square inch. In contrast a denture wearer has only 25 pounds per square inch of bite pressure. This means eating a steak, an apple or pizza is difficult if not impossible for denture wearers. There is an option called an overdenture, which is simply a denture designed to seat over implants. The overdenture offers an improved biting surface or dimension, better function, and looks better than conventional dentures. It can be placed in the upper arch, lower arch or both. Overdentures can be supported by Root form dental implants allow the biting force to be increased fourfold. This means a patient can resume the normal diet they had all but forgotten. Best of all at no time during the procedure are you without teeth.
Dental implants are metal posts or frames that are surgically placed beneath your gums. One key advantage of implants is that they fuse to the jawbone, offering stable support to artificial teeth. Dentures, bridges or individual teeth mounted to the implants won’t slip or shift in your mouth…an especially important benefit when eating and speaking. This secure fit also helps replacement teeth feel more natural than conventional bridges or dentures. While nothing can take the place of a healthy set of teeth, it’s good to know you have some options in restoring your smile. Dental implants offer a feel and look very similar to natural, healthy teeth.
There are two types of dental implants. There is the subperiosteal dental implant and the endosseous (root form) dental implant.
A subperiosteal implant can be used if there is not enough bone present to support an endosteal implant. The subperiosteal implant is a metal frame that fits on the jawbone underneath the gums. As the gums heal, the implant becomes fixed to the jaw. Posts, which are attached to the implant frame, protrude through the gums and artificial teeth are attached to the posts.
Endosteal or root form implants extend into the jawbone like tooth roots. A sufficient amount of bone is required to support this type of implant. After the implants are placed the bone attaches to the implant in a process called osseointegration. Artificial teeth can be attached to the implant posts as individual crowns or grouped on a bridge or overdenture.
A Beautiful Marriage of Artistry, Skill and Technology
Cosmetic veneers look so natural because they reflect light like natural tooth enamel, while masking flaws and rejuvenating smiles. Veneers are very strong, thin porcelain shells that are bonded to natural teeth. They can be used to repair major chips and cover unattractive stains and fillings. Veneers can also be shaped to close gaps between teeth and, as an alternative to braces, correct the appearance of crowded or overlapped teeth. All of this takes quite a bit of artistry on Dr. Jirik’s part. We work hand in hand with our skilled lab technicians to ensure a natural looking smile. Natural teeth emit fluorescence under ultraviolet rays. Since natural enamel is translucent, it allows some of the inner light to shine through. Building in this translucence is an important factor in creating your natural-looking veneers. Conspicuous chiclet-like teeth are a thing of the past. It takes artistry, skill and modern technology to create the dramatic and lasting smile transformations that cosmetic veneers offer.
You’ve probably met someone with a dental implant and didn’t even realize it. Dental implants are completely natural looking and have enhanced hundreds of thousands of beautiful smiles. They are on the leading edge of technology and use special biomaterials.
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- Implants are artificial tooth roots which anchor to surrounding bone, that replacement teeth are attached to
- Replacement teeth are translucent, similar to natural enamel and are framed by your natural gum tissue
- Implants are long-lasting and reliable
- Implants can replace one tooth, rebuild an entire area of missing teeth and secure dentures
A bridge is a dental restoration that replaces or spans the space where one or more teeth have been lost. The loss of a tooth may cause your mouth to “sink” from loss of the bone that supported the tooth. Remaining teeth can also shift. The result may be lost function and a face that looks older than it should. A bridge helps support your lips and cheeks and helps maintain the natural shape of your face. If you are missing one or more teeth, you may be particularly self-conscious about your appearance. You may also have difficulty eating. A fixed bridge can be attached to natural teeth or dental implants. The benefits of this durable restoration are evident even for inconspicuous zones like your side or back teeth. A bridge will restore tooth function and appearance. Beautiful materials that reflect light like natural enamel ensure a completely confident and natural looking smile that everyone notices.
Does the number of in-store teeth whitening products provide genuine consumer choice? In reality many patients experience a bewildering jumble of products that don’t address your specific need… your unique smile. We can provide you with a whitening treatment that is both safe and effective. We can whiten accumulated surface stains created by everyday eating and drinking. We can meet the challenge of stains trapped in micro cracks on tooth surfaces. We can remove stains in the tooth structure caused by illness or medication. We can give you a brighter, whiter smile with Zoom 2!
Tobacco use and drinking red wine, dark berry juice, coffee, tea or cola over time shows in your smile. Teeth that are stained or discolored detract from your overall appearance, while sparkling white teeth can dramatically improve your face value. Whether your style is classically elegant or denim casual – a great smile, free of unsightly stains, improves the appearance of your teeth and adds a healthy glow to your overall appearance. Cosmetic whitening is one of the most requested treatments to remove stains and improve the overall appearance of your smile. The result is a bright, white smile that helps you project an image of youthful vitality. Whiter teeth create a more youthful appearance by brightening your entire face. People may notice something has changed about you….they’re just not sure what it is!
Image. It’s more than just your personal style…it’s an attitude that’s conveyed with high quality choices. Image is especially present in the quality of your smile. If your smile shows visible silver fillings or cracked and discolored teeth you can eliminate the imperfections with cosmetic crowns. A crown is a dental restoration that covers the entire tooth and provides the following solutions:
- Replaces a cracked or leaking filling
- Replaces a large filling
- Restores a fractured or broken tooth
- Covers a discolored or misshapen tooth
- Covers a dental implant
- Covers a tooth that has been treated with a root canal
If you have large, visible fillings when you speak or smile, crowns can eliminate the metallic look. They completely cover discolored and chipped teeth. Crowns can give the appearance of a perfect smile….without years of wearing braces.
Your smile is a big part of the image you reflect, it’s noticed before you even speak a word. If your teeth are stained or yellowed with age, they may have a negative impact on people around you and you may not even realize it. Advances in cosmetic dentistry have made it possible to offer several whitening treatment alternatives. Dr. Jirik is one of just a few dentists in Central Arkansas to offer the most advanced in-office whitening system called Zoom 2. In less than an hour your teeth will become dramatically whiter. Zoom 2 is ideal for anyone looking for immediate results. The procedure is simple. It begins with a preparation to cover your lips and gums, leaving only your teeth exposed. The whitening gel is applied and the Zoom light gently penetrates your teeth, breaking up stains and discoloration. Your smile can sparkle for years with proper care. Take your first step to feeling good, looking great and making a memorable impression every time you smile. You owe it to yourself!
