Your new smile has the potential to last a lifetime if you take adequate care. Thankfully, there are a multitude of great tools available at your local drug store that can help you get the most from your dental implants. Regardless, if you have a single dental implant, a dental implant bridge or All-on-4 complete arch, it is vital that you brush, floss, swish and receive regular oral health checkups to maximize your smile. Interdental brushes for instance can revolutionize the fresh, clean feeling in between your teeth. Portable and easy to use, these are the perfect addition to your oral hygiene routine. Learn more about the best ways to keep your teeth clean:

Care for your dental implants just as well as you would care for your natural teeth. Thorough oral hygiene is necessary to prevent diseases around the implants. With proper home care and regular professional maintenance, you can keep your new teeth throughout life. See more at TePe

Let’s Discuss Oral Health Consequences

The team at Harrell Dental Implant Center hopes that every client will take a proactive approach when it comes to maintaining their dental implants. For many, dental implant therapy provides a kind of “second chance for your smile.” If you are receiving dental implants due to previous poor oral hygiene, it is especially vital to learn from the past and stay proactive this time around. Preventing infection of any kind within your mouth is key.

As with natural teeth, the goal of oral hygiene is to prevent infection. If the mucosal tissue is infected around the implant, the diagnosis is peri-implant mucositis, or simply mucositis. This is similar to gingivitis in that the clinical signs are the same: redness, edema, and bleeding, but no sign of bone resorption.¹ If there is loss of supporting bone, this is referred to as peri-implantitis.² Mucositis occurs in approximately 80% of subjects (50% of sites), and peri-implantitis occurs in between 28% and 56% (12% to 40% of sites).³

A number of questions can be asked in regard to the high incidence of infection:

• Is the patient adhering to the maintenance schedule and home-care regimen?
• Was there a comprehensive treatment plan that addressed risk and contraindications?
• Was the prosthetic replacement too difficult to clean or poorly designed?
• Was the patient provided the tools for success? See more at Dental Aegis

Are You Maintaining a Proper Dental Checkup Schedule?

It can be easy to lose track of time and carry on with our busy lives. Unfortunately, many people do not discover they have an issue with their dental implants until they experience discomfort, pain or bleeding. It is easy to avoid the uncomfortable…simply stay on top of your regular dental checkups! Discover more ways to avoid preventable issues below.

Daily Care and Cleaning

Just as normal teeth need proper cleaning, dental implants need their share of cleaning. Dental implants sometimes need more attention because a dental biofilm can develop on it. Dental biofilm is a yellowish plaque of disease causing bacteria which accumulate on the surface and can be very dangerous for implants. Regular brushing twice daily with a soft and non-abrasive brush whether sonic, electric or manual is a good way to keep your implants clean. A Nylon made interdental brush is also very effective in cleaning around hard to reach implant areas. These brushes can also be used with anti-bacterial dental gel. Special type of implant floss is also beneficial for preserving healthy implants.

Look into Extra Care

You can actually buy extra tools and implements for your implants after having a consultation with your dental hygienist. There are some great products available to clean implants.

• Interdental brushes: Interdental brushes come in different sizes and you have to use one that fits you by consulting your dentist. These brushes are very small and help to clean the sensitive areas between the implants.
• Outside and Inside Implant Brushes: Outside implant brushes are easy to use and clean your implants efficiently. You just simply brush the narrow brush along the gum line and clean your implants from the outside. Inside Implant brushes are angled and help to clean the inside sensitive area of the implant.
• Implant Floss and Round Brushes: Round implant brushes help to clean the area where the gums meet the implant. A special kind of implant floss helps to clean around implants and under bridges.
• Oral Irrigators: Oral irrigators are a very good investment. Used once or twice daily with a non-alcoholic rinse formula, they can eliminate plaque and biofilm permanently from your implants.

To learn more about dental implants, schedule a free consultation with Dr. Harrell. Harrell Dental Implant Center is the Charlotte area leader for dental implant procedures of all varieties. Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on the website to make your appointment. During your consultation a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place.

We understands how vital a healthy, bright smile is to your overall health and well-being. If you have missing or damaged teeth and want to regain your self-confidence and the ability to eat all your favorite foods and speak clearly, dental implants provide the only permanent solution. With an All-on-4 implant, we have the technology to secure your full upper or lower arch of teeth with four strategically placed dental implants. Here are  some key reasons to consider this breakthrough treatment option

Permanent Solution

It offers a permanent solution to missing teeth.

No Bone Loss

Wearing dentures can make you look bad. It can affect the bones, but with all-on-4 dental implants bone loss is prevented.

Low Maintenance

It becomes easy to take care of the implants just like the normal teeth. You can brush it, use floss to take care of it.

Saves Time

This treatment can be performed in a single day. It will not require many sittings. Therefore, you can get functional teeth in a day.

Appearance Improves

The All-on-4 dental implant procedure can help in preserving the jawbone and prevents the deterioration of the facial structure, usually associated with the loss of teeth and the root system. Read more at Health Talk

Harrell Dental Implant Center: Expertise You Can Rely On

You should only trust the care of your smile to the leading dental implant provider in the Charlotte region. Dr. Robert Harrell and his dedicated team have decades of experience restoring smiles with a variety of implant options. We would love to see you for a complimentary consultation so we can offer you a detailed treatment plan for your smile upgrade.

Prettau Implant: Your Best Bet

When it comes to installing an All-on-4 dentalimplant, nothing beats the Prettau Full Mouth Bridge. This state-of-the-art appliance is free of metal and ideal for anyone who is 

Here’s some background information about dental implants, the best tooth replacement option available, from fellow implant provider Dr. Stuart Froum in New York:

Are you self-conscious about missing teeth? If you answered yes, you aren’t alone. Today, around 42 percent of Americans over age 65 are missing all of their natural teeth. In fact, history shows that the way our teeth look and feel has long been a concern, and one we try to fix. We’ve all heard the stories of George Washington and his wooden dentures, right? Turns out it’s not quite true, but the fact of the matter is that he did have several sets made from “exotic” materials — and had mouth pain to go with them.

Thankfully, in these modern times, we have modern alternatives. One of our more popular services among patients who are missing teeth or have extensive tooth damage are dental implants. In fact, many folks — in New York and beyond — are embracing the opportunity to update their smiles through this procedure.

What is a dental implant?

Teeth have roots, and when they are missing (along with the tooth itself), an artificial one can take its place. These dental implants are inserted into the jaw to hold replacement teeth in the right spot. More from Dr. Froum

Dr. Robert Harrell and his skilled team at Harrell Dental Implant Center use various types of implants to address a variety of functional and/or aesthetic issues. Here’s a sampling:

• Broken, damaged or missing teeth
• More secure alternative compared to dentures
• Bridge replacement
• Gaps
• Loose or ill fitting dentures and subsequent bone loss
• To maintain jaw bone integrity after tooth loss
• To maintain facial bone structure and profile

Dental implants are nearly equal to natural teeth in their appearance, durability and strength. They are far and away the best tooth replacement option that has ever been available.

If you are self-conscious because you have missing teeth, wear dentures that are uncomfortable or don’t want to have good tooth structure removed to make a bridge, talk to your dentist/periodontists to see if dental implants are an option for you.

Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to blend in with your other teeth. They are an excellent long-term option for restoring your smile. In fact, the development and use of implants is one of the biggest advances in dentistry in the past 40 years. Dental implants are made up of titanium and other materials that are compatible with the human body. They are posts that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, where they function as a sturdy anchor for replacement teeth. Read more at Lifeology 101

Laying a Strong Foundation

Some clients who have been without their teeth for extended periods may have experienced bone loss in the jaw which prevents immediate placement of implants. A bone graft will be necessary in such cases to make implantation possible. More information about bone grafts for implants is available from dental health giant Colgate:

For this procedure to work, there must be enough bone in the jaw. The bone has to be strong enough to hold and support the implant. If there is not enough bone, it may need to be added with a procedure called bone augmentation or bone grafting. In addition, natural teeth and supporting tissues near where the implant will be placed must be in good health.

If the X-rays show that your jaw does not have enough bone to hold an implant, the dentist can discuss options for building up the bone. These may include bone grafting or bone distraction. Grafting involves taking bone from another source and adding it to your jaw. A graft could be your own bone, from your mouth, chin or hip. Processed cadaver, cow or pig bone also can be used. Another option is a synthetic material such as hydroxyapatite or calcium phosphate. Bone distraction is a surgical procedure at the site where more bone is needed. It causes the body to grow more bone by slowly pulling apart the existing bone using pins and screws.

If you need one of these procedures, it will take about 4 to 12 months for the bone to be ready for the implant.

First surgery — implant placement
Month 1 (if no bone grafting is necessary)
Month 5 (if bone grafting is necessary)

Once you have enough bone to successfully hold an implant, you will schedule the first procedure, which involves placing the implant or implants in your jaw. http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/implants/article/single-tooth-implants

Harrell Dental Implant Center is commited to helping every client have the functional, healthy smile they deserve. Let us help you regain your self-confidence with a beautiful smile restoration with dental implants. Contact us today to schedule your free smile consultation.

Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on the website to make your appointment. During your consultation a complimentary digital smile preview (an $95 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place. We look forward to hearing from you.

We have all seen the sunken facial profile of people who are missing their teeth, but did you know this look comes from years of wearing traditional dentures as well? It’s true; here’s why: In a healthy mouth, pressure from the roots of the teeth keep the jawbone strong. When teeth are missing, the bone slowly deteriorates from lack of stimulation. Since the jawbones support the structure of the face, when they’re gone the face appears sunken or hollow. Traditional dentures rest on top of the jawbone, so there’s no internal stimulation and the bone recedes with time.

The good news if you have missing or damaged teeth is you can avoid bone loss with dental implants. Because they are anchored in your jawbone like your natural teeth, implants keep the bone dense and strong. Dr. Robert Harrell at Harrell Dental Implant Center is the Charlotte area leader when it comes to restoring smiles and saving appearances with dental implants.

The following question, posted on the website realself.com, shows just how quickly the wrong dental decision can take its’ toll on your appearance:

Q: 1 year ago I got dentures and now my jaws are sunk in & top lip is so small! Can this be fixed?

A: When you remove teeth the jaw bone starts to shrink and the denture does not support the facial tissues as well.

The best approach is to have a cosmetic denture made (not cheap)  Plumpers can be added as needed to fill out the face.

Vertical dimension is critically important for a youthful look.  Cosmetic dentures can give you a virtual facelift in just a few visits.

Implants can maintain stability with a snap in denture and they help prevent future bone loss. — Ira Shapira, DDS, Chicago See more at RealSelf

HDIC is Charlotte’s Best Implant Provider

Losing your teeth — and the quality of your smile and facial appearance in the process — can be extremely upsetting. Thankfully, Harrell Dental Implant Center provides effective smile solutions to replace one, several or all of your teeth with a variety of implant options. The process begins with a consultation that lays out the entire process, including post-care instructions. You will be an active participant in your treatment. Feel secure knowing that you are in the hands of Charlotte’s top implant dentistry practice.

Get more facts about dental implants from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry:

Dental Implants for Tooth Replacement

Your teeth were designed to last a lifetime, but sometimes they don’t! Replacing missing teeth is important to your general health and to the health of your other teeth. Not only do you lose chewing ability when a tooth is lost, but unreplaced teeth can cause other teeth to be lost, tipped or crowded and create subsequent problems.

Also, there are the obvious problems of poor appearance and loss of self-esteem caused by one or more missing teeth. Dental implants should always be considered as an option to replace a failing or missing tooth. Replacement of lost teeth with dental implants has been used for treating missing teeth for more than 50 years and is recognized as an effective treatment choice. Treatment is considered more predictable than bridgework, resin bonded bridges and endodontic treatment. Continue reading at AAID

Outlining Your Treatment with Technology

Harrell Dental Implant Center utilizes the latest technology to assess the status of your smile. Digital X-rays confirm that you have enough bone to support your implants (we’ll discuss a bone graft if you don’t) and allow Dr. Harrell to plan their exact placement. You can feel confident knowing Dr. Harrell and his skilled team have mapped out your procedure from start to finish before you sit in the treatment chair.

Once you’re implants are placed, your smile will be restored, you will be able to eat all your favorite foods and concerns about about facial collapse will be laid to rest. You can learn more about the latter issue in the following article:

Facial Collapse

Many people don’t realize that once all your teeth extracted, your jawbone senses that it isn’t needed any more, and your body begins to dissolve away that bone in order to use the minerals elsewhere in your body. This jaw shrinkage is called Facial Collapse, and it takes about ten or twenty years to occur.

The effect is more serious in the lower jaw for a couple of reasons. First, you have the tongue attached on one side and the cheeks on the other, leaving only the thin ridge of bone on which the denture can rest, and making it so the denture will move around a lot. Second, that bony ridge often becomes so thin that it is actually sharp, leading to painful sores when the patient wears the denture. The patient has become a dental cripple.

Book Your Consultation Today

Make an appointment with Harrell Dental Implant Center today for your free dental consultation. Dr. Harrell will assess your needs, answer any questions you might have and show you your best course of treatment. Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on the website to schedule your appointment. During your visit a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place.