Annapolis dentist

From time to time people with removable partial plates are forced to be without their partial.  Whether it has been removed for routine cleaning, a medical procedure, or has been sent to a dental lab overnight, patients inevitably have to do without it for periods of time. When one or more of your front teeth are replaced by that partial, it is embarrassing to be seen without your front teeth.  It is ideal not to have front teeth included as part of a partial plate so that your smile is unaffected for those times when it is not in place.

The dental patient in this video has an upper removable partial plate that replaces one front tooth and a few others in the back. By inserting a mini dental implant and restoring it with a crown we were able to remove the front tooth off of the existing partial so that it just replaces missing back teeth. The entire procedure took two visits, 2 weeks apart, with a combined chair time of 90 minutes.  The dental visits were extremely easy for the patient. This patient did NOT need general anesthesia, incisions, stitches, and virtually needed no recovery. For the first time in years this Annapolis patient is not missing a front tooth! He is amazed that the mini implant restored with a porcelain crown feels and functions like a natural tooth.

Annapolis Dental Implant Patient Before Procedure

Annapolis dental implant patient after restoring mini implant with a porcelain crown.

With the most recent advances in dental implants, more patients are candidates for permanent tooth replacement. Some patients do not have enough bone in their jaws to place the larger, traditional implants while most patients have sufficient bone mass for placement of a tiny minimally invasive dental implant. Mini implants withstand normal chewing forces just like natural teeth.

Dr. Clayton McCarl, Dr. Jay McCarl and Dr. David McCarl have attended dental implant mini-residency programs and are certified in treatment planning, case selection, implant placement protocol and restorative techniques for both traditional and minimally invasive dental implants.

Over 75 percent of Americans over the age of 35 have some form of gingivitis or gum disease.

Gum disease and gingivitis are associated with heart disease, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, respiratory disease and pregnancy complications. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums is caused by an accumulation of plaque (soft, sticky, colorless bacteria) above the gum line which often causes red, swollen and tender gums that may bleed when you brush. Some symptoms of gingivitis are not painful, so if you do not visit your dentist at least every six months, gingivitis may remain undiagnosed and untreated. At this early stage of gum disease, damage can be reversed because gingivitis does not affect the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place.

During the earliest stage of Periodontitis, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are already irreversibly damaged. “Pockets” which trap food and plaque form below your gum line. Proper dental treatment and improved home care can usually help prevent further damage. When periodontitis advances, the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed, which causes teeth to shift and loosen. At this stage, even aggressive treatment may not be able to save your teeth and they may need to be removed.

Prevention is the best strategy!
The key to preventing gingivitis and periodontitis is to remove the plaque and bacteria that accumulate on your teeth. Regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings are extremely important.

Good at-home oral hygiene is also crucial. You can help prevent gingivitis by brushing teeth twice a day and daily flossing to clean in between teeth where your tooth brush cannot reach.

When necessary our dental hygienists treat periodontitis with scaling or planing techniques to loosen and remove the plaque and bacteria in the pockets. Following scaling or professional cleaning, it is vital to maintain good brushing and flossing habits.  All  of our dentists and dental hygienists at McCarl Dental Group are experts in the prevention and treatment of gum disease.  McCarl dentists were voted Top Annapolis Dentists!