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(281) 516-8575
Preventive dentistry if your foundation for a healthy smile. With regular cleanings and exams, small dental issues can be caught before they turn into large and costly problems. Preventive dental care along with a diligent at-home brushing and flossing routine can help prevent dental issues all together. It’s these small investments in your oral hygiene that lead to a beautiful, healthy smile.
Dental plaque is made up of more than 300 different types of bacteria.
Regular flossing allows you to clean an additional 40% of your tooth surface.
Over 90% of American adults have had a cavity at some point in their lives.
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More than 90% of dental implants are still in place after 30 years. This makes them the longest-lasting option for replacing one or more missing teeth. Contact us now to find out if implant dentistry in Ashburn & St. Mary’s County may be right for you.
To begin the process, you’ll need to come and see Dr. Thomas O’Shea to find out if you’re a good candidate for a dental implant. Your mouth must be healthy and your jaw bone must be strong enough to accommodate the implant. Non-smokers are also preferred, since smoking can cause serious complications while recovering after implant surgery.
If you’re approved, your next appointment at Academy Dental Care will be for your oral surgery. During this appointment, Dr. O’Shea will clean and numb your mouth, then create an opening in your jaw and gum tissue. Then, he will place a small metal implant in this location, clean and disinfect the area, then suture it closed so that it can heal properly.
It will take about 1-2 weeks to heal from your initial surgery. However, the titanium implant will take between 3-6 months to permanently bond with your jaw. This process is called “osseointegration.”
During your 3-6 month recovery period, you’ll come in for multiple follow ups so that Dr. O’Shea can check on your progress. He will also take images and impressions of your mouth and work with a dental lab to build your restoration, such as a dental crown.
Once your mouth has healed completely, you’ll come in for your last appointment at Academy Dental Care. Dr. O’Shea will check the fit of your restoration, then bond it into place permanently, restoring your smile.
Dental implants have a lot of unique benefits, particularly when compared to other restorative dentistry alternatives like dental bridges and partial dentures. First, they can easily last up to 30+ years, and most patients will keep their implants for the rest of their lives.
Dental implants also look and feel completely natural and will never shift or move. You can clean them by simply brushing and flossing normally, so they’re very convenient, too.
Beyond this, dental implants actually strengthen your jaw bone, unlike dentures or dental bridges. Like a natural tooth, your implant will put pressure on your jaw bone when you bite or chew. This prevents bone loss, which is a common problem after losing one or more teeth.
In contrast, bridges and dentures don’t attach to your jaw bone, so you may continue to lose bone mass even after replacing your teeth.
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