Tag: missing teeth

Drinking Enough Water?

Posted on by MillenSmiles_aDmEEN

Do you drink enough water? No, really. Do you try to get as many ounces per day as you can, or do you drink a little here and there? If you’re not getting enough, you could be dehydrated – which can cause stress on every cell, organ, and system of your body – including your mouth. Dry mouth affects everyone at some point in their life, and the majority of dry mouth cases are because individuals are just not drinking enough. If you’re not getting enough water and have the chronic feeling of cotton mouth, you are at risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Mouth?

Well, the first symptom of dry mouth is feeling thirsty, a dry, sticky feeling in the mouth, burning or tingling in the mouth or tongue and chapped lips that won’t seem to go away no matter how much you moisturize. Additionally, chronic dry mouth can cause bad breath and even difficulty swallowing, speaking, and chewing.

If dry mouth persists, it can even alter how food tastes.

The Risks of Dry Mouth

Like we mentioned, chronic dry mouth can leave you at risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease because saliva has a critical role in the health of your mouth; it contains the minerals you need to fortify your teeth against enamel erosion and also helps to wash away bacteria and sticky plaque.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Dry Mouth?

The first thing you can do is drink enough water. A good rule of -thumb is to divide your weight in half to get the target number of ounces you should consume each day.

Chew sugar-free gum. Gum helps to keep the production of saliva going. Select a brand with Xylitol instead of sugar.

Limit caffeine and alcohol consumption. These substances cause further dehydration.

Practice good oral hygiene. This will keep your mouth healthy despite dry conditions.

Talk to Dr. Korous. There may be mouth rinses or mouthwashes available to alleviate uncomfortable symptoms.

Do you struggle with chronic dry mouth? Let Dr. Korous know! Call us today at 972-987-4899 to make an appointment to talk about it.

The Power of PRP

Posted on by MillenSmiles_aDmEEN

You may have heard of PRP, aka platelet-rich plasma, for facials, hair restoration, and joint repair, but did you know PRP is increasing in popularity in dentistry, too?

It’s true. This powerful substance is full of growth factors, antibodies, and healing power. Millennium Smiles uses PRP in patients after tooth extractions to speed healing and reduce the risk of infection and dry sockets. Learn more about PRP in this blog.

What Exactly Is PRP?

Image of PRP before being during dental extraction.

PRP is the plasma byproduct of blood rich in platelets, the tiny blood cells that play a big role in clotting. PRP has been used for years in a variety of hospital settings, but only recently, has become more mainstream for cosmetic, regenerative medicine, and dental uses.

PRP’s popularity and availability have increased in recent years because new technology allows for the easy harvest of platelets from just a few vials of blood.

Why Is PRP So Beneficial After Extractions?

PRP has some significant benefits. For one, it allows the body to use its natural healing power. It also speeds up healing, because the growth factors and antibodies found in PRP signal the body to send blood, oxygen and other nutrients to the wound site. PRP also tells the stem cells in the area of the wound to wake up and start regenerating into new tissue. In fact, within just 30 minutes after an extraction, blood vessels and cells are growing into a web-like structure in the wound to protect the jaw bone from being exposed.

Another reason that PRP is so beneficial after dental extractions is that PRP also contains BMP or bone morphogenic protein. BMP plays a critical role in forming new bone tissue, which helps to keep the area of the extraction in good health and can potentially mean patients can skip bone grafts if their jaw is healthy enough to accommodate a dental implant.

Other Benefits of PRP

It’s safe. PRP comes directly from the patient’s own blood, and therefore cannot transmit disease or be rejected by the immune system.

It’s convenient. There is no need to go to a laboratory or hospital to have your PRP generated. Dr. Korous has the state-of-the-art technology to take a small amount of your blood and process it into PRP in the office in about 20 minutes.

It’s powerful. PRP can speed up healing time and heal tissues quickly compared to conventional membrane usage in dental extractions.

For more information about PRP and its benefits, call Millennium Smiles at 972-987-4899.

Don’t Live with Tooth Loss – Think About Dental Implants

Posted on by MillenSmiles_aDmEEN

Did you know that over 70 percent of adults over the age of 35 have lost one more of their permanent teeth? It’s true. Tooth loss is a widespread problem in Frisco, Little Elm, and the rest of the United States and happens due to a variety of factors, including tooth decay, gum disease, and injury. If you’ve lost a tooth for whatever reason, you should consider a dental implant from Millennium Smiles.

Why Do I Need a Dental Implant?

If you’re missing a tooth, it does more than changing the appearance of your smile; it also changes the physical makeup of your mouth and can also leave you at risk of losing more teeth. This is because when you bite down or chew, the pressure of these activities stimulates nerves and blood flow to the opposite jaw, and increased blood flow helps to keep teeth healthy. If there is nothing in the space, the tooth across from the gap does not get the blood flow and oxygen needed for survival. Without the oxygen, blood and other nutrients, the tooth can loosen and fall out.

Losing a tooth can also cause the teeth around that space to shift, which also means changes to your bite. When your bite changes, the stress on your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) increases, which can lead to pain, loss of function, and TMJD.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

Not only do dental implants play a role in filling the space of a missing tooth to keep your bite intact and your teeth healthy, but dental implants are also made of high-quality, durable porcelain that is very similar to tooth enamel. This means you can brush, floss, bite and chew just like you would with a natural tooth.

Dental implants are long-lasting, which means you may not ever need to have them replaced. This gives dental implants a significant advantage over other tooth replacement options such like bridges, partials, and dentures. Dental bridges also require that the teeth on either side of the gap be shaved down to make room for the restoration – implants do not. Dentures and partials can fill the space but can be uncomfortable, make chewing and speaking difficult, and wear out over time, which means you may need several replacements.

Lastly, dental implants provide the aesthetic and emotional benefits of restoring your smile. Dr. Korous is an expert in smile restoration and can help give you a smile you deserve.

Are you thinking about a dental implant or smile restoration? We would love to talk to you. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Korous today by calling Millennium Smiles at 972-987-4899.

Dental Implants For A Natural Looking Smile

Posted on by MillenSmiles_aDmEEN

Missing one or more teeth can have a negative impact on your daily life and can adversely affect your speech, comfort, and self-esteem. Eventually, missing teeth can lead to more complex dental problems such as the jawbone shrinking, shifting of remaining teeth, periodontal disease, and more. Replacing a missing tooth, or teeth will help avoid these additional dental problems.

There are many treatment options for tooth replacement. At Millennium Smiles, we offer dentures, dental bridges, and dental implants as treatment options for missing teeth. Dental implants are highly recommended because they provide a natural looking and functioning smile.

A dental implant is a biocompatible titanium post that is surgically implanted into your jawbone, replacing the root of a missing tooth. When a tooth is lost, bone loss will eventually occur because the root is no longer stimulating and stabilizing the bone. A dental implant joins directly to the jawbone and functions like the original root structure.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer many advantages and benefits compared to other treatment options.

  • 95% or higher success rate among patients.
  • Improved oral and overall health.
  • Durability and long-term solution.
  • Improved appearance of the smile.
  • No worry of slippage or dentures “falling out”.
  • Improve bone and gum health.
  • Immediate results.
  • No additional daily maintenance.

The process begins with a consultation and comprehensive exam with your Frisco restorative dentist to plan treatment phases and perform any necessary diagnostics. Our team will then coordinate the surgical phase with a local oral surgeon to ensure consistency of care for implantation of the post. The final step is restoration. About 3-6 months after implantation, you will return to our Frisco office to have your custom made dental crown placed on the post.

Dental implants are a great solution for replacing missing teeth. They can be used to replace a single tooth or to secure a denture for results that are as close to your natural teeth as possible.

‘The cost of dental implants varies from patient to patient and is based on number and location of implants, as well as any additional treatment necessary to restore overall oral health. While most dental implants procedures are not covered by insurance, we will submit all billing information to your insurance company to allow for maximum reimbursement. We also offer flexible payment options to make the treatment more affordable.

Whether you have one or several missing teeth, dental implants can be the best choice for a long-lasting, worry-free solution. Dental implants give patients the most lifelike replacement for missing teeth with the ability to brush, eat, speak, and smile confidently!

At Millennium Smiles, we want to help restore your smile! To find out if you are a candidate for dental implants in Frisco or Little Elm, schedule an appointment by calling 972-987-4899. Our team will perform a comprehensive evaluation and recommend the best treatment option for you!

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