10 Mar 2023
15 Things You Didn’t Know About Dental Implants
If you have been thinking about getting dental implants, you have probably done a lot of reading on the subject. While there is plenty of information available online regarding things like tooth implant costs and the best materials to choose from, what about the lesser-known details? Here are the answers to 15 questions about tooth implants that you may have been wondering about.
15 Things You Might Not Know About Dental Implants
1. What Do Dental Implants Taste Like?
Just like healthy natural teeth, dental implants do not leave any bad taste in your mouth. They do not taste like anything on their own. However, they will make it easier for you to taste the food you eat. Many people who get dental implants after having severely decayed teeth removed also report that the procedure helped them get the foul taste of rotten teeth out of their mouth.
2. Can You Feel Dental Implants in Your Cheeks?
No. Dental implants do not have nerve receptors, so you cannot experience sensations through them. They are also anchored tightly into your jawbone, so you will not be able to feel them through the skin of your cheeks. They do not feel any different from natural teeth.
3. Can You Go Through a Metal Detector with Implants?
Yes. Dental implant screws and abutments are made from titanium, a type of metal that is not magnetic. This means that they will not set off any alarms when you pass through a metal detector at the airport or during any other type of security check.
4. Is It Hard to Floss with Full-Mouth Dental Implants?
It depends. Most full-mouth dental implants are done using prosthetics that replace the full arch of teeth, meaning that there is no need to floss between them. You can use a water flosser to easily floss the area between the implants and your natural gums. You can use the same method to floss between multiple implants on the same arch, but it will take longer.
5. Can Dental Implants Cause Tinnitus?
No, getting dental implants will not cause tinnitus. However, you may experience temporary tinnitus after getting the implants surgically placed. This is because the strong vibrations of the dental equipment required to perform the surgery may irritate the sensitive bones and tissues inside your ears.
6. Do Implants Change the Shape of Your Face?
In some cases, yes. People who receive full arch implants often see a big difference in their face shape because their facial structure is now supported by the implants and their bite. The same is true for people who have experienced significant bone loss or who have worn dentures for a long time. Getting implants can fill out the collapsed parts of the face and improve the contours of your cheeks and jawline. However, single-tooth implants will usually not significantly affect your face shape.
7. Can I Get Implants If I Have Osteoporosis?
Possibly, depending on your medical history. Some people take prescription medications for osteoporosis that make the implant placement procedure riskier. If you have this disease, contact your dentist and ask them if you would be a good candidate for Implants.
8. Can I Scuba Dive with Dental Implants?
Yes. Dental implants are made from titanium, a lightweight but extremely durable metal. Titanium can easily withstand the pressure changes you might experience during scuba diving.
9. Can Professional Athletes in Contact Sports Get Dental Implants?
Yes, as long as they take precautions to keep their implants safe while they are playing. Much like they may damage natural teeth, repeated mouth injuries can cause a dental implant to fail. Athletes with implants should wear a mouthguard while playing contact sports to keep their implants intact. They should also refrain from playing until the implants are fully healed and integrated into their bone.
10. Are Dental Implants Sensitive to Hot or Cold Food and Drink?
No. Dental implants do not have any nerves inside them, so they cannot transmit sensations of heat, cold, or pain. The materials they are made from are also very resistant to heat and cold, making it difficult for extreme temperatures to travel from the implants to a nerve.
11. Do Dental Implants Have Fake Gums on Them?
Yes, some dental implants do have fake gums attached to them. This is more common for full arch Implants than single implants. Attaching the fake gums to the implants allows for a more natural-looking result.
12. Do You Ever Need a Root Canal If You Have Full Mouth Dental Implants?
No. People who have full-mouth dental Implants have no remaining natural teeth. Since root canals are done to remove an infection in a natural tooth, it is impossible for a person with no teeth left to need one.
13. Can Dental Implants Change the Sound of My Singing Voice?
Possibly, yes. Any dental prosthetic may change the sound of your speaking or singing voice. However, implants are more likely to help you sing more clearly and easily than they are to hinder your performance. Having an implant placed to close a gap in your teeth gives your tongue something to make contact with when pronouncing words, a function that is vital to clear speech.
14. Do Implants Change a Person’s Sense of Smell or Taste?
Depending on how severe your oral health problems were previously, getting dental implants may significantly improve your sense of smell and taste. This is because removing decaying teeth or bulky dentures allows periodontal disease to clear up and removes any barriers between your food and your taste buds.
15. Can Dental Implants Affect Vision?
No, dental implants placed by a qualified and experienced dentist will not affect your vision. While these implants are placed very close to the nerves around your cheekbones, they will not disturb these nerves if they are properly placed.
Get Your Own High-Quality Tooth Implants in Mississauga
There is no need to worry about getting a dental implant to replace a missing tooth; countless Canadians have already done it and are very happy with the outcome. If you are ready to join them, contact Trillium Smile Dentistry today. Our dental clinic is one of Mississauga residents’ top choices for dental implants. Book your appointment now, and let us show you how easy it can be to get beautiful tooth implants that will last a lifetime.
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05 Mar 2023
A Parent’s Guide to Prevent Tooth Decay in Children
If you think your child is too young to worry about cavities, think again. Tooth decay can set in as soon as your child has a single tooth in their mouth.
While baby teeth eventually fall out and composite fillings can repair most of the damage that decay causes, it is still important to keep your children’s teeth healthy. Dental decay can cause severe pain and lead to life-threatening infections. Our guide will help you protect your child’s teeth from decay and set them up for better dental health for life.
Cause of Tooth Decay in Babies
Babies can develop tooth decay the same way adults do. When they consume sugary substances, including formula and breast milk, the bacteria in their mouths break those substances down into acids. These acids eat away at their tooth enamel and eventually cause tooth decay.
Babies’ teeth have very thin enamel, so they can develop dental cavities much more quickly than adults. This is especially likely to happen if a baby is given a bottle of milk or formula to take to bed each night. The sugars in the milk stay on their teeth all night, giving their oral bacteria plenty of time to cause damage.
Signs of Tooth Decay in Babies
Tooth discolouration is the most noticeable sign of tooth decay in babies. You may notice patches of yellow, brown, or even black on your baby’s teeth. Milky-looking white spots are also a bad sign. These spots may be signs of one of the earliest tooth decay stages.
Some babies with tooth decay will cry or express pain when their teeth are exposed to hot, cold, or sweet things. However, many do not. Always have a dentist examine your child’s teeth if you spot discolouration, even if they do not seem to be in pain.
How to Prevent Tooth Decay in Babies
- Take care of your baby’s teeth. Every night, wipe down your baby’s gums using a soft, clean cloth. When your baby has teeth, brush them with a soft infant’s toothbrush and a tiny smear of an approved toothpaste for their age. If two or more teeth touch, floss between them.
- Never put your baby to bed with a bottle, sippy cup, or food. Anything they consume during the night will sit on their teeth until morning, creating the ideal environment for bacteria to fester. The only safe thing for them to have overnight is water, as anything else will promote tooth decay.
- Teach your baby to drink from a regular cup as soon as possible. Regular cups cannot be easily carried around, making it less likely that your baby will continually sip from them.
- Limit the amount of sweet, sticky items your child eats and drinks, including juice. The less sugar they are exposed to, the lower their risk of tooth decay.
- Check whether your local water supply is fluoridated. If it is not, your child’s dentist may recommend supplemental fluoride treatments.
When Should Kids Start Brushing Their Teeth?
Most children can start brushing their own teeth as soon as they are able to spit out the toothpaste after – usually around 2 or 3 years old. However, you should supervise your child while brushing until you are confident that they can do it properly on their own. For most children, this will happen when they are around 8 years old.
Cause of Tooth Decay in Young Children
Just like babies and adults, children get tooth decay when the bacteria in their mouth feed on the carbohydrates in their food or drinks.
Young children are particularly vulnerable to decay because many of them eat diets high in sweet or starchy foods. In addition, their oral hygiene is usually not as good as that of adults. They may fail to brush their teeth thoroughly or skip doing it altogether. This is why it is important to supervise their brushing and flossing until they are old enough to do it themselves.
How to Prevent Tooth Decay in Young Children
- Promote Good Habits. Make sure your child understands that it is important to brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Create a routine that reinforces these habits for them.
- Make Sure Your Child Gets Enough Fluoride. Fluoride strengthens children’s teeth and allows their enamel to develop properly. If your town does not fluoridate its water, your dentist may prescribe fluoride tablets for you to mix with your child’s drinks.
- Limit Sugary Foods. Only give your child sugary foods as treats and give the treats to them with meals whenever possible.
Other Ways to Avoid Tooth Decay in Children
- Being a Role Model. Set a good example for your children by brushing and flossing daily, limiting your own sugar intake, and visiting the dentist with them regularly.
- Asthma Inhalers. If your child uses an inhaler, the powder in the inhaler may be exposing their teeth to acids that promote tooth decay. To prevent this, have your child swish their mouth out with water each time they use their inhaler. After 60 minutes have passed, have them brush their teeth.
- Medicines. Some medicines contain sugar to make them more palatable to ingest. Check the ingredients list of all medications your child takes for hidden sugars, and ask your pharmacist for sugar-free alternatives whenever you can. If your child must take medication that contains sugar, have them swish water around their mouth immediately afterwards and brush their teeth one hour later.
- Sports Drinks. Many sports drinks contain acids and sugars that promote tooth decay. Offer your child water instead of sports drinks whenever possible – it will quench their thirst without putting their teeth at risk.
For a Healthy Mouth at Any Age, Visit Trillium Smile Dentistry
Visiting the dentist every six months for a cleaning and check-up is a vital part of any oral health routine. Get your children used to these visits early by visiting our friendly staff here at Trillium Smile Dentistry. We will be happy to examine your child’s teeth for signs of decay, schedule them for white composite fillings to repair any damage we spot and give you tips on how to avoid future decay. Contact us today to book an appointment for your child and get them the quality oral health care they need to thrive.
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