All-On-4 Implants Improve Your Smile

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Replace missing teeth with implants at family first dental

If you have missing teeth, you may not feel your best self. Having gaps in your smile can lower your confidence, make it difficult to eat your favorite foods, and cause other dental issues. At Family First Dental in Overland Park, KS, we can offer you a permanent solution to restore your smile to its original health. Today’s blog is here to explain what to expect when going in for this procedure.

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Implants Are A Sturdy Solution

An implant is a permanent structure that is secured to the jawbone. For patients who are missing a tooth – or multiple in a row – you may already have a prosthetic such as a bridge or dentures. This is a good temporary solution, but taking these out every day can be a hassle. All-on-4 offers the benefits of filling gaps in your smile and restrengthening your jawbone, and you will no longer need to remove your prosthetic piece every night to clean.

What To Know Before The Procedure

It is important to be well-informed about your options. Getting implants will take several appointments over the span of a few months. The first appointment is a consultation, where we will be sure that your jawbone is strong enough to support this permanent structure. Once this is determined, we will take an impression of your smile so that a lab can create the best pieces for you.

During the first surgery, you will be sedated before the remaining parts of the tooth are removed. Then the post will be secured. For all-on-4 implants, four of these posts will be secured. This will need time to fuse to your bone, so there will be a waiting period in between appointments. In the meantime, a temporary structure will be placed.

At the next appointment, the abutment and crown will be placed. For all-on-4 implants, the prosthetic piece that is secured in will be a denture. Now you can have a brand-new smile that will be permanent and secure.

Taking Care Of Yourself After Implants

The first few days after your surgery, you may experience soreness and some discomfort. This is a normal part of the healing process. If you feel extreme discomfort or pain, call your dentist.

Once healed, you can go about your normal life. There is no need to remove any prosthetics with an implant. Be sure to continue following a normal oral hygiene routine including brushing and flossing. Implants are there to restore missing teeth, so be sure to take care of your natural teeth as well. Visit your dentist twice a year for a checkup.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

If you’ve lost a significant number of teeth, speak with Dr. Cook about the possibility of All-On-4® implant dentures. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Family First Dental in Overland Park, KS, today at 913-381-2600.

Caring For Your Gums Is Caring For Your Health

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Family First Dental can help treat your gum disease

At Family First Dental in Overland Park, KS, we want all our patients to have a healthy smile. A healthy oral hygiene routine can prevent many health problems down the line. Today, we’re here to talk about one of these problems: gum disease. Also known as periodontitis, periodontal disease, or gingivitis, these phrases are all names for the same dental problem that can lead to tooth loss, gum inflammation, and many more problems.

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Preventing Gum Disease

Gum-related problems can cause physical health issues along with being a detriment to your oral health, which is why this is a major concern for dentists to watch out for. Those with gum disease are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular problems like heart attack or stroke.

The best defense against periodontitis is brushing and flossing regularly. By doing this, you eliminate the potential buildup of debris that can cause bacteria to grow in your mouth. Brushing alone does not do this, so be sure to floss daily as well to reach the areas in between your teeth. You should also visit your dentist twice a year, as these examinations can identify early signs of plaque buildup which leads to gum disease.

The earliest stage of gum disease is gingivitis. If you have red, swollen gums, bleed when you floss, or feel like you have bad breath even when brushing your teeth, you may be in the earliest stage of this problem. It is imperative that you see a dentist regularly, especially if you notice these symptoms. If caught early enough, there is a chance to treat this problem.

Treating Poor Periodontal Health

 If your gum problems were not caught in the early stages, there is still room to fix this problem. Each case will vary, but we can offer scaling and root planning to get a deep clean of the plaque and other build-up that is causing this situation.

Scaling, or Deep cleaning, varies from regular dental cleaning because we clean the areas underneath your gums.  This helps us remove harmful oral bacteria that lead to infection. In our office, we use ultrasonic and laser technology which allows us to break up plaque and tartar more effectively, and it is also more comfortable for the patient.

Root Planing is done during the same process of the deep cleaning. This part of the treatment encourages the gum tissue to reattach itself, preventing infection from spreading.

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your dentist may recommend that you get these deep cleanings done in a few sessions to ensure that all the plaque is removed.

Schedule Your Appointment Today!

Don’t disregard your gum health! If you are experiencing early symptoms of gum disease, give us a call at Family First Dental in Overland Park, KS, today at 913-381-2600.

Lasers Create Beautiful Gums

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Family First Lasers

A radiant smile not only adds to one’s physical appearance but also boosts confidence and leaves a lasting impression. Fortunately, our dental team utilizes the most advanced technology such as soft tissue lasers to promote optimal oral health. In this blog post, your experts at Family First Dental in Overland Park, KS, discuss how lasers can create a more beautiful smile while also reducing the risk of gum disease.

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Still Need to Fill That Cavity?

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family first cavities

Are you putting off that cavity due to dental anxiety or maybe some other reason like finances? Waiting too long to take care of decay will cause it to spread deeper into the tooth. As the cavity gets bigger more extensive treatment may be needed and the risk of losing your tooth also increases. In today’s blog, your team of dental experts at Family First Dental in Overland Park, KS, discusses ways to restore a damaged tooth.

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Is It Time To Talk About Teeth Whitening?

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Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Overland Park KS

Have you started to see that your teeth are growing duller or yellowed? If you have started to notice a change to the quality of your smile, take the time to speak with a trusted dental professional about what is happening. You may have a buildup of stains from the things that you eat and drink on a daily basis. These stains can be difficult to remove on your own, so take the time to meet with your dentist to learn about your options in teeth whitening treatment.

With our team of cosmetic dental experts at Family First Dental in Overland Park, KS, you have two powerful methods of improving the shade of your smile. Set aside some time to talk with Dr. Cook about the changes that you have seen, and learn more about your condition. Those over-the-counter products may be ineffective at whitening your teeth, so before you reach for them, meet with a dentist for a cleaning and examination. Make the effort to keep your oral health front and center during your teeth whitening process!

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A Fresh Start With A Back-To-School Checkup

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Child orange Overland Park KS

If your little one has just started classes, have you made sure that they have everything that they need to make the year a success? Along with all of the pencils and notebooks for their fall semester, it may be time for their next semiannual examination and cleaning with their dentist. Just like you do, your child needs to see an oral health professional once every six months, and some smiles need a little extra care with an accelerated schedule.

With our team of family dental experts in Overland Park, KS, you have the opportunity to start their school year off on the right foot with a checkup. By scheduling these vital visits during this time of the year, you can keep them on a healthy timeline of preventive dental care. Since their semiannual checkup begins with a dedicated cleaning of their smile, you can give them a fresher feeling as they walk back into class. If it has been longer than six months since your last visit, it is time for your next appointment, as well!

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A Private Alignment Solution Through Invisalign®

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Headphones Overland Park KSWhen your smile is not at the level of quality that you would like to see, it can affect many different aspects of your life. After all, as humans, we are incredibly social creatures, and we tend to pick up on things like that during first impressions. If it is your alignment that is causing you trouble, then your condition can impact more than just your appearance, as well.

With Invisalign® clear aligner therapy treatment from our team of dedicated cosmetic dentistry experts in Overland Park, KS, you can make positive moves in improving your smile. This method of treatment uses a nearly invisible set of BPA-free aligner trays to gently, yet effectively, adjust your alignment. During your treatment, you will change out your progressive trays with a new set as you move closer to your cosmetic smile goal. With clear aligner treatment, you can improve the appearance of your smile in a more private way, giving you the opportunity to let your results do the talking! (more…)

An Appliance To Help Prevent Teeth Grinding

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Upset young man holds his cheek

If you wake up feeling tired with a constant soreness in your face or jaw, you may be suffering from a condition called bruxism. This habit often occurs unconsciously or when you are asleep. The repetitive grinding and clenching of your jaw back and forth begins to wear away at your smile’s enamel while sending extreme force into the joint of your jaw throughout the night. As the damage to your teeth progresses, you become susceptible to a host of additional oral health problems without treatment. By speaking to your dentist, you can receive a treatment to help safeguard your smile and relieve your pain.

At your Overland Park, KS, dental practice, we can provide a nonsurgical solution for protecting your teeth while you sleep. By designing a custom BPA-free mouth guard to wear at night, you can prevent each row of teeth from rubbing against one another to protect your enamel. Enjoy waking up feeling refreshed with an appliance that takes the stress off of your jaw. We can also explore cosmetic and restorative treatments to help you repair your smile after halting your nightly habit.

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