How Long Does It Take to Get a Dental Implant?

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If you have one or more teeth that can’t be saved, dental implants could be the solution. A dental implant procedure replaces missing or extracted teeth with teeth that are artificial. However, these prosthetic teeth look and function just like their natural counterparts. Nobody can tell you’re wearing a dental implant unless you let them in on the secret. Dental implants are more permanent than full or partial dentures because you don’t have to take them in and out for cleaning or sleeping. Your dentist in Crosby, MN, can help you learn more about the dental implant procedure.

More About Dental Implants

Unlike some dental procedures, dental implants require multiple visits to your dentist and take several months to complete, but there are good reasons why. Initially, your dentist will sit down with you to discuss your goals for smile repair. Then they’ll perform an exam and run diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, to see if dental implants are the best solution. As part of your treatment, your dental professional may take impressions of the inside of your mouth using a clay-like substance. This will later be sent to the lab for fabrication.

During a second visit, your dentist may implant the post that will hold the prosthetic tooth. Often, the post is made of titanium. It’s surgically implanted through the gum and into the jawbone where the new tooth will eventually be added. This post must have sufficient time to bond, or osseointegrate, with the jawbone. This can take up to six months.

Adding the Artificial Tooth

At a subsequent dental visit, you’ll receive the abutment that acts as a sort of cap over the titanium post. The abutment serves as the core of the artificial tooth. Once the natural-looking tooth is placed over the abutment, your dental implant is complete. But your dentist may do the abutment, the fitting, and the placing of the implant over one or more visits.

All-in-all, the time required to have a dental implant procedure may take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. But the commitment is well worth it for a perfectly improved smile. For more about dental implants in Crosby, MN, call River Oaks Dental today.

3 Signs of Lip Tie in Infants

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Lip tie is a condition that involves a thicker or stiffer piece of soft tissue just behind the upper lip. Even though lip tie is not all that common, this condition affects some infants. Lip tie or tongue tie treatment in Crosby, MN is performed by qualified practitioners like us at River Oaks Dental. Take a look at some signs your infant may have lip tie that needs to be treated.

Difficulty “latching on” while breastfeeding

The change in the tissue behind the upper lip can sometimes make it difficult for the infant to latch on properly while breastfeeding. In a lot of cases, mothers with an infant with a lip tie will give up on breastfeeding soon after birth because there can be so much difficulty. You may even notice that even if your child does latch on, they break away quickly and may make a slight clicking noise while trying to suckle.

Problems with gas and reflux due to air intake while feeding

Infants with lip ties often have a difficult time keeping their lips enclosed around the nipple while feeding. This can be more noticeable while breastfeeding, but may even generate problems with a standard bottle. Unfortunately, this can also mean more air intake while feeding. For this reason, infants that have the condition often struggle with things like colic, excessive gas, and even reflux.

Milk slipping from the mouth while feeding

Milk leakage while feeding can occur with all infants. However, infants with either a lip or tongue tie have a harder time keeping milk in their mouths while feeding. You may notice there is always a small, steady stream from the corner of the mouth. Or, you may even notice that your baby’s feedings seem to last a long time, even if you don’t immediately notice the spillage.

Talk to a Crosby, MN Dentist If You Suspect Your Baby Has Lip Tie

The procedure to correct lip tie is simple and the tissue heals quickly. However, it is best to get the problem treated early by a Crosby, MN dentist to avoid prolonged issues due to issues with feeding. Reach out to us at River Oaks Dental to schedule an appointment if you suspect your infant has a lip tie.

What to Expect During Your Root Canal

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Don’t panic because your dentist in Aitkin, MN, mentioned a root canal. While the term ‘root canal’ sounds foreboding, it’s really not. Your dentist isn’t planning to dig a channel through your gums to the root of your tooth. Rather, he’s planning a simple procedure that saves your tooth, relieves your pain, and restores your smile. Here’s everything you need to know about root canals.

Your Root Canal Can Be Performed Right in Your Dentist’s Office

First, your dentist or endodontist will administer an anesthetic to ensure there’s no pain associated with your procedure. Next, they’ll remove any decay and make an opening in your tooth that allows them to access the pulp chamber. Any disease or infection found in the pulp chamber will be removed, and the chamber itself and any root canals that lead to it will be thoroughly flushed and cleaned. Once the canals are clean and dry, your dentist will fill them with a rubber compound and add a filling as a cap. At a subsequent visit, your dentist may place a crown over the tooth to stabilize its structure. At this point, your root canal is complete, and your tooth has been saved. If you previously had pain or swelling from infection, your root canal will eliminate it.

Follow-Up Care for Your Root Canal

Your tooth may be sensitive for a while following your root canal, but this will clear up over time. Usually, over-the-counter pain medications can mask any discomfort you might experience following a root canal. You’ll need to follow-up with your dental professional after your procedure, however, so they can ensure everything is going well with your restored tooth. Otherwise, there are usually no special instructions to follow after having a root canal.

If you’re struggling with a hole in your tooth, with pain or swelling in your face or neck, or with a serious toothache, these may be signs you need a root canal in Aitkin, MN. Call River Oaks Dental right away to schedule a consultation and X-rays. By diagnosing and treating your condition early, we may be able to save your tooth.