(217) 546-3333Advanced Dental Care of Springfield Blog
Dental Implants: A Natural Alternative to Dentures
February 17, 2014
Are you one of the thousands of people wearing dentures which do not fit correctly? Dentures which have not been fit properly can cause discomfort. While many are happy with the look and feel of their dentures, there is a long-lasting, more natural looking alternative. If you are wearing dentures at the moment and would like a change, dental implants may be right for you.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a replacement tooth root that is fixed into the jaw bone and acts as a foundation to support dental prosthetics. When implants are installed, your dentist will drill small holes into the jawbone, and position small, threaded rods made from titanium. When the process has been completed, the dental implants will be tightened and fixed into place so that they will not move. Dental implants are positioned where teeth are missing so that they can act as a foundation for a dental crown or bridge which can be attached to the threaded rod.
There are many benefits of using dental implants. Most importantly, they form a firm foundation for affixing permanent replacement teeth. Because the teeth are permanent, eating and speaking become easier. Dental implants firmly rooted in the jaw, look, and act just as your natural teeth. Titanium rods do not cause allergic reactions and are therefore a great option to those who have sensitivity to those materials. While implants can cost more then dentures, the long-lasting, durable and natural look of them makes them worth the investment. You will smile, eat, and speak as naturally just as if you had all of your original teeth.
If you have poorly fitted dentures, lost or damaged teeth and would like to know more about how dental implants can benefit you, make an appointment by calling Dr. Matt VanderMolen at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield today at 217-717-4551.
Be Sure to Register for Our Next FREE Educational Seminar About Dental Implants! Get Details Here.
Porcelain Veneers: Four Things to Know
February 10, 2014
4 Things You Should Know About Porcelain Veneers
If you have tooth discoloration, crooked, or poorly spaced teeth, porcelain veneers can provide an effective solution. Veneers are thin layers of ceramic that are glued to the tooth surface and can change the size, shape, and color of your tooth.
A few things to know about porcelain veneers:
1. Porcelain veneers can create an entire smile makeover.
Because veneers are glued to your tooth surface, they can completely refurbish imperfect teeth and make your teeth look naturally beautiful. Chips and gaps can be corrected with the help of veneers. Veneer placement is easy and does not require surgery, so it is easy to get your dream smile.
2. Porcelain veneers can usually be placed within a week.
The installation of porcelain veneers is simple. The first step is preparing the natural teeth which are going to be capped. The tooth material is reduced to make space to accommodate the veneer. An impression is created from a mold and sent to a lab for a custom set of veneers. Your dentist will match the shade of your porcelain veneers to that of your existing teeth. Once fabricated, your dentist can attach them to your teeth in just one visit.
3. Porcelain veneers can whiten and straighten the appearance of your teeth.
Veneers can be used to cover teeth that have become dark or that have been stained by food, smoking or improper care. Because the veneers are porcelain, they will not stain, creating a lasting smile that will stay sparkling white. Minor alignment issues can also be corrected with the assistance of veneers, creating that perfect smile without using braces.
4. Porcelain veneers must be maintained.
While veneers are strong enough to endure regular eating activities, you should still avoid chewing on ice, nail biting, and grinding of teeth. Hard surfaces can cause veneers to get chipped or cracked. Broken veneers need to be removed and replaced.
To learn more about how veneers can leave you with a natural looking, beautiful smile, call the friendly staff at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, 217-717-4551. Make an appointment with Dr. Matt VanderMolen today.
Operation Gratitude Was a HUGE Success
February 5, 2014
We recently received this letter from Operation Gratitude regarding our contribution with the Candy Buyback we did last year.
Included in the letter was a quote from one of the servicemen that received a package from our contribution. He said, “It’s Christmas morning over here in Kuwait, and your box is the only present I got to open today and let me tell you – I was all smiles and teared up a couple times with what those wonderful, beautiful kids wrote.”
You can read the rest by clicking on the image, but in a nutshell, it was VERY MUCH appreciated.
THANK YOU again for helping make our involvement in this event such a huge success!
Laugh Out Loud in 2014
January 28, 2014
By Dr. Matt VanderMolen
Advanced Dental Care of Springfield
Here is a story that is educational and motivational. I sincerely hope it will help you, a friend, or a loved one to laugh out loud in 2014.
Jane liked to bowl and always scored well. She joined a league, and she was on a winning team. Her teammates were happy to have such a high scorer on their team. But they found Jane to be too serious, and even unfriendly, while they played. She rarely smiled or laughed. They also found her to be antisocial because she always said “no” to their invitations to go out for a bite to eat after they bowled. After several rejections to their invitations, her teammates quit asking.
Was Jane really a negative and antisocial person? Years ago, in another community, Jane was the captain of her bowling team. She was always smiling and quick to shout out words of encouragement to her teammates – even to the opposing team bowlers! She usually organized all the parties and celebrations.
So what happened? Jane lost her teeth to gum disease. She got dentures that looked like dentures – not how her real teeth used to be. The lower denture was very loose and hard to manage. She had to limit herself to eating softer foods. Jane was embarrassed that she had lost her teeth, and she was embarrassed about her smile. She also was highly fearful of what embarrassing thing might happen while she ate in front of other people. She suspected her current bowling teammates thought she wasn’t very pleasant and antisocial. This hurt her because they were nice people.
Jane’s daughter encouraged her to see the dentist. She told Jane a lot of things had changed in dentistry in the past twelve years since she had her teeth out. Jane decided to come into the office and found there had indeed been some changes! She was greeted with warm and friendly smiles. She was embarrassed it had been so long since she had been to the dentist, but the dental staff seemed genuinely happy to see her and interested in how they could help her. She learned how her teeth could be replaced so her smile would look natural again. She learned that when you lose teeth you also lose bone in your jaw as well. She also learned how the bone loss made the lower part of her face shrink and how that made the corners of her mouth pull down into a frown.
Thankfully, she was offered the latest dental implant technology to bring back her smile. Her frown lines were gone, and her face looked ten years younger. On top of all these benefits, she found out about dental implants. Dental implants could be placed in her jaws in a way that would allow her dentures to actually snap into place and stay put. No more worries about loose dentures. Jane could now eat what she wanted instead of only eating what loose-fitting dentures would allow.
Jane is back to being the happy extrovert she used to be, and everyone on her bowling team is impressed with the transformation. Jane is laughing out loud and excited to see what 2014 will bring. Go Jane!
As a dentist, I am frustrated by how little the general population knows about what modern dentistry has to offer. There are far too many “Janes” out there who are needlessly, quietly suffering. Your smile defines you. You adapt to your smile. If your smile is broken, you adapt to it and become broken as a person. The good news is broken smiles can be fixed.
Dentistry has amazing technologies and treatments to off
er, and I want everyone to know most everyone can have a great smile. Let me repeat that. Most everyone can have a great smile.
If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, come see what you are missing. At Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, we would be happy to have our fantastic staff show you our amazing technologies and the awesome results we achieve for our patients. There has never been a better time to see a dentist. Call 217-546-3333 or visit us at www.SmileSpringfield.com.
Implant Dentistry: Preserving Natural Dentition
January 27, 2014
Preserving natural dentition
Dental implants have become one of the most comfortable and effective means of tooth replacement. The use of dental implants has become widespread because of the excellent aesthetic and functional properties they offer. Among the numerous benefits of dental implants, the most important is the preservation of natural dentition, or the natural array of the teeth.
When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone loses support from the tooth and can undergo resorption, or bone loss. When a dental implant is placed into the same socket as the missing tooth, it provides support for the jawbone, helping to prevent unnecessary bone loss.
Tooth loss also creates an imbalance in the dental occlusion. The teeth that are near the missing tooth become functionally compromised. The rest of the teeth can drift, causing unnatural gaps between them. Food particles and debris can get trapped in these gaps and become difficult to remove. Trapped food particles can lead to tooth decay, gum disease or more serious dental problems if they are not treated correctly. Proper oral hygiene can become difficult when teeth lose their natural alignment, thus increasing the chances of periodontal disease. Dental implants can prevent these problems by providing a natural, functional replacement for the missing tooth.
In some other options for teeth restoration, such as bridges, the integrity of neighboring teeth can be adversely affected. This is mainly due to the fact that they derive their support from the adjacent teeth. The periodontal ligament and the bone of the adjacent teeth used as support have to bear extra stress which, over time, weakens them. This can eventually lead to loss of support teeth. Dental implants are inserted directly into the bone so they do not require support from the neighboring teeth. They function independently and look similar to your other teeth, leaving you with a natural, healthy smile.
Are you interested in learning more about dental implants? Dr. Matt VanderMolen and our staff would be happy to answer your questions. Call and make an appointment at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield today, 217-717-4551.