Dental implants have revolutionized the way that dentists treat tooth loss. Implants are the only dental restoration that replaces a missing tooth fully from root to crown, which has a number of benefits for your oral and general health. Dr. Joseph Touhalisky, a dentist in Findlay, OH, recommends dental implants for healthy patients looking to repair their smile after tooth loss.

Dental Implants in Findlay, OH

For most people, the cosmetic effects of tooth loss tend to take center stage, and understandably so. As one of the first things that people see when they look at you, your smile plays a major role in your identity and self-esteem. However, as anyone living with tooth loss can also attest, there are a number of health problems that come along with missing teeth, from gum disease to malnutrition. Dental implants kill two birds with one stone by restoring your oral health and giving you a beautiful new smile in the process.

How Dental Implants Work

Candidates for dental implants must meet a few requirements in order to qualify. For starters, you must be an adult and in good general health. Additionally, you must have enough existing bone tissue in the gums at the time of the implant. Bone tissue loss in the gums is one of the main (but unseen) side effects of tooth loss. Implants help to prevent this by replacing the tooth's root in the socket and encouraging the growth of healthy new tissue as well.

After a comprehensive dental exam to determine if you are a good candidate, the dentist will schedule an appointment to surgically place the implant. Once in place, the implant fuses with the surrounding bone tissue (osseointegration). After the implant has fully healed, the cosmetic crown is attached. Implants can replace a single tooth or support an entire set of dentures, making them a good option for people suffering from various stages of tooth loss.

Implants must be cared for like natural teeth with rigorous oral hygiene at home, and regular follow up care with the dentist. With proper care, they have a very high success rate and are the next best thing to natural teeth.

Find a Dentist in Findlay, OH

Are you ready to take control of your oral health and restore your smile? For more information about dental implants and to determine whether you qualify for treatment, contact our office by calling (419) 427-1500, and schedule an appointment with Dr. Touhalisky today!

Do you want to ask your Bellevue, WA, dentist about discreetly straightening your teeth?

Invisalign, unlike traditional braces, is discreet. Invisalign consists of clear, plastic aligners. If a patient has minor tooth imperfection, like slightly crooked teeth, small gaps, or improperly positioned teeth, Invisalign is a great option.

Invisalign works by applying forces to each tooth to place them in their proper position. The clear, flexible plastic is custom-designed using a specialized software. It is convenient for adults and older teens who have job interviews, weddings, or prom to attend.

The treatment may take approximately one year, depending on your condition, and consists of trays that fit your upper and bottom teeth. Trays should be worn for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours a day and can be removed if you have an event, but that's unnecessary since they're invisible.

In order to take proper care of your clear aligners, you need to clean them out daily. Rinse them with lukewarm water and use a brush to remove food debris. Also, brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once before bed. Additionally, you need to visit your dentist periodically during and after your treatment.

Advantages of Invisalign

• Invisalign allows you to have more dietary choices. Simply biting into an apple can ruin traditional wires, but you don't need to worry about that when it comes to clear aligners.
• Aligners are comfortable because the thin, flexible material of Invisalign doesn't irritate soft tissues in the mouth, unlike metal wires of braces.
• There's definitely an improved oral hygiene since Invisalign is removable. This means you can brush and floss your teeth with ease, as well as clean out the trays.
• If you have a teeth-grinding problem, clear aligners can act as a nightguard.

If you have any questions or need more information about Invisalign, call (425) 378-1600 today for your Bellevue, WA, dentists, Dr. Man Sunwoo and Dr. Alan Ho at Bellevue Dental Excellence.

Find out How This Clear Orthodontic Treatment Easily Fits into Your Lifestyle.

As an adult, the last thing you want to do is completely change up your daily routine to accommodate your braces. In fact, worry over lifestyle change is one of the leading reasons people are hesitant to get braces later in life. However, our Findlay, OH, dentist, Dr. Joseph Touhalisky, can use Invisalign to get you the orthodontic results you want while fitting treatment perfectly into your current schedule.

What is Invisalign?

Instead of using conventional braces, which utilize brackets and wires, Invisalign offers a clear alternative. Using a set of transparent aligners that look similar to whitening trays, Invisalign is custom-made to fit closely to your teeth and provide the proper amount of gradual pressure and force to shift teeth into their ideal alignment.

Our Findlay, OH, cosmetic dentist will map out your treatment plan during your consultation phase, which will determine which teeth need to move and exactly how much they will move with each aligner.

How does Invisalign differ from other types of braces?

There are many benefits to getting Invisalign over other types of braces, some of which include:

• Convenience
  • We know you already have your routine in place, so the last thing you want to do is to have to alter your day-to-day life to accommodate your new braces. Invisalign is different. Since each aligner is removable, this means that you don’t have to worry about nixing tons of food from your diet or spending more time brushing and flossing around metal wires and brackets. Simply remove your aligners and enjoy your favorite foods and drinks without worry.

• Comfort
  • Not only will you enjoy the convenience and comfort of being able to remove your aligners before mealtimes and during your oral care routine, you’ll also enjoy that aligners aren’t made from metal but rather a medical-grade thermoplastic. Each aligner is customized to fit over your teeth so that they feel comfortable and are less likely to cause irritation to the gum tissue.

• Transparency
  • We know that getting braces later in life wasn’t exactly the plan you had in mind, but if you want a straighter and healthier smile, then braces might just be the only way to achieve this. Luckily, these clear aligners make your treatment far more discreet than other orthodontic options. In fact, it will look like you aren’t even wearing braces at all.

Getting a straighter smile on your own terms has never been simpler than with Invisalign. If you are an adult who wants to fix a crooked smile and is interested in getting Invisalign, now is the perfect time to contact our Findlay office to schedule your no-risk consultation. Call (419) 427-1500 today!

For your best smile, do all you can to preserve your natural teeth and healthy gums. However, if tooth loss occurs, consider closing those smile gaps with today's premiere tooth replacements: dental implants from Dr. Joseph Touhalisky in Findlay, OH. Embedded in the jaw bone for superior stability and longevity, dental implants are the next best things to natural teeth.

Your tooth structure

A natural tooth has two basic parts: the root within the gums and jaw bone, and the crown, or part which you can see in your mouth. When lost to decay, infection, oral trauma or other irrevocable circumstance, the natural gum tissue and supporting bone in the empty tooth socket begin to deteriorate.

While conventional bridgework or dentures successfully replace tooth structure above the gum line, they do nothing to replace root structure or bone. Denture slippage and facial changes typically occur.

Enter the dental implant

A dental implant is an actual artificial tooth because it replaces both tooth root and crown, and it exercises the supporting jaw bone. Composed of three parts (a titanium implant screw, a metal alloy extension and a porcelain crown), an implant confers the physical forces of biting and chewing into the bone in which it resides.

Therefore, the bone retains its natural shape, size and density. In fact, the bone melds to the embedded implant device through what dentist's call osseointegration--a truly miraculous process unique to titanium implants. Your dentist will fully evaluate your jaw, oral health and more to determine if dental implants are the right replacement option for you.

The implant evaluation and treatment

During your first appointment with Dr. Touhalisky, he'll do a complete oral examination to determine if you have enough bone in your jaw to support an implant.

During your next appointment, Dr. Touhalisky will numb the empty socket, open the gums and drill a small opening into the bone. He'll select the proper size implant, insert it and close the gums with some sutures. The ensuing osseointegration and healing take several weeks to months, but when complete, the dentist can attach the metal post and customized crown.

Versatile implants

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry says that the dental implant grows in popularity every year in the United States--to the tune of 500,000 more placements every year. Why do dentists recommend dental implants? With good care at home and in the dental office, dental implants last for decades, and they faithfully mimic real teeth in form and function.

In addition, dental implants are versatile. Placed in multiples, implants support fixed bridgework, partial dentures and even full dentures, giving patients smiles that feel natural and look great.

No more gaps

Find out if you are a candidate for state-of-the-art dental implants from your dentist in Findlay, Dr. Joseph Touhalisky. For your consultation, call the office at (419) 427-1500.