Dental Implant Parts: How Your New Teeth Stay Strong

At Cadena Dentistry, our dentists rebuild patients’ smiles through various restorative dentistry procedures. One of the more popular procedures that Drs. Louis Cadena and Valerie Cadena-Vargas offer is dental implant restorations, but not everyone knows what is involved in receiving these replacement teeth.

In short, dental implants utilize three different parts to properly replace missing teeth.

Implant Post

The implant post is a titanium screw-like rod that anchors your replacement tooth in place.

Implant posts are successful in supporting new teeth because of the material’s biocompatibility. Titanium is unique because it can fuse into bone, making implant posts integrate into the jaw when they are surgically placed by our Del Rio dentists. After a period of healing, the implant posts will have completed the osseointegration process. The result is that the implant post will serve as an artificial tooth root, securing the implant restoration.

Abutment

The abutment is the connective piece that holds the dental restoration in place. When Dr. Cadena or Dr. Cadena-Vargas determines that your implant post has fully fused to the jaw, the abutment is attached to the post before the restoration. The restoration is closely secured to the implant post, which further strengthens the implant’s functionality.

Dental Restoration

Once the implant post has fully integrated into the jaw, the dental implant restoration is then placed atop the post and abutment. This restoration serves as the visible chewing surface of the replacement tooth or teeth.

There are several different restorations that could be placed by our Del Rio dentists, depending upon how many teeth need to be reconstructed and how many implants have been placed. If a single implant post is placed to restore just one missing tooth, Drs. Cadena and Cadena-Vargas can use a zirconia crown. Between two to six implants can support a porcelain fixed bridge, which can replace a row of several teeth. If multiple teeth across an arch need replacement, a partial denture can be supported by several implants; full dentures anchored by implants can be used as well in order to replace a full arch of missing teeth.

Call Us Today for Dental Implants!

Cadena Dentistry is proud to help patients in Del Rio, Brackettville, and Eagle Pass rebuild their smiles with dental implants. To learn more or schedule an appointment regarding this restorative procedure, call us today!

Getting Healthy Gums with LANAP

Periodontal disease is nothing new, and it is something that is currently affecting around half of the population of the United States. Millions of patients of any age are currently dealing with the side effects of gum disease: bad breath, bleeding gums, loose or missing teeth, and pain during brushing or flossing. However, there is a procedure for treating gum disease that has gained favor with leading dental offices around the world. This treatment is called laser-assisted new attachment procedure, or LANAP, and it offers several key benefits over traditional periodontal disease treatment methods. Cadena Dentistry can treat periodontal disease with LANAP in Del Rio, Brackettville, and Eagle Pass.

What is LANAP?

LANAP is a surgical treatment option wherein the dental laser removes diseased gum tissue and sterilizes healthy gums tissue. Drs. Cadena and Cadena-Vargas will use the LANAP laser to treat the periodontal pocket near the tooth, killing the bacteria that causes gum disease and increasing access to the tooth for plaque and tartar removal. The end result of the procedure from our Del Rio dentists is healthy gum tissue which is more likely to regenerate gum tissue.

What are the benefits of LANAP?

LANAP does not simply replace traditional gum disease treatments, but is often used in tandem with traditional scaling and root planing procedures. However, using LANAP in conjunction with these traditional procedures, rather than taking a purely traditional approach by using a scalpel instead, has several advantages for patients in the Del Rio area:

Greater Comfort - Instead of cutting open the gums to remove decaying tissue, the LANAP laser can more precisely target and dissolve affected areas. This generally results in substantially increased comfort for the patient.

Quicker Recovery - LANAP minimizes the risks associated with bleeding, infections, and overall recovery, and that translates into a quicker recovery time for most patients. It also tends to take less time to perform than the surgical, traditional gum disease treatment.

Once the procedure is complete and the periodontal pocket has healed, our dentists and your oral hygiene routine will help you prevent future occurrences of gum disease.

To learn more about the benefits of LANAP, simply contact Cadena Dentistry today. Drs. Louis Cadena and Valerie Cadena-Vargas are happy to schedule a consultation regarding gum disease treatment options for their patients in Del Rio, Brackettville, and Eagle Pass.

Bridges

Dental bridges are a very good option in order to replace a missing tooth or teeth. A bridge involves using a crown to replace the missing tooth. The crown is attached to the existing teeth on the adjacent sides of the bridge. The existing teeth act as an anchor and hold the bridge in place.

Our dentists at Cadena Dentistry are experienced in all areas of restorative dentistry including dental bridges. Bridges are usually made of metal, alloys or porcelain, which ensures the bridge is both durable and strong. A bridge is also matched to the color of your natural teeth.

The process of getting a bridge involves a few steps. First, the dentist will extract the damaged tooth. The teeth on adjacent sides are prepared, which involves creating abutments in order to attach the crown. A mold is taken, and sent to a lab to create a bridge. While you are waiting for the bridge to be made, you will be fitted for a temporary crown. With proper care, bridges can last for many years.

At Cadena Dentistry, we believe in providing quality dental services in a comfortable, modern facility. We utilize the most advanced technology in order to provide you with the best care possible.

For more information on dental bridges or in order to schedule an appointment, please call Cadena Dentistry at (830) 775-3322.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is one option, which can repair a cracked or damaged tooth. Crowns can be used when a filling alone will not correct the problem. A crown will look just like your own teeth and also restore function.

Cadena Dentistry is happy to offer our patients a variety of dental care including crowns. The process of getting a crown starts by repairing the damaged tooth, which involves removing decay. The tooth is then prepared and shaped in order for the crown to fit. An impression is taken and sent to a laboratory for the crown to be made. While you wait for your permanent crown, you will be fitted for a temporary crown.

Dental crowns are usually made of materials including porcelain and ceramic. The color is matched to your other teeth. A crown is usually indistinguishable from your other teeth in appearance. It also functions the same as your natural teeth. Crowns are durable and made to last. With proper care, a crown can last for 15 years or more.

At Cadena Dentistry, we offer a variety of dental services including cosmetic, preventative and restorative services. Our staff strives to provide you with the best possible dental care in a comfortable environment.

For more information on crowns or any of our other services, please call our office at (830) 775-3322.

Dentures

If you have missing teeth, you know how it can interfere with your speech and chewing. Having missing teeth can also cause the structure of your face to change. In addition to physical issues caused by missing teeth, it can lead to decreased self-esteem or self-consciousness.

At Cadena Dentistry, we offer solutions for replacing missing teeth including dentures. Conventional dentures involve having the teeth extracted and giving the gums time to heal. After healing takes place, dentures are placed.

In addition to conventional dentures, we also offer immediate dentures. This option involves placing the dentures immediately after the teeth are extracted. One benefit of immediate dentures is you don’t have to wait for your dentures to be placed. The dentists at Cadena Dentistry will evaluate your situation and determine if immediate dentures are right for you. If you still have some remaining teeth, which don’t need to be extracted, partial dentures may also be a good option.

Dentures may take a little time to get used to. In most cases, dentures are a comfortable option for replacing missing teeth. It’s also important patients take proper care of their dentures. Maintaining good oral hygiene is still essential if you have dentures.

Our dentists and staff at Cadena Dentistry are experienced in various areas of dentistry including cosmetic, preventative and restorative services. For more information on dentures or any of our services, please call Cadena Dentistry at (830) 775-3322.

Veneers

Dental veneers are thin ceramic shells that cover the tooth structure and create a more brilliant, beautiful smile. Many of our patients at Cadena Dentistry choose to have veneers placed on their teeth for a variety of reasons. They might cover teeth that are stained or misshapen or opt for veneers because they have gaps in their teeth or have teeth that are slightly misaligned.

Veneers are bonded securely over the teeth and match the other natural teeth, so they don’t appear obvious to anyone else. After the veneers have been bonded to your teeth, Dr. Louis Cadena recommends following these post-op instructions:

• Eat soft foods for the first few days.


• Don’t chew extremely hard foods like raw carrots, ice or candy, as the porcelain can start breaking away.


• Brush and floss the teeth with the veneers, just like your other natural teeth.


• Visit us at Cadena Dentistry every six months for a routine check-up and professional cleaning.

Veneers can last a long time if patients follow these important instructions. If the gum begins to recede, they should return to our dental office in Del Rio, TX for replacement veneers. This doesn’t usually happen for many years and is simply part of the aging process. To find out more about veneers, contact us today.

Sealants

Good oral hygiene is the first step to protecting your teeth and having less tooth decay, but sometimes it isn’t enough to have healthy teeth. Along with brushing and flossing twice a day and visiting our dental office every six months, we also provide dental sealants. They are especially useful for children who have their molars, which come in between 5 and 7 years of age, and again between 11 and 14 years of age.

Dental sealants protect the molars from cavities and tooth decay. The molars are most susceptible to cavities because they are chewed on most often, and decay because they are harder to reach with a toothbrush and dental floss. Dr. Louis Cadena can put a liquid sealant on these teeth that hardens and further protects to teeth from excessive decay. It can last about 10 years before needing to be applied again.

Patients of all ages visit us here at Cadena Dentistry in Del Rio, TX for dental sealants. It reduces the amount of work that needs to be done on the teeth over time and gives patients a healthy looking smile. Visit our website today to learn more about sealants or give us a call at 830-775-3322.