Dental Blog

Implants, as we understand them today, were developed in 1952 by Per-Ingvar Brånemark an orthopedic surgeon in Sweden. These days, dental implants are thought to be the standard of care for prosthetic missing teeth replacement in dentistry. An implant is a surgical fixture placed inside the jawbone and permitted to fuse with the bone over a time period of a couple of months. An implant acts as a substitution for the root of a missing tooth. As a result, the "artificial tooth root" will serve to hold a replacement bridge or tooth.

Occlusal disease is a very common disorder that affects how the patient bites down when chewing or speaking. A patient’s bite can have an impact not only on the patient’s dental health but also their overall well-being because bite-related problems can lead to chronic concerns like migraine headaches or teeth that have been worn down to the dentin. The most important thing that patients need to know about this disease is that it’s vital that it’s diagnosed early. Occlusal disease is a problem that can be cured with early detection and proper treatment. If you notice any of the symptoms of an improper bite outlined below, tell your dentist right away!

If your teeth are discolored, chipped, worn, broken, misshapen, misaligned, or if they have unsightly gaps between them, cosmetic dentistry could do wonders for your overall appearance. Cosmetic surgical procedures for the face and the body have become much more popular over the past decade as patients race to get tummy tucks and rhinoplasties, but often people overlook the importance of their smile when they’re doing a makeover. Cosmetic dentistry entails a number of procedures that are relatively simple, but that can have a pronounced effect on a person’s appearance. A “smile makeover” is one of the most noticeable changes that you can make to your overall appearance and often, cosmetic dental procedures can be completed relatively quickly and affordably.

At Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics, it would be hard for us to imagine practicing dentistry without intra-oral camera technologies. The value of the intra-oral camera should not be underestimated. We use this device on a regular basis not only to provide better care, but also to educate patients about treatments, as well as to ensure that insurance companies receive images with claims that will increase the odds that procedures will be reimbursed.

Though there have been a lot of improvements in dental care over the past few decades, millions of people suffer from tooth loss each year in the United States. Tooth loss usually occurs as a result of tooth decay or gum disease, though sometimes it results from injury to the mouth. For a long time, the only way to treat tooth loss was with dentures or bridges, but today, many patients choose to get dental implants instead. Dental implants provide many important benefits over dentures which is why this treatment has become so popular in recent years at Washington State Prosthodontics and Dental Implant Center.

If you’re considering your teeth whitening options, and you’re not sure whether to shop around for a high-quality at-home teeth whitening product or for someone to professionally do the teeth whitening at a dental clinic, it might help to learn more about the pros and cons of both of these options.

bridges Dental are aptly named because they bridge gaps between two teeth. If you have missing teeth, a dental bridge can be used to fill in the space so that it appears as though all of your teeth are intact and healthy. A bridge is composed of two crowns, one on either side of the gap where the missing tooth is located. These crowns, known as abutment teeth, are used to anchor the bridge. A false tooth or teeth (known as pontics) lie between these abutments.

At Washington State Prosthodontics and Dental Implants, porcelain crowns save many smiles every year! If you have teeth that have been damaged, chipped, worn, or that are aesthetically compromised in some other way, a dental crown may be able to restore the look and function of your teeth. Crowns are specially designed, customized restorative prosthetics that are placed on top of damaged teeth. They restore not only the appearance of the teeth but also their functionality.

There are so many advantages to getting dental implants and the benefits of all-on-4 restorations speak for themselves. At Washington State Prosthodontics and Dental Implant Center, we recommend that patients who are losing or have lost their teeth consider the possibility of dental implants if they qualify for the procedure because it has so much to offer over conventional dental treatments for tooth loss. The decision to get dental implants is about so much more than just aesthetics! All-on-4 restorations enhance quality of life and allow our patients to keep on smiling even after they’ve lost all their teeth.

Dental veneers, also known as porcelain veneers, are extremely thin, custom-designed and fitted prosthetic devices that are made to cover the surface of the teeth in order to improve the way the natural teeth look. They’re made from resin composite materials or porcelain and they’re bonded to the front of the patient’s teeth to change the size, shape, color, or even the length of the teeth. At Washington State Prosthodontics and Dental Implant Center, we regularly use dental veneers to fix a variety of cosmetic dental issues.