Sinus Lift

Bone grafting can be necessary when a patient does not have enough bone material in their jawline to hold a dental implant. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS offers sinus lifts here in our Fullerton, CA office. This is a procedure that adds bone to the space between the upper molars and the sinus cavity.

Sometimes the jawbone right below the sinus cavity is too small to allow a dental implant to be successfully placed. When a tooth is missing for a while, the bone in the area where the tooth used to be can begin to deteriorate. In other cases, a patient may just be born with a smaller jawbone. Also, sometimes the sinuses on either side of the nose are just too low for placing an implant. A sinus lift adds bone to the area between the upper jaw and the sinuses.

The bone for the graft is usually taken from another area in the jaw or from a place like the hip bone or shin bone. Sometimes it is from a bone bank. The grafting process begins with cutting the tissue where the implant will be. The bone is exposed and a small opening is created. The membrane separating the sinus cavity from the jaw is pushed up and away. The bone graft material is then packed into the space. Afterward, the area is stitched closed. The area will need several months to heal and during this time, the new bone material will promote even more new bone growth. The end result is a large and strong jawbone that can hold a dental implant for life.

If you are interested in a dental implant or the process of bone grafting, be sure to visit our website or give us a call. To set up an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS, call our Fullerton, CA office at (714) 879-7943. Appointments may also be requested through our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

What is a Dental Bridge?

You have probably heard of a dental bridge before. They are a popular option for tooth replacement and something Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS offers here in our Fullerton, CA dental office. Read on to learn just what a bridge is and how it works.

When a tooth goes missing, there is a space in between teeth unless the tooth is located in the back of your mouth. A bridge uses the two teeth adjacent to the open space to attach a replacement tooth. In the case that the missing tooth is the last one in the back of your mouth, the bridge can work with just the one adjacent tooth. The bridge itself consists of two crowns with a “pontic”, the replacement tooth, in the middle. The crowns are placed on the adjacent teeth and the pontic is fit perfectly in the middle.

Bridges are strong and durable tooth replacement options. They are also usually the most affordable. Bridges are not only able to replace the tooth and restore chewing function; they are also able to look just like the rest of your teeth. This means your smile is also restored.

Missing teeth can cause shifting in your mouth, injury, and even deterioration of your jawline. To set up a bridge consultation with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS in our Fullerton, CA office, call us at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Mini Dental Implants

When looking for a permanent tooth replacement, it is important to remember that not all mouths are the same. Some mouths have more room, some teeth are bigger, and patients have different types of needs. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS provides patients with mini dental implants here in his Fullerton, CA office when a full-sized implant will not work.

Sometimes a full-sized dental implant is too big to fill the space that is open. Still desiring the best option for replacement, our patients need a smaller size. This is why we offer mini implants. They are about half the size of the full-sized implants. They are able to fit into smaller spaces and since they are smaller, they do not require surgery to be placed. This means a much quicker healing time, so permanent replacement crowns are often able to be placed the same day as the implant.

Mini implants are also great for creating a stable base for dentures. For this purpose, four to six mini implants are placed along the gum line, and the dentures are made to clip onto them. They stabilize the dentures so they fit great and do not move around. They also slow down the degeneration of the jawbone.

If you have been told a full-sized implant will not work for you or you are interested in implant-retained dentures, do not hesitate to contact us. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS in our Fullerton, CA office, call us at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Implant-Retained Dentures

Dentures are a common tooth replacement option; however, many patients do not like when dentures are ill-fitting or loose. For a more stable option, Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS provides his patients with implant-retained dentures here in his Fullerton, CA dental practice.

Implant-retained dentures are a much stronger and more stable base for dentures. This is because the dentures are clipped onto implants that are inserted into your bone sockets. It is like giving the implants an anchor. To do this, Dr. Meyer will insert four to six mini implants into the upper or lower gum line. Mini implants are about half the size of traditional implants, so they do not require an incision. This means healing takes much less time; the dentures can be installed the same day as the implants. In addition, most denture sets are able to be altered to fit onto implants, so many patients can keep the dentures they are already using.

The dentures are able to be clipped in and out by the patient. Patients will now be able to enjoy talking, laughing, eating, and smiling all without worrying about their dentures moving around. Implants also slow down the degeneration of the jaw bone, which is a natural occurrence when teeth are missing. This means the dentures will remain fitting comfortably for a long time.

If you are experiencing ill-fitting dentures, it may be time to look into implant-retained dentures. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS in Fullerton, CA, call our office at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Implant Retained Dentures

When you think of dentures, unfortunately, you may think of ill-fitting dentures that slip around when you talk or eat. However, with advancements in dentistry, Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS is able to offer a more stable way to use dentures here at our Fullerton, CA dental practice. Dr. Meyer utilizes mini dental implants to give dentures the strongest, most stable base they have ever had.

Mini dental implants are placed along with upper and lower jaw lines. Usually, between four and six are used per jaw line. The dentures are then modified so that they clip right into the mini implants. They are easy to clip in for patients, so their dentures are still just as removable as before. The difference, however, is a stable base that fits well, feels good, and doesn’t move around. Laughing, smiling, talking, and chewing are all the better with dentures that fit. Implant-retained dentures also help keep the jawbone from degenerating as quickly! So your dentures will fit better for longer.

Mini dental implants are about half the size of traditional dental implants, so they take much less time to heal. There is no actual surgery needed. Dentures are often able to be placed the same day as the mini implants!

If you are looking for a tooth replacement option or looking for a better option for your dentures, mini dental implants may be perfect for you! To schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS here in our Fullerton, CA office, call us at (714) 879-7943 or visit our website, www.fullertondental.com. 

Mini Implants from Dr. Eric Meyer

While dental implants are a great solution for replacing missing teeth, in Fullerton, CA, we use mini dental implants as an effective alternative in situations where regular implants cannot be used, such as in narrow spaces. Roughly half the size in diameter as conventional implants, mini implants are often used to replace smaller teeth in the mouth, as well as serve as a base for dentures.

Because mini implants are so small, often no incision is needed to place them in the gums. They can usually be inserted by Dr. Eric Meyer through the gum and into the bone directly, which eliminates much of the recovery time and allows the restoration to be placed immediately or shortly after. Like regular implants, mini implants are made of titanium. However, they are one solid piece, which give them roughly the same strength as a regular implant.

When used for dentures, four to six mini implants are placed along the gum line, and an entire set of uppers or lowers can be attached directly to the gums, which is advantageous to the patient since, unlike adhesive, implants do not shift or slip. This makes dentures more comfortable while eating, speaking and smiling.

If you want to know if implants or mini implants are the right solution for your missing teeth, call 714.879.7943 to schedule an appointment. For more information about our office, please visit www.fullertondental.com.

Dental Implants

If you have teeth missing or are in need of an extraction due to decay, disease or injury, dental implants provide an attractive and long-lasting solution for filling the gaps in your smile. While bridges and dentures can also solve the problem of missing teeth, these alternatives either require alteration to the teeth adjacent to the gap or are not permanent fixtures in the mouth. At our office in Fullerton, CA, Dr. Eric Meyer uses dental implant restorations to help patients achieve a complete smile that they can be proud of.

The implant process can take between three to six months to complete, and the first step is to implant a titanium screw in the jawbone through an incision in the gums. This screw serves as your replacement tooth root and keeps your jaw from deteriorating or changing shape. Once the screw is in place, the gums are sutured and the bone is left to heal around the implant. This healing process is called osseointegration, and while it takes place over the next several months, you may receive a temporary crown for easier speaking and eating.

Once the jaw has healed, an abutment will be placed on top of the implant to serve as the foundation on which your permanent crown will be fixed. The tooth restoration is then custom made for your mouth and is either screwed or cemented in place so that you may enjoy a complete smile that both looks and feels natural.

To schedule an appointment with our office, call 714.879.7943. For more information, visit www.fullertondental.com.

Dentures

Dentures are an option chosen by many of our patients in Fullerton, CA. Available in both full and partial, dentures serve as a removable replacement for missing teeth.

Conventional full dentures are one type of full dentures. They are used after all of a patient’s teeth are removed, but only once the gum tissue has healed for a few months. During that healing time, the patient would have no teeth in place. Immediate full dentures are more popular since patients do not have to be toothless for any period of time. For this type, Dr. Meyer takes measurements of the patient’s mouth prior to removing the teeth. Then when the teeth are removed at the next appointment, the dentures are immediately placed in the patient’s mouth. With this method, a follow-up visit is required so that the dentures can be refitted and tightened since the jawbone changes shape slightly as it heals with no teeth.

Partial dentures are an option for those who do not need all their teeth removed. This type is very similar to bridges, except they are removable instead of permanent.

Whichever dentures our patients choose, they take some time getting used to, and even though they are not real teeth, dentures should still be cared for as if they were. To ensure your dentures last, be sure to brush them before removal and place them in room temperature water or cleaning solution overnight.

To find out if dentures are the right choice for you, schedule an appointment with our office by calling 714-879-7943. For more information, visit www.FullertonDental.com.