Peri-Implantitis

For years, patients at Fullerton Dental have received dental implants from our highly trained doctors. Dental implants are among the safest surgeries, and are successful in nearly all cases. But because implants require life-long maintenance, it is occasionally possible for them to fail as the patient’s situation changes. The most common cause of implant failure is peri-implantitis.

Peri-implantitis is when the gum tissue surrounding an implant becomes inflamed. This sometimes occurs immediately after an implant is placed if dental cement leaks onto the gum, but this problem will usually be caught right away, and the cement can be easily cleaned away. More commonly, the gum tissue decays due to normal gingivitis, trapping acids at the base of the implant. Though implants are usually made of a titanium-nickel alloy, they are not immune to acidic corrosion, and their structure can be compromised. The zone at which they fuse with the surrounding bone tissue can also disintegrate, requiring the implant’s removal.

Proper oral hygiene is usually enough to prevent peri-implantitis, but this can be difficult if the patient has a disability or is on a medication which causes dry mouth or otherwise creates a risk of gingivitis. Anybody who notices the area around an implant becoming inflamed should schedule an appointment immediately.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

How is a Dental Crown Applied?

When a tooth is damaged or decayed, a dental crown makes restoration possible. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS of Fullerton, CA uses crowns as an option to keep a patient’s natural tooth in place.

Dental crowns are like caps that go on your tooth. They can be created out of gold, porcelain fused to metal, or porcelain. They are completely customized to blend in with the rest of your natural teeth, so they are not only restoring your oral health but also improving the aesthetic look of your smile!

To begin the process of applying a dental crown, your tooth will be reshaped to fit the crown and then an impression will be taken of the tooth. A dental laboratory will use the impression to create a custom crown that will have the look and feel of one of your natural teeth. The laboratory process can take between two and three weeks, so your dentist will place a temporary crown so you can still use your tooth normally during that time. When the permanent crown is ready, it is cemented into place.

Dental crowns are perfect for when there is too much damage for a filling to hold. It is always ideal to keep your natural teeth, so the dental crown is there to strengthen and restore function of that tooth.

If you would like to learn more about dental crowns, visit our website or give us a call. Dr. Eric M Meyer, DDS is located in Fullerton, CA. Our office can be reached at (714) 879-7943 and we can also be reached through 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.

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are two procedures that use the tooth structure as a base for restoration. Often called partial crowns, both inlays and onlays strengthen the tooth while restoring its shape and working to prevent further damage. At our office in Fullerton, CA, we use these procedures to repair teeth when decay is too extensive to support a filling but not extensive enough to use a crown.

When there is no damage to the cusps of a tooth, Dr. Eric Meyer uses an inlay for restoration, bonding it right on top of the tooth. Made of porcelain, inlays are both strong and natural-looking, providing an attractive solution to repairing your tooth. Onlays are used when damage is a little more extensive and are used to repair part of the cusp of the tooth.

Inlays and onlays can be created at a lab out of porcelain, gold or composite resin. Fabrication normally takes between two to three weeks, and during that time, you will be provided with temporary restorations while you wait. Once they are ready, they will be cemented in place.

To ensure that your teeth get the best dental care available, schedule an appointment with our office by calling 714.879.7943. For more information, visit www.FullertonDental.com.