Articles

Caring For Dental Implants After Surgery

At Murray Dental Group, our most popular restorative treatment options are dental implants and implant-supported dentures, thanks to several health benefits and functional advantages they offer. Implant-supported dental restorations provide patients with replacement teeth that support good oral health, look natural, feel strong, and work just like natural teeth for life.While getting dental implants is a fairly simple process, it doesn't happen overnight, and patients will need to undergo a process of healing after their dental implant placement surgery. During this process, patients should follow the aftercare instructions and recovery best practices provided by our dentists to ensure that the dental implant and jawbone fuse with a strong osseointegration process and that the soft tissue around the treatment area heals properly.

Dental Implants: Your Options & What to Expect

Welcome to Murray Dental Group in beautiful Glenwood Springs, CO! If you are considering dental implants to replace missing teeth, you’ve come to the right place. At Murray Dental Group, we specialize in dental implant surgery and restorations. Here's everything you need to know about getting dental implants.

The Advantages of Dental Implants

The humble dental implant is a two-part device that mimics a natural tooth more closely than any partial dentures or bridge. Each dental implant attaches to a post that is surgically inserted in the jaw so it bonds with the bone tissue. That means that the implant better withstands the usual biting forces when you’re chewing. There are many potential benefits to dental implants depending on the number of teeth you are missing and how you plan to handle your dental health in the future. Make sure this kind of restoration work is right for you by considering the potential advantages.

How to Prevent Gum Disease

Your gums are living tissue that perform many important functions. Gum tissue supports your teeth, for example, and they provide nutrition for the tooth roots that hold your teeth securely in your jawbone. Your gums also serve as a protective barrier between the harmful bacteria that may be in your mouth and your bloodstream, where the bacteria can cause inflammation and other health problems.

Teeth Whitening Options: Which is Right for You?

A brighter and whiter smile is more than just a cosmetic upgrade to your appearance. It may have deeper effects on your subconscious. Multiple studies have shown that people rate a bright smile as one of the most attractive features in other people. Other research links higher self-esteem and a white smile, which may lead to more personal and career opportunities. Yet even if you agree that it’s time for whitening for your smile, you have a lot of options to choose from today. Cut through all the marketing and overwhelming selection at the local drugstore to find the best whitening options for you.

Botox For Bruxism: A New Treatment

Most people aren’t aware that they’re grinding their teeth until damage occurs. If you’re one of the millions of people clenching your jaw or grinding, you’re experiencing a medical condition known as bruxism. It’s a common misconception that only night guards are available to treat tooth grinding and related issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). There are many treatments available today, including the use of targeted Botox injections. If you’ve only heard of these injections used for cosmetic purposes, you should also explore the benefits of Botox for TMJ issues. It may be just what you need to relieve pain and tightness in the jaw for months at a time.

Understanding TMJ | Murray Dental Group

On both sides of your face, your jaw connects to the rest of the skull with the help of the powerful temporomandibular joint. That’s a mouthful, so most people simply call it the TMJ. You need your TMJ to give you a strong bite strength and to move your lower jaw in different directions for clear speech. Unfortunately, the joint is at risk of soreness, tightness, and overall wear when you develop a habit of clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth. The majority of people who experience these issues repeat them at night, making it hard to consciously control the action. Seeking out the right TMJ treatment from your dentist can solve pain problems and prevent long-term damage from occurring to this important joint.

Pinhole Treatment vs. Traditional Gum Grafts

Gum recession is a common problem that comes with age, but it’s often associated with the acceleration of periodontal disease. Even with treatment to stop the gum disease, the recession won’t necessarily reverse. Lost tissue needs more intensive responses like grafting to restore the natural gum line. Without restoration, missing gum tissue exposes tooth roots to infection and damage, putting the entire jaw bone at risk. Protect your overall health with a timely gum graft. Pinhole grafting techniques are relatively new, but they are minimally invasive options for restoring gum tissue with the addition of collagen.