Dental implants have long been considered the most reliable and durable way to replace teeth available. These titanium posts are placed into the jawbone during an oral surgery procedure. Once a dental implant fixture has healed, it can be restored with a crown, which can be used just like a natural tooth. In this article,… Read more »
Many patients ask for fake ceramic teeth to hide their smile problems. Dentists call these fake restorations, prosthetics, bridges, crowns and veneers. We understand that all of these options use ceramic to replace or cover teeth. Fake isn’t always bad, especially after you have suffered trauma or a lost tooth. What are ceramics? Dental ceramics and… Read more »
It may be time to see a professional if you’re tired of trying to hide your smile or fed up with costly dental gimmicks that fail to deliver. We have compiled a list of 6 ways you can make your smile look better. In the past, patients were very limited in ways they could correct… Read more »
Modern dentistry has come a long way. Now, restorations can completely cover a tooth in a ceramic material that matches natural teeth. Emerging technological advances in porcelains and advanced techniques from master ceramists are allowing crowns that look real to be created. We welcome you to view our Before & After Gallery. You will see dozens… Read more »
Do you need to replace teeth? Even the loss of one tooth can present a multitude of challenges, both restorative and cosmetic. Advanced age is a leading risk factor for losing teeth. Over years and decades, our jawbone density naturally lowers. The chances of gum disease or tooth decay compromising a tooth also increase with… Read more »
If you are someone dealing with hypodontia, then this is likely a term with which you’re already very familiar. In short, it means that due to heredity, you have not developed one or several permanent teeth. When teeth fail to grow, you are left with an adult smile with open spaces in it. Of course,… Read more »
We may never be able to completely prevent the loss of a tooth for everyone. The good news is that today’s dentistry offers a wealth of preventive measures and tooth replacement options. It also offers highly lifelike materials and techniques for tooth replacement so that patients can regain their confidence in their smiles. If you… Read more »
Can I have a nice smile again after recovery from periodontal disease ? Once you recover from periodontal disease and have your oral health fully managed, you may ask yourself: Is there anything you can do to make your smile look the way it used to look? Dealing with significant damage may cause you to… Read more »
The good thing about modern fixed bridges and dentures is that they can be crafted to mimic healthy, natural teeth so well that they often remain unnoticeable when in place. However, despite their highly lifelike appearance and ability to fully restore your bite function, custom designed dental bridges and dentures still lack a few important… Read more »
You may find yourself quickly agreeing with others in conversation that of course, dental implants are the best for replacing missing teeth! However, you then realize that while you feel fully on board with this idea because you’ve heard about them so frequently (and always in the best light), you don’t really know what they… Read more »
Losing teeth certainly affects the appearance of a smile. But most importantly, tooth loss can be detrimental to oral health and function. Prompt treatment is necessary to avoid the issues that can arise from losing teeth. A dental implant is a modern approach to prosthetic care. This treatment helps those with tooth loss regain their… Read more »
Are you missing one or more teeth and looking for the best way to restore your smile? If so, you may wonder which restorative dentistry treatment is best to restore the function and beauty of your smile. While each treatment can provide you with a beautiful smile, they each have pros and cons. Today we… Read more »
Are you missing something in your smile? Do you want a new tooth? We can replace missing teeth with removable dentures or even dental bridges, but over time your jawbone could continue to break down. Fortunately, we have an advanced treatment option that can help preserve your jawbone tissue. How do dental implants preserve your… Read more »
There are many types of replacement teeth, which one is perfect for you? Like all dental restorations, a dental bridge is tailored to your unique needs and preferences. The highly lifelike dental prosthesis is made to replace a lost tooth in a way that restores your smile’s appearance and your bite’s function without being obvious…. Read more »
What happens to your mouth if you don’t address tooth loss? The most obvious effects of tooth loss are the way the missing teeth affect your smile’s appearance. Though less obvious, your bite’s function also suffers due to the imbalance. In most cases, a custom-designed bridge, partial, or complete denture can easily address those concerns…. Read more »
Can I get dental implants with gum disease? The good thing about dental implants is that most patients who’ve lost one or more teeth qualify for them. Therefore, more patients can enjoy the many benefits they offer, such as more lifelike replacement teeth and a healthier, stronger jawbone. However, there are a few circumstances that… Read more »
For patients who’ve suffered tooth loss, there are many benefits to dental implants. Dentists often recommend replacing lost teeth with an appropriate number of these titanium posts or fixtures. One of the most significant reasons why is because implant posts are the only way to replace the roots of your lost teeth, which used to… Read more »
Dental issues may be common, but for the most part, preserving your healthy, natural teeth is often as simple as sticking to good hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly. This goes for you care of implants also. As dental issues develop, however, that process can become more complicated, especially if you have a restoration placed… Read more »
Even if you have never lost a tooth, much less several of them, you might understand the importance of replacing teeth with a dental bridge or implants. By filling in the gaps in your smile, modern replacement teeth do more than just restore your smile’s appearance; they also help reestablish its function and preserve the… Read more »
Are dental implants safe? Yes they are and super successful also. While there is no procedure in medicine and dentistry that is 100%, implant fixtures are very unlikely to have problems. The success rate in the lower jaw is 98% and 96% in the upper jaw. Implant dentists are constantly balancing the great benefits of… Read more »
Do you remember how excited you felt when you lost your first tooth, as a child? Many kids get so excited about being visited by the Tooth Fairy that they may even nudge a few teeth out, to hurry things along. Yet, as adults, few people experience joyous feelings when they lose teeth. Instead, they… Read more »
Is tooth loss inevitable? If you lose a natural tooth, is a dental implant the right choice for replacing it? There are a lot of questions surrounding tooth loss, many of them surrounding the best methods of rebuilding your smile afterwards. Are there alternatives to dental implants that will work as well? Tooth loss as… Read more »
Have you been fully informed about options for replacing a lost tooth? Choosing to replace your missing teeth with dental implants can dramatically improve your smile and your quality of life. Even if you are replacing only one missing tooth, you may find that the open space in your mouth causes a lot of frustration… Read more »
Dental CT scans play an extremely important role in the planning the future locations of implants. It is rare today to find a surgeon willing to take the risk of placing titanium fixtures without a CT scan. Computed tomography is often combined with digital software that helps to specify the arch location, depth, and axial… Read more »
Osseointegration Osseointegration is a biological process referring to the integration of metal with bone. Once the titanium post is inserted into the bone, it begins to form a strong, permanent bond similar to the natural root of a tooth, as the bone cells attached themselves directly to the titanium surface “locking” the post into the… Read more »
You’ve heard the saying “You are what you eat,” well, that goes the same for medications. You are what medicines you take, and some of them have side effects that are still unknown. For people with implants or who may be considering an implant, the following information may be helpful. Doctors remain aware of the… Read more »
Many adults with developmental disabilities cannot tend to their own dental needs and therefore require assistance from caregivers. Research has shown that somewhere there is a disconnect between the caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities and the at home dental care that adults with developmental disabilities receive. Because of this there has been a call… Read more »
Placing implants is a precise and complicated process. while we pre-plan the entire process, we actually do not do the surgical part of placing the implant. Today’s technology and equipment can make placing implants controlled and cosmetically more able to replicate a natural tooth. In today’s blog, Dr. Fondriest, explains how digital implant technology makes it… Read more »
Have you been lazy about your dental care and after years you’re seeing the effects? Maybe you have suffered an illness, or been on medications that have played havoc on your teeth. You may be familiar with cosmetic dentistry treatments such as veneers, dental implants, tooth whitening, etc., and you may think that they are… Read more »
Have you been thinking about getting dental implants and wondered about the technological improvements happening? The beauty of dental implants is that they are safe and improve conventional replacement teeth’s feel and function. There have been many improvements in design and performance. Scientists in Japan and China believe so, and their research suggests a special… Read more »
Tooth loss is a significant problem for many adults, and though it occurs often, the truth is that losing even a single tooth can have devastating consequences for your smile. If you’re already missing one or more teeth, then you may be familiar with the feeling of wanting to hide your smile to conceal its… Read more »
Did you know that TMD disorder, or TMJ, affects over ten million people in the United States alone? Jaw strain that results in TMJ disorder can lead to a number of uncomfortable symptoms. Without treatment, TMJ disorder may make eating and even yawning difficult. Fortunately, Dr. James Fondriest, offers the experience and knowledge necessary to… Read more »
Do you suffer from tooth loss? According to a recent study conducted by the American Association or Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69% of adults over the age of 35 are missing at least one permanent tooth. As we age, the rate of tooth loss often increases. The study went on to reveal that by… Read more »
The latest advances in dental implants and Bioteeth technology If you’ve done any research at all about replacing your missing teeth, then you’ve more than likely read about dental implants. These cutting-edge devices are comprised of three parts: the implant, which an oral surgeon or periodontist inserts into the jawbone; the abutment, which connects the… Read more »
If you’ve lost permanent teeth or have done any research on options for tooth replacement, you’ve probably heard of dental implants. The dental industry’s not-so-secret hidden treasure, dental implants are far and away the best method for replacing missing dentition. Dental implants offer patients several advantages over other traditional dental prosthetics. Although there are many… Read more »
Dentures are one of the oldest forms of dentistry. Today, dentures are designed and crafted with such realism that an observer can’t tell they are fake. However, even the most advanced dentures lack something that your healthy natural teeth rely on. There is no support of a root or anchor to hold them within your… Read more »
You may not realize just how serious tooth loss is until you’ve actually lost some or all of your teeth. Even if you haven’t lost your teeth, damaged teeth can seriously impair the function and appearance of your mouth, as well as your overall oral health. In the past, dentists relied on dentures and bridges… Read more »
There are three commonly done single tooth replacement options A removable partial denture Dental implants Fixed dental bridgework Dental bridges and implants have replaced partial dentures as the most recommended single tooth replacement options. The quality of life is much better and the esthetics are much preferred. Why is single tooth replacement important? Teeth are… Read more »
Let’s face it: once you move past a certain age, losing a tooth is bad news. Unfortunately, adult tooth loss is a serious problem in the U.S. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, 178 million American adults have one or more missing teeth. For centuries, dental bridges have served as the tooth replacement option… Read more »
Implant secured bridgework is the longest lasting type of dental bridge. Most bridges are supported by natural teeth but this version bridges the gap between implants. The adjacent teeth are not damaged in any way. This tooth replacement option has become far more popular than the partial denture option. Tooth loss is devastating to both… Read more »
Did you know that losing a tooth can promote bone loss in your jaw? In addition, traditional dentures can actually make the problem worse, further degrading the bone around the missing teeth. Your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, explains how dental implants influence jaw bone retention and provide seamless tooth replacement.
In October, the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) celebrates Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week. The USBJI explains that in the U.S. population over 18 years of age, nearly half experience musculoskeletal, or bone and joint, conditions. Examples include back pain, arthritis, traumatic injuries, osteoporosis, and childhood bone and joint disorders. People are… Read more »
When was the last time you sat down to enjoy a meal, without fear that your denture would shift about uncomfortably as you tried to chew? What about smiling? Does it feel like ages since you actually smiled confidently, without feeling concerned that your friends or family would fixate on your incomplete smile? If so,… Read more »
Missing teeth should not be viewed as an inevitable fact of aging. Instead, seniors should fight back against tooth loss with proper oral hygiene, frequent dental checkups and cleanings, as well as restorative dentistry. Dental implants can play a significant role in maintaining your surrounding teeth after suffering from tooth loss. Implants prevent tooth loss… Read more »
There are many reasons for tooth loss. Gum disease is the most common cause for missing teeth in adulthood. Whether you have lost your teeth to injury, infection, extraction, or any other number of reasons, you understand the discomfort that comes with eating and speaking. Some patients are embarrassed to show their smile because of… Read more »
Dr. James Fondriest began practicing as a general dentist, for which he is licensed in the state of Illinois, and over the span of his decades long career he’s undergone extensive training in the fields of cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, and prosthodontics. Today, we will explain what the field of prosthodontics is so that you… Read more »