Even though there’s always a touch of Spring in the air here in Honolulu, it doesn’t mean you haven’t let any Winter habits go unchallenged.

Although the very idea of Winter is a strange one here – if anything, it just means rain to us – there is still a kind of “frozen mindset” that can creep in when it comes to the health and appearance of your smile.

It’s as if an Ice Age has started inside of your mouth, and your smile has become frozen in the place where you last left it. Maybe you got some work done a year or more ago, and you’ve been riding on that wave for too long. Now that we’re approaching the warmer season again, the ice on your smile won’t thaw unless you see professional treatment to get it updated and back into proper health.

When you rest on your laurels like this, it is extremely easy for a case of periodontitis (aka gum disease) to come in, or a cavity to grow by leaps and bounds, or – well, you get the picture.

The bottom is line that your smile has been out in the cold for so long that you have lost one tooth, or maybe more, through neglect, injury, or plain old bad luck.

The only chill you feel here in Honolulu is the cold shoulder when you show your smile, warts and all, to strangers. It’s unfair, but that type of superficial behavior is hardwired into our brains; studies have shown that the first thing people notice in another person is their smile.

If this sounds like your smile, then you could be an excellent candidate for a dental implant treatment which can bring back functionality and beauty to even the most frostbitten of smiles!

Unmatched Strength, Amazing Aesthetics

If you’re wondering “what is a dental implant?” then I’ve got you covered. Essentially, a dental implant is an artificial tooth root made from the finest, most durable alloys such as titanium, that is placed into the gum line with a local anesthetic to eliminate pain.

The implant can then form the basis of any number of cosmetic dentistry services, and can serve as the “anchor” to crowns, bridges, or even a full or partial set of dentures.

Their versatility is matched only by their durability. That titanium alloy I mentioned? It’s similar to the materials used to construct the Space Shuttle, so if it’s good enough for NASA, then it’s certainly good enough for your smile!

A dental implant is a key component of ideal restorative dentistry, in that it can easily help a Honolulu dentist like me rebuild a smile that has more or less started to fall apart. By replacing a tooth that is either missing or damaged beyond repair with a dental implant, you are preventing a number of harmful scenarios from ever occurring, ranging from gum disease to “tooth drift,” which occurs when teeth spread out like small glaciers to fill gaps caused by missing teeth. If that happens, then I will have to correct those teeth with an orthodontic solutions, like Invisalign or traditional braces, which can add more time and more money to the process of thawing out your smile.

But you won’t have to if you obtain a new dental implant, which will preserve the shape of your overall smile as it enhances its appearance. When outfitted with a crown, bridge, or other cosmetic service, a dental implant or set of implants can last you for a lifetime if you properly maintain and care for them! You can eliminate the need for repeat visits and future smile emergencies with just a little daily maintenance, and you’re set for life!

The only issue with dental implants is that some patients (particularly elderly patients, or patients suffering from a bone-related disease) might not be able to get dental implants due to lack of bone material in the jaw. When that is the case, I usually recommend mini-dental implants, which can provide the same kind of security but with a smaller footprint” in the jaw. You’ll still be able to get an implant and the cosmetic dentistry procedure that follows it, but without the need for a painful and length bone grafting surgery.

To find out if a dental implant can thaw your smile in time for the approaching warmer weather season, please give me a call at 808-797-3680 to make an appointment. Or you can click here to request an appointment online.