Chewing Gum after Eating

If you are a gum chewer, the type of gum you chew can make the difference between helping and harming your oral health. While you might think that stick of mint gum is freshening your breath, it could also be contributing to cavity formation. In fact, chewing gum made from xylitol, which is a natural sweetener, right after you eat is one of the most effective to improve digestion.

 

As you get older, your body produces less and less stomach acid to help you digest properly. Chewing gum at the appropriate times, like after a meal, can actually help give your digestive system a boost and help you digest your meals more efficiently. Chewing gum with xylitol helps create saliva which ultimately helps your body build up the amount of acid that is in your stomach. This acid helps contribute to breaking down foods and improving overall digestion.

Why Implants Work So Well

Why Implants Work So Well

Dental implants are used here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania to help patients replace their missing teeth, but many new patients wonder why implants work so well. Dental implants work by having a titanium metal post implanted into the patient’s jawbone where their tooth is missing. It requires a sufficient amount of bone to fit the implant, otherwise we either use a mini implant which is half the size, or we provide bone grafts before placing the implant.

 

The important thing to remember is that after the post is implanted, we let it heal for 3-6 months. During this time, the bone is actually healing around the post, which holds it in place permanently. This is exactly why our implants work so well; they are considered permanent because they become part of the bone, acting as the tooth’s root. While the crown on top may need to be replaced in about 10-15 years, the post remains intact.

 

After the implant process is complete, the patient has a new tooth that looks and functions exactly like a natural teeth. As opposed to bridges or dentures, they continue eating just about anything they want. Call to schedule a dental implant appointment with one of our doctors at 215-463-4141.

Ancient Dental Implants

Ancient Dental Implants

While dental implants seem like a newer procedure offered by our doctors, the procedure actually dates back to the Mayans. These ancient dental implants were made using ivory and shells that were fabricated by hand to look like human teeth. They were not strong like today’s implants, as they have evolved in improved strength and function over their long history.

 

The following steps detail how modern technology here at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania helps us to provide patients with dental implants:

 

1) The patient visits our office for a consultation where we take x-rays and assess if implants are a viable option.

 

2)The patient return for their first appointment where the titanium post is implanted into their jaw bone. An incision is made into the gums and the post is placed in the bone.

 

3)After 3-6 months when the bone has healed completely around the post, the patient returns to our clinic for evaluation and is sent to their dentist for the abutment and crown to be placed on top of the implant for the final step.

 

While dental implants are considered an ancient form of providing a tooth when one or more is missing, modern technology allows for a highly successful and effective procedure. Visit Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA to discuss your implant options.