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With many state-of-the-art dental treatments and prevention options available in dentistry today, there are fewer reasons for having to extract (remove) teeth. When something does go wrong with a tooth, we try to do everything possible to restore the tooth to its original function. Removing a tooth is the last option because we know that removal may lead to severe and costly dental and cosmetic problems if the tooth is not replaced.

Losing a tooth can be a very traumatic experience and it’s very unfortunate when it does happen. Injury, accident, fracture, severe dental decay, and gum disease are the major reasons for having to remove a tooth. If teeth are lost due to injury or have to be removed, it is imperative that they be replaced to avoid cosmetic and dental problems in the future.

When a tooth is lost, the jaw bone that helped to support that tooth begins to atrophy, causing the teeth on either side to shift or tip into the open space of the lost tooth. Also, the tooth above or below the open space will start to move towards the open space because there is no opposing tooth to bite on. These movements may create problems such as decay, gum disease, excessive wear on certain teeth, and TMJ (jaw joint) problems. These problems and movements do not result immediately, but will eventually appear, compromising your chewing abilities, the health of your bite, and the beauty of your smile.

Options for replacement of missing teeth:

Removable bridges – This type of bridge is a good solution for replacing one or more missing teeth, especially in complex dental situations where other replacement options are not possible. They are usually made of tooth-colored, artificial teeth combined with metal clasps that hook onto adjacent natural teeth. Removable bridges are the most economical option for replacing missing teeth, but may be the least aesthetically pleasing. This is because the metal clasps on the appliances are often impossible to completely conceal.

Fixed bridges – This type of bridge is generally made of porcelain or composite material and is anchored (cemented) permanently to a natural teeth adjacent to the missing tooth site. The benefit of this type of bridge is that it is fixed (not removable) and it is very sturdy. The disadvantage is that in order to create a fixed appliance, two healthy, natural teeth will have to be crowned (capped) to hold the bridge in place.

Dentures – This type of tooth replacement is used when most or all of the natural teeth are missing in one dental arch. Dentures are removable artificial teeth that are made to closely resemble the patients’ original teeth.

Implants – Are a great way to replace one or more missing teeth. They may also be great to support ill fitting dentures. A dental implant is an artificial root that is surgically placed into the jaw bone to replace a missing tooth. An artificial tooth is placed on the implant, giving the appearance and feel of a natural tooth. Implants are very stable, durable, and are the most aesthetically pleasing tooth replacement option.

If you are missing teeth, ask us if they need replacement and what options are available to you. Together we will select the best replacement option for your particular case. Prevention and early treatment is always less involved and less costly than delaying treatment and allowing a serious problem to develop.

Dentistry is finally able to “give back” in a way that we never could before. Even with the very best of talent and materials, dentists were always cutting away teeth, filling, extracting, restoring. Patients had to accept that a fair to poorly fitting denture was the best dentistry could do. So they lived and persevered with it.

Today we can do better. Dr. Mike feels fortunate to be able to provide this to you. With the dental implants, we can give back form and function. We can restore a patient to a level of comfort, function, and esthetics that we never could before.

What is even more exciting is that every year, advances in implant technology are enabling higher levels of success. Dr. Mike is dedicated to maintaining the most current technology and surgical “know how” in implant dentistry.

Q: I am afraid of dentists, physicians, needles, and pain!
A: It is an unfortunate fact that surgical procedures often produce pain. It is never our intent to produce pain. Rather we anticipate it, then take the appropriate measures to remove it, then minimize it.

These measures begin at our consultation visit by meeting Dr. Mike Dachowski, discussing the case, understanding the expectations of everyone involved in the patient’s care. Appropriate anesthesia is used for the case. That could be as simple as a local anesthetic or as involved as an intravenous anesthetic. Then the appropriate postoperative measures to minimize postoperative pain are implemented.

Our mission regarding pain is to minimize it!

The consultation is a most important part of your care and involves more than just looking. It allows Dr. Dachowski to evaluate all of the medical, dental, and patient concerns, obtain appropriate X-rays and other data, present the pertinent risks and benefits, and then agree on a plan.

With non complicated situations such as a standard extraction or biopsy on a healthy patient, consultations are usually not required.

Remember, the informed patient is a partner in his/her own care. Also remember, as important as your surgery is to you, we also attach a high level of priority. Our first aim is excellent, patient centered care. Delivering that high level of specialized care requires a plan that includes the surgery, the anesthesia, and all other concerns.

Certain procedures that we provide are covered by many medical and/or dental insurances. This can sometimes be very confusing as policies and levels of coverage continue to change, unknown to any of us.

For example, a wisdom tooth that is impacted in the bone is many times covered by the medical carrier and a non-impacted tooth is covered by the dental carrier. Sometimes one or the other carrier covers the anesthesia fees. Sometimes there is coordination between the two carriers to partially cover each service. Sometimes a specific surgery that was always covered by a company is suddenly not covered.