If you’ve lost teeth, there are quite a few wonderful tooth replacement options that you can use. Dentures and bridges can be life-changing for people who need them, but dental implants are often considered the best way to help people who are missing teeth.

If you’re interested in learning more about tooth replacement options, here are some facts about dental implants that you might not know.

1. They’re Incredibly Durable

For one, dental implants can last for an incredibly long time, even compared to other tooth replacement options. Dentures and bridges can last for around 10 years, which sounds impressive on its own, but dental implants blow them out of the water.

95% of dental implants are successful at 20 years, with some lasting as long as 30 with proper maintenance. If you’re looking for a way to replace a missing tooth for a lifetime, dental implants can potentially do that for you.

2. They Can Give You a Strong Bite

Even missing a single tooth can potentially have serious effects on your ability to bite and chew. Dentures can restore a little bit of that ability, but not all of it—around 30% of your original bite force. They’re limited in how much force they can apply because they’re only supported by your gums.

Dental implants, on the other hand, are secured directly to your jaw. As such, they have a remarkable ability to chew naturally, restoring around 70% of your original chewing ability. Chewing begins the digestive process, which means that you’d be better able to absorb nutrients from the food you eat.

3. It’s Important to Watch your Diet

Dental implants can do a lot of chewing, but when you’re still healing in the first six months to a year of surgery, it’s important to avoid foods that can disrupt that process.

Crunchy or hard foods that can put excess pressure on your dental implants can be a problem. Similarly, you should also stay away from crunching ice or biting your nails.

Dental implants are incredibly popular among tooth loss patients. Hopefully, now you can see why that’s the case.

About the Author

Dr. Reza Khorasani is a dentist who is deeply passionate about his work. His practice is patient-centric in its approach, which means he’s always considering carefully how to meet his patients’ individual needs. Dr. Khorasani graduated from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, and since then has made it a point to continue his education in a wide variety of dental fields, including oral surgery and implant dentistry.

If you have any questions about dental implants, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (469) 367-0266.

The post 3 Facts You May Not Know about Dental Implants appeared first on Atlas Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Plano Blog.

The new year has just begun, and it’s highly recommended that you visit your dentist at least twice before it ends. You might be tempted to put off your first appointment for a few months, but when it comes to oral health, it’s always better to get the care you need sooner rather than later. Here are 4 important reasons why you should schedule a dental checkup and cleaning as early in the year as possible.

1. It Lets You Start the Year with a Healthy Smile

Even if you’re brushing and flossing regularly, there might still be accumulations of harmful plaque and tartar on your teeth and gums. The sooner your dentist has a chance to examine your mouth, the sooner they can get rid of plaque and tartar before they can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. These issues can be treated, but avoiding them altogether is always preferable.

2. It Lets You Keep Your Oral Health Expenses Under Control

Having dental problems caught early can potentially save you a lot of money. For example, untreated tooth decay could eventually lead to needing root canal therapy or an extraction. However, if a cavity is caught while it’s still small, it can typically be treated with a filling, which is much less costly. A preventive appointment early in the year could make it less likely that you’ll need more expensive treatments in the coming months.

3. It Gives You a Head Start on Maximizing Your Dental Insurance

Many dental insurance plans reset at the end of each calendar year. If there are any benefits remaining at this time, they won’t be carried over; they’ll simply be lost. Consequently, if you’re not using your dental insurance to the fullest, you could potentially be losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars on dental care without even realizing it.

As such, you need to take whatever steps you can to maximize your insurance benefits before they expire. One of the easiest ways to do that is to visit your dentist, since many dental plans offer 100% coverage for preventive care. The more proactive you are about using your dental insurance, the easier it is to get the most out of your investment.

4. It Gives You a Chance to Improve Your Oral Care

Are there any spots in your mouth that you keep missing when you brush? Could you benefit from adding mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine? A dental checkup is an excellent chance to get feedback from your dentist about the care you give your smile so that you can be sure that you’re practicing the best dental health habits for the rest of the year.

About the Author

Dr. Khorasani is very passionate when it comes to bringing his patients the personalized high-quality dental care they need to protect their smiles. His current practice, Atlas Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Plano, offers a wide variety of dental services and accepts various popular dental insurance plans. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Khorasani, visit his website or call (469) 367-0266.

The post 4 Advantages of Scheduling a Dental Checkup Early in the Year appeared first on Atlas Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Plano Blog.

Are you paying a monthly premium for dental insurance? If so, it only makes sense that you’d want to make the most of it while you can. Using your dental insurance coverage can not only help you keep a healthy smile but save money as well. Plus, it makes everything from standard checkups to complex treatments affordable, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank! That said, here are four easy ways you can maximize dental insurance benefits from a dentist in Plano.

Avoid Costly Dental Work with Preventive Care

Preventive checkups are critical to your overall health. They allow your dentist to prevent, detect, and treat issues before they turn into complications. With these biannual appointments, your dentist can monitor your teeth and gums to ensure they’re in optimal condition, helping you avoid complex and expensive procedures down the line.

That said, make sure you attend all your oral examinations, professional teeth cleanings, and routine X-rays for the year while you still can! Most dental insurances cover these services at little to no cost to you.

Understand What Your Insurance Covers

Even though most dental plans only cover preventive dental care, you may be able to use your benefits for other types of dental work. For example, if you need a filling to restore a damaged or decayed tooth, your insurance may be able to cover it since it’s considered restorative. Dental crowns may also be covered in cases where they’re medically necessary. Of course, every dental insurance plan is different, so make sure you review the details of your specific policy to understand what’s covered.

Schedule Major Dental Procedures in Advance

It’s no secret that major treatments and procedures often require multiple appointments to complete. Therefore, it’s a good idea to schedule them in advance so you can make the most out of your coverage. If you have outstanding dental work that exceeds your annual maximum, ask your dental team to schedule part of it this year and the rest next year. By using this strategy, you can use two annual maximums and reduce your out-of-pocket expenses significantly.

Find Out When Your Benefits Expire

Most dental insurance plans tend to operate on a calendar-year basis. At the beginning of every year, you’re given an annual maximum, which is the most your plan will pay for approved services. If you don’t use it by the end of the year, your benefits expire, and they will not roll over into the new year. That said, it’s a good idea to schedule any outstanding dental treatments before the year ends.

There’s still time to make the most out of your dental insurance. By following the tips outlined above, you can maximize your dental insurance benefits and start the new year on the right foot!

About the Author

Dr. Reza Khorasani earned his dental doctorate from UC San Francisco which is ranked as one of the top five dental schools internationally. Dr. Khorasani considers himself to be very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from some of the most distinguished individuals in dentistry while there. He is ready to support your smile with an array of treatments, but first, you are welcome to contact his team to discuss your dental insurance, Sunbit financing, or our in-house membership plan. You can schedule an appointment on his website or call (469) 367-0266.

The post 4 Easy Ways to Maximize Your Dental Insurance Benefits appeared first on Atlas Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Plano Blog.

Millions of Americans are missing one or more teeth. If you’re a part of that statistic, you know from experience how much it can affect your overall quality of life. Fortunately, you can say goodbye to the gaps in your smile with dental implants. This modern tooth loss solution has an impressive success rate of about 90-95%. Are you wondering how that’s possible? Read on as a dentist in Plano explain what makes dental implants so successful!

Decisive Action

If you fail to replace your missing teeth in a timely manner, you have a higher chance of experiencing jawbone loss. The underlying bone is dependent on the pressure from tooth roots to trigger new bone cell generation. Without stimulation, it’ll simply deteriorate over time. By getting dental implants in Plano, you can avoid having to undergo a complex bone grafting procedure to build up the treatment site.

Excellent Health

Following dental implant placement, the surrounding bone tissue will naturally fuse with the titanium posts. This process, known as osseointegration, is essential for securing the implants. Your body must be in excellent health for it to be successful. Practicing good oral hygiene, maintaining a healthy diet, and visiting your dentist regularly will help keep your oral health in tip-top shape. That way, you can avoid issues that may increase your risk of implant failure.

Modern Technology

When searching for an implant dentist in Plano, make sure you choose one that uses advanced techniques and modern technology. These factors are essential to determine the exact placement of your dental implants, increasing your chances of success. During your consultation, ask your dentist what type of technology they’re using.

Quality Care

You have the power to make your dental implants last as long as possible. After undergoing treatment, your dentist in Plano will provide aftercare instructions to help extend the longevity of your new smile. Luckily, caring for dental implants is as easy as caring for natural teeth! All you have to do is brush, floss, and rinse as you normally would keep your grin in pristine condition.

Commitment to Treatment

Before getting dental implants, it’s important to understand that they’re a lifetime commitment. You must be prepared to take proper care of them if you want them to last a long time. Some ways to ensure long-term dental implant success are by attending all your follow-up visits, scheduling bi-annual appointments, practicing good oral hygiene, and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash.

Ready to start your dental implant journey? Contact your dentist in Plano and schedule a consultation today. Your dream smile is only a phone call away!

About the Practice

At Atlas Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Plano, we’re passionate about helping patients of all ages enjoy a healthy smile for life. From routine checkups to cosmetic dentistry to state-of-the-art dental implants, we’ve got everything for your oral health needs. If you’re ready to replace your missing teeth, don’t hesitate to ask about our services. You can schedule a consultation via our website or call (469) 367-0266.

The post 5 Reasons Why Dental Implants Are So Successful appeared first on Atlas Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Plano Blog.

With the holidays rapidly approaching, this is about the time of year when people start to feel a pinch in their wallets. Naturally, your first response may be to cancel all of your appointments, including your upcoming dental checkup. Don’t! Visiting your dentist can actually save you money in both the short and long term. Here’s how!

#1. Catch Gum Disease Early

With roughly 50% of American adults developing gum disease, it’s safe to say that this oral health condition is a prevalent concern. That’s why your dentist dedicates a portion of their exam to taking a look at your gums, looking for inflammation, plaque buildup, and infection along the way. If they catch the warning signs in the early stages, the treatment could be as simple as implementing a solid at-home oral hygiene regimen. If left alone to progress, however, more extensive solutions, like root scaling and planing, are required.

#2. Detect Oral Cancer in the Early Stages

This year alone, experts estimate that roughly 54,000 cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed. Since the symptoms (like white patches along the floor of your mouth) can fly under the radar for months or years at a time, it’s important not to skip your biannual checkups. These appointments allow your dental team to periodically scan your mouth for symptoms. If they do see anything concerning, they can work with your primary care physician to figure out the best treatment plan.

#3. Prevent Decay

Even small cavities can take a toll on your quality of life, making chewing without pain and smiling confidently difficult. Since dental problems like tooth decay don’t heal on their own, it’s of the utmost importance that your dentist catches it and treats it right away. If that doesn’t happen, you might end up needing a root canal or extraction instead of a filling.

Bonus Reason: Utilize Your Remaining Dental Insurance Benefits

Did you know that many dental insurance plans reset on January 1^st? That means you only have a few weeks left to utilize your remaining benefits. If you don’t, you’ll end up leaving hundreds or thousands of valuable dollars on the table at the end of the year. Don’t worry – your dentist can help prevent that from happening. Plus, if you are currently uninsured, they can review your other financial solutions, like flexible financing.

While canceling your dental appointment may make sense at first, it’s easy to see how it’s not the best decision for your smile or your wallet. So, make sure to visit your dentist before the end of the year!

About the Author

After volunteering with the Flying Doctor’s organization, Dr. Khorasani fell in love with dentistry. This newfound passion inspired him to obtain his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry. Since then, he has thoroughly enjoyed helping patients in and around Plano achieve their healthiest, happiest smiles – without breaking the bank too! To learn more about the benefits of visiting our team at Atlas Cosmetic & Family Dental of Plano and our financial solutions, get in touch with our team via our website or by phone at (469) 367-0266.

The post Want to Save Money? Here’s Why You Should Visit Your Dentist appeared first on Atlas Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Plano Blog.