While many dentists consider dental implants to be a staple of effective tooth replacement services, these restoration options are still relatively unheard of for most patients. If you’re missing one or more teeth, versatile dental implant supported tooth replacement plans may be just what you need. Dental implants are positioned below the gums to replace missing tooth roots and support replacement teeth. For a single lost tooth, this is relatively straightforward. An implant post is placed, and a replacement tooth is fixed to the top of the implant. When it comes to more complex tooth replacement plans, patients have questions. What happens if I have more than one missing tooth? Do I need a dental implant and dental crown for every lost tooth? In this post, we’ll discuss some of the basics of dental implant tooth replacement for patients missing multiple teeth.
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What Happens if I Need More Than one Dental Implant?
February 7, 2018
Norman dentist talks about the right sedation for you
June 6, 2016
Quell your dental fear, and receive the treatment you need with safe, state-of-the-art sedation dentistry from your Norman dentist, Dr. Bobby Carmen. Read about your options for a pain-free, calm experience. (more…)
Norman dentist replaces teeth with bridges or implants
June 1, 2016
Your Norman dentist, Dr. Bobby J. Carmen, excels at preventive dentistry. Hygienic ceanings, comprehensive examinations, mouthguards and more keep teeth and gums healthy and attractive. Sometimes, though, tooth decay, gum disease and even tooth and bone loss occur. When you lose a tooth through an unfortunate circumstance, what replacement option should you choose: Norman bridgework or a dental implant? (more…)
CEREC makes same day crowns possible
February 5, 2016
Faster isn’t always better, but it sure is when it comes to the treatment time for your dental crowns. With CEREC technology, you can have your dental restoration in just one, one hour visit to Dr. Carmen’s office! Sounds pretty fantastic, right? Keep reading to learn more about CEREC crowns in Norman, then schedule your appointment for same day tooth restoration today!
Find the Best General Dentist in Norman in 4 Steps
January 11, 2016
One of the worst decisions you can make for your oral health would probably surprise you. It’s also something too many adults do — hop around from dentist to dentist, choosing a new one for each checkup or procedure. Developing a good dentist-patient relationship does more for your oral health than you’d think, and adults and families who have a dentist to call their own enjoy stronger teeth as a result. So if you’ve looked but still haven’t found the general dentist in Norman that’s right for you, we encourage you to renew the search in 2016! You can find an excellent dental team in just four steps. Keep reading to learn how.
Choosing Cosmetic Bonding or Porcelain Veneers Norman, OK Loves
October 6, 2015
No matter how well we care for our teeth, natural wear and tear leaves its mark over time. The foods and drinks we consume daily, chewing and grinding teeth, and decreased bone density due to aging all contribute to minor cosmetic flaws like chips, cracks, and stains. When it comes to correcting smile irregularities, patients have numerous cosmetic and restorative dentistry options. Two of the most popular corrective solutions are cosmetic bonding and porcelain veneers. However, many patients are unsure which option is right for their smile, and Dr. Bobby J. Carmen and his Norman, OK dental team help patients fully understand their options, and make a decision that leave them with beautiful smiles for years to come.
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When to Ditch an Over-the-counter Mouthguard (and Why)
September 24, 2015
Are you a nighttime tooth grinder? If so, it’s a condition we also call bruxism, and its side effects are serious. Many times, adults try to self-treat nighttime conditions like bruxism — and sleep apnea, which occurs when the soft tissues of the mouth block the airway — with over-the-counter solutions, like one-size-fits-all mouth trays, snoring prevention or boil and bite mouthguards. These can provide an acceptable solution for a short period of time, but if you’ve got a real problem, you need a real, professional solution. Read more to learn about professional mouthguards from your dentist in Norman.
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Tooth Replacement with the Dentist Norman, OK, Trusts
July 27, 2015
If you or someone you care about is missing teeth, then you might be familiar with the difficulties they face almost daily. The activities most people take for granted—eating, talking, smiling, laughing—may be compromised. And beyond the affects that even one missing tooth can have on your oral health, there are the consequences to your general and emotional health to consider, too. Your nutrition may suffer if you are unable to consume a well-balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables. Emotionally, missing teeth can make you self-conscious in both social and professional situations. Therefore, Dr. Bobby Carmen and his team in Norman, OK, offer a variety of tooth replacement options, so you can have the full and beautiful smile you need and deserve.
Dental Implants in Norman
Perhaps the most lifelike tooth replacement choice is a dental implant. This modern dental wonder not only replaces the crown of a tooth—the visible portion—but the root as well. As such, you’ll have stable base upon which Dr. Carmen can attach a natural-looking porcelain tooth restoration. As an implant dentist, Dr. Carmen will perform every step of treatment, including implant placement, at our Norman dental office. He will surgically implant a small titanium post your jawbone. As this heals, the bone and post will fuse, creating as firm a foundation as a live tooth root. Once you’ve healed, you’ll return to our office where Dr. Carmen will affix a custom crown. If you have more than one missing tooth, then implants will be positioned along your arch in order to securely hold implant retained dentures.
Full and Partial Dentures
For full and partial dentures, Norman turns to Dr. Carmen. As you might guess, full dentures replace all of the teeth on an upper or lower arch. Partial dentures, on the other hand, are designed to fit between and among your remaining teeth. Full dentures and partials contain artificial teeth on a pink, gum-colored base, and both look completely natural. With wear, they will feel natural, too. Dr. Carmen takes great care to design dentures that are comfortable and appropriately sized for your unique mouth and facial features.
Call Our Office Today
If you would like to learn more about your tooth replacement options, or if you are ready to schedule a consultation, then please call the office of Dr. Bobby Carmen. Our Norman, OK office happily offers this service to our neighbors in Noble, Goldsby, Newcastle, Moore and beyond.
Dental Implants from Dr. Bobby Carmen in Norman, OK
April 29, 2015
If you have one or more missing teeth, then you know that you have several choices when it comes to tooth replacement. There are partial and full dentures, as well as fixed bridges. But perhaps the tooth replacement that provides the most natural and stable solution is a dental implant. Dr. Bobby Carmen is the Norman, OK, implant dentist with the education and training required to place and restore dental implants.
What is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants actually consist of two parts. One is the biocompatible titanium post that is surgically implanted into your jawbone beneath the open socket of a missing tooth. (If you have several missing teeth, Dr. Carmen can strategically position posts along one arch to securely hold a denture in place.) The second part is the porcelain crown that Dr. Carmen adhesively bonds to the abutment adjoining the post. Together, the titanium post and crown closely imitate the relationship between one of your natural tooth’s root and crown.
The Dental Implant Procedure
When you come to Dr. Carmen for dental implants, we’ll first make sure that you are completely comfortable. If necessary, we can provide conscious sedation or call in an anesthesiologist to administer IV sedation. The procedure then begins with minor oral surgery during which Dr. Carmen anchors the post in your jawbone. As you heal over the course of three to six months, the post and bone with fuse together, generating a strong and secure base. After healing, you’ll return to Dr. Carmen’s office for him to attach the abutment and crown. When the dental implant process is completed, you have a new tooth that looks, feels and functions much like a real tooth.
Schedule an Appointment Today
To learn more about how dental implants can restore your smile, call the office of Dr. Bobby Carmen and ask about a consultation. We serve patients in Norman, OK, as well as from Moore, the University of Oklahoma, and central Oklahoma and beyond.
Air Abrasion for Cavity Repair from Dr. Bobby Carmen in Norman, OK
April 15, 2015
You are so conscientious about your dental health. You brush and floss your teeth every day, twice a day. You schedule regular checkups with Dr. Bobby Carmen in Norman, OK, every six months. Usually, you get a clean bill of dental health and are on your way. But today, a digital x-ray reveals a small cavity. Ugh, you think, now I have to deal with the anesthetic and the drill. Not necessarily. With air abrasion, Dr. Carmen can quickly repair that cavity and have you on your way—as usual—with a tooth that’s as good as new.
What is Air Abrasion?
Think of air abrasion like sandblasting. Just as sandblasting uses sand that is powerfully forced by air to clean a surface, air abrasion uses tiny particles of silica, aluminum oxide, or a baking soda mixture to blast away particles of decay. The particles are propelled toward the tooth by compressed air or a gas, and a suction tube draws away the debris. More often than not, a local anesthetic is not necessary when Dr. Carmen uses air abrasion, so you don’t have that numb feeling even after the procedure is finished. Once the decay is completely cleared, Dr. Carmen will be able to fill the cavity with a tooth-colored composite resin material that blends seamlessly with the natural color of your tooth.
Other Advantages of Air Abrasion
Besides reducing the need for anesthesia, air abrasion has other advantages, too. First, air abrasion preserves more of a tooth’s natural structure, making for a stronger tooth when the cavity is filled. Air abrasion does not generate heat, vibration, or pressure and greatly reduces the risk of a tooth cracking or chipping during the procedure.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you would like to know more about air abrasion or any other restorative dental procedure offered by Dr. Bobby Carmen, then call the office today. We serve patients in Norman, OK, as well as from Moore, the University of Oklahoma, and central Oklahoma and beyond.