Researchers from University of Murcia in Spain investigated if smoking impacts the ability of a dental implant to succeed. They found that smoking is a risk factor with regard to tooth loss and dental implant failure.

“People who smoke are at a greater risk of infection following surgery, and may heal more slowly,” said Dr. Arturo Sanchez Perez, Department of Periodontology at the University of Murcia. “When an implant is placed in a smoker, it is more likely to fail. This means a patient’s smile may be negatively affected, and the potential for more bone loss in the areas surrounding the gums and teeth.”

Smoking negatively affects blood flow to the bone and tissues surrounding the gums and teeth, which impairs bone healing. Implants fail because of a failure to integrate with the surrounding bone tissues. The study followed 66 patients over 5 years, who received 165 implants. They found that 15.8% of implants failed in smokers, versus 1.4% of implants in non-smokers.

“Tobacco use has been shown to be a risk factor for periodontal diseases, which is the main cause of tooth loss in adults,” said Dr. Preston D. Miller, DDS, President of the American Academy of Periodontology, “This research shows that if you want your dental implant to last, you should not smoke. Also, the treating dentist should make sure their patients are aware of this before placing an implant, and emphasize the importance of quitting smoking.”

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for

Subsequently, little mean bone change was observed in the five years following the implant placement, independent of type of restoration or implant length. The study, conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, evaluated 596 dental implants placed in 192 patients over the age of 18. Patients were screened for adequate oral hygiene and bone volume. Exclusion criteria included heavy smoking, chewing tobacco use, drug abuse, and untreated periodontal disease, amongst others.

Study author Dr. David Cochran, DDS, PhD, Chair of the Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and President of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), believes that this study provides additional support for the use of dental implants to replace missing teeth. “As a periodontist, I am committed to saving my patients’ natural dentition whenever possible. However, the results of this study help further indicate that a dental implant is an effective and dependable tooth replacement option. Since the patient’s host tissue surrounding the dental implant largely remains unchanged in the five years following placement, the dental team can now focus on periodic assessment and treatment of other areas in the mouth as needed, and know that the implant is doing its job as a viable substitute solution.”

A referral to a periodontist in your area and free oral health brochure samples including one titled “Dental Implants: Teeth That Look and Feel Just Like Your Own” are available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP’s Web site at www.perio.org.

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for periodontists—specialists in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists are also dentistry’s experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. They receive three additional years of specialized training following dental school, and periodontics is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. The AAP has 8,000 members worldwide.

The review focuses on different techniques that can be used to reconstruct lost alveolar bone (jaw bone) prior to or after tooth extraction or dental implant placement.

“With dental implants being the preferred method of tooth replacement, practitioners are beginning to see more complex cases where bone augmentation is needed,” said Dr. Preston D. Miller, DDS, and AAP president. “This comprehensive review outlines the situations in which bone augmentation may be needed and offers a great review of different techniques and their proven outcomes.”

“It is always important to use an evidence based approach when developing a treatment plan,” explained Brad McAllister, D.D.S. review author “As new bone augmentation techniques utilizing molecular, cellular and genetic tissue engineering technologies become more mainstream it will be important for practitioners to keep an eye to the latest research on these techniques.”

To access a copy of the literature review, please visit the Academy’s Web site, www.perio.org.

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for

In a new study that printed in the Journal of Periodontology, researchers found that the cumulative survival rate of implant-placed overdentures was 95.4 percent for 10 years. The success rate for the maxilla (upper jaw) implant supporting overdentures was 87.3 percent and the mandible (lower jaw) was 99.5 percent. Study Abstract

“My implant-placed overdentures have made my life more pleasurable, I felt practically no pain in having them placed, and am very glad that I did it,” said Marvin Goodwin of Buena Park, Calif. “Now I can eat caramel at a party and not have to worry about my dentures sticking together and prying them apart.”

An implant-supported overdenture requires that implants are placed into the jaw. The implants bond to the jawbone forming an anchor. Full bridges or dentures are created to attach to the implants, literally locking the teeth replacement into place.

“Even though my partials fit, they were often uncomfortable and had a tendency to move when I talked or ate,” explained Goodwin. “I can now enjoy eating food – especially steak because my teeth do not move.”

“One of the advantages of implant-supported full bridges and dentures is that it replaces some of the tooth roots, which will better preserve the jawbone,” explains Vincent J. Iacono, DMD and president of the American Academy of Periodontology. “Dental implants integrate with the jawbone helping to keep the bone healthy and intact.”

The overall rate of edentulism for adults 18 and older is nearly 10 percent. This rate increases with age so that about 33 percent of those 65 and older are without teeth according to the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health.

The good news is periodontists have the special knowledge, training and facilities to give people teeth that look and feel just like their own. This procedure is a team effort between the patient, dentist and periodontist. Depending on the specific condition, the periodontist will create a treatment plan tailored to meet the patients’ needs.

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for

“Maintaining a healthy mouth is not just a matter of a pretty smile and being able to enjoy the trick-or-treating season,” said Michael P. Rethman, DDS, MS, and president of the American Academy of Periodontology. “Research shows that nearly one in three U.S. adults aged 30 to 54 and 50 percent of adults aged 55 to 90 have some form of periodontitis, or more advanced stages of the disease.”

Periodontal diseases are a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. As the disease destroys gum tissue and bone, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

“The good news is patients no longer have to be haunted by toothless smiles because dental implants are a tooth replacement option,” said Rethman. “A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth, bridge or denture in place.”

Some implants take two to six months for the bone and implant to bond together to form anchors. During this time, a removable temporary tooth replacement can be worn over the implant site. Research has also advanced to where an implant can be placed immediately following tooth extraction.

“Depending on the specific condition and the type of implant chosen, a periodontist will create a treatment plan tailored to meet the patient’s needs,” said Rethman.

Periodontists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tissues surrounding the teeth and in the placement of dental implants. They receive extensive training in these areas, including three additional years of education beyond dental school. Periodontists also have experience working with other dental professionals and the special knowledge, training and facilities needed so that patients can have and maintain teeth that look and feel just like their own. This makes the periodontist a vital member of the dental implant team.

Warning signs of periodontal disease may include:

• Persistent bad breath
• Gums that bleed when you brush your teeth
• Red, swollen an bleeding gums
• Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
• Loose or separating teeth
• Pus between the gum and tooth
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

A referral to a periodontist who places dental implants in your area and free brochure samples about dental implants and periodontal diseases are available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP’s Web site at www.perio.org.

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for

Edentulism (toothlessness) has been declining in the United States since the 1950s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not quite 25 percent of the current population over age 65 is toothless. And, because edentulism rates are often dependent upon sociological and technological factors, toothlessness should continue to decline as baby boomers age.

“My older patients are becoming increasingly concerned about their oral health and the aesthetics of their smile,” said Dr. Robert Schoor, president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). “They want to keep their teeth, but when that’s not a possibility, many are opting for the next best thing – dental implants.”

A 1998 survey sponsored by the American Dental Association and Oral-B Laboratories found that almost two-thirds of respondents 65 and older said their teeth are better than their parents at their age. And, more than half said a smile is the first thing they notice about other people.

However, maintaining a healthy mouth is not just a matter of a pretty smile and being able to eat corn on the cob. A study in the January 1999 issue of the Journal of Periodontology reports that at the very least, half of people over age 55 have periodontitits (an advanced form of periodontal disease). Recent research has advanced the idea that periodontal diseases – a primary cause of tooth loss – are linked to a number of major health concerns, such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, osteoporosis and diabetes.

“To help prevent periodontal diseases, improve overall health and maintain a nice smile, we need to take note of the changes taking place in our mouths as we age and discuss these changes with our dental professionals,” said Schoor. “The goal is to make adjustments in oral care before these changes result in full-blown problems in the mouth that could jeopardize overall health.”

Older adults are one of the highest risk age groups for cavities and periodontal disease. Reasons include:

• Dry mouth (xerostomia), which may be caused by medical disorders or hundreds of medications (such as high blood pressure drugs, diuretics and antidepressants), can leave mouths without enough saliva to wash away food and neutralize plaque, leaving the mouth more susceptible to tooth decay and periodontal disease. In addition, calcium channel blockers can cause gingival enlargement or overgrowth.
• Receding gums leave the roots of the teeth exposed, making them vulnerable to plaque’s cavity causing acids and periodontal disease.
• Medical conditions associated with aging, such as diabetes, can increase the risk of periodontal disease. In addition, memory problems may lead to lessened oral hygiene. And, arthritis can make brushing and flossing more difficult.
• Women who are menopausal or post-menopausal may experience discomfort in the mouth, including pain and burning sensations in the gum tissue, altered taste and dry mouth. These changes, attributed to hormonal fluctuations, can lead to periodontal disease.
• Lack of preventative dental care and infrequent visits to the dentist also place older adults at increased risk for oral health problems. At dental visits, patients should discuss with their dentists or periodontists their health histories and any medications (including over-the-counter and herbal remedies) they are taking. For those people already missing teeth, ask if dental implants are a viable option.

A referral to a periodontist in your area and free brochure samples are available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP’s Web site at www.perio.org.

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for

“Dental implants are a unique gift idea because they look and feel like real teeth and will be appreciated for years,” said Dr. Jack Caton, president of the American Academy of Periodontology. “Dental implants are permanent tooth replacements that look and feel so much like natural teeth, patients usually forget they’re not.”

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. Since the dental implant integrates into the structure of the bone, it prevents the bone loss and gum recession that often accompanies bridgework and dentures. While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework, since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.

“Dental implants not only create a winning smile, but more importantly have significant functional benefits to overall good health,” said Caton. “People with dentures or loose and missing teeth have restricted diets since biting into fresh fruits and vegetables is often not only difficult, but also painful. Dental implants are so secure that the patient will never give a second thought when biting into a crisp apple.”

Periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss for Americans. Periodontal disease is a bacterial gum infection that destroys the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold the teeth. If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease can be a silent disease, but oftentimes it does come with warning signs.

Warning signs of periodontal disease may include:

• persistent bad breath
• gums that bleed when you brush your teeth
• red, swollen and bleeding gums
• gums that have pulled away from the teeth
• loose or separating teeth
• pus between the gum and tooth
• a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

Dental implants will require the same type of care as your own teeth. It is important to keep the dental implant clean with at-home oral care and regular dental visits. “After treatment, the periodontist will work closely with the patient and dentist to develop the best care plan for the patient’s treatment goals,” says Caton.

A referral to a periodontist in your area and free brochure samples are available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP’s Web site at www.perio.org.

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. Nearly 88 percent of the 295 periodontists polled reported that they perform implant surgery. Many of these respondents wrote in that their patients with implants often tell them that they forget the implants are not their natural teeth.

The survey showed that people from all age groups are opting for implants. However, 43 percent of the periodontists polled said half or more of the implants they place are for people ages 55 to 79, while 31 percent reported that half or more of the implants that they place are for the baby boomers – people ages 35 to 54. The top reasons for tooth loss leading to implant placement were periodontal disease, tooth decay and accidents, violence or injuries.

Dental implants have proven to be the answer for many people with missing or damaged teeth – from the 21-year-old woman who had trained herself not to smile or laugh for fear of exposing her damaged front teeth to the public speaker who had experienced losing his teeth during a speech. “I’ve been told by my patients that getting implants changed their whole life and made them look and feel younger,” said Ira Port, D.M.D., a periodontist in Toms River, N.J., echoing a sentiment expressed by many of the periodontists surveyed.

Periodontists say the biggest deterrent for patients who decide against dental implants is cost. The average charge for a single implant placed by a periodontist is between $1,000 and $2,000, according to the survey. Implants are usually not covered by dental insurance. However, periodontists point out that implants, while expensive in the short term, are long-lasting and more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework since they do not rely on neighboring teeth for support. “You can’t put a price tag on some of the esthetic and health benefits of dental implants,” said Michael McGuire, D.D.S., president of AAP. “Dental implants integrate with the jawbone to help prevent the loss of bone that accompanies conventional dentures or bridges. Loss of bone can lead to visible defects for people missing a single tooth or collapsed smiles for people who have lost all of their teeth. In addition, implants allow most people to return to a regular diet, including apples and corn on the cob.”

Another deterrent cited by about 10 percent of the periodontists was the time commitment involved in getting implants. The survey found that on average placing a single implant takes between five-and-a-half and seven-and-a-half months. After the implant is placed, it usually takes about two to six months for it to bond with the bone to form an anchor for the artificial tooth. During this time a temporary tooth replacement option can be worn. Often, a second step is then necessary to uncover the implant and attach an extension, which completes the foundation for the new tooth. The gums are allowed healing time following this step.

About 73 percent of periodontists described the level of pain or discomfort that the majority of patients experience in the process of getting implants as very little to none. Another 23 percent said getting implants is only somewhat painful or uncomfortable during limited periods of time. Many periodontists wrote in that their patients have commented after getting implants that they were surprised by the lack of pain.

Not everyone is a candidate for dental implants. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease. People who have missing or damaged teeth should ask their periodontists if they are a candidate and about the process and cost involved for them.

A referral to a periodontist in your area and free brochure samples including one titled Dental Implants: Teeth that Look and Feel Just Like Your Own are available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP’s Web site at www.perio.org.

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for

Recent case studies published in the Journal of Periodontology found that placing implants immediately after tooth extraction resulted in a high percentage of clinical success, and that using a temporary fixed crown restoration may provide a better opportunity to meet patient needs. In the first study, ten patients received a total of 15 implants placed immediately after removal of 15 single-rooted teeth. Case Study Abstract *

In the second case, a temporary fixed crown restoration was placed immediately after the bone reconstruction, and the final crown was permanently placed 6 weeks after surgery. Case Study Abstract *

“This is exciting news because in the past, dental implants weren’t placed until two to nine months after the tooth was extracted,” explained Antonio Barone, D.D.S. and lead researcher of one of the studies. “We observed no complications during the healing period, and found that implants placed immediately after tooth extractions have advantages such as prevention of jawbone deterioration, reduced number of surgical procedures and reduction of treatment time.”

“Implant dentistry has improved dramatically in the last 20 years,” said Gordon Douglass D.D.S., president of the American Academy of Periodontology. “Although more research needs to be conducted, the concept of placing an implant and in some cases a crown immediately after tooth extraction provides a better opportunity to meet patient needs. An implant is the ultimate in tooth replacement enhancing the smile and preventing bone loss due to the loss of the tooth or teeth.”

A referral to a periodontist in your area and free brochure samples including one titled Dental Implants: Teeth that Look and Feel Just Like Your Own are available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP’s Web site at www.perio.org.

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for

CHICAGO – February 13, 2004 – Appearing on a recent episode of reality TV, periodontist and member of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), Jeff Ganeles, DMD, showed how immediate loading dental implants transformed a patient’s smile in just a few visits. This event gave Americans a look at the future of implant dentistry, making the thought of dentures primitive and traditional dental implants routine technology.

“Today, patients’ expectations are much higher because of advances in technology and medicine,” explains Ganeles. “They want treatment methods that not only eliminate disease but also replace defective parts and make them feel whole again. Removable solutions such as dentures and partials used to be generally accepted, but increasingly my patients insist on more instantly gratifying, permanent options such as immediate loading dental implants.”

A dental implant, which looks like a small post or cylinder, is an artificial tooth root placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth, bridge, or denture in place. Using traditional dental implant methods and procedures, it typically takes two to six months for the bone and implant to bond together to form anchors (osseointegration). During this time, patients can wear a removable temporary tooth replacement option over the implant sites.

Improved technology affords some patients the luxury of immediate loading dental implants, whereby a periodontist places the implant immediately following tooth extraction and attaches a temporary fixed tooth replacement. “Although more research needs to be conducted, I have observed no complications during the healing period, and found that immediate loading implants can have notable advantages such as prevention of jawbone deterioration, reduced number of surgical procedures, reduction of treatment time, and better patient acceptance,” states Ganeles.

“We’ve come a long way with tooth replacement technology,” notes Michael P. Rethman, DDS, MS, and president of the AAP. “Today, the optimal solution for most patients is dental implants, and in some cases immediately loading implants.”

This is good news for patients who experience sadness, depression and embarrassment with tooth loss because they have lost the comfort and confidence of a natural smile. “Many also find that dentures, bridges and other dental appliances come with problems of their own,” Ganeles comments. “I’ve been told by my patients that getting implants changed their lives, making them look and feel younger and healthier.”

Consequently, it’s not just the “maturing” population that is electing implants to repair their smiles and restore their facial structure. In an online poll of periodontists, thirty-one percent report that half or more of the implants they place are for baby boomers – people ages 35 to 54, while forty-three percent state that more than half of the implants they place are for individuals between the ages 55 to 79. According to the poll, the top reasons for tooth loss leading to implant placement were periodontal diseases, tooth decay and accidents, violence or injuries.

Dental implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Since periodontists are the experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of the dental implant team. Periodontists not only have experience working with other dental professionals: they also have special knowledge, training, innovation, and facilities that patients need to attain the natural looking and feeling smiles the want.

A referral to a periodontist in your area and free brochure samples including one titled Dental Implants: Teeth that Look and Feel Just Like Your Own are available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP’s Web site at www.perio.org.

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is the professional organization for