No Longer Accepting Medicaid

SMYLIQUE™ Dentistry | Kybella, Extractions and Dental Cleanings

Understanding the Benefits of PRF for Healing Your Dental Implant

May 4, 2021

Lost teeth are nothing to smile about. The National Center for Health Statistics indicates that about 120 million US adults have lost at least one tooth, while more than 36 million have no teeth remaining, numbers that are expected to increase over the next two decades. Tooth loss can result from decay, gum disease, injury, cancer, or simply wear-and-tear over the years.

There’s no upside to losing your teeth. It can affect your appearance, your self-confidence and self-esteem, your oral health, and your overall health. Fortunately, with advanced dental technology, you have a lot of replacement options.

At Smylique Dentistry, the office of Dr. Indra Quagliata in Rochester, New York, our expert team does everything they’re able to save your teeth. If and when that isn’t possible, though, we rely on state-of-the-art technology to replace what’s been damaged or lost — dental implants. Here’s what you need to know about missing teeth and the dental implant process.

How lost teeth affect your oral and overall health

A key risk to both your oral and overall health is missing teeth, and research shows the risk increases with each additional tooth you lose. Some problems that could occur include:

  • Bone withers: the jaw needs chewing pressure and an anchored root to maintain mass
  • Gum recession: creates pockets for bacteria and decay and weakens teeth roots on both sides of the gap
  • Plaque buildup/tooth decay: surfaces adjacent to gap are more exposed
  • Infections: oral infections can spread to the bloodstream, causing endocarditis, low birth weight, and more
  • Moving teeth: adjacent teeth shift into the gap, leading to misalignment, difficulty chewing, and problems speaking
  • Altered facial structure: lips and cheeks sag inward, creating a “hollowed” look that ages your appearance

The benefits of dental implants

Dental implants, like bridges and partial or full dentures, are also artificial teeth. However, unlike those other options, they’re permanently set in the jaw and feel, look, and function almost the same as your natural teeth do. Because they contain a metal “root'' fused to the bone, which supports a crown with a chewing surface above it, they actually help stimulate bone growth — the only restoration option that does so, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.

At your first appointment Dr. Quagliata implants a biocompatible titanium or zirconia screw into your jawbone, which will serve as the tooth’s “root.” Then, there’s a waiting period of anywhere from three to eight months while the bone grows around the screw, fusing it with the tissue.

At your next appointment, Dr. Quagliata attaches a connector called an abutment, which serves as a link between the screw and the dental crown she’ll attach at your final appointment. She matches the color of the crown to your surrounding teeth, so it blends in perfectly.

Dental implants are a good choice for one or a few missing teeth, and we can even implant an entire arch at one time. Though they’re a more costly endeavor than either type of denture, they’re permanent. As long as you brush and floss every day and see the dentist twice a year for checkups, dental implants can last a lifetime. The only problem may be that the crown needs to be replaced every 10-15 years because of normal wear-and-tear.

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and the dental implant process

PRF and its predecessor, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), are what’s known as autologous blood concentrates. That means they’re created from your own blood. First, we draw a small vial from your arm. Next, we centrifuge it to separate the platelets and plasma from the red and white blood cells. The platelets, which contain a large amount of growth factors, are formed into a mesh and placed directly over the implant area, so the jaw can heal more quickly.

There are a number of other benefits, specifically from the L-PRF variation. These include:

  • Decreases bleeding
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Enhances surgical flap closure
  • Decreases risk of postoperative infection since “rich” in leukocytes
  • Decreased risk of allergic or immunologic rejection since from patient’s own blood
  • Inexpensive
  • Easy to create

To learn more about the benefits of dental implants and platelet-rich fibrin, give Smylique Dentistry a call at 585-207-2152, or set up a consultation online with us today.

Submit

Thank You!

We appreciate you taking the time to visit our site. We'll review your message and be in touch with you soon.

Continue

Contact Us

Schedule your appointment online or give us a call to get started today.

Our Location

SMYLIQUE™ Dentistry
200 White Spruce Blvd
Suite 200
Rochester, NY 14623

Our Hours

Monday:
7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tuesday:
9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday:
Closed
Saturday:
Closed
Sunday:
Closed