Many edentulous (toothless) patients in Chicago are turning to the All-on-4 dental implant procedure as a tooth replacement method that’s far superior to traditional dentures. With All-on-4 implants, a full arch of artificial teeth is anchored in the mouth by four strategically placed implants. A special three-dimensional imaging software program allows the implant dentist to plan for the implants’ precise location in the patient’s jaw, which streamlines the process.
When permanent teeth are lost or extracted, no roots are left to keep the jaw bone in place. As a result, the bone begins to recede and patients who wanted implants to replace an entire upper or lower arch of teeth in the past often needed to undergo multiple bone grafts. The graft brought in bone from elsewhere in the mouth or body to ensure that the implant dentist would have sufficient bone structure to place the implants.
However, in the All-on-four technique, the implants are placed near the front of the jaw, where the bone is slowest to recede. This implant placement eliminates the need for a preliminary bone graft and the delay as the patient recovers from that procedure. With the All-on-4 procedure, the implants are placed and the patient goes home with a full arch of teeth that same day. The patient heals much more quickly, too. In fact, nearly all patients are able to eat a meal of soft food later that evening.
All-on-4 dental implants offer many benefits over dentures. The replacement arch is much more secure with All-on-4 implants, so patients don’t need to worry about an embarrassing denture slip during a conversation or presentation. The function is quite close to that of natural teeth, so patients don’t need to give up their favorite foods! Additionally, the implants used in the All-on-4, Teeth in a Day technique help to replace the roots of the missing teeth, reducing the likelihood of further jaw bone resorption.
If you are in the process of deciding whether to choose dentures or another method to replace your missing teeth, consult with this dual degree implant dentist in Chicago to see if “Teeth in a Day”, All-on-4 dental implants are an option for you.
My dentist from Manus Dental referred me to Dr. Koos for getting my impacted wisdom teeth out and I have to say that even though it was not something that I looked forward to in the least, his bedside manner and attention are hard to find these days and his office and facilities are truly amazing. Too bad he is an oral surgeon only – I would go to him for all my healthcare!
Are you missing a tooth and weighing whether to replace it with dental implants or a bridge? If so, there’s some information about both methods that you need to consider as you make your decision.
Implants, which are small titanium posts that are then connected to a naturally appearing tooth crown, are durable, and they replace the missing tooth’s root, which prevents erosion of the remaining jaw bone. Implants come closest to matching the natural tooth in terms of form and function. They have no adverse impact on other nearby teeth, they are stand-alone tooth replacements.
On the other hand, a bridge, which anchors a replacement tooth to crowns on the teeth adjacent to the gap, requires healthy tooth structure to be shaved from those neighboring teeth to accommodate the crowns. It’s also difficult to keep the teeth and gums clean in the area of the bridge since all crowns are physically connected, and that presents the risk of infection and gum disease, which can ultimately lead to more tooth loss.
Moreover, a bridge does not prevent bone resporption at all, whereas implants do. As you lose bone, the shape of your jaw will change. If that change is significant enough, your missing tooth area under the bridge will shrink and began to lodge food, become unsightly and then need to be entirely replaced.
In order to avoid the damage and complications associated with bridges, patients should opt for implants instead. Dr. Steven A. Koos, an implant dentist in Chicago, can offer you an enduring tooth replacement method that won’t compromise nearby teeth in the same way a bridge does and should last a lifetime.
If you’re a Chicago patient who chooses dental implants to fill in the gaps left as a result of missing teeth, you’ll get replacements that look and function just like natural teeth without sacrificing your neighboring healthy teeth.
Dr. Steven A. Koos, D.D.S., M.D., an oral surgeon and sedation dentist in Chicago, Illinois is pleased to announce the promotion of a unique program with a positive impact on the environment called the “Tooth Lost – Tree Gained” Campaign”.
Online PR News – 08-April-2011 –Chicago, IL – Dr. Steven A. Koos, D.D.S., M.D., an oral surgeon and sedation dentist in Chicago, Illinois is pleased to announce the promotion of a unique program with a positive impact on the environment called the “Tooth Lost – Tree Gained” Campaign”. The Chicago oral surgeon specializing in tooth extractions, wisdom teeth removal and dental implants in the South Loop, has committed to planting a tree on behalf of his patients, for each tooth removed in his sustainable practice. This year alone he has committed to 20,000 plantings!
ORA Oral Surgery & Implant Studio®, the green oral surgery practice in Chicago owned by Dr. Koos, has partnered with the environmentally responsible non-profit organization Trees for the Future, a certified program that supports re-forestation in landscape-ravaged developing countries. ORA is the first and only green oral surgery practice in the nation, and Dr. Koos has been well-recognized for his promotion of various eco-friendly initiatives in recent years. Planting trees is just one of the socially responsible actions that the Chicago oral surgeon engages in to sustain the environment.
“Each year, our office removes thousands of teeth,” explains Dr. Koos. “Since we are so committed to helping the environment, we thought that it would be a fitting gesture for us to commission the planting of a tree for each tooth that we remove. That’s how we came up with the name of our campaign –‘Tooth Lost – Tree Gained’. We wanted our patients to realize that not only were their teeth removed to improve their oral health in some way, but by doing so, they were making a small impact on improving the world as well.”
Trees for the Future is committed to sustainable agroforestry and has been helping communities in Africa, Central America and Asia to plant trees since 1989. They provide training and seed distribution in an effort to empower communities to restore tree cover to their land. This helps to restore the natural environment and habitats in these locales, improves the livelihoods of nearby communities, provides valuable natural resources and benefits the environment. It is estimated that since its inception, the organization has assisted in the planting of approximately 65 million trees. In addition to the many other benefits the planted trees provide, it is estimated that the trees have helped to remove over 1 ½ million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually.
Although the trees can’t be seen or their immediate impact felt where Dr. Koos practices oral surgery, sedation dentistry and jaw surgery in Chicago, he believes that his pioneering initiative is truly improving the health of many, just as his surgical expertise improves the health of his patients. All aspects of ORA Oral Surgery & Implant Studio have been designed with an eye towards sustainability and environmentally responsible practices. From the building, the sustainable furnishings and decor in the office, to a commitment to making his Chicago oral surgery practice toxin free, Dr. Koos is committed to improving the environment as well as the lives of his patients. “With Earth Day just around the corner, I think it’s especially fitting for my patients to know that they’re not just losing a tooth, but they’re planting trees for future growth.”
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Dr. Steven Koos is owner of the Chicago jaw surgery and oral surgery practice, ORA Oral Surgery & Implant Studio. He is committed to environmentally responsible dentistry and is one of the leaders in the nation in employing sustainable practices within his oral surgery office. For more information about the “Tooth Lost – Tree Gained” Campaign, visit http://orasurgery.com. For additional information about the organization, Trees for the Future, visit http://plant-trees.org.
After reading the reviews, I decided this is the place to say good bye to all 4 of my wisdom teeth. After the visit I can say, it was a VERY pleasant experience.
When scheduling my appointment, they were able to see me asap. During my visit, i was put to sleep while he extracted all 4 of my wisdom teeth. I woke up and felt no pain. I was sent home with a cleaning kit, a cold pack, and a prescription for pain meds. The doctor also called later that evening to make sure i was feeling okay.
My dental insurance was blue cross/blue shield. After my insurance picked up some of the tab, the bill was a little costly, but they were able to set up payment arrangements.
After hearing the horror stories of getting your wisdom teeth pulled, I can say my experience was the best. If I didn’t move to California, I would still be coming to ORA.
After reading the previous blog entries in this series, you should be well aware of the many risks associated with keeping your third molars, otherwise known as your wisdom teeth, past your early twenties. Here’s a quick refresher on a few of the main reasons to have your wisdom teeth removed by this experienced oral surgeon in Chicago:
It’s almost impossible to keep wisdom teeth clean, which increases your risk of developing an infection or gum disease.
Wisdom teeth almost always cause issues with neighboring teeth.
Infections that begin in the area of the wisdom teeth can spread elsewhere in the body, and the type of inflammation associated with gum disease has also been linked to other systemic conditions, like heart disease and diabetes.
If the wisdom teeth begin to come in but there’s no room for them in the jaw, they can crowd the other teeth.
Cysts, and even tumors, can develop in the vicinity of impacted wisdom teeth.
It may be more difficult for an oral surgeon to remove wisdom teeth in older patients because the teeth’s roots are longer and more solidly anchored to the jawbone.
The top reason for having your wisdom teeth extracted, above all of those factors, is for your own peace of mind. When your wisdom teeth are no longer present, you won’t have to worry that you might allow damage to neighboring teeth, develop an infection or a even a cyst. By having this procedure done at a relatively early age, you can rest assured that you should avoid the many complications associated with keeping the wisdom teeth.
Even if you are older than your mid-twenties, you should still visit this Chicago oral surgeon to have the wisdom teeth removed. Even though you’ll be having the surgery a bit later than many patients, you will still benefit from reducing your chances of losing adjacent teeth, developing infections and gum disease.
If you’ve not yet had your wisdom teeth extracted, schedule a consultation soon with Dr. Steven A. Koos, a dual-degreed oral surgeon in Chicago to plan for their removal. You’ll be so glad that you did.
Many edentulous (toothless) patients in Chicago are turning to the All-on-4 dental implant procedure as a tooth replacement method that’s far superior to traditional dentures. With All-on-4 implants, a full arch of artificial teeth is anchored in the mouth by four strategically placed implants. A special three-dimensional imaging software program allows the implant dentist to plan for the implants’ precise location in the patient’s jaw, which streamlines the process.
