Dental Implant

We recently received this letter from Mr. Phil Perry, a dental implant patient. We are extremely proud to be able to improve the lives of individuals like Phil from all walks of life. The response his smile makeover has generated makes us all so happy. We couldn’t wait to share his letter with you.

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Dear Dr. Harrell and staff,

I hope this note finds you all well and enjoying both personal and professional success. I wanted to give you an update on the amazing things happening in my life since the completion of my smile makeover.

Being a flight attendant puts me in direct contact with hundreds of people each day I fly. Having a beautiful smile that I am proud of has drastically changed how often I smile. I am amazed at how frequently passengers and crew members comment on my “Hollywood” smile. I even have dentists and hygienists commenting it, often stating that I must have one amazing dentist. They usually assume my smile was enhanced with braces and veneers.

In addition to enjoying my new smile at work, I also appreciate the looks and comments from others while out in public during my personal time.

During the summer and fall of 2017, I was diagnosed and successfully treated for prostate cancer. I went through a new treatment protocol which shortened the treatment time and physical side effects of radiation. I was in a group of the first 60 men to undergo this new treatment. Last month, I was selected by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center to be highlighted in a magazine article about the successes associated with this new technology. Plus, I was invited to a professional photoshoot to take pictures to be included with the article.

I am honored to be asked to share my story with the doctors, staff and patients at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. I am sure my beautiful smile played a role in being selected. I have included a few candid photos from the shoot, I asked the photographer and his assistant to snap a few with my camera and phone.

In closing, I just want to say, Dr. Harrell, that your talents, along with those of your amazing staff, are responsible for the beautiful smile I am enjoying today. A heartfelt thank you to each of you.

Sincerely,

Phil W. Perry

Harrell Dental Implant Center is the Charlotte area leader for dental implant procedures of all varieties. Book your free consultation with us today to learn more about the benefits of implants. Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on our website to make your appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.

Harrell Dental Implant Center relies on the most advanced technology available to safely and painlessly place your dental implants for perfect smile restorations. Our state-of-the-art equipment allows us to obtain the best understanding of your needs and plan the ideal course of treatment.

The Most Advanced Technology 

Our advanced diagnostic tools include the Sirona Cone Beam CT Scanner, Sidexis Implant Planning Software, Sicat Implant Surgical Guides and Top-Quality Dental Implants from nSequence. We also use Dexis Digital Radiography to secure the most revealing X-rays of your teeth and gums. Guesswork and unfortunate surprises are eliminated with this this technology. Learn more below:

Dexis Digital Intraoral X-ray

Remarkable Image Quality

The ability to see subtleties using digital radiography is crucial to diagnosis, collaboration, and patient communication. Through a combination of advanced hardware and software technologies, the DEXIS Platinum sensor is able to deliver clinically meaningful images that are extremely clear and highly detailed.

Quantum Efficiency

Fancy words, simple concept: DEXIS hardware and software work in harmony to compensate for radiation variances thus guarding against under and over exposure. That means you are able to get more clinically useable, more consistent images at a wider range of exposure settings. You benefit from a reduction in the number of exposure-related dental x-ray retakes, and your patients benefit from the reduction in radiation. See more at Dexis

Optimum Organization and Imagery

Because of the leading-edge tools and tech we utilize, we can obtain data that is immediately available for viewing and discussion. Your dental implant visits will run smoother and faster as a result.

The Cerec Omnicam is another one of our favorite tools. Read more about its exceptional abilities:

Cerec Omnicam

CEREC Omnicam’s revolutionary design features a completely new, ergonomic handpiece and special optics to guarantee un-surpassed intraoral access. New ColorStreaming allows continuous capture of the oral cavity as well as displaying the 3D data in full color — an industry first. Operator convenience has been greatly improved by making the system completely powder-free while retaining Sirona’s high standards for precision.

Designed for Access

Slim, rounded camera tube allows easy rotation of the camera in the intraoral space. The tiny camera tip guarantees the best lens positioning anywhere in the mouth.

Color Streaming for Confidence

As the camera moves over teeth, a photorealistic image is displayed in full-color with crisp clarity and impeccable detail delivering a new level of clinical confidence.

• Records 2D and 3D data, the first intraoral camera to do so
• Captures half-arch and full-arch impressions with industry-leading speed
• Anti-shake features automatically eliminate substandard images
• Provides a uniform field of illumination for increased precision Additional details at Sirona

What To Expect During Your Implant Procedure

Dr. Robert Harrell and his team at Harrell Dental Implant Center in Charlotte want you to have the brilliant, confidence boosting smile you deserve. They can provide it to you with a single dental implant, implant bridge or full-mouth All-on-4 implant restoration. See what’s involved in the implant process in the following post:

Most patients find that a dental implant is secure, stable and a good replacement for their own tooth. There are generally three phases to getting an implant:

• First, the dentist surgically places the implant into the jawbone. Your dentist may recommend a diet of soft foods, cold foods and warm soup during the healing process.
• Next, the bone around the implant heals in a process called osseointegration. What makes an implant so strong is that the bone actually grows around it and holds it in place. Osseointegration means “combines with the bone” and takes time. Some patients might need to wait until the implant is completely integrated, up to several months, before replacement teeth can be attached to the implant. Other patients can have the implants and replacement teeth placed all in one visit.
• Finally, it’s time for the placement of the artificial tooth/teeth. For a single tooth implant, your dentist will customize a new tooth for you, called a dental crown. The crown will be based on size, shape, color and fit, and will be designed to blend in with your other teeth. If you are replacing more than a single tooth, custom-made bridges or dentures will be made to fit your mouth and your implants. Continue reading at Mouth Healthy

Harrell Dental Implant Center is the Charlotte area leader for dental implant procedures of all varieties. Book your free consultation with us today to learn more about restoring your smile with dental implants. During your visit a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place.

Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on the website to make your appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.

Bruxism can ruin the integrity of your smile. Over time, grinding your teeth will create visible wear and can lead to loss of dentition. Just like your natural teeth, dental implants can be damaged by long-term bruxism. To avoid this outcome and maintain their beautifully restored smiles, Dr. Robert Harrell and his team at Harrell Dental Implant Center recommend that patients with bruxism wear custom night guards to protect their new dental implants.

Read more about bruxism and implants here:

Although the implant itself is extremely strong and durable, bruxism has the capability of damaging the prosthetics of the implant, namely the abutment and the crown.

This doesn’t mean that bruxism means you can’t have a dental implant, it simply means that the problem needs to be addressed before going ahead with the procedure. As part of the initial dental implant consultation, the surgeon will look for signs of bruxism and discuss any symptoms that you may be having. You’ll also have the opportunity of discussing various treatment options for your bruxism.

Bruxism is often associated with stress so your surgeon may suggest that you practice some stress management techniques to control the problem. In addition he may recommend the use of a mouth guard which can be worn at night to prevent you from grinding your teeth. More details at Sheen Dental

Determining Your Needs

Harrell Dental Implant Center is committed to providing you with a smile to last a lifetime. We complete a thorough exam prior to making any recommendations so you know we’re offering you our best medical opinion. Clients who have sustained major damage from grinding are typically fitted for an All-on-4 dental implant to replace both the upper and lower teeth arches. A night guard is then created to protect the appliance.

Protecting Your New Smile

If bruxism is an issue for you, Harrell Dental Implant Center can help. We can completely restore your smile with a variety of dental implants and then protect them with a custom-fitted guard. We want your new smile to last a lifetime and we’ll work to make it happen.

Read more below about how grinding your teeth can impact your dental implants:

What Does Bruxism Do to Implants?

Grinding the teeth gradually wears away the protective enamel on your teeth, leaving them vulnerable to infection and disease. Likewise, bruxism can cause the same problems with a dental implant, wearing away the protective coating until the implant eventually breaks apart. The process can take years, but grinding your teeth can mean you would need to replace your implants several times over the course of your life.

Can I Still Get Implants If I Grind My Teeth?

For those with existing implants, crowns, or other restorations, dentists often recommend wearing a nightguard. The hard plastic device is custom-fit to your mouth and protects your teeth from the force of grinding (as well as clenching).

The best solution, however, is an innovative material from Prettau Laboratory known as zirconia. The main reason that implants will fail when a patient has bruxism is that the artificial tooth on the implant is typically made of acrylic or porcelain. Although these materials blend in well with your natural teeth, acrylic and porcelain are more likely chip, break, and wear over time. In contrast, the Prettau restorations made of zirconia are as permanent as it gets. The hardest dental material available, zirconia gives the implant restoration strength and longevity. Continue reading at Tischler Dental

Book Your Dental Implant or Mouth Guard Consultation Today

It is never too late to perfect and protect your smile. Whether you have been a tooth grinder for decades or have just recently noticed the telltale waking soreness in your jaw muscles, Harrell Dental Implant Center can ensure that your smile is a source of pride and confidence.

Schedule a free consultation with Harrell Dental Implant Center to discuss your needs and the implant options that are available to meet them. Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on the website to make your appointment. During your consultation a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place. We look forward to hearing from you.

Dental implants are the most successful, stable and strong option for tooth replacement we have. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that they have changed dentistry as we know it. The ability to restore a patient’s smile with an implant is nearly equal to replacing a missing natural tooth with another natural tooth. It’s that close to being a perfect match.

Dr. Robert Harrell and his skilled team at Harrell Dental Implant Center in Charlotte are experts in the placement of dental implants and recognized leaders in the field. They offer patients the best results for appearance and long-term success. However, their work can only go so far — the patient must follow their post-surgery care to help ensure the overall success of an implant.

An informed patient is the best patient so let’s take a closer look at some of the post-treatment problems, causes and warning signs to be aware of:

Failed Osseointegration (Implant is Loose or Fell Out)

Osseointegration describes the formation of a direct functional and structural connection between a person’s bone and an artificial implant. This process takes place over the course of several months after the implant is placed. Failure of an implant is often attributed to the failure of the jawbone to fuse together properly with the implant. An implant is deemed a failure if it is mobile, falls out or shows signs of bone loss of more than 1 mm after the first year and more than 0.2 mm after the second year. Several factors can cause this to happen including incorrect positioning, insufficient bone density or volume, overloading, damage to surrounding tissues, external force/sudden impact, fractured implants or even a reaction to anaesthesia. Several of these causes are described below.

Before an implant can integrate properly into a jawbone, there must be a healthy volume and density of bone present. For patients who lack adequate bone height, width or length, procedures such as a sinus lift or bone graft can help add space and bone mass, but significantly add to both the total treatment time and cost.

It’s interesting to note that the density of bone beneath missing teeth deteriorates over time since it is not being stimulated by the forces of chewing. Patients who have been missing teeth for months or years often require bone grafts before they can get implants. See more at Dental Implant Cost Guide

Fighting Infection

It is extremely important to follow pre- and post-operative instructions and to listen to your body. If something seems tender or feels strange, it is best to book an appointment with us. We offer extensive follow-up during your healing time; however, if anything arises between appointments, please don’t hesitate to call our office right away. Peri-implantitis, for example, can happen years after you have successfully had your dental implant surgery. It is imperative that clients maintain proper oral hygiene and regular dental checkups to ensure a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles. Read more about peri-implantitis here:

Studies have suggested that one third of patients will be infected. “We’re sitting on a time bomb,” says Dr Stephen Jacobs, a past president of the Association of Dental Implantology and well-respected implant surgeon. “We are going to be seeing more and more cases.”

Peri-implantitis is always preceded by a much milder disease, called peri-implant mucositis, which is common and treatable. Early warning signs are red, swollen gums and bleeding when probed. If undetected and untreated, it might become peri-implantitis.

Because bone loss is painless, many people don’t realise they have the condition. So scrupulous oral hygiene and regular follow-up appointments after an implant are essential, says Dr Jacobs, who runs a Glasgow clinic. Continue reading at The Telegraph

Planning For a Healthy Recovery Period

It is essential that patients understand how important it is to follow all recommendations throughout the healing process. Something as simple as trying to eat a steak too soon has the potential to lead to implant failure. That’s why Harrell Dental Implant Center patients are given all the information they need for a successful recovery.

Dental implants  take a full 16-17 weeks to fully heal and that is based on a “sigma” of bone…the sigma is the time required for bone to go through a process of remodelling and mineralization. This time frame is constant from person to person, regardless of age or ethnicity.

If there is movement of the implant during the first 8-12 weeks the implant will not become stable because the bone will not grow against the side of the implant. You will get soft tissue ingrowth instead and the resulting implant will be loose and possibly painful.

This is very important for dentists who offer “immediate teeth” or “immediate implants.” In some cases we can place a tooth immediately onto an implant but we have to take steps to ensure that the forces and function on that implant are minimal. That could mean making the tooth shorter so that the food does not press on the tooth, eating a soft or  liquid diet for ~2-3 months and/or splinting the tooth to other implants or natural teeth. More details from Vancouver Centre for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry

Harrell Dental Implant Center is the Charlotte area leader for dental implant procedures of all varieties. Book your free consultation with us today to learn more. Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on this page to make your appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.

If the time has come to consider your options for replacing missing or damaged teeth, Harrell Dental Implant Center has solutions. Dental implant therapy is changing smiles around the globe due to their strength, durability and completely natural appearance. Our experienced and professional team can talk you through the entire process during your consultation appointment. We will conduct a thorough oral health examination to determine which replacement protocol best suits your needs.

The following article offers more details about the benefits of dental implants:

Reasons to Consider Dental Implants as your Tooth Replacement Option

1. Stop your teeth from shifting into the empty space – When you lose a tooth, the surrounding teeth will eventually begin moving to fill in the space. This can cause a number of dental complications. Unevenly spaced or crowded teeth are harder to keep clean and could cost you a fortune down the road in orthodontic care. Placing a dental implant now will keep your teeth properly spaced and make it easy to keep them clean.
2. Conserve your jawbone – If you choose to place a fixed bridge instead of getting a dental implant, your jawbone will eventually begin to deteriorate underneath the missing tooth. This occurs because you don’t receive adequate stimulation to the bone without a tooth root. The same occurs with dentures that are not implant-supported. The longer you wait to get dental implants, the more likely it is that your jawbone may lack the integrity to get implants in the future without a dental bone graft.
3. Implant-supported dentures – Many people complain of a wide variety of complications with their dentures. Poor fit, sores in their mouths, sunken lips, and food restrictions. If you wear dentures, you can get a fixed, permanent solution with implant-supported dentures. There are various procedures available and some even support a full arch of prosthetic teeth with as few as four implants.
4. Preserve your appearance – When your jawbone begins to deteriorate because of missing teeth, it often causes your face to appear sunken in. This can make you look years older than you are. This is why people with dentures often complain of having thin lips and sunken cheeks. Dental implant posts provide the stimulation your body needs to produce dense, healthy jawbone material and keep your face looking full and youthful. More info at Dynamic Dental

Dentures vs. Dental Implants

Harrell Dental Implant Center wants you to enjoy long-lasting dentition that guarantees a vibrant, healthy smile. While dentures used to be the best tooth replacement option, times have changed. Dental implants are by far the better option for preserving the integrity of one’s smile. Check out this comparison of dentures and implants courtesy of the Vancouver Centre for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry:

Some of the most common problems with dentures are that they tend to move in the mouth, especially while eating and/or talking. They  collect and trap food which can lead to gums problems, decay and further tooth loss. They  affect ones’ sense of taste and texture of foods — many of my patients have said that they either can no longer taste their food or have lost the enjoyment of foods because the “taste has been altered.”

They can be uncomfortable to eat with especially as they move and/or get food caught underneath. Some people cannot tolerate them at all because they find it causes them to gag. The additional thickness and foreignness of the denture can make it difficult to speak clearly.

The bone underneath the denture continues to atrophy and shrink — this becomes a greater problem affecting the stability and looseness of the denture the longer the teeth have been missing. As the bone atrophies the denture can begin to put pressure on critical structures in the mouth, such as muscle attachments and nerves, making them very uncomfortable to eat with.

Many people with dentures avoid certain foods because they are just too difficult or painful to eat, such as raw foods, chewy or sticky foods and anything hard. A person’s bite force and ability to ‘cut through foods is decreased.

Studies have shown that people with dentures don’t chew their food properly and swallow larger bits of food. Not only does this diminish one’s enjoyment of food, it also puts a greater burden on the digestive system. Keep reading at VCCID

HDIC: Giving You More Reasons to Smile!

Dr. Robert Harrell and the staff of Harrell Dental Implant Center invite you to book your free smile makeover consultation today. Learn how dental implant therapy can restore the quality of your smile, your oral health and your ability to enjoy your favorite foods.

Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on our website to make your appointment. During your consultation a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place. Based on the details provided and the image, you can rest assured that you are in good hands with Dr. Robert Harrell and his staff.

Harrell Dental Implant Center relies on the latest technology to replace missing teeth, ensuring a superior patient experience from start to finish. Modern dental implants are nothing short of a breakthrough in the field of smile restoration. They are able to repair (or even create) brilliant smiles that command attention. The ancient origins of tooth replacement are fascinating, as the following article reveals:

Egyptians used tooth-shaped shells and ivory to replace teeth. The Etruscans, living in what is now modern Italy, replaced missing teeth with artificial teeth carved from the bones of oxen. Further evidence of tooth replacement was found in 1931 while Dr. and Mrs. Wilson Popenoe, an archeological team, were excavating in Honduras. A mandible of Mayan origin was discovered that had tooth-shaped pieces of shells placed in the sockets of three missing lower incisor teeth. Continue reading at Dr. Fiss.com

Implants of the Past, Present and Future

It’s amazing to think about the unusual materials that were tried in the past to solve the dilemma of missing teeth. Unfortunately, this odd variety of items came up well short in the effort to help people chew and enjoy their favorite foods. That has changed completely with the development of modern dental implants. Today, Dr. Robert Harrell and his skilled team at Harrell Dental Implant Center restore patients’ smiles with implants that match the strength, stability and appearance of natural teeth.

Let’s take a closer look at how this technology has evolved over time:

Early Implants Emerge

In the middle of the 1600s periodontally compromised teeth were stabilized in Europe with various substances. From the 1500s to about the 1800s, teeth in Europe were collected from the underprivileged or from cadavers for the use of allotransplantation. During this period, Dr. John Hunter came on to the scene; for many years he worked with “resurrectionists” — people who acquired corpses underhandedly through the robbing of graves. By doing so, he was able to observe and document with great detail the anatomy of the mouth and jaw. In the 1700s, Dr. Hunter suggested transplanting teeth from one human to another; his experiment involved the implantation of an incompletely developed tooth into the comb of a rooster. He observed an extraordinary and astonishing event: the tooth became firmly embedded in the comb of the rooster and the blood vessels of the rooster grew straight into the pulp of the tooth.

The first evidence of dental implants is attributed to the Mayan population roughly around 600 AD where they excelled in utilizing pieces of shells as implants as a replacement for mandibular teeth. Radiographs taken in the 1970s of Mayan mandibles show compact bone formation around the implants-bone that amazingly looks very much like that seen around blade implants! Moreover, around 800 AD, a stone implant was first prepared and placed in the mandible in the early Honduran culture. More details at NCBI

A Tooth-Replacement Timeline

If you’d like to know more about the entertaining progression of dental implants — including more details on the bizarre assortment of materials that have used for them — you should check out this timeline from Hankering for History:

4000 years ago Materials: BambooIn ancient China, carved bamboo pegs were used to replace missing teeth. They are the first known society to use dental implants.

3000 years ago Materials: Copper and other precious metals
Remains of Egyptians have been discovered with pegs similar to the Chinese dental implants. However, they used precious metals like copper instead of bamboo. They are the first recorded culture to use a metal replacement to fix a jawbone. Some speculate that these procedures were done post-mortem.

2300 years ago Materials: Iron and Gold
In a Celtic grave in France, a 2300-year-old dental implant was discovered in the mouth of a skeleton. The decorative tooth was held in place by an iron pin, which would have been excruciatingly painful to have hammered in. Something similar has been discovered in the teeth of ancient Romans, who used gold pins. Archaeologists speculate that these kinds of implants were placed in order to enhance the wearers smile. Basically, it’s like an ancient “grill” to bling up someone’s teeth.

2000 years ago Materials: Animal or Human Teeth
A couple of millenniums ago, people tried to replace lost teeth with animal ones. They would also purchase teeth from slaves or poor people. Today, replacing a tooth with an animal one is classified as a heteroplastic implant, and a tooth from another human is called a homoplastic implant. In most cases, these kind of replacement teeth would be rejected by the host and would lead to infection.

1350 years ago Materials: Seashells
In 1931, archaeologist Dr. Wilson Popenoe and his wife discovered something fascinating in the lower mandible of the remains of a young Mayan woman from around 630 AD. In her mouth, 3 missing incisors were missing and replaced with pieces of seashell. Interestingly, there was bone growth found around 2 of the implants, showing that it was a successful procedure. The implants served as both a functional and aesthetic enhancement to the mouth. See more info at Hankering for History

If you are ready to boost your self-esteem and have the smile you deserve, call Harrell Dental Implant Center and schedule your free consultation appointment. Discuss the procedure options and get answers to your questions or concerns. We will be happy to show you why dental implants are your best option.

Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on our website to make your appointment. During your consultation a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place.

One of the questions clients commonly ask while preparing for dental implant surgery is, “What should I eat after my procedure?” In a nutshell (definitely not these), for the first few days your best bet is to rely on soft foods that can be eaten at room temperature or above. Here are some excellent dietary tips compliments of One Healthy Lifestyle:

What to Expect Right after Your Implant Procedure

It is normal to have a lot of questions when you are about to go in for your dental surgery. One of the most common questions is, “What about eating after dental surgery?” Here is an outline of the typical recommendations given to patients who are just healing from dental surgery. These recommendations may be followed between each phase of the procedure as needed.

• You can have liquids — room temperature or warmed (but not hot) is best because your gum line will be sensitive.
• It is best to eat soft foods at first and for up to two weeks until you feel no discomfort while chewing.
• Be sure not to eat any foods you think might be too irritating to your healing gums and jaw — such as citrus or very spicy foods. See more at One Healthy Lifestyle

Filling Soft Food Options

Shake up your diet during the healing process and experiment with some fresh, tasty smoothies. Juice, almond milk, yogurt and fresh or frozen berries provide a healthy base to deliver lots of vitamins and minerals that will aid the healing process. Check out this article for more helpful suggestions:

DIET: Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Avoid extremely hot foods. Do not use a straw for the first few days after surgery. It is sometimes advisable, but not absolutely required, to confine the first days intake to liquids or pureed foods (soups, puddings, yogurt, milk shakes, etc.) Avoid chewing food until tongue sensation has returned. It is best to avoid foods like rice, nuts, sunflower seeds, popcorn, etc., which may get lodged in the surgical areas. Over the next several days you may gradually progress to solid foods. It is important not to skip meals! If you take nourishment regularly you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort and heal faster. If you are a diabetic, maintain your normal eating habits or follow instructions given by your doctor. More details at Oral Facial Surgeon

Make Your Grocery List Ahead of Time

Harrell Dental Implant Center is committed to ensuring an exceptional patient experience from start to finish. Your aftercare routine plays a significant role in your comfort and healing. We encourage our patients to plan ahead and gather their fresh groceries for smoothies and soups prior to the day of implantation. Having these items on hand when you’re back at home makes it easy to throw some fruits, yogurt and smooth nut butters into a blender for a quick and easy dinner smoothie. If you’re not the smoothie type, make a batch of your favorite cold soup ahead of time and freeze it. Offered below, courtesy of Coates Family Dental, is a recipe for a hearty and delicious, easy-to-eat homemade soup that’s sure to satisfy.

The day of your surgery and for the first 24 hours following, it’s a good idea to give your teeth a bit of a break. For this reason, cold soups, smoothies, jello/puddings, and cold drinks should be your main dietary intake. And remember, refrain from using a straw, because the sucking action can cause excess strain, move the newly formed blood clot, and delay your ultimate recovery.

Apple and Potato Soup        

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tbsp. butter
• 2 leeks (white part). sliced
• 5 cups tart apples e.g. Granny Smith peeled, cored, and chopped
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream, or half and half
• 2 tsp. Calvados (or apple brandy)
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• salt and white pepper, to taste
• 2 apples, peeled, cored, diced, for garnish
• 2 tbsp. butter, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

In a large saucepan. melt the butter. Sauté the leeks over medium heat, covered, for three to four minutes. Toss in the apples and cook, uncovered, for about five minutes, coating them well with the butter. Pour in the stock, add the potatoes, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes. When the apples and potatoes are soft, puree the mixture in a blender — solids first — until smooth. Return the puree to the saucepan, and slowly stir in the cream, Calvados, and cinnamon. Season to taste. In a separate pan, sauté the diced apple in two tablespoons of butter until soft, for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and drain on a paper towel until ready to serve. Refrigerate if you are going to serve cold, in which case you will want to over-season a bit. When ready to serve, top the soup with the diced apple garnish.

Now that you have a better understanding of your post-implant experience, it’s time to call Harrell Dental Implant Center and schedule your free consultation appointment. This is your opportunity to learn more about the procedure options and get detailed answers to any questions or concerns you may have.

Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on the website to make your appointment. During your consultation a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place.

Here’s some background information about dental implants, the best tooth replacement option available, from fellow implant provider Dr. Stuart Froum in New York:

Are you self-conscious about missing teeth? If you answered yes, you aren’t alone. Today, around 42 percent of Americans over age 65 are missing all of their natural teeth. In fact, history shows that the way our teeth look and feel has long been a concern, and one we try to fix. We’ve all heard the stories of George Washington and his wooden dentures, right? Turns out it’s not quite true, but the fact of the matter is that he did have several sets made from “exotic” materials — and had mouth pain to go with them.

Thankfully, in these modern times, we have modern alternatives. One of our more popular services among patients who are missing teeth or have extensive tooth damage are dental implants. In fact, many folks — in New York and beyond — are embracing the opportunity to update their smiles through this procedure.

What is a dental implant?

Teeth have roots, and when they are missing (along with the tooth itself), an artificial one can take its place. These dental implants are inserted into the jaw to hold replacement teeth in the right spot. More from Dr. Froum

Dr. Robert Harrell and his skilled team at Harrell Dental Implant Center use various types of implants to address a variety of functional and/or aesthetic issues. Here’s a sampling:

• Broken, damaged or missing teeth
• More secure alternative compared to dentures
• Bridge replacement
• Gaps
• Loose or ill fitting dentures and subsequent bone loss
• To maintain jaw bone integrity after tooth loss
• To maintain facial bone structure and profile

Dental implants are nearly equal to natural teeth in their appearance, durability and strength. They are far and away the best tooth replacement option that has ever been available.

If you are self-conscious because you have missing teeth, wear dentures that are uncomfortable or don’t want to have good tooth structure removed to make a bridge, talk to your dentist/periodontists to see if dental implants are an option for you.

Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to blend in with your other teeth. They are an excellent long-term option for restoring your smile. In fact, the development and use of implants is one of the biggest advances in dentistry in the past 40 years. Dental implants are made up of titanium and other materials that are compatible with the human body. They are posts that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, where they function as a sturdy anchor for replacement teeth. Read more at Lifeology 101

Laying a Strong Foundation

Some clients who have been without their teeth for extended periods may have experienced bone loss in the jaw which prevents immediate placement of implants. A bone graft will be necessary in such cases to make implantation possible. More information about bone grafts for implants is available from dental health giant Colgate:

For this procedure to work, there must be enough bone in the jaw. The bone has to be strong enough to hold and support the implant. If there is not enough bone, it may need to be added with a procedure called bone augmentation or bone grafting. In addition, natural teeth and supporting tissues near where the implant will be placed must be in good health.

If the X-rays show that your jaw does not have enough bone to hold an implant, the dentist can discuss options for building up the bone. These may include bone grafting or bone distraction. Grafting involves taking bone from another source and adding it to your jaw. A graft could be your own bone, from your mouth, chin or hip. Processed cadaver, cow or pig bone also can be used. Another option is a synthetic material such as hydroxyapatite or calcium phosphate. Bone distraction is a surgical procedure at the site where more bone is needed. It causes the body to grow more bone by slowly pulling apart the existing bone using pins and screws.

If you need one of these procedures, it will take about 4 to 12 months for the bone to be ready for the implant.

First surgery — implant placement
Month 1 (if no bone grafting is necessary)
Month 5 (if bone grafting is necessary)

Once you have enough bone to successfully hold an implant, you will schedule the first procedure, which involves placing the implant or implants in your jaw. http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/implants/article/single-tooth-implants

Harrell Dental Implant Center is commited to helping every client have the functional, healthy smile they deserve. Let us help you regain your self-confidence with a beautiful smile restoration with dental implants. Contact us today to schedule your free smile consultation.

Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on the website to make your appointment. During your consultation a complimentary digital smile preview (an $95 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place. We look forward to hearing from you.

We have all seen the sunken facial profile of people who are missing their teeth, but did you know this look comes from years of wearing traditional dentures as well? It’s true; here’s why: In a healthy mouth, pressure from the roots of the teeth keep the jawbone strong. When teeth are missing, the bone slowly deteriorates from lack of stimulation. Since the jawbones support the structure of the face, when they’re gone the face appears sunken or hollow. Traditional dentures rest on top of the jawbone, so there’s no internal stimulation and the bone recedes with time.

The good news if you have missing or damaged teeth is you can avoid bone loss with dental implants. Because they are anchored in your jawbone like your natural teeth, implants keep the bone dense and strong. Dr. Robert Harrell at Harrell Dental Implant Center is the Charlotte area leader when it comes to restoring smiles and saving appearances with dental implants.

The following question, posted on the website realself.com, shows just how quickly the wrong dental decision can take its’ toll on your appearance:

Q: 1 year ago I got dentures and now my jaws are sunk in & top lip is so small! Can this be fixed?

A: When you remove teeth the jaw bone starts to shrink and the denture does not support the facial tissues as well.

The best approach is to have a cosmetic denture made (not cheap)  Plumpers can be added as needed to fill out the face.

Vertical dimension is critically important for a youthful look.  Cosmetic dentures can give you a virtual facelift in just a few visits.

Implants can maintain stability with a snap in denture and they help prevent future bone loss. — Ira Shapira, DDS, Chicago See more at RealSelf

HDIC is Charlotte’s Best Implant Provider

Losing your teeth — and the quality of your smile and facial appearance in the process — can be extremely upsetting. Thankfully, Harrell Dental Implant Center provides effective smile solutions to replace one, several or all of your teeth with a variety of implant options. The process begins with a consultation that lays out the entire process, including post-care instructions. You will be an active participant in your treatment. Feel secure knowing that you are in the hands of Charlotte’s top implant dentistry practice.

Get more facts about dental implants from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry:

Dental Implants for Tooth Replacement

Your teeth were designed to last a lifetime, but sometimes they don’t! Replacing missing teeth is important to your general health and to the health of your other teeth. Not only do you lose chewing ability when a tooth is lost, but unreplaced teeth can cause other teeth to be lost, tipped or crowded and create subsequent problems.

Also, there are the obvious problems of poor appearance and loss of self-esteem caused by one or more missing teeth. Dental implants should always be considered as an option to replace a failing or missing tooth. Replacement of lost teeth with dental implants has been used for treating missing teeth for more than 50 years and is recognized as an effective treatment choice. Treatment is considered more predictable than bridgework, resin bonded bridges and endodontic treatment. Continue reading at AAID

Outlining Your Treatment with Technology

Harrell Dental Implant Center utilizes the latest technology to assess the status of your smile. Digital X-rays confirm that you have enough bone to support your implants (we’ll discuss a bone graft if you don’t) and allow Dr. Harrell to plan their exact placement. You can feel confident knowing Dr. Harrell and his skilled team have mapped out your procedure from start to finish before you sit in the treatment chair.

Once you’re implants are placed, your smile will be restored, you will be able to eat all your favorite foods and concerns about about facial collapse will be laid to rest. You can learn more about the latter issue in the following article:

Facial Collapse

Many people don’t realize that once all your teeth extracted, your jawbone senses that it isn’t needed any more, and your body begins to dissolve away that bone in order to use the minerals elsewhere in your body. This jaw shrinkage is called Facial Collapse, and it takes about ten or twenty years to occur.

The effect is more serious in the lower jaw for a couple of reasons. First, you have the tongue attached on one side and the cheeks on the other, leaving only the thin ridge of bone on which the denture can rest, and making it so the denture will move around a lot. Second, that bony ridge often becomes so thin that it is actually sharp, leading to painful sores when the patient wears the denture. The patient has become a dental cripple. More info at My New Smile

Book Your Consultation Today

Make an appointment with Harrell Dental Implant Center today for your free dental consultation. Dr. Harrell will assess your needs, answer any questions you might have and show you your best course of treatment. Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on the website to schedule your appointment. During your visit a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place.

If you are thinking about replacing a missing or damaged tooth, you should know that Dr. Robert Harrell and his outstanding team at Harrell Dental Implant Center believe an educated patient is the best patient. That’s why preparing you with the knowledge of what to expect before, during and after your dental implant surgery is a crucial part of their practice.

Taking time to discuss the findings of your comprehensive oral exam will ensure that a complete treatment outline can be shared with you prior to surgery. Arming you with the knowledge to confidently handle your after care is another thing the Implant Center team is equally passionate about.

You may not realize that dental implants have been around in one form or another far longer than you think.

History

In 600 AD, Mayans replaced missing teeth by implanting stones, seashells, and jade into the jaw, and according to archaeologists, some of these primitive dental implants actually fused to the jaw. In more modern history, 1952, an orthopaedic surgeon named Professor Per-Ingvar Branemark tried to remove a titanium fixture he had installed into a patient’s jaw to study bone healing. The titanium had fused to the bone, and now we know this natural phenomenon as osseointegration. Branemark continued his work with osseointegration, implanting titanium implants into a patient who had severe jaw deformities and was, as a result, missing teeth. The patient, Gosta Larsson, was the first to receive titanium dental implants. Additional details at Doc Shop

Gauze Is a Vital Component of Your Aftercare

When patients are educated on leaving their gauze in place until adequate blood clotting occurs, they drastically minimize their risk of developing dry socket. The clotting blood forms a barrier to protect oral tissues from bacteria and facilitates the healing process. Many people are inclined to remove their post-procedure gauze as quickly as possible. However, as tempting as it may be, unpacking your mouth too soon is actually one of the worst things you can do. The gauze needs to remain in place long enough for a clot to securely form. When you arrive to your procedure with an understanding of the key details, it is much easier to cope with the aftermath and ensure a good outcome.

Bleeding

A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon, even for a few days after surgery. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by first gently rinsing or wiping any old clots from your mouth, then placing a gauze pad directly over the site of surgery and biting firmly with constant pressure for thirty minutes. The gauze can be folded or two can be combined if needed. Repeat this if it doesn’t work the first thirty minutes. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened tea bag for thirty minutes, again, being sure to place it directly over the surgery site (typically, the tooth socket) with firm, constant pressure. The tannic acid in the tea bag helps to form a clot by contracting bleeding vessels. Avoid hot liquids and foods. It is also important to sit upright, remain calm and limit your physical activity.

Swelling

The normal swelling that is expected is usually proportional to the surgery involved. A certain amount is almost always to be expected. Swelling around the mouth, cheeks, eyes and sides of the face is not uncommon. This is the body’s normal reaction to surgery and eventual repair. The swelling may not become apparent until the day following surgery and will not reach its maximum until 2-3 days post-operatively. However, the swelling may be minimized by the immediate use of ice packs, before it occurs. Two small, plastic bags filled with ice, or ice packs should be applied to the sides of the face where surgery was performed. The ice packs should be used on a schedule of 20 minutes on and 5 minutes off, continuously, as long as the patient is not sleeping or eating. After 24 hours, ice generally has no beneficial effect on the swelling, but many patients find it to be a helpful adjunct in reducing pain. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. Thirty-six hours following surgery, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face can be beneficial in reducing the size of the swelling. See more at Oral Care Associates

Your Smile Makeover Headquarters

For years, Dr. Harrell has been named a top-rated dentist in Charlotte magazine due to his education, skill and relaxed manner. His state-of-the-art Harrell Dental Implant Center is setting the standard for tooth replacement in the Charlotte metro region. Set an appointment today for your free dental consultation. Dr. Harrell will assess your needs, answer any questions you might have and show you your best course of treatment.

Call 704-206-1330 or use the contact form on this page to schedule your appointment. During your visit a complimentary digital smile preview (an $85 value) will be created to show how you will appear when your implants are in place.