Total Dental Solutions Blog

You’ve lived with dentures for years.
When you first got them, they were great … especially compared to having no teeth at all.
But today, you have grown tired of using denture adhesives just to eat a small meal. You are sick of worrying when your teeth with start sliding around again.
You want something better. You want teeth that feel stable and secure.
So, you should schedule a consultation with George A. Hoop, DDS, to discuss mini dental implants. At either office in Fort Myers or North Naples, FL, you can get the help you need to rebuild your smile and bring back your bite.
To get started, call us today at (239) 594-8817.

What Implants Do

Traditional dentures only replace the crowns of your lost teeth. They are missing something vital — a replacement for that missing roots. That’s precisely what dental implants do.
The problem is that the longer you live without implants, the more likely it is that you have lost tissue in your jawbone. As your jaw shrinks, it changes the shape of your face. That also affects how your dentures fit, which is why dentures need to be replaced or refitted regularly.
Having implants can do three important things. First, it can prevent further bone loss, which is a very good thing. Second, the implants anchor your dentures in place, so you won’t need adhesives to hold them in place.
And third, having implants creates a direct connection from your jawbone to your replacement teeth. That allows you to put more force into every bite and chew, which means you can eat the foods that you love without worrying that your teeth might come out.

Why You Might Prefer Mini Implants

It won’t surprise you to know that mini implants are like standard implants, only smaller.
One of the big reasons to consider mini implants is the bone loss that we mentioned above. If you are missing too much bone tissue, then your jaw won’t be able to support your implants.
The old way to fix this problem was by getting a bone graft. In effect, this is a bone tissue transplant meant to rebuild the size and strength of your jaw.
It also meant you were out the expense of the procedure, and you had to wait for months to heal before you could get implants.
Mini implants give many people a way to cut out that middle step and start enjoying their implant-supported dentures sooner. By going smaller, we can place your implants, and you can recover faster, too.
With your mini implants in place, you can stop continued bone loss, smile with confidence, and stop worrying about whether you can eat anything on the menu.

Get Back More Than Your Smile

For many patients, mini implants are just as effective as standard implants. Dr. Hoop has helped many people in and around Fort Myers and North Naples, FL feel like themselves again thanks to mini implants.
To find out what they could do for you, schedule a consultation soon. Contact us online or call (239) 594-8817.

If you get a cavity — and there is a better than 90 percent chance that you will if you haven’t already — then you need to get a dental filling.
At the offices of George A. Hoop, DDS, we only offer composite, tooth-colored fillings for our patients. Dr. Hoop explains in the video below why he hasn’t offered metal amalgam fillings for at least 15 years.
Don’t leave with tooth decay. Visit us if you live in or near North Naples or Fort Myers, FL to restore your teeth and your smile at the same time.
To learn more or to request an appointment, fill out our online form or call (239) 594-8817 today.

If you get a cavity — and there is a better than 90 percent chance that you will if you haven’t already — then you need to get a dental filling.
At the offices of George A. Hoop, DDS, we only offer composite, tooth-colored fillings for our patients. Visit us if you live in or near North Naples or Fort Myers, FL to restore your teeth and your smile at the same time.
To learn more or to request an appointment, fill out our online form or call (239) 594-8817 today.

Great smiles don’t just happen.
Even if you were one of the fortunate people who naturally have straight teeth and a winning smile, there are many ways you can lose it. Cavities and gum disease can cause unsightly tooth loss. Injuries and accidents can cause teeth to break, chip, crack, and fall out, too.
It’s the reason you need to develop a good and consistent oral care routine. That should include professional dental cleanings and exams, which we are happy to provide at our dental offices in Fort Myers and North Naples, FL.
At the office of George A. Hoop, DDS, we are proud to offer comprehensive dental services. But we also know that practicing preventive care is the best approach for your oral health today and for many tomorrows to come.
If you have not yet scheduled your next dental visit, call us today at (239) 594-8817. We hope to see you soon.

Good Oral Health Starts at Home

Developing good oral hygiene is a key component of dental health.
The best thing you can do is to follow the American Dental Association’s recommendation for daily care:

• Brush your teeth twice daily
• Floss between your teeth and gums every day

To get a little more specific, the ADA recommends using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a squeeze (about the size of a pea) of toothpaste with fluoride. When your brush, clean your teeth on all sides. You should scrub for about two minutes each time.
If brushing manually is difficult for you, an electric toothbrush can be an excellent tool for cleaning well but not too hard.
Flossing is equally important because it’s how you clean the spaces that your toothbrush can’t. We are using flossing to refer to any techniques for removing plaque and food particles from between teeth and below the gumline.
Dental floss is the most common tool for this. You can use any kind that you like — flavored or not, thin, think, or in between. The important thing is that you use it regularly.
If you have difficulty using dental floss, you do have other options. Flossers are one of those options. They have short handles with a strand of floss on one end. Many people find these more comfortable to use.
Another great option is a water flosser. These use a stream of water to clean those harder to reach places in your mouth. Water flossers come in a variety of price ranges, so you can find one that will fit your budget.

Go to the Pros

No matter how well you think you brush and floss, you are human. Few if any people do this tasks perfectly every time. That is why plaque and tartar buildup can form. These create opportunities for bacteria to eat away at your teeth or irritate your gums.
Removing that plaque and tartar can go a long way toward preventing tooth decay and periodontal infections before they start.
For most people, getting a professional cleaning a couple times a year can go a long way toward stopping decay and gum infections. Likewise, this also makes it more likely that we will find a problem in the early stages. This way we have a chance to treat it before it turns into something more serious. Plus, early treatment is more effective, less invasive, and less expensive as well.
If you have a history of chronic problems (such as periodontal disease), it may be necessary to get checkups more often. Again, this is to help you maintain your oral health and to avoid major issues down the road.
As a quick aside, if you have dental insurance, many plans cover the cost of one or two dental cleanings each year. (Check your plan for details.) You still have time to use those benefits before the end of 2018.
While we can treat a tooth infection with a root canal treatment, we would prefer to help you avoid one whenever possible.

Be a Little Extra

Brushing, flossing, and getting professional cleanings are the basics of good oral hygiene. If you do them consistently, you are much less likely to develop oral health problems.
But you also can go beyond the basics to reduce your risks of damaged teeth even more. Two great services to consider are dental sealants and fluoride treatments.
Think of sealants as a coat of armor for your teeth. When sealants are applied to your teeth, they form a protective layer that helps to stop bacteria from attacking your enamel. Many parents get these for their children as a kind of second layer of defense for those times when kids might eat too many sweet or may not brush as well as they should. Sealants can be similarly effective for adults, so please keep that in mind.
Fluoride is a mineral that can do two important things. First, it can repair damage to your teeth due to decay or, to be more technical, demineralization. As a mineral, fluoride can replace the mineral that was lost in the decay process to help repair teeth before a cavity forms. Second, fluoride also makes teeth stronger, which can help them resist decay in the future.

Another Way to Protect Your Teeth

Bacteria aren’t the only threat to your smile. Accidents and injuries can cause breaks, cracks, and lost teeth.
You can’t anticipate every instance when an accident might occur, but you can be prepared for situations when injuries are more likely. For the same reason you wear a seat belt when you get in a car or truck, you also should wear a properly fitted athletic mouthguard when you play or practice most sports.
Falls, physical contact, and flying objects all have the potential to damage your teeth. Statistically, wearing a mouthguard makes you 60 times less likely to suffer a dental injury.

Stop Problems & Keep Your Healthy Teeth

You want your mouth to be as healthy as possible. To do that, we encourage you to visit either of Dr. Hoop’s office locations in Fort Myers or North Naples, FL.
Call (239) 594-8817 today or contact us online.

Does your spouse’s snoring keep you from getting a good night’s rest? Does your partner frequently complain about your snoring?
If you answered yes to either of those questions, you may want to consider if your loud, persistent snoring is a symptom of a bigger issue. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which you stop breathing dozens and possibly hundreds of times per night.
At our offices in North Naples and Fort Myers, FL, George A. Hoop could help you both get the healthy sleep you deserve. Call (239) 594-8817 or contact us online to learn more about our sleep apnea treatment.