Tel Doug to get up off it long enough for you to finish you blog. Sure you are a fine thing and a man has needs. But so does your followers.

We want our fix so that we can get on with our day. My Iphone wasn’t bought to so we could continually be checking on whether you had written you blog yet.

You are costing a lot of people battery power. You claim that you are into energy preservation. Well put up or shut up.

Get the blog out within a reasonable time on the weekends.

one of your devoted fans

Larry

Oh and another picture is WAAAAAY Pass Due.

David L. Cochran, DDS, PhD
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School

For years, dental bridges and dentures were the only options for people who had lost teeth as a result of gum disease or an injury.

Now: Recent technological advances have made the dental implant — an artificial tooth root that is surgically implanted into the jawbone and covered with a natural-looking, artificial tooth — better and more popular than ever.

Over the past several years, the number of Americans receiving dental implants has increased by about 20% each year, with an estimated 1 million implants now being placed annually. In 95% to 97% of cases, the artificial tooth stays in the jaw without pain or infection.

Unlike bridges, which rely on neighboring teeth for support, dental implants leave more of your own teeth unaffected and reduce the risk for gum disease because they make it easier to remove plaque. For denture wearers, dental implants offer a more secure and comfortable fit.

For people missing one or two teeth, individual implants can be anchored into the jawbone and the artificial tooth or teeth attached. For people missing many or all of their teeth, two or more implants can be placed into the upper and lower jawbones, and dentures can be clipped or screwed onto them. Dentures that clip on are removable — just like regular dentures — but more stable and comfortable because they are secured by the implants.

WHAT ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Dental implants consist of three parts — a metal screw (the implant, also known as a post or cylinder) that is surgically anchored into the jawbone and acts as an artificial tooth root… a titanium extension (abutment) that fits on the implant… and an artificial tooth (also known as a crown or restoration) that attaches to the abutment. Crowns are made of ceramic (porcelain) to approximate the color and texture of your natural teeth.

A FOUR-STEP PROCESS

To get an implant…

Step 1: Schedule an evaluation. You’ll need X-rays and possibly a computed tomography (CT) scan so the periodontist (a dentist who specializes in gum disease) or oral surgeon can calculate the depth of bone, note the location of nerves and vital structures (such as the sinuses) and plan the placement of the implant.*

*The American Academy of Periodontology (312-787-5518, http://www.perio.org) and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (800-822-6637, http://www.aaoms.org) can help identify implant specialists in most parts of the country.

Step 2: Place the implant. An implant is placed slightly less than one-half inch, on average, into the jawbone. This is delicate surgery that requires cutting and peeling back the gums, drilling into the jaw, placing the device at the correct angle and depth, and sewing the gums closed around the implant.

A local anesthetic is often sufficient for pain control, and placing a single screw can take as little as 30 minutes. The entire procedure for one implant usually takes one to three hours. Most people can return to work or their regular activities the same day.

There will be gum soreness the first day, and you should not chew hard food on the side of your mouth with the new implant for a few weeks. Pain usually can be managed with ibuprofen (Advil) or another over-the-counter pain reliever. Stitches are usually removed in seven to 10 days. For multiple implants, general anesthesia or conscious sedation, which typically involves the use of the opiate midazolam (Versed), may be preferred.

Step 3: Attach the abutment. After the bone heals around the implant (about six to 12 weeks), the dental surgeon will open the gums again and put the abutment onto the implant. This is minor surgery that can be completed in just a few minutes under local anesthesia.

Step 4: Attach the crown. A general dentist or specialist in prosthetic dentistry (a prosthodontist) attaches the crown with an adhesive or screws it onto the implant.** A week to two weeks before this step, the dental professional makes impressions of the implant and abutment and sends them to a dental lab, which makes the crown. He/she also uses a shade guide to select a color that matches your adjacent teeth.

**To find a qualified prosthodontist in your area, consult the American College of Prosthodontists (www.prosthodontics.org).

TOTAL COST

The typical total cost of a dental implant is $3,000 to $4,000. That’s $1,500 to $2,500, on average, for implanting a single screw and another $1,500 to create and place the crown. Check with your insurer to see whether it covers dental implants and/or crowns. Some insurance policies have a maximum payout of $1,000 per year for dental care.

To maximize your coverage: Start the procedure late in the year and finish it the following year, if possible.

GETTING THE BEST RESULTS

To increase your chances of receiving a successful dental implant…

If you smoke, stop. Smokers heal more slowly, have an increased risk for infection and are more likely to have an implant come loose.

Control blood sugar. People with diabetes who maintain good blood sugar control typically do well with implants. Uncontrolled diabetes may disqualify you for surgery
because the implant site may not heal properly. For the same reason, people who have had radiation treatments of the jaw may not be able to have the surgery.

Discuss your medical history. Make sure that your dentist knows about all the medications, supplements and herbs you take, as well as any chronic or acute health conditions you have.

Floss. Your replacement teeth are not vulnerable to tooth decay (cavities), but you still need to brush and floss them to keep gum-damaging plaque from accumulating around the implant. You’ll also need to visit the dentist two to four times per year for routine cleanings and exams.

Even if you and the dental specialists do everything right, there is a 3% to 5% chance that your implant will fail for reasons that no one understands. Example: The jawbone may not heal around the implant…or the screw may come loose. If an implant fails, you can have it removed, let your gums heal and try again when your dentist thinks it is prudent.

Health interviewed David L. Cochran, DDS, PhD, professor and chair of the department of periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School. He is a board-certified periodontist and vice president of the American Academy of Periodontology. Dr. Cochran has published more than 140 scientific journal articles on dental health.

I think my friend is a bit racist (by the jokes he sends) BUT doesn’t say anything racist when we’re hanging out. He’s a good guy.

Any suggestions?

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
He thinks the “nigs”(his expression) are making too much about these jokes.

I am ashamed that he is my brother. We went the first 18 years of our lives without having a single contact with black people. I don’t understand how he became such a racist.

Gail