Losing all your teeth can affect a person’s speech, the physiology of their mouth, and their ability to eat some foods, said Dr. Steve W. Yang, a Salisbury dentist. Mini dental implants used in conjunction with dentures can help correct all of those issues.
“For people who complain of loose, ill-fitting dentures, we absolutely can make their dentures fit better by using mini implants,” Yang said.
He began offering placement of mini dental implants at his Salisbury, NC dentistry practice about a year ago. These implants are placed using a simple, non-surgical procedure. The patient is numbed for the procedure, much like if they were getting a filling. Once placed, the implants serve as an anchor to hold dentures in place, which also helps to preserve the surrounding tissue and jaw bone.
The procedure typically involves placing four mini implants- usually in the lower jaw - to which a patient’s dentures can be affixed to hold them in proper position. The mini implants are screwed into the bone and are immediate load implants, meaning that as soon as the implants are placed, the denture can be attached. There is no time required to wait for the bone to heal around the implants.
Mini implants take the place of denture adhesives, which can be messy and smelly, Yang said. They enable denture wearers to speak, eat, chew and smile with confidence that their dentures will remain in place while performing these activities.
Wearers of traditional dentures often cannot say they same thing. Common complaints among those who wear traditional dentures are that their dentures move around when chewing and talking. They often are fearful of their dentures falling out while in public settings.
This movement also can change the physiology of a person’s mouth after years of wear.
“The pressure that gets placed on the jaw by the dentures, coupled with the dentures’ movement, can cause the bone to deteriorate over time,” Yang said. “The other complaints of loose or ill-fitting dentures can become worse with time, because as the bone structure is altered, the dentures can become even more loose.”
The mini implants and denture process can be completed in two steps. The first step is devoted to fitting the patient for dentures, while the second involves placing the mini implants.
Patients who have had the procedure are pleased with the results, Yang said.
“We can see the difference in patient’s comfort and confidence after the procedure,” he said. “We see them smile more freely, and we get a great deal of feedback from them regarding the types of foods they can eat now that they are worried about their dentures falling out.”
Learn More
If you would like to learn more about mini implants, Dr. Steve W. Yang and his Salisbury, NC dentistry practice, or you would like to schedule a consultation, please call (704) 633-1322 or visit his website: http://www.salisburyncdentist.com. Dr. Yang’s office is located at 2290 Statesville Blvd.
About Dr. Steve W. Yang
A personal interest in health care combined with a number of personal dental issues prompted Dr. Steve W. Yang to pursue a career in dentistry. He is a 1997 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry. Prior to that, he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Dr. Yang’s professional affiliations include: the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Dental Advisory Board; vice-chairman of the Rowan County Board of Health; former secretary/treasurer, vice president, and president of the Rowan County Dental Society; North Carolina Dental Society; American Dental Association;
Volunteering also is a big part of Dr. Yang’s life. He volunteers his dentistry services for the Give Kids a Smile dental sealant project, the Baptist Dental Bus and the Community Care Clinic, which is a free dental clinic.
In the community, Dr. Yang was on the Country Club of Salisbury board of directors and is a member of the Rowan Little League board of directors, Catawba College Chiefs Club and the Civitan Club of Salisbury.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Yang moved to Salisbury, NC at age 7. He graduated from East Rowan High School. He and his wife, Lori, have four children: John, Alex, Ellen, and Ashley.
In November 2001, their other son, Michael, passed away, which led Steve and Lori to start the Michael Yang Foundation. The Foundation’s primary objective is to support the Circle of Hope, a bereavement service for parents who have lost children.
The Yangs attend Christiana Lutheran Church, where Dr. Yang is a former member of the church council and benevolent committee. In his spare time, Dr. Yang enjoys golf , travel, spending time with his family and coaching youth sports.
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