Even the best preventive oral health defenses sometimes fail. When tooth decay, gum disease, dental trauma or any other oral health care issues breakdown preventive dentistry care, our Implant services can put the smile back on your face. If you need replacement teeth, consider dental implants. This proven restorative therapy can transform your smile and reinvigorate your life! Dental implants are natural-looking and can be a permanent replacement solution whether it's a single tooth replacement, bridge or a full arch of implants.  Your smile impacts every  aspect of  your life.  If you’ve lost teeth to decay, gum disease, or an injury, replacing them as quickly as possible will help you avoid the health complications and the emotional distress associated with missing teeth. At Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, we offer several dental implant options to help patients replace missing teeth and create stronger, healthier smiles.

Dental Implants 

Dental implants are composed of a post made from biocompatible titanium. This post acts like a replacement root when it’s placed in the jawbone. A naturally looking tooth is then attached to the post. The combination of one or more posts with a custom made prosthesis (crown, bridge, dentures) gives patients results that look and feel natural. With these amazing results, patients can enjoy a revitalized appearance and improved functionality.  Our implant posts are placed by an oral surgeon  or a periodontist. Our dentists will refer you to the specialist that is right for your situation and needs.  Our highly trained team will then restore the implant posts with a crown, bridge, or denture depending on the treatment plan.

 

If you're missing just a single tooth, then placing one implant post and a custom made crown will fill in the gap in your smile. Dental implants can also be used to help patients who need to replace a few missing teeth or a full arch of teeth. A traditional partial or complete denture can be fabricated to attached to implants for stability and can restore your smile’s appearance and function.  With dental implants, patients can look forward to a lifetime of fixed great looking teeth.

 

The Benefits of Implants

Implants fuse with the jawbone, offering firm support to man-made teeth.  Dentures, bridges, or single teeth mounted to the implants won't slip or shift in your mouth a very important benefit when eating and speaking.  This secure fit also helps man made teeth feel more natural than typical bridges or dentures.   Dental implants also help to preserve the bone after teeth are lost or extracted.  Implants are a great value, because they can last a lifetime with good health and home care.

 

 

Implant Placement

 

If it is determined that you are a good candidate for dental implants, after a consultation with the implant specialist (Oral Surgeon or Periodontist), one of our dentist will develop an implant restoration treatment plan with you. At the surgical placement visit, the specialist will normally insert the implant(s) titanium post(s) in your jaw according to the treatment plan agreed upon. There may be some swelling and/or tenderness after the surgery, so pain medication is usually prescribed to ease the discomfort.  Over about a period of 4-6 months the bone actually grows around the implant post(s) and holds it in place. This process is called osseointegration forming a secure foundation for your new implant crown, bridge, partial, or complete denture. Once the area is healed the implant specialist will connect the abutment. Once your abutment is in place, our Dentist and Team will take impressions to fabricate your implant crown, bridge, or denture.  Once the prosthesis is fabricated at our local specialty lab our Dentist will attach your custom single tooth crown, bridge or denture. With regular care and maintenance, your dental implant can last forever. This is not just a replacement procedure for your tooth or teeth, it is a full process restoration depending on what type of replacement (single tooth, bridge, denture) that looks and feels like your own natural tooth or teeth.

 

Single Tooth Implants

The single tooth implant replaces the missing tooth root(s). A single tooth implant is a stand-alone unit.

 

Implant Supported Bridges

Dental implants may be used to support a bridge when several teeth are missing.  The bridge replaces the lost natural teeth and the posts act as the roots.  Replacing teeth with an implant supported bridge does not require support from surrounding teeth. 

 

Implant Supported Dentures

If you are missing all of your teeth and want to preserve the ridge of bone, then an implant supported denture may be right for you.  An implant supported denture can replace the missing teeth roots in the jawbone.  These posts integrate with the jawbone and give patients a thicker ridge of bone, and the posts allow for attachments on the specialty denture to snap in place. Because the dental implants integrate with the jawbone, an implant supported denture tends to be comfortable and stable, allowing you to bite and chew naturally. 

 

Are you a Good Candidate for an Implant?

If you are in good health, with enough jawbone to support  an implant, then an implant may be an option for you!  In fact, your health is more of a factor than your age. 

 

Implants however are not an option for everyone.  Patients should be medically evaluated before any implant surgery is scheduled.  Patients either must have enough bone to support the implant, or be good candidates for surgery to build up the bone where the implant will be placed.

 

Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or leukemia, osteoporosis, etc.. may interfere with healing after surgery. Also using tobacco can also slow the healing or cause implants to fail.  The oral surgeon or periodontist will do a full health consultation and evaluation prior to any treatment.

 

If you are a candidate for implants, careful oral hygiene is very important for the success of the implant. You must spend time caring for the implant and making sure the area around it is very clean.  If not, you may increase your risk for gum disease, which can weaken the bone and tissues needed to support the implant post.

 

Other Considerations

It's a good idea to gather all information about your treatment and carefully discuss implant treatment plans with all providers involved.  The treatment time involved for dental implants can be longer and the cost higher than that of other procedures. Regular dental visits are key to the long term success of your implant.  It is recommended that regular recare visits (cleanings) 2-4 times a year be performed to maintain the health of tissue and bone around all teeth and the implant(s). Our dental hygienist and dentist will customize a home care routine for your daily routine to maintain your implant(s) and teeth.  This may include changing your brushing technique, use of an electric toothbrush, flossing, rinses and even possibly the use of a water pik.

 

With careful treatment planning and good oral care,

dental implants can provide a healthy, stable smile for a lifetime!