Dental Implants
What Are Dental Implants?
If you are looking for the closest replacement to a natural tooth, consider dental implants. They are designed to complete smiles with missing teeth and regain your ability to chew and bite normally. Something you may not have even considered, is whenever we lose a tooth, we also lose the supporting bone that surrounded the tooth. Dental implants help maintain the integrity of this jawbone and actively save the jaw from additional bone loss.
A dental implant is positioned surgically beneath the gum line. Current implants are made out of titanium posts. Titanium is used because of its known ability to integrate and graft to human bone. After healing, the implant integrates into the surrounding jaw bone which allows your dentist to set fixed replacement teeth or locators for a removable denture.
A cosmetic dentist is a dental practitioner that fixed ‘cosmetic’ issues of the teeth. In simple words, they offer treatments that cater to fixing the appearance of teeth, gums, and sometimes, bite.
While most cosmetic dentistry treatments are aimed at enhancing the appearance of your smile, a lot of them also help improve functionality.
At Rivers Bend Family Dental, we provide our patients with the highest quality care and support they need. We know there are a few steps involved with dental implants. If you have any questions, please contact our staff to see if dental implants are right for you.
There aren’t many medical devices that are put into the body that can completely replicate what was given to us at birth. Dental Implants is the exception.
When completed they feel, look and function just like a real tooth. You can floss them normally. You eat with them normally. And you never have to take them out like a Denture or Partial Denture.
Dental Implants are placed below the gums and in the bone. It is a metal screw that is left in the bone to heal. When healing completes after 3-4 months, the body will have cemented the implant in place and can then be fitted with a tooth on top. (If you have a denture, special buttons can be placed atop of the implant to receive and securely hold the denture in place).
Dental Implants require healthy bone! It’s the #1 factor for a successful implant integration. If it’s been a number of years after losing a tooth in an area, your body may absorb all the bone away. If this is the case, you may need an additional bone graft to be able to receive a future implant.
For your dentist to find out if you have enough healthy bone, a special 3D x-ray called a Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT) Scan will help guide your surgery.
Rivers Bend Family Dental provides a wide range of dental procedures to make it convenient for your family to tend to all its dental needs. Our services include but are not limited
The Dental Implant Process
There are naturally several visits to the office, potentially spread over a few months to complete the dental implant process. After an initial consultation, your dentist will schedule follow up appointments the area(s) and number of implants that may be placed. They do this by ordering an advanced 3D x-ray scan of your jawbone called a CBCT (Cone Beam Computer Tomography) and any other form of imaging. It is after the 3D scan whether your jawbone will be viable for any planned implants.
There are naturally several visits to the office, potentially spread over a few months to complete the dental implant process. After an initial consultation, your dentist will schedule follow up appointments the area(s) and number of implants that may be placed. They do this by ordering an advanced 3D x-ray scan of your jawbone called a CBCT (Cone Beam Computer Tomography) and any other form of imaging. It is after the 3D scan whether your jawbone will be viable for any planned implants.
As soon as the implant has healed and the grafting process is complete, an abutment is placed on top to receive a crown. (There are special abutments that also hold dentures secure as well). Abutments are specialized pieces that either use a screw or dental cement to adhere the crown.
Give yourself a big pat on the back and celebrate on your final crown seating day. The implant process has concluded and you will get to use your new natural feeling tooth.
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Implant Care
After your final implant crown seating day, there is still a few weeks to finish the healing process. Your gums and teeth will sometimes feel tight with a new tooth in place. It’s still generally a good idea to eat softer foods with a gradual build up to harder foods as the sensitivity and discomfort begins to decrease.
They both change the shape, color, size and require only minimal cutting of natural tooth. The dramatic changes to your smile and teeth with the procedure can also be life changing. If you want to know more about veneers, check them out here: porcelain veneers.
It is not necessary for dramatic changes to your diet or eating habits to maintain your dental implants. Feel free to use them naturally as you gain confidence once fully healed. Just like natural teeth, you will want to maintain your dental implants with good oral hygiene practices with brushing and flossing at least twice a day. And don’t forget regular scheduled cleaning appointments every six months to keep plaque levels and buildup minimal around your new implant(s). When properly cared for, dental implants can last for decades.
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The Benefits of Dental Implants
The most significant benefit in getting dental implants is they preserve the integrity of your original jaw bone. It maintains your natural facial structures which gives you a youthful appearance. Additionally, dental implants fill gaps in missing teeth which completes your full smile and allows you to chew again.
Have DENTURES? Why not enhance and upgrade them with dental implants? It’s quite possible to use dental implant technology to secure removable dentures to your gums. Just ask us how.
And from an esthetic point of view, dental implants will improve your overall appearance and restore a sense of self-confidence. From a social point of view, this could mean the difference between laughing without being self-conscious or nailing that big presentation in front of your co-workers. But by neglecting to replace missing teeth, this will cause the shape of your face and jaw to change over time. Replacing even a single tooth will have a tremendous impact on your life that only you could deserve.
Associated Costs
Every person’s situation and specific insurance plan is unique and different. And with most dental procedures, what and how much a procedure will be covered is ultimately determined by your specific policy and plan. With dental implants, many insurance plans cover dental implant procedures. Just beware, from time to time, we do find dental insurance policies that will not cover portions or all of the cost on dental implant procedures. If you do not currently have dental insurance coverage or have questions about payment options, always feel free to contact our knowledgeable staff. They are always happy to discuss possible options with you.