Do you dream of having a beautiful smile? A beautiful smile can brighten your life, and can break down barriers to social and professional success.
Dental Implants could be the most permanent and effective way to design your smile. Not only can you design a beautiful smile, your bite can be adjusted to fix misalignment or prevent the grinding of your teeth. Dental Implants can even redefine the shape of your face (dental reconstruction)–making it more defined or subtle depending on your implant design. If you suffer from TMJ (pain or soreness of the jaw), Dental Implants could help alleviate much of your discomfort. Whether you have missing teeth or desire an alternative to dentures, Dental Implants could be the solution for you.
Because of the effectiveness of Dental Implants (a cosmetic dentistry procedure) in addressing multiple health areas, it is incredibly important to choose a dentist who can properly handle your case. Before we get into what to look for in a dentist, let’s take a closer look at what Dental Implants are and whether they are right for you.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental Implants serve as the best, natural-looking replacement for missing teeth. A Dental Implant is essentially, a custom recreation of your missing tooth (or teeth) crafted to align perfectly with your other teeth and gum shape.
A Dental Implant has two parts: the root and the tooth itself. To replace your missing root, a small, sturdy post is designed to fit into the slot where your root once was. Then on top of that post, a tooth is placed to fit the design of your smile. The artificial tooth (or teeth) are attached to the implants anchored in the bone below the gum line. After the anchor has been surgically placed in the jawbone, excess bone and gum grow around the implant, holding it firmly in place.
Dental Implants come in the form of a single implant or several implants. A single implant is usually crafted to match the design of your current smile. If several implants are made, these can be crafted to re-design your smile and even your facial shape.
Because of their durability and permanence, Dental Implants require the same maintenance as natural teeth; this includes brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups.
Take a minute to watch the illustrative video below to better understand what a dental implant is.
Are Dental Implants the Right Choice for Me?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I missing one or more teeth?
- Do I want to avoid future problems associated with missing teeth?
- Do I want to provide support and stability for my denture?
- Do I want to avoid the inconveniences of having dentures?
- Do I want to design a custom smile for myself?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, dental implants may be the perfect solution for you! Take a look at the benefits of Dental Implants to see if they would benefit you.
Dental Implant Benefits
- Preserve the health of your other teeth.
Bridges involve filing down healthy teeth in order to place the bridge. These filed down teeth eventually fail over time, causing pain and additional dental costs. Dental Implants do not negatively affect any of your other teeth. - Preserve the stability of your teeth.
Partials and dentures are unstable and often slide, fall out, make it hard to eat, and impair speech. Dental Implants are not only stable on their own account, they also stabilize your other teeth. In fact, without a Dental Implant between two natural teeth, these teeth will collapse inward because there is no structural support on their exposed side. - Prevent bone loss caused by missing teeth.
When a tooth is lost, the bone around the missing tooth begins to erode. Over time, this can result in the loss of your other teeth. The below picture illustrates such a case. - Design Your Perfect Smile
Your teeth have a dramatic affect on your appearance. People who are uncomfortable with their teeth smile less and often avoid situations where they would have to smile. Unfortunately, this people miss out on important experiences and limit their quality of life. Dental Implants can give you the confidence to more fully engage in social interactions without any self-conscious hindrance.
To see your next step in receiving Dental Implant Treatment, click on the link below.
Steps Toward My Own Dental Implants
Step One
Pick a trusted dentist in your area (visit picking a dentist to see what you should look for).
Step Two
Call the office to schedule a consultation regarding dental implants.
Step Three
Consult with the dentist
- inquire about the dentist’s experience, past dental implant cases, and continuing education in the area
- inquire about financing option through the office or third parties that the office works with
- negotiate discounts on price based on early payment or partial upfront payment
- evaluate office professionalism and doctor’s competency
Step Three
Schedule your appointments (plan for approximately 4-6):
- 1st Appointment: this will usually consist of an impression that will be used to create a surgical stand for your CT scan.
- 2nd Appointment: this appointment depends on the results of your CT scan.
- If there is enough bone structure, the doctor may be able to immediately place the implant.
- If not, a bone graft is usually done where the doctor builds on your existing bone to provide enough bone structure for the implant to be stable.
- 3rd Appointment (assuming a bone graft is done): this will usually involve placing of the actual implant into the gum.
- 4th Appointment: this will involve uncovering the implant (usually through soft-tissue laser) and placing a post for the gums to heal around.
- 5th Appointment: this usually consists of making an impression for the actual teeth.
- 6th Appointment: the top of the tooth is placed upon the post and your dental implant is finished.
Periodically visit the dentist for maintenance of your Dental Implant. The most important part of this process is picking the right dentist!
Implant Restoration
Implant Restoration is necessary when the attached Dental Implant has been neglected or damaged by use. The Dentist can usually refurbish the artificial tooth. If issues exist with the artificial root, the Dental Implant may need to be redone. However, this is rare and almost always preventable through good oral hygiene habits. Since Dental Implants are the most natural replacement for your teeth, they need to be properly maintained in order to ensure their longevity. Regular brushing, flossing, and checkups are a must!
For more information on dental implants or to request an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us today at (702) 562-2322!