Dental Implants
If you are missing teeth, opting for dental implants in University Heights, OH, is a great choice for tooth replacement. Getting dental implants is a process. This process could take up to several months to complete. However, the end result is worth every minute!
Dental implants are a comprehensive tooth replacement option. The first step in the dental implant process is called implant placement. The next step in the implant process is the restoration. More about the entire process in a moment.
The Benefits of Getting Dental Implants
There are plenty of benefits that come with dental implants.
- They restore your ability to chew your food without slippage, unlike dentures. Most people can’t tell the difference between their dental implants and their natural teeth after the initial healing phase.
- They look like your natural teeth. So they are more cosmetically appealing.
- They help keep your jawbone from reabsorption that comes from tooth loss.
- They help preserve your surrounding jawbone and gums.
- They help keep your nearby teeth from shifting.
- They allow you to eat, brush, and floss normally. No special tools or equipment are needed.
How Does the Dental Implant Process Work?
Step One:
The dentist in University Heights, OH, will begin by surgically removing your teeth.
Step Two:
The dentist will surgically insert small titanium posts into your jawbone. This is the placement step. The purpose of this step is to replace the roots of your teeth. Over the next three to six months, those titanium posts will fuse with your jawbone. This is called osseointegration. The dentist will place a protective cap over your implants to protect them and give your jaw time to heal.
Step Three:
Once your implants have healed and developed a sturdy foundation, your dentist can proceed with the first part of the restoration process. During this part of the restoration, the dentist will add an abutment to your implant. The protective cap over your implant screw will be removed. Then, the abutment will be added. The abutment part of your dental implant is the part that connects your implant screw to your artificial tooth. This completes the abutment placement. After the abutment placement, it will take another week or two to heal before the final restoration can take place.
Step Four:
The last step is restoration placement. This is where your dentist will attach your artificial tooth to the abutment, completing your dental implant restoration.
Single Tooth Dental Implant
Your teeth do so much more than help you smile. Healthy teeth allow you to enjoy the foods you love, lead a healthy lifestyle, and give you the confidence to be yourself.
Losing teeth can be a traumatic experience, and it can seem incredibly daunting to try and get them fixed.
Regardless of how your tooth was lost, whether it was by injury, genetics or life in general, there are many solutions available to you.
The professional team at Innovative Smiles Dental of University Heights, OH, is proud to serve the local community with quality dental care services, including dental implants, so that you can go back to enjoying the life that you deserve.
Simply put, an implant is a tiny titanium screw that becomes part of your jawbone, which secures the tooth above. That’s basically what a dental implant is.
It’s like a super strong anchor for a replacement tooth.
Once the implant is securely in place, a crown is attached, giving you a tooth that looks and feels like the real thing.
Taking care of your dental implant is pretty similar to caring for your natural teeth. Brush and floss regularly, and schedule regular dental checkups. With proper care, your implant can last for many years.
Why Choose a Dental Implant Over Other Options?
You might be wondering, “Why not just get a bridge or dentures?”. These are certainly services that we offer, but here are some reasons why you should consider single-tooth implants:
- Looks Natural: Implants look and feel just like your natural teeth. No one will even know the difference.
- Strong and Enduring: Implants are built to last. With proper care, they can last a lifetime.
- Preserve Bone: When you lose a tooth, the jawbone in that area can start to shrink. Implants help prevent bone loss, keeping your facial structure intact.
- Improved Trust: A missing tooth can make you feel self-conscious. Implants can give you back that confident smile.
The Implant Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
Getting a dental implant might sound a bit scary, but it’s a pretty straightforward process. Here are the steps the team at Innovative Smiles Dental of University Heights, OH, take to ensure your health and safety:
Consultation
Consultations at Innovative Smiles are always complimentary. We’ll start by covering all the bases. You’ll discuss your options with the dentist and the team and create a treatment plan. If we decide that dental implants are right for you, we’ll set up a time for the procedure.
Surgery
The day of the procedure shouldn’t bring you any anxiety. While it may have seemed like something scary in the past, dental implant surgery is extremely safe and without pain.
The implant is placed into your jawbone so we can set up a strong foundation.
You’ll be numbed for the entire procedure so that you won’t feel a thing.
Healing Time
After the procedure, we’ll give you a complete list of aftercare steps.
You’ll need to give the implant time to fuse with your jawbone (osseointegration).
This usually takes a few months, and we may call you in occasionally to ensure that everything is recovering properly. In the meantime, make sure that you aren’t skipping your dental cleanings!
Abutment Placement
We’ll call you back in for a final time for the abutment placement. An abutment is a small connector attached to the implant to hold the crown.
Crown Placement
The final piece, the crown, is attached to the abutment, completing your new tooth. This is usually done at the same time as the abutment placement so that we can reduce your trips to the dental chair.
Your Local Dental Care Experts
It’s time to invest in your quality lifestyle. Missing teeth can cause many problems; solutions have never been so simple and plentiful.
You may not need a full dental bridge or denture replacement when you come in for your consultation. If you are only missing a single tooth, we can isolate the area and create a perfect fit with a finish that matches the rest of your teeth. No one will be able to tell the difference.
We look forward to helping you achieve your smile goals and full potential.
During your next appointment with the adept team at Innovative Smiles Dental of University Heights, OH, you can be sure you are receiving the best possible care and guidance that you and your family deserve.
PermaSmile
At Innovative Smiles our highly skilled and specially trained team of doctors can provide the PermaSmile procedure. This amazing service is an excellent and predictable replacement of all of the teeth in either jaw. If you are someone with numerous broken, painful, or abscessed teeth, PermaSmile offers a final solution to your years of suffering.
At your first visit, a 3D Scan will be done so that the lab can design your new beautiful smile. On the day of the procedure, all of the remaining teeth in either arch are removed. Next, the doctor places 4, 5, or 6 dental implants to anchor the permanent denture in your mouth. You go home the same day with your new teeth. These teeth are permanent and do not come out. This improves your ability to chew which leads to a healthier and happier you! Studies have shown a 94% success rate over 10 years if the implants are taken care of and if you come back to Innovative Smiles for a yearly check up.
Follow this link for a video that shows the PermaSmile procedure in greater detail. https://youtu.be/GfvDhC-X3Q8
Implant Retained Dentures
For anyone looking for alternatives to traditional dentures, Innovative Smiles offers implant retained dentures. As an alternative to regular dental implants and traditional dentures, implant retained dentures combine the best of both options. If you’re currently considering dentures or dental implants, you owe it to yourself to learn more about implant retained dentures.
What Are Implant Retained Dentures?
Implant retained dentures are a kind of combination of dental implant and denture. They are anchored to the jaw with a dental implant, which is made of titanium. Titanium is used in implants all over the body because it’s an inert metal. Inert means that it doesn’t interact with the body in any way; it remains just as it was when it was implanted. It also never breaks down. In an implant retained denture, the titanium implant consists of a small post, surgically placed into the jawbone. Over a period of several weeks, the bone integrates with the implants, and this makes the foundation for the denture. An implant retained denture is removable and can be snapped in and out of place.
Implant retained dentures are similar yet different to regular dental implants. Whereas a dental implant is most often used to replace individual teeth, implant retained dentures can replace an entire arch of teeth. So, rather than placing an implant for each missing tooth, a few strategically placed implants can support a full or partial denture. This approach is more cost-effective, time-effective and less invasive than replacing each missing tooth with a separate implant. You and your dentist will be able to determine if this is an appropriate solution for your needs.
How Implant Retained Dentures Differ From Dentures
Dentures have been around for hundreds of years, and they remain a popular choice for restoring missing teeth. However, they aren’t ideal. They rely on dental adhesives and suction to stay in place, resting on the gums of the wearer. They can be uncomfortable, and may not fit properly over time. They come with inherent challenges, like slipping, difficulty eating or speaking, and sometimes discomfort or downright pain.
Implant retained dentures, on the other hand, are anchored to the jawbone, eliminating the potential for slipping. They provide a stable and comfortable fit, allowing for easier eating, speaking and overall oral health. Finally, since they’re supported by implants, they can help prevent bone loss in the jaw, which dentures can’t do.
Benefits of Implant Retained Dentures
There are many reasons why patients opt for implant retained dentures over other treatments. They include:
Stability and Comfort
With implant retained dentures, there’s no risk of embarrassing slippage or a “clicking” noise when eating or speaking. They are stable in place, since they’re firmly anchored to the jawbone. This stability also adds to their comfort, since they won’t slip and cause friction against sensitive gum tissue.
Support For Facial Structure
Dental implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing the bone loss that typically occurs after tooth loss. This helps maintain the shape and structure of the face, preventing the sunken appearance often associated with long-term denture use. This isn’t the case with traditional dentures.
More Natural Chewing and Speaking
With implant-retained dentures, a person can enjoy a more natural chewing experience, allowing them to eat a wider variety of foods without fear of their dentures slipping. The secure fit also improves speech, reducing the lisping, clicking or slurring that can happen while wearing traditional dentures.
Who is a Good Candidate?
A good candidate for implant retained dentures would be someone who:
- has lost many or all of their natural teeth
- is looking for a better alternative to dentures
- would like to avoid time-consuming and complex oral surgery
- has sufficient bone density to support dental implants
- is in generally good health, free of underlying conditions that could jeopardize the implant
- does not smoke or drink to excess
If you’re interested in learning more about implant retained dentures, why not contact your University Heights, OH dentist at Innovative Smiles to book an appointment? You’ll be glad you did!
