What are dental implants?
Dental implants are an artificial tooth root that is implanted into your bone, providing an option for replacing a tooth that has been extracted or has deteriorated.
What conditions would cause a dentist to recommend dental implants?
Dental implants are a recommended option for replacing a missing tooth to improve chewing function, oral hygiene, comfort, and speech, as opposed to using removable artificial devices.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
The primary advantage of dental implants is their functionality. They allow you to chew, speak, and floss naturally, maintaining overall oral cleanliness and normal function.
What is the process I will go through if I decide to get dental implants?
The process begins with a comprehensive exam, including x-rays and a medical history review. This ensures you are a suitable candidate, considering conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or periodontal disease, to ensure longevity of the implant.
What are the steps in the process of placing a dental implant?
The first step is to confirm the presence of adequate bone. Afterward, a flap is made in the gum to place the implant symmetrically, allowing proper force distribution. After three months of integration, a neck piece is added, followed by the artificial tooth.
When would bone grafting be needed?
Bone grafting is needed when removing a tooth creates a deep hole, delaying natural bone regeneration. Cadaver bone is added to expedite the process, especially when missing small bone areas during implant placement.
When choosing new artificial teeth, what options will I have and what are the pros and cons of each?
You have two options: removable and fixed. Removable teeth require nightly removal and cleaning, while fixed teeth remain like natural teeth, offering convenience and confidence in speaking and chewing.
How long does it typically take to recover from dental implants?
Most patients recover within two days, experiencing only slight soreness without prolonged pain.
How long do dental implants last?
Dental implants can last as long as your natural teeth, provided they are treated with care, akin to your own teeth.
Can dental implants get cavities?
Dental implants cannot get cavities due to their artificial nature, but they can develop implantitis, an inflammation of the gums around them. Proper flossing and brushing can prevent this condition.
What are the costs and financing options involved with dental implants?
Our office offers various financing options to prioritize your health. Many insurance plans cover a portion of the cost, so it's advisable to review your plan for details.
How can I schedule an appointment to talk to a dentist about dental implants?
For further questions or to schedule an appointment, please call Palm Harbor Premier Dental. We are here to assist with any inquiries regarding dental implants.
People are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can’t keep up. If you have lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate your smile and your oral health.
An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium: the same material used in many replacement hips and knees, and a metal that is well suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.
The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw, and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease.
Single or Multiple Implants
Implants are versatile. If you are only missing one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.
Advantages Of Implants over Bridges
Conventional bridges and dentures are not fixed to the bone, and can therefore be unstable. This can make it difficult to eat or smile with confidence. Implants not only look more natural but also feel and act more like normal teeth, with a stronger biting force. And because they don’t directly rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants don’t compromise the health of your natural teeth. Bridges are only expected to last seven to ten years, even less with root canals, whereas implants will typically last a lifetime.
Post-Treatment Care
Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.
Our implant services include:
- Sinus Lift Augmentation: Often the sinuses will enlarge following loss of the upper back teeth. This can preclude the placement of dental implants in the upper back areas of the mouth since the sinus is an air-filled space and dental implants need to be surrounded by solid bone. A sinus lift augmentation/graft is a surgical procedure that restores the sinus cavity to its original size and replaces the bone that has been lost as a result of the enlarged sinus. This new bone graft typically takes nine to 12 months to heal before the dental implants can be placed into the grafted bone.
- Autogenous Bone Grafting: Occasionally, the ideal areas for dental implants do not have sufficient bone quantity to support the implants. In these cases, it is often necessary to “borrow” bone from another area of your mouth and graft it into the deficient area. Often, the area of choice is from the chin or in the back of the jaw where your wisdom teeth used to be.
- Implant Site Development: When a tooth needs to be removed due to infection, it is not uncommon to have lost bone around the infected tooth. In these cases, various types of bone grafting can be done at the same time the tooth is removed to facilitate the placement of a dental implant at a later date.
- Computer-Enhanced Treatment Planning: We have special software on our computer that allows us to evaluate your dental CT scan in three dimensions for bone quality, bone quantity, and bone location, enabling the best possible placement of your dental implants. This also allows us to work closely and smoothly with your restorative dentist to ensure an ideal result where your dental implants are concerned.
- Implant Maintenance: Once your dental implant restoration is completed, it is important to keep the area clean and infection-free. Dental implants can accumulate plaque and tartar just as teeth can. Whether you have just one tooth replaced by an implant or several, a professional cleaning schedule will be necessary to keep your implants healthy. The time interval for these professional cleanings will be determined by your individual needs.