Dental Implants for Single Tooth or Multiple Teeth Replacement
Dental implants are titanium rods placed in the jawbone of a patient to hold replacement teeth in place. This restorative option is among the most secure and long-lasting, as the implants themselves can last a lifetime. Implants also help to maintain the integrity of the jawbone after tooth loss, and they help to prevent surrounding teeth from shifting. Dental implants are surgically placed below the gumline, and they fuse with the jawbone. This allows them to integrate with the jaw and become a permanent fixture. Once the implant has fused, your dentist will place the replacement tooth, which looks just like your surrounding natural teeth.
The last few decades have allowed for some great improvements in restorative and family dentistry, and most definitely in dental implants. Despite these advances, not all people with missing teeth are strong candidates for dental implants. Some people do not have strong enough immune systems to tolerate a foreign material implanted into their jaw, or have medical conditions that prevent implants, and other people do not need to have a tooth completely removed and replaced with an implant. Broken teeth or decayed teeth can be drilled and repaired with dental bonding before a tooth extraction is necessary.
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1426 Commonwealth Dr. Suite A, Wilmington, NC 28403
Dental Implants Process
If you are interested in talking to your dentist about dental implants to see if they would be a good fit in your treatment plan, your first appointment will start with a consultation and be followed by an examination of the affected tooth or teeth. The dentist will extract the tooth that will be replaced by the dental implant. From there, the dentist will need to examine your jawbone to ensure that it will be strong enough to accept an implant and that it is free from inflammation and infection. The dentist will most likely rely on an X-ray or some other type of imaging of your jawbone to ensure that the dental implant treatment plan is still the best option for you and your oral health.
After you are healed from the tooth extraction properly, the surgeon will then place the titanium rod into your jawbone. The jaw will need to heal, the bone will need to heal and accept the implant, and the gum tissue will need to heal around the post. Again, you will need to follow at-home care instructions to ensure that your mouth is free from infection or inflammation so it can heal in a timely fashion.
Once the post is integrated properly into your jawbone and the gum has healed, the dentist will place an abutment. This attachment is responsible for holding the replacement tooth, or crown. The crown is set in place permanently with dental cement or a special screw. When the dentist sets the crown on the abutment, this is really the finishing touch to all the work you two have put in over the last few months. You could even call this grand finale the “crowning moment”.
Dental Implant Benefits
The greatest benefit to receiving a dental implant, of the many benefits, is the added strength and structural support it offers your jawbone.
Dental implants allow for upgrading your removable dentures to dentures with a place for secure attachment without additional adhesive. A dental implant can keep your dentures in place to allow for better speech and easier chewing without the fear of your teeth slipping and sliding around your mouth.
Aesthetically, dental implants offer you the opportunity to increase your self-confidence and improve your overall appearance with a complete, full smile of healthy teeth. Allowing the space where you had a tooth extracted to remain empty can change the shape of your jaw and face due to the missing tooth and its root, depending on which tooth is no longer there. The effort to replace even one tooth can have marvelous repercussions on your day-to-day life.
Patients who have had dental implants report that at-home dental care is easier than trying to brush and floss with missing teeth gaps.
A more advanced procedure, all on four dental implants, is a perfect solution for slipping or tired dentures. To see if you're a candidate, schedule a consultation today.
Caring For Your Dental Implants
Following the various phases of this procedure, it will take weeks or months for the healing process to complete. During the days and weeks following the more invasive appointments, eating softer foods will keep you comfortable. Once the healing process takes hold, you can gradually include harder and more abrasive foods. Once your dentist has completed work on your implant and you are fully healed with your new tooth in place, you need to treat your dental implants like your natural teeth.
Dental Implant Costs
Costs for each procedure vary depending on how long the procedure takes, what materials the procedure requires, how many visits the procedure requires, and the amount of work the dentist is required to do. It may surprise you to know, but dental insurance may cover some of the costs for these, as well as elective procedures, as they lead to improved overall dental health and long-term benefits. If you do not have dental insurance coverage or you have any questions about payment options for your treatment plan, you are more than welcome to talk to our staff at any time. Your budget’s health is just as important as your mouth’s health.
High-Quality Care Provided by a Team You Can Trust
At Edgerton & Glenn Cosmetic and General Dentistry, it is our goal to build lifelong relationships with our patients centered around trust. It is our mission to help you to achieve and maintain optimal oral health. Please contact us to set up an appointment for dental implant treatment at (910) 256-9230.
More Information About :
- All on Four Dental Implants
- CEREC Crowns
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Deep Teeth Cleaning
- Dental Bonding
- Dental Bridges
- Dental Crowns
- Dental Exams
- Dental Implants
- Dentists Wilmington
- Dentures
- Family Dentistry
- Full Mouth Reconstruction
- Gum Disease
- Gummy Smile
- Implant Supported Dentures
- Inlay & Onlays
- Invisalign
- Laser Dentistry
- Mouth Guards
- Porcelain Veneers
- Root Canals
- Sleep Apnea
- Teeth Whitening
- TMJ Therapy
- Tooth Extractions
- Tooth Fillings