Natural Looking Implant-Supported Restorations To Replace Missing Teeth
Tooth loss is widespread concern for most Americans. People of all ages suffer from tooth loss due to reasons such as poor oral care, disease, accidents, and more. Today, dental implants are the gold standard of care for restorative replacement of missing. Dental implant can replace single missing teeth as well as aid restoration of more complex full arch restorations. Dental implants can even help our edentulous patients and convert patients with dentures into a fully fixed dentate smiles. Dental implant procedure aims to renew function as well as the aesthetics of your teeth. Continue reading to learn more about how dental implants can help you achieve the best possible tooth replacement results.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a titanium screw-like component, surgically placed in your mouth as an artificial root of the missing tooth. The implant integrates with the jawbone to offer a stable base for permanent replacement teeth that are created to match your original teeth. Dental implants are the most sought-after procedures in cosmetic dentistry because they provide you with a natural, everlasting smile, while supporting proper mouth function.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
There are numerous benefits to modern-day implants over traditional tooth replacement options. Here is a list of some significant benefits associated with dental implants:
Restored Function
Dental implants provide excellent stability and a solid foundation to replace your missing teeth. This allows your function to be restored and chewing capacity improved. Dental implants also harmonize the occlusal system, providing occlusal support where needed and helping to maintain your natural teeth. Implant studies frequently reported outcome rates exceeding 95% (International and American Associations for Dental Research). For the right candidates, dental implants are widely regarded as the best solution for missing teeth. Dental implants themselves are crafted from biocompatible titanium and when properly cared for, they can last a lifetime. Meanwhile, your implant-supported crowns and bridges are crafted from highly esthetic porcelain ceramic that is durable, natural-looking, and designed specifically for you.
Improved Oral Health
Our teeth are constantly stimulating the bone tissue in the jaw. When you lose a tooth, the jaw will begin to atrophy, reducing bone volume and quality. Implants replace the tooth roots and are the only form of dental restoration that can reduce this bone recession by supporting and maintaining your natural bone. Among many other benefits, this effect can help to protect your remaining natural teeth and contribute to good oral health in general.
Who Can Get Dental Implants?
Usually, anyone who is healthy enough to receive an ordinary dental extraction or mouth surgery can be considered a candidate for dental implants. Patients need healthy gums and adequate bone structure to support the implant. They also must be diligent towards keeping good oral hygiene and attend routine dental check-ups. People who smoke, suffer from irrepressible chronic disorders like diabetes or heart ailments, or have undergone radiation therapy in the head or neck region, must be examined on an individual basis.
How Are Implants Placed?
Several appointments are normally involved to place the implants. Once you are deemed a candidate for the procedure, your dentist uses our in office CT scan to view a 3-D image of your bone volume and bone quality. This information, combined with computer aided technology enables the doctor to place the implants in the ideal location for optimum esthetic and functional results. The implants are placed in the bone through a minimally invasive drilling protocol and often submerged under the gum tissue. . During this phase, implants take three months to heal and fuse with the bone. This process is called osseointegration. Once the implant is fully healed and integrated, an impression or scan is taken of your mouth to capture the orientation of the implant and fabricate your crown. Shortly thereafter, your dentist places the final customized abutment which connects your implant to your new crown or bridge. Your new tooth will match the size, shape and color of your remaining teeth and blend in naturally.
How Do I Maintain My Implants?
Patients should follow all of their dentist’s instructions to properly maintain their implants. They should return to the office for regular recall and hygiene visits. Similar or natural teeth, oral hygiene and home care is important. Daily brushing and flossing are required to keep implants looking great and performing as they should. With proper care, some individuals can enjoy their implants for a lifetime.
After the Surgery:
You will probably feel some discomfort after the surgery for a couple of days. However, any discomfort should be manageable. Following the dental implant, mild tenderness is manageable with over-the-counter pain medications or warm salt-water rinses. An ice pack helps reduce swelling by placing it on the skin around the surgery location immediately after treatment.
Is Follow-Up Care Required After a Dental Implant Procedure?
Yes! Dental implants must be cared for as your would your natural teeth. Implants carry the risk of forming a condition known as “peri-implantitis,” which is similar to a periodontal (gum) disease, occurring in natural teeth. Peri-implantitis can lead to the loss of an implant due to bone loss in the absence of proper care and maintenance. After undergoing dental implant therapy, regular care at home and follow-ups with the dentist are necessary to avoid this condition. Proper oral care for a dental implant at home includes routine brushing and flossing to remove food debris and plaque as well as routine in office hygiene visits. Periodic radiographs are also important to monitor the bone levels around your new implant.
How Affordable Are Dental Implant Procedures?
You may be surprised to know how cost-effective dental implants are when compared to various other options, as they are a lifelong investment that offers a permanent tooth replacement solution. A dental implant is a titanium screw-like component fixed in the jawbone to support dental crowns or bridges. The cost of dental implant treatments varies as they are customized to suit your specific need and depend on several individual factors including:
- The quality, quantity, and anatomy of the bone.
- The number of teeth requiring replacement.
- The type of prosthetic or artificial teeth to be utilized.
- The variety of implant(s) that will be suitable.
- The number of implants required to support these teeth.
Acknowledging the long-term advantages of dental implants over different tooth replacement options, a growing list of insurance companies have begun to provide some coverage. Our office will do what we can to maximize your dental insurance benefits. Implant dentists also offer payment options to allow our patients easier access to the highest standard of care.
Why Choose Boston Prosthodontics Dental Group?
Our team of prosthodontists serve as the quarterback for all aspects of tooth replacement. Whether it be for a single tooth or a complex rehabilitation, the advanced training and specific knowledge of prosthodontists allow them to be leaders in the field of implant dentistry. Our doctors incorporate advanced pre-planning techniques and computer aided technology to visualize your final restorations before the implants are even placed. This allows our doctors to place implants in the most ideal functional, esthetic and prosthetic position optimizing results, shortening treatment time and reducing the risk of complications. At Boston Prosthodontics we incorporate advanced technology into all our treatments and utilize the highest quality implants and biomaterials to ensure our patients get the results they desire. . Our in office three dimensional Cone beam imaging allows our doctors to see clear, detailed, images of your teeth and bone anatomy. This technology helps us to plan dental implant procedures with exceptional accuracy and is an essential diagnostic tool we use to determine candidacy and identify the need for preparatory procedures. In addition, Boston Prosthodontics has an in-house laboratory that provides the highest quality customized replacement teeth. Attention to detail, quality, and longevity are our priority. Our team of technicians create highly esthetic world-class restorations that give our patients something to smile about again and again.