Dental Implants for a Fully-Restored Smile
Missing teeth are a common but frustrating problem for many people. Many factors can lead to missing teeth, such as your health habits, a dental injury, or genetics. Still, while missing teeth might be a common concern, they are a very frustrating one.
When you’re missing one or more teeth, or if you have damaged teeth, it makes it harder to live your daily life and can make you feel self-conscious about your appearance. The longer you go without dental treatment, missing and damaged teeth can even cause severe dental issues such as shifting teeth and bone loss.
One of the best options to replace missing or broken teeth is dental implants. These dental restorations usually last a lifetime, and they look and function like your natural smile. At Smart Dental Care, we provide dental implants as a restorative dentistry treatment to improve your smile and your life.
Discover more about dental implants and their benefits by contacting our office to request an appointment.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a replacement tooth option. They consist of small metal posts that act like a tooth root. Generally, dental implants are made of titanium, although some are made of ceramic. All dental implants are made of safe materials and that work compatibly with the tissues in your mouth.
Dental implants consist of three parts: the fixture (post), the abutment, and the replacement tooth. Here’s what you need to know about each of these components:
- Implant post: The fixture or post is a metal rod in the shape of a screw. This post is surgically inserted into the jaw bone. The post acts like a replacement tooth root, providing a strong foundation for your new tooth.
- Implant abutment: The abutment is a small piece that attaches to the implant post. The abutment is what connects the post to the replacement tooth. Implant abutments are usually made of titanium or zirconia.
- Replacement tooth: Last but not least is the replacement tooth. This is the part of the implant that’s visible. A dental crown is the most common replacement tooth option, although dental bridges or dentures are used if you’re receiving multiple dental implants.
The three parts of the dental implant work together to restore missing teeth. Because the dental implant provides both a replacement tooth root and an artificial tooth, this treatment is extremely durable and long-lasting.
Missing Teeth: The Downsides
Biting, chewing, smiling—our teeth are responsible for helping us feel like ourselves every day. Functional and supportive teeth have a dramatic impact on all of your daily activities. A missing tooth can cause ripple effects that cascade into other areas of our well-being. Not only is it embarrassing, but tooth loss can affect your…
- Diet
- Social Life
- Oral Health
Your family is our family, and we want to help however we can. Dental implants are replacement teeth that can transform your life and all aspects of your oral health. Schedule your appointment today or give us a call to change your life for the better!
How Missing Teeth Decrease Quality of Life
If you’re missing any teeth, you hardly need us to remind you of the inconveniences you experience. Missing any of our teeth can lead to a noticeable difference in the activities that we once performed with ease. If left untreated, the problem can become more aggravated over time and cause other issues:
- Shifting teeth
- Gum disease
- Frequent headaches
- Sunken facial features
- Lisping or hard-to-understand speech
- Malnutrition due to the inability to chew certain foods
- Tooth wear as you overcompensate with your remaining teeth
- Deteriorating jawbone from lack of stimulation from the tooth roots
It’s difficult to live with missing teeth, as they can impact your appearance and the function of your smile. Drs. Nguyen and Ashton at Smart Dental Care are here to help when you have missing teeth.
We will see if dental implants are right for you or if you can benefit from a different replacement tooth solution.
Dental Implants Improve Your Smile
Dental implants are replacement teeth that look and feel natural. They have grown in popularity because they provide reliable results and look amazing. Dental implants solve many of the issues associated with missing teeth.
- Protect your facial structure: Healthy teeth will help maintain the shape of your face.
- Prevent the loss of your jawbone: A dental implant will stimulate your jawbone.
- Stop your teeth from shifting: Your teeth won’t shift or get out of alignment.
- Speak naturally: You’ll be able to speak clearer, creating lasting relationships.
- Improve your diet: When you have all your teeth, it’s much easier to healthy food.
Wondering if dental implants are right for you? The Smart Dental Care team can assist you with a consultation.
Dental Implants or Traditional Dental Bridges?
If you have missing or damaged teeth, dental implants aren't the only restorative dentistry option to improve your smile. Traditional dental bridges are another. (Not to be confused with implant-supported bridges which are a specific type of dental bridge.) With a traditional dental bridge, a replacement tooth is attached to the adjoining teeth to “bridge a gap” in your smile.
When deciding between dental implants and a dental bridge, you should consider a few things, including:
- Longevity: One of the main differences between dental bridges and dental implants is how long they last. Bridges usually last around 5–15 years, while dental implants usually last a lifetime. If you get a dental bridge, you may need to replace it during your life.
- Cost: Another crucial factor when receiving dental care is cost; most people have a budget they must stick to. Dental implants do cost more upfront than dental bridges, but they may be less expensive overall as they last so long.
- Comfort: Dental bridges and dental implants can both be comfortable. However, dental implants mimic the design of a natural tooth with a replacement root and tooth. So, many patients find them more comfortable and less noticeable.
At Smart Dental Care, Drs. Nguyen and Ashton will talk with you about treatment options for missing and damaged teeth. We want you to find the best choice in your budget, so we will also help you figure out insurance and payment options.
Schedule an Appointment with Skilled Implant Dentists Today
We have a friendly staff that provides gentle and instructive care. To help you feel like a part of our family, we provide great follow-up care and we are happy to answer any questions that you have during your treatment. Schedule an appointment for dental implants today!
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The Benefits of Dental Implants
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Provides the Ultimate Solution to Missing Teeth
Dental implants are small rods that can be attached to your jawbone and used as a support for replacement teeth. If you’re looking for a stable, high-quality solution to missing teeth, dental implants are the best option.
What Makes Dental Implants So Great?
Many patients love dental implants because they look so natural and function just like your natural teeth.
- Long-lasting | Out of all tooth-replacement options, dental implants last the longest.
- Healthy | Dental implants keep your jaw, gums, and teeth healthy.
- Stable | Other tooth-replacement options tend to slip or fall out—not dental implants!
For these reasons and more, dental implants could be the right solution for your missing and broken teeth. Let’s explore the benefits of dental implants in more depth below:
Promotes Gum, Jaw, and Tooth Health
Dental implants do more than just fix an aesthetic issue. By replacing your missing teeth, they can eliminate many problems created by missing teeth:
- Shifting teeth
- Deteriorating jawbone
- Developing gum infections
- Experiencing nutrition issues
- Losing self-confidence
Filling in for your missing teeth, dental implants keep teeth from shifting, stimulate bone growth, protect the gums from bacteria, and restore your ability to eat.
Strengthens Your Jawbone
Your jawbone needs constant stimulation from your teeth to tell it to grow and stay strong. When your teeth fall out, this stimulation stops, and the jawbone starts to deteriorate. When this happens, your face might start to look shriveled.
Dental implants can restore jawbone stimulation because they embed directly into the jaw. They prevent deterioration and the sunken-in look that comes with missing teeth.
Works Great with Many Dental Appliances
The dental implant itself replaces only the root of the tooth, but this is part of an implant’s versatility. A single implant can replace multiple teeth! Here are some options:
- 1 dental implant can be topped with a single crown.
- 1 dental implant can support a dental bridge, replacing multiple teeth.
- 4–6 implants can carry an entire set of dentures.
Implants are a solution no matter how many teeth you’re missing.
Restores Multiple Missing Teeth
Got more dental trouble than a single missing tooth? Dental implants can replace an entire arch of missing, cracked, or decaying teeth.
In a process using 4–6 dental implants, we can attach a full denture arch into place. Because of the implants, your dentures won’t shift or pop out of place. They will be held firmly against your gum line, and you’ll get the added benefit of bone stimulation from your implants.
Matches All Kinds Of Patients
Dental implants can help patients who are missing just a single tooth or many teeth. They can be paired with different appliances such as crowns, bridges, and dentures to restore your smile.
Even those who may not have the general requirements for dental implants covered shouldn’t lose hope. Bone grafts and gum disease treatment are a possibility if either of these issues is preventing you from getting implant treatment.
Offers the Most Reliable Tooth Restoration
Dental implants are unique in that they attach directly to the jawbone. Other tooth replacements are held in place with adhesive or dental cement. These options are imperfect solutions because as you’re speaking and chewing, dental appliances might shift or move.
Because of their firm foundation in your jaw, dental implants can stay in place for 20+ years, without ever slipping during meals or conversation.
Why You Need a Skilled Implant Dentist
Not just any dentist can perform dental implant surgery. And not every implant surgeon is created equal. If you’re considering dental implants, it might be beneficial to you to shop around and discover what your options are.
If you need extra care, like a bone graft, you’ll want to find out if the dentist you’re interested in offers those services in-house or if they’ll need to outsource. Choose a dentist you trust.
At Smart Dental Care, Drs. Ashton and Nguyen provide dental implants in a welcoming, family-friendly office. We care about the quality of our work and the comfort of our patients. We work with every individual to ensure great results.
How Does The Dental Implant Process Work?
Dental Implant Options at Smart Dental Care
At Smart Dental Care, our patients’ needs come first. Conveniently, dental implant treatment can be adapted to fit a variety of needs and desires. Even if standard implants won’t work for you, we may have other options that will.
A few of these variations are listed below. If you’re interested, be sure to ask us about these at your implant consultation.
Mini Dental Implants
Patients whose jaws cannot hold standard implants can still opt for mini implants. Mini implants are much thinner and require less bone strength than conventional implants. And they can still improve jaw strength, just like normal implants.
Fixed Implant Options
This is the most common type of implant. These standard implants have restorations that stay in place. The crown, bridge, or denture can be removed only by a dentist when the attachment needs to be replaced (about every 10–15 years).
Removable Restorations
Alternatively, you can opt to get your new teeth in a removable style. This option may be more comfortable for you, easier to clean, or in agreement with your sense of humor. Dentures are the most common removable tooth option.
All-on-4® Treatment Concept for Dental Implants
If you have issues with multiple teeth, implant dentures are often the best option. They are more secure and natural than traditional dentures. And, with implant dentures, you can get an entire arch of new teeth with just a few dental implants.
This process is known as the All-on-4® treatment concept. You’ll receive four dental implants, either in your lower or upper jaw. These four implants have abutments that attach to the denture. These dentures can be permanent or removable.
With the All-on-4® treatment concept, you can restore the function and appearance of your smile with relatively minimal procedures. With implant dentures, you can speak, chew, smile, and talk with ease!
Dental Implant FAQs
Dental implants aren’t for everyone. Before getting dental implants, there are many questions to consider. Below are listed some questions that you might have about dental implants. Please let us know if there’s something not covered here that we can answer for you.
Dental implants are an investment in your oral health. Because missing teeth can be detrimental to a person’s quality of life, we want to make dental implants accessible for our patients.
Dental implants are one of the most sturdy and long-lasting tooth replacement options. When you buy a dental implant, it could be the last replacement tooth you’ll ever need. That kind of durability is worth the cost.
At Smart Dental Care, we know cost is a factor for most people. We are happy to discuss payment and financing options.
At our office, you can expect premium care in a comfortable, relaxed, and family-friendly environment. We use anesthetics during the entire implant procedure to make sure that you will feel as little pain as possible.
During the healing process, there will be some discomfort. You can manage this pain with ice packs, soft foods, and Tylenol. Our dentist may also prescribe pain medicine to make recovery less painful.
Dental implants do take longer to heal than some other dental procedures, but the wait is worth it. The implant post needs to fully heal and integrate with your body, and this process takes time.
For most people, the initial healing takes about 2 weeks. The entire integration process takes around 6 months, although it can take up to 8 for more complicated cases.
However, once healed, the implant will likely last the rest of your life, or at least around 20–30 years. This means you won’t need multiple procedures in the future.
Before you receive your implants, we will make sure that you meet the following criteria:
Tobacco-Free | Smoking is harmful to your gums and teeth and can make it difficult for the implant to bond with your mouth.- Consistent Oral Health Habits | Daily brushing and flossing can improve your likelihood of a promising outcome.
- Healthy Gums and Jaw | We will take a look at your gums and jaw to make sure that they are healthy.
We will take into account your oral health history and lifestyle to ensure dental implants are right for you.
One of the best ways to prepare for dental implants is by following a good oral health routine. You should also stock up on soft foods for the week after the procedure.
You might want to consider taking it easy for the next couple of days after your implant surgery, including taking several days off of work if necessary. Get a proper night’s sleep before the procedure and eat a healthy meal before your appointment.
Make sure to take the following steps to speed up healing and keep your implant healthy:
- Eat softer foods for the week following surgery | Eat your favorite soup, yogurt, or smoothie.
- Take medication as prescribed | If prescribed medication, make sure to follow the instructions given.
- Make a habit out of dental hygiene | Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once can keep your dental implants healthy.
If we tried to implement implants in someone with oral conditions, the dental implants likely wouldn’t succeed. Dental implants can thrive in mouths without the following conditions:
- Severe bone loss | Dental implants require a certain amount of bone marrow.
- Gum disease | Untreated gum disease can cause your gums to reject the implant.
- Cardiovascular diseases | Certain heart conditions can prevent the body from healing.
However, we always do our due diligence to ensure you’re a good candidate for dental implants. We want the treatment to have a high chance of success, so if you’re at risk of dental implants failing, we will suggest alternatives for your missing or broken teeth.
Act Now for a Fuller, Happier Smile!
It can be painful and discouraging to not have the smile that you want. If you’re struggling with a lack of confidence, proper nutrition, or difficulty speaking clearly due to missing teeth, try dental implants; they can change your life. Make an appointment today!
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