Dental Implants: Are They The Best Solution for Your Missing Teeth?

Dental Implants in St. Pete Beach, FL

Smiling gives others a good first impression of you. However, nobody should have to worry about not enjoying their smile to the fullest. We have options to make anyone happy with their smile, whether being photographed or socializing with friends. While brushing two times a day and flossing can go a long way, sometimes there really is no way to prevent tooth loss due to several factors. While having missing teeth may be embarrassing, there are more serious problems that could arise if it is left untreated. Lucky for you, if you have experienced losing a tooth, or even a few of them, we can replace them with dental implants to restore that beautiful smile.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a synthetic tooth root, which is surgically placed in the jawbone. The root is usually made of titanium which is well suited to pairing with the human bone. The implant serves as a strong foundation to a permanent or removable replacement tooth that would then be fixed to the post. These replacement teeth are made to match and look like your natural teeth.

Advantages of Dental Implants

The foremost advantage of dental implants is that they are versatile. If you are missing one tooth, then one dental implant and one replacement tooth will suffice. On the other hand, if you are missing a lot of teeth in one row, a few strategically located dental implants could support a set of replacement teeth. In line with this, if all your teeth are lost, a number of strategically placed dental implants can support the fixing of a full denture.

As compared to other conventional bridges and dentures, dental implants not only feel more natural but are more stable, making it a lot easier to eat properly or smile with confidence. Unlike bridges and dentures, which rely on their neighboring teeth for support, dental implants will not compromise your healthy natural teeth. Further, dental implants are expected to last a lifetime as compared to bridges, which are expected only to last seven to ten years.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

To start things off, you’ll meet our dentists for a brief consultation. This visit lets us confirm your smile goals, oral health history, and other relevant procedure factors. We’ll then use those details to see whether dental implants suit you and adjust your final treatment plan.

If you don’t initially qualify for treatment, please don’t worry. You can become a good implant candidate later through extra dental work – gum disease therapy, tooth extraction, etc. Such services would strengthen your mouth enough to support dental implant posts.

Dental Implant Surgery

Should we approve, you’ll undergo dental implant surgery after your consultation. Our team performs this step in-house, so you’ll benefit from our dentists’ advanced skills and expertise. To that extent, you can trust that you’ll have fantastic treatment results.

The actual implant surgery will feature the following:

Anesthesia – We’ll first numb your treatment site with anesthesia. That way, you won’t feel any pain during care; the most you’ll sense is slight pressure.
A Minor Incision – Once the anesthesia takes effect, we’ll make an incision in your gums. Doing so creates space in your mouth for the implant post.
Implant Placement – Our team will rely on advanced tools and methods to place your implant post.
Gum Closure – After placing your implant, we’ll carefully close your gum incision. We’ll then set a cap over your new post to wrap things up.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

Our team will deliver your implant’s final restoration at your treatment’s end. For this work, we’ll set a dental prosthetic that “matches up” with how many teeth you’ve lost. It could be a dental crown, dental bridge, or implant denture, depending on your case.

The fitting of this restoration shouldn’t take a long time. Once we’ve applied dental cement to your abutment, we’ll just make last-minute changes to ensure the post fits well. You’ll then be ready to head out and enjoy your newly-restored smile!

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Soon after placement, your dental implant(s) will start to fuse with your jaw. This process – known as osseointegration – takes roughly 4-6 months and keeps your posts rooted. In other words, it ensures that your new “tooth” becomes a permanent part of your mouth.

You’ll attend a follow-up surgery once implant fusion ends. At that time, we’ll place an abutment (i.e., a metal connector) on your implant post. We’ll have a lab craft your final restoration while you recover from this abutment work.

Day-to-Day Benefits

With the implants firmly anchored to your jawbone, you can have a nutritious diet of fibrous fruits and vegetables without worrying about your restoration slipping out of place. This design also gives dental implants more strength than other options, allowing you to eat all your favorite foods, even if they’re crunchy or tough!

Dental implants’ superior stability has one more advantage: you’ll be able to talk more smoothly and enunciate clearly – without needing to rely on adhesives or frequent adjustments.

Health Benefits

Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option for your oral health. This is thanks to the implant post, which will support your jawbone much like a natural dental root. The biocompatible materials encourage the bone to grow around your implant, preventing bone loss and the complicated bite and jaw issues that often result from it.

Although dentures and bridges aren’t exactly complicated to take care of, dental implants fit into your dental socket just like a natural tooth. This means oral hygiene will also be simple, making it easier for you to get a thorough clean and prevent problems like cavities and gum disease.

Long-Term Benefits

Since dental implants help preserve the shape of your jawbone, they’re also great for maintaining your youthful appearance. Tooth loss can cause the skin around your oral cavity to appear sunken over time, but dental implants will keep your facial structure nice and supported.

The best part about these benefits is that you can expect to enjoy them for many years to come! Dental implants can last for an impressive 30 years or more with proper care, providing you with superior oral function for an entire lifetime. You’ll appreciate the convenience and longevity of this restoration, and your wallet will appreciate the cost-effectiveness!

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Practically any adult who is in generally good health can receive dental implants, but you’ll need to meet with us for a consultation first just to be sure. Certain health conditions can make dental implants more likely to fail, which is why we’ll need to examine your mouth and review your medical history. In most cases, you’ll need to have three key qualities to be considered a dental implant candidate:

Good general health – You should be in good enough overall health that you’re able to undergo a minor surgical procedure.
Great oral health – Gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health issues could compromise the success of your new teeth, so they must be addressed beforehand.
A strong jawbone – Without enough jawbone density, the implant posts won’t have a sturdy foundation to merge with. If you’ve suffered from jawbone loss, we can recommend a bone graft, which adds bone material to the area to strengthen it.

Once your dental implant dentist in Granby has deemed you fit to move forward with the treatment, you can collaborate on a tooth replacement plan based on the number of pearly whites you’re missing.

Missing One Tooth

Missing Multiple Teeth

Missing All Teeth

Types of Dental Implants

When preparing to undergo dental implant placement, the type of restoration you need will determine how many implants you will receive.

Single Tooth– A dental crown will be created and placed on top of a single dental implant that will be surgically placed into your jawbone to replicate the original tooth structure.
Multiple Teeth– We will place what is known as a fixed bridge on top of two dental implants, which will be inserted into the outer sockets to create a stable foundation for your restoration.
All Teeth– The most expensive dental implant is an implant denture. This custom creation looks just like a traditional denture, but instead of sitting on your gums and using your natural suction to remain in place, it will be secured onto an average of four to six implants.

What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?

Each phase of treatment will incur its own costs. The first step is to schedule an initial consultation with us to determine if you are a qualified candidate. During this appointment, we will take digital images of your oral and facial structure and determine if your jawbone is dense enough to support your implants and restoration. If so, you will be given the green light to move forward with the procedure. If not, you will likely need to undergo a bone graft or sinus lift to strengthen the weakened areas of your bone.

The actual surgery will occur in-house by our team of professionals and will require anesthesia and/or sedation to ensure you are comfortable throughout the process. We will make small incisions in your gums before placing each implant into its designated area. You will then return home to heal for three to six months to allow the osseointegration process to occur.

Once you are fully healed, you will return to receive your metal abutment, which is the attachment that connects the implant to your restoration. Finally, your custom-made prosthetic will be secured into place, allowing you to see a full, complete smile that is beautifully blended and healthy.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

If you were to review the testimonials of previous patients, you would quickly understand why dental implants are worth the investment. Yes, they do require substantial upfront costs; however, when you consider the various benefits (i.e., functionality, permanence, longevity, easy to maintain, and improved oral health), it is hard to consider any other option.

Ultimately, the decision is yours, but if you want a restoration that is designed to last decades or longer and will give you better oral health and a beautiful, fully restored smile, you can’t go wrong with dental implants.

Will Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Depending on your plan, your insurance may or may not cover the cost of treatment. While it is possible that they will agree to pay for certain aspects of treatment (i.e. consultation, anesthesia, custom restoration), they may not cover the cost of the actual surgery. This is why it’s necessary to speak with a representative from your insurance company before agreeing to move forward with treatment. Our team will be happy to work on your behalf if you prefer, getting the answers you need to make the right decision about your dental health.

We will also be happy to go over financing options to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses and help you stay within your budget.

Why Get Dental Implants?

Improved Appearance

Dental implants not only replace your missing teeth, they also preserve your bone structure and prevent further deterioration of your facial structure, thereby improving your appearance. When you lose natural teeth, your body can sense that your jawbone is no longer needed to support teeth and it begins to dissolve away resulting in the rapid deterioration of your face structure. With dental implants, the possibility of facial structure collapse, as well as wrinkles resulting from this, is avoided if not eliminated, giving you that perfect smile with completely natural-looking teeth.

Improved Speech and Easier Eating

Unlike bridges, dental implants are incredibly stable, and as such, your replacement teeth will not slip within your mouth every time you speak, making your words clearer and more understandable.

At Century Dental, Abdullah M. Allawnha, DDS & John H. Penny, Jr., DDS offer dental implant services that could help you get back that radiant smile and those beautiful white teeth that you have been yearning for.

Our dentists have a wide range of experience given their many years in the practice.

As such, you can be sure that your teeth are in good hands. Schedule a consultation with us today and learn more about dental implants!

Don’t Settle—Choose the Care You Deserve.

Schedule your first appointment today.