Dental Implants – Farmington, MI
The Premier Solution for Replacing Lost Teeth
If your smile is missing one or more of its teeth, you should know about comprehensive tooth replacement with dental implants – a trusted solution that, once all is said and done, is virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. If you’re dealing with the effects of an incomplete smile, we invite you to learn more, so keep reading to find out everything you need to know about dental implants in Farmington!
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a small post that functions as an artificial tooth root. Once it has been inserted into the jaw, it can stimulate the surrounding bone to prevent it from deteriorating. It can also improve the chewing power and stability of your replacement teeth. Dental implants are held in high regard by dentists and patients alike, with many dubbing them the “gold standard” of tooth replacement options.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
What’s the first thought that comes to mind when you think about dental implants? Most patients find it difficult to imagine dental implants after initially hearing about them because they don’t understand the “implant” aspect of treatment. They ask many questions about the implant itself and what the treatment entails, making them apprehensive.
Luckily, your dentist is prepared to walk you through the process of getting dental implants in Farmington. Once you know what to expect, you’ll be far more confident about replacing your teeth and restoring your mouth’s many functions.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
During the consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to ask the dentist any questions you may have. Your dentist will also ask questions to confirm that you are eligible for dental implants in the first place. To qualify, you need to make sure you have enough supporting jawbone. If not, you may need a bone graft, which is a procedure that utilizes donated bone or bone from other parts of the body to rebuild areas where bone has been lost. Potential candidates will also need healthy gum tissue to support an implant.
If your dentist determines you are eligible for dental implants, they’ll work with you to form a treatment plan. This will go into great detail on:
- How many implants you intend on getting.
- The steps of the surgery itself.
- The possibility of using other dental devices in tandem with your implants.
Dental Implant Surgery
During the next step of the process, you’ll have the implant placed. This is done in a single appointment. Don’t worry about feeling any discomfort, as you’ll be given a local anesthetic to mitigate it. Once gum tissue is opened and the implant is placed, your dentist will close the area and attach a healing cap. This is a temporary abutment (double-sided screw for implant and crown) that can house a temporary dental prosthesis.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement
Depending on where the implant was placed, the area can take anywhere from three to six months to heal. Once you’ve recovered, you’ll come back for another appointment to have the healing cap replaced with your permanent abutment. Note that abutment placement requires its own healing period of a few weeks.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
Once the implant has sufficiently integrated with the bone and the gum tissue surrounding the post is healed, you can come in for your final appointment to have the prosthesis placed on top. When replacing just one tooth, the prosthesis will typically be an all-porcelain crown because of the material’s durability and natural appearance. If you opt for an implant denture to replace all of your teeth, you’ll go through the same process mentioned but with four separate implants strategically placed throughout the mouth.
Benefits of Dental Implants
The benefits of choosing implant dentistry to complete your smile are numerous, especially compared to other options. Some of the most common advantages include:
- The ability to enjoy a beautiful, healthy smile once again.
- Increased oral and overall health.
- Freedom from messy denture adhesives.
- Better articulation with a full set of teeth.
- The confidence to eat what you want and laugh with abandon.
If you’re still wondering whether they’re a good investment, consider this: dental implants have a 95% to 98% success rate on average. Plus, with proper care, implant-retained teeth last most patients a lifetime!
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are meant to revitalize the smile by replacing teeth that have been lost, and they can be used in all sorts of situations. Below are some examples of cases where dental implants may prove beneficial.
Missing One Tooth
A single dental implant is all that is needed to fill in the gap left by one missing tooth. After the implant post has finished joining with the jawbone, you will be able to receive a crown that has been personalized to match the rest of your grin. Implant crowns allow you to replace a tooth without needing to make alterations to the teeth you still have; as such, you may find an implant crown to be an attractive alternative to a traditional dental bridge.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Implant bridges are made of 100% dental porcelain and are designed to completely resemble real teeth in every way. They can be used to replace three or more missing teeth that were all right next to each other. Once in place, implant bridges blend seamlessly into the smile, and they just require standard brushing and flossing to look like new for decades to come.
Missing All of Your Teeth
Attaching full dentures to dental implants allows you to replace all of your teeth at once. Implant dentures are sometimes removable, but they can also be designed to stay anchored in place at all times, which means you won’t have to worry about taking them out of your mouth to clean them; you can simply continue brushing them as if they were your natural teeth.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of a dental implant procedure can vary from patient to patient depending on how many teeth they would like to be replaced, what type of restoration they want, and if they have any insurance coverage. Despite being more expensive than traditional bridges and dentures upfront, implants are actually the most cost-effective option thanks to their longevity. Traditional tooth replacements often need to be completely redone every seven to ten years, while dental implants can easily last for 30 years or more with the proper maintenance.
Dental Implant FAQs
What are dental implants made of?
Most dental implants are made of titanium. Since this material is highly unlikely to cause problems for patients with metal sensitivities or allergies, it is great for fusing to the bone and surrounding tissue, which is necessary for successful implantation. The implant itself mimics the natural tooth root and is surgically placed into the bone. The abutment is a small connector piece that attaches to the implant and secures the restoration in place. The final piece of a dental implant is the custom dental crown, bridge, or denture that is placed on top. Note that the final prosthesis can be made from a wide range of materials but will be designed so that it can blend in to match the rest of your smile.
How long do dental implants last?
The average lifespan for a dental implant is decades or even a lifetime. Because of their permanence and surgical placement, they do not require relining or readjusting over the years. In fact, with proper care and maintenance, they don’t even need replacing. As the superior tooth replacement solution used by dentists, dental implants can be a great investment in your smile.
Can I eat my favorite foods with dental implants?
Yes! You can most certainly eat all your favorite foods while wearing dental implants. These tooth replacements are designed to act just like a natural tooth. Although the initial stages after implant placement may have you eating softer foods to get used to your new fixture, it won’t take long before you are eating and enjoying regular foods again.
It is suggested that you avoid or limit your consumption of sugary, acidic, and starchy foods as well as anything hard or crunchy. The reason is that these items can lead to harmful bacteria growing and spreading on and around your teeth and gums, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Although your implants cannot decay, the teeth surrounding them can, and should they become diseased, they could negatively affect your dental implants.
Can I get dental implants if I smoke?
While some dentists will place implants even if a patient smokes, it is highly inadvisable. This is because smoking weakens the immune system and makes it much harder to heal. When dental implants are placed, the mouth must undergo osseointegration, a process that involves the implant fusing to the bone and surrounding tissue; however, smoking can make this process almost impossible. Without proper healing and recovery, your implant will not be firmly in place.
Do dental implants ever fail?
Unfortunately, there are instances in which a dental implant can fail. While the success rate for implants is high (around 95%), if an implant is improperly placed, it can be exposed to uneven bite pressure, which can lead to it loosening or falling out.
It’s also possible for your dental implants to fail if you have a weakened or compromised immune system or if you smoke. The reason is that you will have a harder time healing or fighting off an infection.