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Complete Guide to Dental Implants: Everything You Need to Know

Author Choice Family DentistryPosted on Categories Cosmetic DentistryTags , , ,

Tag: dental implants

Complete Guide to Dental Implants: Everything You Need to Know

Why Dental Implants Are The Best Solution For Missing Teeth?

Are you tired of hiding your smile because of missing teeth? Do you long for a solution that will not only restore your confidence but also improve your overall oral health? Look no further, because dental implants are here to save the day! Whether you’re missing one tooth or several, dental implants offer a permanent and natural-looking solution. In this blog post, we’ll dive into what dental implants are, how they work, the different types available, and why they are undeniably the best option for replacing missing teeth. So buckle up and get ready to discover the wonders of dental implants – it’s time to regain your smile!

Dental Implants: What They Are And How They Work

Dental implants are titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone to serve as artificial tooth roots. These posts act as a sturdy foundation for replacement teeth, whether it’s a single crown or a full set of dentures.

The process begins with a thorough examination and evaluation by your dentist to determine if you’re a suitable candidate for dental implants. Once approved, the implant placement procedure is usually done in two stages.

During the first stage, the implant is inserted into the jawbone and left to fuse with the surrounding bone tissue over several months through a process called osseointegration. This creates a strong bond between the implant and your natural bone structure.

Once osseointegration is complete, which may vary from patient to patient, you’ll move on to the second stage. Here, an abutment – a connector piece – is attached to the implant post. The abutment serves as an anchor for attaching your custom-made artificial tooth or teeth securely.

One of the remarkable aspects of dental implants is their ability to mimic natural teeth both in appearance and functionality. The replacement teeth are designed to blend seamlessly with your existing smile and provide enhanced chewing capability compared to other tooth replacement options.

Types of Dental Implants

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants are the gold standard. They offer a permanent solution that looks and feels just like natural teeth. But did you know that there are different types of dental implants? Let’s explore these options.

1. Endosteal Implants: These are the most common type of dental implant used today. They are surgically placed directly into the jawbone and act as artificial tooth roots. Once they have fused with the bone, an abutment is attached for anchoring the prosthetic tooth or crown.

2. Subperiosteal Implants: Unlike endosteal implants, subperiosteal implants sit on top of the jawbone but beneath the gum tissue. This type of implant is ideal for patients who have insufficient bone height or density to support traditional implants.

3. All-on-4 Implants: This innovative technique involves using only four strategically placed dental implants to support a full arch denture or bridge. It offers a cost-effective and time-saving solution for individuals who require extensive tooth replacement.

4. Zygomatic Implants: These specialized implants are used in cases where there is severe bone loss in the upper jaw region, making traditional implant placement difficult or impossible.

Each type of dental implant has its own unique advantages and considerations, so it’s important to consult with your dentist to determine which option is best suited for your specific needs.

Benefits Of Dental Implants

Improved Appearance:
One of the major benefits of dental implants is that they provide a natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Unlike other tooth replacement options, such as dentures or bridges, it is also designed to look and feel like your own teeth. This can greatly enhance your smile and boost your self-confidence.

Enhanced Speech:
Missing teeth can affect your speech by causing slurring or mumbling. Dental implants ensure that you speak clearly and confidently, without any worry about slipping or moving teeth. You will be able to communicate effectively without any hesitation or embarrassment.

Increased Comfort:
It is securely anchored in the jawbone, providing a stable foundation for artificial teeth. This eliminates the discomfort associated with removable dentures that may cause sore spots or pain while eating or speaking. With dental implants, you can enjoy a comfortable fit and eat all your favorite foods without any limitations.

Improved Oral Health:
Unlike traditional bridges which require adjacent healthy teeth to be filed down for support, dental implants do not compromise the health of neighboring natural teeth. Additionally, since implant-supported crowns act as individual units rather than relying on nearby natural teeth for support like bridges do, it allows easier access between each tooth for better oral hygiene maintenance.

Long-Lasting Solution:
With proper care and regular dental check-ups, dental implants have an impressive success rate and can last a lifetime. They are made from durable materials that are built to withstand the normal wear and tear of daily use. This makes them a cost-effective solution over time compared to other alternatives requiring frequent replacements.

Well-being:
Apart from the physical advantages mentioned above, it also contributes to overall well-being by improving chewing ability and digestion by restoring the full functionality of missing teeth.

Dental Implant Procedure

The dental implant procedure is a multi-step process that involves careful planning, surgical placement of the implant, and the final restoration. It all starts with a comprehensive examination by your dentist to determine if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants.

Once it is determined that you are eligible for the procedure, the next step is to create a personalized treatment plan. This includes taking impressions of your teeth and jawbone to ensure proper implant placement.

During the surgical phase of the procedure, your dentist will make an incision in your gum tissue and place the titanium implant into your jawbone. Over time, this implant will fuse with the bone through a process called osseointegration.

It is undoubtedly the best solution for missing teeth. They offer a long-lasting and natural-looking result that not only restores your smile but also improves your overall oral health and functionality.

Why Choose Dental Implants Over Bridges!

“Should I get a bridge or implant?” Well, that’s a frequently asked query speaking of teeth replacements. Extracted or missing teeth can have a major impact on the appearance of your smile while developing functionality problems. It’s also crucial to gain an understanding on both the procedures before deciding if it’s apt for your particular requirements.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

A Dental Bridge is a tailor-made replacement tooth, popularly termed as a pontic that is being planted between either of the two teeth. The bridge is adjoined to the natural teeth on both sides of the gap that is left by the missing teeth. Bridges are naturally built from porcelain, gold, alloys or a mix of these materials. 

What are Implants?

You can consider  Dental Implants as artificial tooth roots. They are cylinders formed of Titanium which appear like the shape of screws that are surgically positioned into your jawbone where there are missing teeth below the gums. Once they are implanted, they get attached with your natural bone. The Implants turn to be a firm base and render support to one or more artificial teeth, called ‘crowns’. 

Why Implants are better than Bridges?

Strength:

A bridge is incomparable to implants when speaking of strength. While fixed bridges are secured to neighboring teeth, implants are affixed directly to the bone located beneath the gums. The implant will act like a natural tooth for the rest of the life. That means there are absolutely no restrictions on eating anything. Bridges often become loose or falls off completely. Sometimes dentists re-cement the bridge or replace it.

Appearance: 

A dental bridge is more visible whereas Implants look and function more naturally and keep your smile confident.

Long-Lasting:

Bridges don’t last forever. On average, it doesn’t stay longer than a decade. If you’re searching for a long-term solution, then Implants are here to stay. The materials implants are built are meant to last a long, long time. And they require little maintenance.

No Decay and Protect the Jawbone:

Patients need not undergo an invasive process while getting Dental bridges.  But did you think what happens to teeth when you can’t brush them? The crowns that are placed over the healthy teeth ultimately encourage decay. 

With Dental implants you don’t need extra support from natural teeth. Sometimes, patients have to get a bone graft to ensure the jaw bone is strong enough to hold the implant. And there is never a risk of any decay of the surrounding teeth and preserving natural bone growth. 

Save Money:

A dental bridge is less-costly than a dental implant but, in the long run, it will obviously be more expensive and more time-consuming. If you consider getting a bridge, you’ll be spending more of your time and money on your dental hygiene in the future years.

It is quite clear now why dental implants have become the new standard of care for patients seeking solutions for missing teeth. However, let your trusted dentist recommend the best option for you.

Now, if you’re in the search of ‘Dentist near me’ in Rancho Cucamonga, and want to get your Implants, then surely visit our office at Choice Family Dentistry!

What Is The Average Cost Of Dental Implants?

Our teeth are the protective barrier that helps in preventing bone loss from the jaws. In the case of missing teeth, the jaw starts deteriorating slowly with time, which leads to pain and discomfort. Besides, bone loss from the jaws also makes an individual more susceptible to tooth decay, gum diseases, oral infections, etc. Tooth loss or missing teeth can even lead to difficulty in chewing, which causes poor digestion. Thus, dental implants are the perfect solution to the problems because of missing teeth.

Dental implants offer a strong foundation for mending the defects in your natural teeth, and, therefore, implants are also called replacement teeth. Dentists suggest getting dental implants to people to restore natural teeth and prevent pain and irritation while chewing food.

 How to determine the average cost of dental implants?

The base cost of a dental implant only includes the implant procedure cost. The main variables that influence the base cost are as follows:

    • Dentist’s Experience: The more experienced a dental practitioner is, the higher fees his or her fees would be. But, consulting a qualified dentist will minimize the procedure risk.
    • Materials Used: Implants can be made from different materials, mostly either zirconium or titanium. Both materials have different prices, which will have an impact on the price.
    • Preparation Processes: Bone grafting or tooth extractions are might be needed before the dentist can fix the implant. Thus, it all depends on the overall health of your jawbone and teeth. The more procedures that you need, the higher will be your total the implant cost.
    • Number of Implants: Your total increases if the number of dental implants that you need is more.
    • Geographical Location: The implants cost varies based on the dental clinic’s location. Implants are cheaper in some other countries; but even within the U.S., the cost differs from region to region because of higher rent and other expenses of commercial properties in certain areas.

  How much do dental implants cost on average?

Because dental implants are customized based on your specific number of missing teeth, they come under the umbrella of being an expensive dental product. This, in turn, is a key factor that determines the dental implants cost. The cost for a single dental implant in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, range from $3,000 to $4,500 or more. You might incur some additional costs for CT scans, surgical guides, bone grafts, tooth extractions, X-rays, barrier membranes, etc.

At Choice Family Dentistry, we offer several financing options to our patients for their convenience and making our dental services more affordable for everyone. For a detailed consultation with an implants’ dentist or to know more about the cost of dental implants in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, please get in touch with us!

The Missing Tooth Scenario

It’s the weekend, and you and your friends decide to go out and have a couple drinks. Then, like always, a couple drinks turn to a couple more and maybe you are having a blast and that is fine. But then the next morning you wake up and you feel that your mouth is sore. You feel a weird gap in your mouth, a gap where your tooth should be! So you pull the covers off of you and panic, you rush while stumbling to the bathroom, all the while you are still touching the gap in your mouth with your tongue. Then you reach the bathroom mirror and immediately smile and open your mouth and realize…. A MISSING TOOTH!!
Missing-Teeth-Problem

You panic and try and remember how this happened… even if you remember or don’t remember, it’s not like you can super glue your tooth back to the exact spot. So now you immediately remember your dentist and give them a call, text them, email them, you try every means of communication to reach your dentist….. because this is literally an emergency!

You get a hold of your dentist and they understand completely your situation and recommend you come in immediately. You rush to the dental practice and the dentist and his team take x-rays and see what can be done. Your wonderful dentist comes into the room after x-rays and seeing all possible ways to save your smile and they recommend: DENTAL IMPLANTS.

You think to yourself… “I’ve heard of dental implants… but is there any other option?” Then your dentist says “there are other options like a partial denture or a bridge, but a dental implant would be best.” Now you are thinking not just about your missing tooth but the price to replace this missing tooth.

OPTIONS
Options-For-Treating-Missing-Teeth
Which option is truly best for your missing tooth? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons for these three options.

Pros
Partial Dentures:

  • Replacing your missing tooth
  • Cost is lower than other options
  • Removable (could also be a negative)

Bridges:

  • Replacing missing tooth
  • Non-Removable
  • Covers gaps and spaces in teeth
  • Straightens crooked teeth

Dental Implants:

  • Replacing missing tooth
  • Preserves Natural Teeth
  • Provides a much more natural & superior appearance
  • Can NOT get a cavity on an implant!
  • Protects long term oral health.
  • Permanent Fixture
  • Able to chew on an apple (or any hard foods) again!

Let’s take a look at the cons of these three options:

Cons
Partial Dentures:

  • Very Uncomfortable
  • Visible (other people can see them)
  • They hang on to your other teeth
  • Sore Teeth and Gums
  • Bulky Acrylic on Your Palate and Gums
  • Re-alignments and adjustments are needed every 4-6months

Bridges:

  • You have to cut natural tooth structure of the adjacent teeth (the teeth next to the missing tooth) in order for it to fit.
  • An average lifespan is between 7 to 10 years.
  • Relies on other teeth for support of the bridge

Dental Implants:

  • It takes time for the implant to fuse with the jawbone, so it is not a fast fix but it is a permanent one.

CONCLUSION

So, what is the best option for your missing tooth? You can decide for yourself, but as for me, I love to eat apples and want a permanent fix. I do NOT want to have to keep going back to the dentist every year (on top of my yearly cleanings) to fix my partial denture, or bridge. I do NOT want to have to shave my other natural teeth in order to fix one missing tooth. If I do that then that means I would have to permanently adjust my whole natural smile to have a bridge fit, and once you shave your natural teeth you can NOT un-shave it!

I will go with DENTAL IMPLANTS for sure! It’s permanent. It preserves my other natural teeth. I do NOT have to worry about cavities on that tooth. And I can eat whatever I want!

Dental-Implants

Now you be the judge, put your-self in this scenario and which option would you choose, or maybe you are looking to replace a missing tooth and this scenario happened to you literally over the weekend, what option will you choose?

First Stage of Dental Implant with our patient Michael P.

Dental Implants are one of the most secure and strongest (and of course most realistic) procedure you can get and do, next to having REAL teeth.

We make them look beautifully and you never have to worry about: “is my tooth going to pop off or fall out”. You also don’t have to worry about NOT eating specific foods, you can eat your apple or almonds, or anything crunchy!

And… you on’t have to worry about getting cavities! Dental Implants are a wonderful investment…. just ask our patients!