Millions of Americans suffer from tooth loss, whether it’s precipitated by injury, tooth decay, or periodontal disease. At one time, the only solutions for missing teeth were bridges or dentures, but VIP Smiles is pleased to offer a more comfortable and permanent solution: dental implants. Read on to learn more about this method for replacing lost teeth, and call VIP Smiles in Syracuse today for a consultation!
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are essentially artificial roots for a replacement tooth. The implant is placed in your jawbone to create support for one or more artificial teeth, which are called crowns. They can also be used to support a dental bridge, partial dentures, or a complete set of dentures. Implants function as an important foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like your natural teeth.
Who Is a Candidate?
Those who have experienced tooth loss and are also healthy enough to undergo oral surgery are good candidates for dental implants. For best results, the patient needs to have healthy gums and enough jawbone at the site of tooth loss to support an implant. They should also have a strong commitment to good oral health and regular visits to the dentist.
There are a few factors that may affect your candidacy for tooth implants. Heavy smokers or patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease may need to have a more in-depth conversation with their dentist or oral surgeon before approval.
Why Choose Dental Implants
Now that there are a few options for replacing lost teeth, you may be wondering why we recommend dental implants. There are plenty of reasons! For one, tooth implants are the strongest solution available today for replacing teeth. Implants offer high-quality fit, feel, function, and more.
Long-Term Health Benefits
Among the dental restoration methods out there, dental implants can preserve the most natural bone than other ways and means. Unlike bridges, implants leave more natural teeth intact. The implanted titanium post will also allow for natural bone growth, fusing with your jawbone for a healthy and stable restoration solution.
Better Fit and Feel
As many of us may have noticed in friends or family, bridges and dentures don’t always fit very well. This can make them uncomfortable and harder to use. Implants can provide tooth replacements that feel and function like your natural teeth, so you can eat, smile, talk, and more with no discomfort! In addition, tooth implants combined with dental abutments and crowns don’t have to be removed, and with proper care, these restoration solutions can last for a lifetime.
Beautiful Results
One of the greatest advantages of dental implants and their pairing with dental crowns is that the results can provide you with a beautiful, natural-looking smile. Implants provide a strong foundation for high-quality, custom-made crowns crafted to perfectly fit your mouth and match your natural teeth. If tooth loss has led to a loss of confidence, then dental implants can be the fastest route back to feeling like yourself again!
Receiving Dental Implants
The first step of receiving dental implants is talking to your dentist and crafting a treatment plan individualized to address your needs and concerns. Once you and the team of professionals lined up for your procedure decide on the right steps moving forward, it’s time to get started!
The Procedure
For your procedure, you can often choose local anesthesia or IV sedation so you can be comfortable as a small post of titanium is implanted into the socket of your missing tooth. Many are surprised by how quick the process is and how little pain they experience — most return to work the next day! As your jaw heals, the bone will grow around the post and secure it.
Post-Procedure
After your dental implant has been set, you may experience swelling, bruising, or minor bleeding or pain. Many patients manage their pain well with simple over-the-counter medications. Your oral health team will offer you specific instructions and recommendations on how to stay comfortable and healthy as the site heals.
The healing period is typically between three to six months. Your experience will depend on a number of factors, including your overall health, your oral health needs, and the technique and materials used in the implant procedure.
Next Steps
Receiving a dental implant is just one step in the process of restoring your smile. Once the implant has healed and bonded to your jawbone, your oral health team can move forward with crafting your replacement teeth. In most cases, if you are investing in dental crowns, the next step will be placing an abutment on top of the implant for support. Then, our team will replace the missing tooth with a custom-made crown. Simply dedicate yourself to good oral hygiene and regularly stop by your dentist office to keep your new smile looking and feeling beautiful for years to come!
Contact VIP Smiles Today to Learn More!
Do you think dental implants are the right restorative dentistry method for you? Call VIP Smiles and set up a personal consultation with Doctors Shad, Clive, or Richard Ingram! We want you to regain your quality of life and your smile, and we’ll help you find the right solution for your needs. We look forward to speaking with you!
