“Dr. Claire Little is amazing, and this dental office is the best! They are friendly, professional, compassionate and responsive. I wish all my medical providers were this good.”
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants have become one of the most desired options for tooth replacement. When a tooth is lost, you may have multiple options for replacement. Dental implants are often the best option, for many reasons.
Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. You can regain the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. Dental implants are titanium fixtures that are placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing, serving to replace the root of a tooth. The bone heals around the implant to create an intimate connection to create a strong foundation on which artificial teeth can be attached. In addition, implants can help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration that naturally occurs when teeth are missing.
Dental implants are changing the way people live! With them, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, and most importantly, SMILE again!
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Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer a natural, lasting solution for missing teeth. Designed to look, feel, and function like your own, implants preserve bone health, maintain facial structure, and restore full confidence in your smile. With proper care, they provide exceptional comfort, stability, and longevity.
Choosing a Qualified Dentist
The predictability and success rate of dental implants is high, however, one of the keys to success is finding a surgeon who is well qualified and knowledgeable about this branch of dentistry. Our team is Board Certified and have received extensive training in Implantology, including the proper case selection, surgical procedures, management of potential complications, and the maintenance of implants. Our periodontal surgeons work closely with restorative dentists to ensure that we plan and execute each case to perfection for our patients.
Overview of Implant Placement
The Surgical Procedure
The procedure to place a dental implant takes 30 to 60 minutes for one implant. The number of appointments and time required, vary from patient to patient. The surgeon will bring great precision and attention to the details of your case.
Prior to surgery, you may receive antibiotics and for greater comfort, intravenous sedation or nitrous oxide (laughing gas). These options are discussed with you at your consultation appointment. A local anesthetic will be administered to numb the area where the dental implant will be placed.
When you are comfortable, the surgeon makes a small incision in the gum tissue to reveal the bone, creates space using special instruments, and gently inserts the titanium implant.
When Dental Implants Are Placed
Implants are often a few months after extraction. At times, an implant may be placed immediately after extraction of a tooth. This may involve a little more risk, but it simplifies the process—you won’t have to wait for another appointment to place the implant. When infection or other problems with the bone are present, immediate implant placement is not the best treatment.
If your tooth has been missing for some time, the adjacent support bone is likely to grow thinner and shrink. This occurs because the root of the natural tooth has to be present to stimulate the bone. Fifty percent or more of your jaw’s thickness can be lost in the first 6 months following tooth extraction. If you are missing enough bone, you may benefit from having additional bone grafted into the area. This ensures the implant will be adequately supported when it is placed in the jaw.
Healing After Dental Implant Surgery
Now the healing begins. The length of time varies from person to person, depending upon the quality and quantity of bone. In some cases, implants may be restored immediately after they are placed. The surgeon will advise you on follow-up care and timing. The implant surgeon places a healing abutment (support post) or a healing cap onto the dental implant. This allows gum tissue to mature around the implant and provides access to it.
Follow-up care is usually needed to ensure that your mouth is healing well and to determine when you are ready for the restorative phase of your treatment.
Whether it’s one tooth or all of your teeth that are being replaced, your dentist will complete the restoration by fitting the final abutment (connector) and the replacement tooth (crown) to the dental implant.
“Excelling, caring, service. I had a cleaning with Michelle and she went the extra mile for me and didn’t give up. The doctor, Dr. Sharma takes the time to educate and follow patients. Nice to have a periodontist with these skills. Thank you.”
“I am always met with a smile. I was seated on time and Dr Gonzalez is very efficient and professional. I never felt the injection. It all went very smoothly. The staff is wonderful. Won’t go anywhere else.”
“Dr. Farris and his associates are the most professional, caring and dedicated group that I have ever have the pleasure to meet. Yesterday I had my first scheduled cleaning done by Vanessa. It was the best cleaning that I have ever experienced in my life. I was literally shocked at the attention to detail and professionalism I experienced under her care. Thank you very much.”