Services
Dental Implants
Why Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a one-of-a-kind option for restoring your missing tooth or teeth through a method that looks and feels natural. Rather than restoring a tooth with a prosthetic that rests above the gum tissue (like dentures or bridges), dental implants integrate with your natural anatomy and harness strength from the jawbone. This creates more satisfactory security and bite force for the prosthetic tooth, meaning there is no need to worry about any pieces slipping out of place, and you can eat what you want.
Implants are composed of three separate components that work together to replace the entire missing tooth structure; these pieces are the following:
Implant Post
Abutment
Dental Prosthetic (crown, bridge, denture, etc.)
Dental Implant Process
The procedure for placing a dental implant is relatively simple and one we have performed at Clark Oral & Facial Surgery numerous times. The procedure starts by, of course, providing an adequate amount of anesthetic and sedation to keep you relaxed and comfortable.
1. Gum Incision
Once we are prepared to begin surgery, we will create a small incision in the gum tissue over the space left by the missing tooth. This opening will be used to access the jawbone.
2. Post Placement
We will place the implant post inside this opening and suture the gum tissue closed to allow for healing.
3. Healing
Over the next three to six months, the implant post will begin fusing to your natural jawbone. It will eventually be as stable and dependable as a natural tooth root.
Restoring Your Implant
Once your mouth has completely healed following implant placement, it will be time for you to have the post restored with the addition of an abutment and dental crown, bridge, denture, or another prosthetic device. Our team does not complete these final steps in our office, but we may be able to refer you to a local practice that does. Please check first with your dentist to determine if they perform implant restoration.
Once the restoration is complete, you will be set with a brand new, dependable smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Implants restore not only the functional aspect, regaining an ability to speak clearly and chew properly, but reawakens the patient’s confidence after tooth loss. Once again, patients can smile wide and feel good about themselves with a full set of teeth that radiate confidence, strength, and self-assurance.
- Providing a natural-looking replacement for missing teeth, which improves the patient’s self-esteem and confidence.
- Helping to preserve jaw bone, preventing further tooth loss or deterioration.
- Giving patients the ability to eat virtually anything they want while avoiding. discomfort and pain that may accompany other treatment options
- Preventing the shifting of teeth due to missing roots, which helps avoid spacing problems in the mouth.
- Offering precision support for removable or fixed dental appliances.
- Being well-adapted to function with many tooth replacement options such as crowns, bridges, and dentures, allowing for a more complete smile makeover.
Recovery Guidelines
When dental implants are placed, it is very important for you to follow the instructions provided by our team members. This will ensure that the recovery goes smoothly and any chance of infection or complications are minimized. It’s also important to remember that recovery can vary slightly from person to person depending on their specific situation, so if anything feels out of the ordinary to you, please be sure to call our office for further instructions, be sure to call our office for further instructions.
There are generally three steps to the implant placement recovery process: immediate, short-term, and long-term. The following is a detailed description of each stage.
Immediate Recovery
Immediately after the dental implant procedure, you will experience some swelling and mild discomfort. This is to be expected and is normal. You will likely be given pain medication to help ease any discomfort you may feel. It is important to keep the area clean and to avoid touching the area where the post was placed.
Short-term Recovery
Your gums will be swollen for a few days after the procedure. During this time, you may not be able to eat or brush your teeth as normal, but try to stick with soft foods that are easy to chew. You can also rinse around the implant site with warm salt water to help keep it clean. Be careful not to disturb the implant site. If you do, it could increase your chances of developing an infection.
Long Term Recovery
The final step in the implant placement recovery process is long-term healing. During this time, you will need to be especially careful with your oral hygiene. Be sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly, and visit us for follow-up appointments. We will check the implant site to make sure it is healing properly and that there are no signs of infection.