Dental Implants
Would you like to enjoy life with a beautiful smile?
Dental implants procedures are the closest you’ll get to natural-looking, healthy teeth. They allow you to eat with confidence, speak with ease, smile, laugh heartily and spend time enjoying all of your everyday activities without thinking or worrying about your teeth.
This technology has progressed dramatically with today’s methods being fairly routine and predictable. Modern implants have been used for 30 years and are the strongest devices available to support replacement teeth. Plus, they allow your new teeth to look, feel and function naturally. Dental implant surgery is the only dental restoration option that preserves natural bone and prevents bone shrinkage. As an added benefit, Origin Dental Wellness utilizes Platelet-Rich Plasma to further strengthen and enhance regenerative growth.
Since the advent of the denture implant, engineering and enhancements to the implant have enabled dentists to expand the implant’s usefulness, including the replacement of missing or lost teeth. Today, dental implant techniques provide a wide range of tooth replacement solutions including:
- Single Tooth Implant
- Anterior (incisors & canines) Replacement
- Posterior (premolars & molars) Replacement
- Full Upper and Lower Replacement
- Denture support
The tooth implant is the most effective because it mirrors the size and shape of a patient’s natural tooth. This implant is often as strong as the patient’s original tooth. A titanium/zirconium implant (artificial root) is surgically placed in the jawbone then allowed to heal and integrate with the bone. Once the implant is in place and has had the appropriate time to adhere to your bone, a connector, known as an abutment is placed on top of the dental implant to hold and support your crown. Next, the crown is custom-made in house with precision by our certified CEREC designer to match your natural teeth and fit your mouth just as well, if not better than your original tooth. The final result is a natural-looking, comfortable and functional tooth.
Additionally, a dental implant supported over-denture is a wonderful way to give your lower denture a more stable and solid feel. It is especially helpful if your lower jawbone has receded to the point it no longer can support a conventional over-denture with stability.
Origin Dental Wellness uses state-of-the-art components and the highest quality biocompatible materials. Origin Dental Wellness practices different types of dental implants that meet the increased demand for restorations with a superlative aesthetic natural look combined with proper management all while adhering to the health and maintenance of the surrounding soft tissue. When a tooth needs to be replaced with an implant, Dr. Toler wants to ensure your procedure is done with not only the finest materials but also the accuracy and care you deserve.
Curious about the amount of time it takes to replace your teeth with dental implants? There is no standard answer as each patient is different. After an initial consultation with Dr. Toler, she’ll provide you with a treatment plan including the estimated amount of time to complete the process. Total treatment time depends on your needs, medical and dental history, jawbone condition, and the technique and materials used. It can be as short as a few months, or more than a year for more complex conditions.
The following steps are what you can expect during your Dental Implant journey:
- Initial Consultation: Dr. Toler will discuss your short term/long term health desires followed by a thorough oral examination utilizing the most current technology via our 3D CBCT scanner. At that point, she’ll discuss the various implant options and develop a plan for your dental implant surgery.
- Dental Implant Placement: Step two includes the placement of your new dental implant. Although each patient’s experience is unique, most people find they experience less pain and discomfort than they expect, and typically return to work the next day. Local anesthesia or IV sedation can be used to keep you comfortable, depending on the patient’s desires. Post-implant surgery discomfort is similar to that of any other dental surgery. It may include swelling, bruising, minor bleeding and/or pain, but most patients usually manage any pain with over-the-counter medications.
- Osseointegration: As you heal, your implant and jawbone will grow together in a process called osseointegration (os-e-o-in-tuh-GRAY-shun), forming a strong, long-lasting foundation for your replacement tooth. During this healing process, which will take up to a few months, you go on with your normal life. In some cases, Dr. Toler may also be able to place temporary teeth during this period, if you choose.
- Abutment Placement: Once your implant bonds with your jawbone, a small connector called an abutment is placed on the dental implant just above the gumline. The new crown is then bonded to the abutment.
- New Tooth Time: Now that your implant is bonded and your gums have healed, Cassie (our certified CEREC designer) will use our powder-free color intraoral camera (NO MORE IMPRESSION MATERIAL) to make a 3D mock-up of your mouth and remaining teeth so your new tooth can be designed. While you wait and within the hour, your new tooth will be fashioned in our CEREC milling unit. This newly created tooth will be attached to the abutment.
- Post Implant Care: Although proper oral hygiene is always recommended for maintaining good dental health, it is especially important when a patient has received a dental implant. Bacteria can attack sensitive areas in the mouth when teeth and gums are not properly cleaned, thus causing gums to swell and jawbones to gradually recede. The recession of the jawbone will weaken implants and eventually make it necessary for the implant to be removed. Patients are advised to visit their dentists at least twice a year for a Wellness Assessment to ensure the health of their teeth and implants. Dental implants can last for decades when given proper care.
