Dental Implants
Your teeth perform some critical functions every day. Not only do they allow you to bite and chew your food, but they are also an important factor in proper digestion and nutrition. Your teeth allow you to speak properly by controlling airflow. They help to keep your jawbone healthy and strong by stimulating the bone so that nutrients are sent by the rest of the body. Your teeth also provide you with a beautiful, confident smile. Missing teeth, no matter how many, impacts all of these functions. Replacing missing teeth is essential for restoring all of the jobs that they perform. At Blue Summit Dental Group, we provide dental implants as an option for restoring the function, health, and beauty of your mouth.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a fairly recent addition to the options available for tooth replacement. They consist of three major components:
- The implant. The implant itself is a small titanium rod that is surgically inserted into the jawbone. Once in place, the implants rely on a process called osseointegration. This is the fusion of your jawbone to the titanium as you heal. With successful osseointegration, the implant becomes a strong, stable support, or root.
- The abutment. This piece is a small connector piece that is placed on the top of the dental implant, connecting the implant and the crown.
- The crown. The crown, typically made from ceramic, is made to look and function exactly like the rest of your natural teeth.
All of these components work together to provide you with a beautiful, natural, fully-functional smile, allowing you to get your life, and your confidence, back.
Types of Dental Implants
Dental implants can be used to replace any number of missing teeth. To meet your specific needs, there are several different types:
- Single tooth implants. A single tooth implant is meant to replace a single missing tooth. One implant supports a single crown. It is possible to have several single-tooth implants in your mouth.
- Multiple tooth implants. A multiple tooth implant, also called an implant supported bridge, is designed to replace sections of missing teeth. One or more dental implants are used to support your replacement teeth.
- Implant supported dentures. An implant supported denture replaces an entire arch of missing teeth. Typically, 6 to 8 dental implants are placed per arch.
How Are Implants Placed?
Implants require a surgical procedure. After a local anesthetic (and sedation, if necessary), incisions are made in the gums. We then drill holes into your jawbone, following a custom treatment plan designed just for you. We then insert the titanium rods and close the tissue around them, leaving a small section of the rod exposed.
Healing from surgery can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. While you heal, you will have temporary teeth, which will restore some of the functions of your mouth. As you heal, we will monitor your healing progress, making sure that the bone is indeed fusing with the rod. Once you have fully healed, we then place the abutments and take impressions. These impressions are used to design and create your custom, permanent replacement teeth. When they are ready, we screw them into place.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants have several benefits:
- You can eat all of your favorite foods again. With the ability to properly chew your food, your digestion (and overall nutrition) is also improved.
- Your speech returns to normal.
- Your oral health is improved.
- You regain your beautiful smile, as well as your confidence.
- Implants are more comfortable.
- Implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss.
- Implants are more comfortable than other replacement options, with your teeth supported by the implants themselves rather than your gums.
- Implants help to prevent the bone loss that typically follows tooth loss.
If you have suffered tooth loss, don’t wait. Contact Blue Summit Dental Group at (810) 658-9177 to find out if dental implants are right for you.
Tooth loss has many causes. The most common cause is gum disease, but it can also occur as a result of facial trauma, severe tooth decay, or bruxism. Your smile deteriorates, and your confidence drops. It becomes more difficult to bite and chew, which can also impact your nutrition. You may develop a lisp or other speech difficulties. Over time, your jawbone begins to resorb, growing weak and changing shape. This causes healthy teeth to shift out of alignment and also affects the appearance of your face. The more teeth you lose, the worse the effects become. Replacing missing teeth is essential, whether you are missing a whole arch of teeth or just one tooth. At Blue Summit Dental Group, we offer implant-supported dentures for full arch replacement.
Traditional Full Arch Replacement
For a long time, replacing an entire arch of missing teeth meant only one thing, dentures. Dentures have a reputation for being bulky, uncomfortable, and very unnatural looking. Thanks to modern developments, many improvements have been made to these restorations, and they are still used today.
While dentures have undergone many changes in recent years, the premise behind them is still the same. They are a removable prosthesis with fake teeth set into a base that is supported completely by your gums. The dentures of today consist of acrylic resin teeth, which can be designed to look just like natural teeth, and an acrylic base that can be colored to match your gum tissue. Along with looking more like natural teeth, dentures are also much less bulky.
Despite the improvements dentures have undergone, there are still many major drawbacks. First, they require a significant amount of additional care that can become tedious. They may slip out of place when you eat or speak, which not only causes embarrassment but sores on your gums as well. Because the prosthesis is supported by your gums, they can be uncomfortable. Moreover, they cannot stop bone loss in your jaw, meaning that they need to be replaced every few years.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures are a modern alternative to traditional dentures, providing you with another option for full arch replacement. This treatment uses small titanium posts, which are surgically placed into your jawbone, to support your arch of replacement crowns. As you heal, the bone fuses to the posts, integrating them into the jaw. Over time they become strong, stable supports for your new teeth. There are a few different options for implant-supported dentures.
• Fixed. This is one of the most common treatments for implant-supported dentures. 6 to 8 posts are implanted into the jaw to support your new teeth.
• Bar retained. While this treatment also uses 6 to 8 posts, a bar that connects all of the posts is placed after surgery. Your teeth clip on to the bar rather than being screwed into place on the posts.
• All-on-4® Treatment Concept. This treatment is commonly used when you have suffered bone loss, and your jaw is not suitable for other types of implant-supported dentures. It uses only 4 posts, but these posts are placed in such a way as to take full advantage of your existing bone mass without the need for a bone graft first.
The Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures
There are numerous benefits to implant-supported dentures.
• They look much more natural. The crowns mimic the properties of your natural teeth, including color and how enamel reflects light.
• They feel much more natural and are significantly more comfortable. Your teeth are supported by implants rather than your gums.
• Your teeth are held securely in place. There is no need to worry about your teeth slipping or falling out of place.
• The crowns can be brushed and flossed just like natural teeth.
• The posts restore stimulation to your jaw, stopping and preventing bone loss.
If you are missing a full arch of teeth, an implant-supported denture may be the solution for you. Call Blue Summit Dental Group today at (810) 658-9177 to schedule your appointment.
Blue Summit Dental Group is proud to offer dental implants. Dental implants have quickly become the most popular choice for meeting tooth replacement needs. This unique treatment uses small titanium posts to support ceramic crowns. The posts are surgically implanted into your jawbone, where they are integrated into the jaw to provide secure, stable support. Along with restoring the functions of your missing teeth and your smile, implants also can stimulate your jawbone like the roots of your natural teeth, stopping and preventing bone loss in your jaw. While dental implants do not require the same tedious care as traditional dentures, they must still be cleaned. Proper cleaning of your implants ensures that they function properly and last you a long time.
The Importance of Cleaning Implants
Even though implants are fake teeth, they still need to be cleaned and well taken care of. The ceramic crowns cannot suffer decay and cavities, but plaque and bacteria can still accumulate on their surfaces. When this happens, you can develop gum disease. If gum disease occurs and is not treated, your gums can begin to pull away from your teeth and your gums, allowing bacteria to fall below. There, they begin attacking the jawbone, causing it to weaken. Should this happen, the stability of the implants becomes compromised. It can also lead to complete implant failure, resulting in the need for an implant replacement.
Cleaning Your Implants at Home
Just like your natural teeth, the crowns of your implants need regular daily care. Even if all of your teeth have been replaced, this care is crucial. Fortunately, cleaning your dental implants is simple. They can be cared for just like natural teeth. You can, and should, brush them at least twice a day with a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste. Every time you brush, you should do so for two full minutes. In addition to brushing, you should be flossing at least once a day. This helps not only to remove buildup from between all of your teeth, implants included, but it also helps to prevent cavities between your real teeth. All of these steps are critical for preventing buildup, enabling you to maintain a healthy mouth, and ensuring that your implants last a long time.
Professional Cleanings for Your Implants
A majority of the cleaning your dental implants receive is performed in your own home. However, even if all of your teeth have been replaced, it is still important that you have regular dental visits at least twice a year. During these visits, we help to clean your natural teeth, as well as your implants and can examine them for any signs of damage. Professionally cleaning your dental implants is similar to cleaning your real teeth. First, the crowns are scraped clean, which is done to remove all buildup that has accumulated on their surfaces. Next, all of your teeth, implants included, are polished. Finally, we floss your teeth to remove all of the buildup from between them, including anything that may have collected there during your appointment.
Taking good care of your dental implants is essential to ensuring their functionality and their lifespan. If you have any questions about the care of your dental implants, call Blue Summit Dental Group today at (810) 658-9177.
Many of us remember losing our first tooth. You put it under your pillow before bed, and the next morning there was a shiny quarter instead. Initially, there was a lot of excitement involved, but then as we get older, most people start to lose interest, especially since eventually you stop receiving cash for them. That does not make them any less important, though, and if you discover you have lost a tooth, it is a good idea to let us here at Blue Summit Dental Group know as quickly as possible! The sooner we know about it, the sooner we can get to work on fixing it.
What Are Dental Implants Used For?
It may seem like it is not a big deal to lose a tooth, especially if it is one of the ones in the back or has no effect on how you speak or eat. Generally, most people will pack a little gauze in the socket, and once the bleeding stops, that is the last they will think of it. The cells in your body, however, are responsible for the optimal upkeep of your body and when you are missing a tooth, your cells will stop sending the message to regenerate the socket because there is no reason to restore something that is no longer there. In time, your jawbone will begin to recede, which can compromise the strength of the bone that supports your other teeth.
A dental implant is often used to refill the hole left behind once the original tooth is no longer there. This can prevent the bone and tissue in the area from further degeneration. There are two primary types of dental implants available. The endosteal is the most commonly used of the two. This is when an implant rod is placed directly into your jaw. The other type is known as a subperiosteal. The implant is placed under the gum, but not in the jawbone. This process is usually reserved for those who do not have enough jawbone available to hold an implant.
There are ways to rebuild the bone tissue so that there is a sturdy foundation for your implants. If it is decided that your tissue has receded too much to hold one, then you may choose to undergo a bone graft. There are many types of materials available for transplanting, which can include human, animal, and synthetic. Also, your cells can be used and are often harvested from a bony area such as your chin.
Why You Should Consider Dental Implants
More often than not, missing teeth are ignored. Before long, the integrity of the surrounding teeth can reach such a level of deterioration that you may think the best option for you may be just to pull them all out and get some dentures to save yourself the hassle. What you may not know is, as soon as we know about your missing tooth, we can start to work rebuilding your jaw structure. Even if you have already been wearing partials for a long time, there is still a chance to rebuild your smile and work with the teeth you already have!
The rods that are used to secure an implant are usually made out of titanium. This is because it was discovered that when titanium is inserted into your bone tissue, through a process called osseointegration, it can fuse! If you know anybody who has ever had a hip replaced and a titanium pin was used, that is because this metal is becoming quite well-known regarding how durable, reliable, and permanent a titanium replacement can be. When a titanium rod is used to replace your root, which was the part that held your tooth in your jaw, it can become just as strong as the original root.
Once your root has fully integrated with the bone, which usually only takes a few months, then an abutment is attached. This is the connector that will secure your new root to a brand new, custom-designed crown that can look and feel completely natural. When the treatment is complete, you will not have to deal with the inconvenience of removable pieces or clicking plates. With many dentures and bridges, as your jawbone degenerates, you may need them refitted every five years or so. With basic dental care, such as brushing, flossing, and regular checkups, your dental implant can become a permanent replacement for lost teeth.
Advancements in Dentistry
Many people fear dental visits and will put off going for as long as they can. With close to forty million Americans missing all of their teeth, it may help to know how much dentistry has changed recently. With the incredible advances that have come about from digital imagery and computer technology, x-rays now take much less time, and the images can be seen almost immediately. Being able to discuss what you see as you see it to plan your ideal treatment can be a very important factor not only in ensuring an accurate placement of your dental implants but also in allowing you to become a valuable part of your procedure. Some find that being an active part of the process goes a lot way towards relieving much of their anxiety.
There are also effective pain management methods available, such as local anesthesia or IV sedation. Many people are concerned about how much it may hurt after the anesthesia wears off. It varies, depending on your personal level of tolerance, but if you are the sort of person who would prefer to pop a couple of Advil or Tylenol and be on your way, then it is good to know that dental implants respond very well to over-the-counter medication. Most people can return to work as early as the next day and continue life as usual. You may be on a soft-food diet for a few weeks at first, but that is to ensure your tissues can have plenty of time to heal.
Dental implants can be a life-changer. Many of us pride ourselves on our smile and losing a tooth can do a lot of damage to our self-esteem and confidence. If you feel like dental implants might be something you are interested in, please call us here at Blue Summit Dental Group at (810) 658-9177 to schedule a consultation.
If you have a missing tooth, you may be trying to figure out if you should replace it, and if so, with what. The same goes if you have numerous missing teeth. The truth is, you should replace any missing teeth as soon as the area around the extraction spot is healed. Call on us here at Blue Summit Dental Group, and let us help you figure out how getting a dental implant in that spot can help improve your health, and your life.
Why Dental Implants Are Better Than the Alternative
Dental implants have completely changed how we correct the issue of missing teeth. In years past, you would either have to have a bridge, a partial denture, or a full set of dentures. All of these had issues, and none of them were very reliable. Plus, they could move around, causing issues with self-confidence, and they could even lead to declining oral health. Today, none of those issues need to be problems that you face, no matter how many missing teeth you have, all thanks to dental implants.
To get a dental implant, you have a titanium post put into your jaw, and a false tooth fixed to that post. This means that you have replaced the root of the traditional tooth you lost with metal that will fuse with your bone over time, and replaced the missing tooth with a false one. The tooth will end up being so secure in your mouth, it will not give you any worries about shifting or falling out, and it will do everything the same way that your traditional tooth once did. Click to read a more in-depth overview of dental implants.
Dental Implants Give You Back Your Life
Once you have a dental implant in place and it has healed, you can go about life like you never lost a tooth. You can eat corn on the cob. You can smile and speak with confidence. You can brush and floss like you always did, and not have to worry about that tooth causing any problems. Dental implants also prevent issues that would otherwise be able to ruin your oral health.
One of the biggest problems with a missing tooth is that the longer you go without a tooth in one spot, the more the bone in that spot begins to erode. If you leave a tooth gone from that spot for long enough, the bone will completely reabsorb. The bones around it, then, have no support, and can also begin to cave in, essentially. A dental implant fuses with the bone where the missing tooth came from, promoting new bone instead of a loss of bone, keeping your oral health good.
To find out more about if your mouth is a good candidate for dental implants, or how dental implants could help you, give us a call at (810) 658-9177. We can schedule a consultation for you to speak with Dr. Ralph Becker, and you can then find out what the benefits are of you getting dental implants.
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