Your dentist is committed to ensuring your teeth and mouth are as healthy as possible. However, this requires teamwork, and you are responsible for taking proper care of your oral health at home. This means brushing at least twice each day, flossing daily and ensuring your habits and lifestyle don’t compromise the condition of your teeth.

Nevertheless, dental health problems can affect even the most diligent of patients. Sometimes these become so severe that your dentist has no choice but to recommend that the affected tooth or teeth are extracted before they fall out of their own accord. In some instances, decay and infection might even spread to neighboring teeth and oral tissues. If you have been told that you will need a dental extraction, your thoughts have probably already turned to what you can do to replace your missing teeth. Unless the gap is hidden at the very back of your mouth, it may be noticeable and draw unwanted attention, and regardless of where it is, it could affect your ability to eat and even speak clearly.

Dental implants are one of the most popular choices for tooth restoration. Our knowledgeable and reassuring dental team are delighted to be able to use their skill and experience to provide outstanding quality implant dentistry to patients in and around Clearwater, FL.

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What are dental implants?

Dental implants are a uniquely-designed type of dental restoration that has transformed the way in which dentists are able to replace missing teeth. They are different in that they don’t rely on any support from neighboring teeth. Instead, they are secured on to a titanium post that acts as an artificial root. This post is inserted through the gums into the jaw at a pre-determined location. It is long enough to anchor right down in the jaw while extending a little out of the top of the gum tissue so that the visible part of the implant can be attached.

The success of dental implants hinges on a process known as osseointegration. This refers to the natural healing of the living bone in the jaw around the titanium implant post – a process which can take several months. However, once complete, the implanted post is secured permanently into the jaw, giving the restoration total stability and security. Although you will be fitted with a temporary crown while osseointegration takes place, eventually you will be given a custom-designed crown, created exactly in the shape, size, and color needed to blend seamlessly with your other teeth and make your dental implant impossible to spot.

Before an implant can be placed, careful planning is undertaken. This involves using CT scans and x-rays to examine the jaw and ensure that it is healthy and dense enough to support the implant post. Your dental implant specialist will also be very careful not to affect any other structures within the mouth and jaw, such as large blood vessels or nerves.

Types of dental implants

In addition to single dental implants, which require one implant post for every crown, there are several other ways in which dental implant technology is utilized to produce dental restorations. This includes the provision of:

  • Implant-supported bridges
  • Implant-supported full or partial dentures
  • Same day / All on 4 dentures

The latter varieties are used when a patient has more than one missing tooth. In most instances, it is possible to support a number of porcelain crowns on a smaller number of implant posts. For example, in All-On-4 same day dental implants, an entire arch of artificial teeth can be supported on just 4 implant posts.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants offer patients a number of different benefits over more conventional restorations. These include the following:

  • Increased resilience. Dental implants are stronger than any other type of restoration.
  • Longevity. With the right care, your implants could last longer than a quarter of a century!
  • Discretion. Dental implants are widely considered to be the most discreet of any type of restoration thanks the custom-designing of the crowns to fit with your natural teeth. They also don’t slip or move around like some other types of tooth restoration.
  • No need to remove them. If you opt for implant-supported dentures, there is no need to remove them to eat. Instead, you can enjoy the full function of your teeth without compromise.
  • Better oral health. Since they are permanent, dental implants can be cleaned in exactly the same way as normal teeth. Although they can’t decay, daily brushing, flossing and cutting back on dental-health-damaging-habits can help to ensure your smile is unrivaled for as long as possible.

Want to know more about dental implants? If you have further questions or you are ready to schedule a consultation to discuss your candidacy for this revolutionary solution, please don’t hesitate to contact our office in Clearwater, FL today.

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Dental Implants FAQs

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a prosthetic made from titanium that is used to replace the roots of a missing tooth. Dental implants are shaped like a cylinder and somewhat resemble a screw because they have a ridged texture. A dental implant is embedded into the jawbone so that a process called “osseointegration” can occur. Osseointegration means that the bone surrounding an implant will fuse around it to hold it in place, similarly to how bone holds the roots of teeth in place. A single dental implant can hold a restoration like a crown while a series of dental implants can hold a full arch of teeth (a denture).

Am I a candidate for dental implants?

Candidates for dental implants normally have adequate bone density, decent oral health, and no signs of periodontal disease. Some patients who have lost bone mass may require bone grafts so that dental implants have enough support. Other patients may require periodontal therapy as well before receiving a dental implant.
Determining whether a person is a candidate for implant dentistry is a careful process that involves closely reviewing a person’s health history and their current state of oral health. The only way to be certain if dental implants meet your tooth replacement needs is to schedule a consultation. At your consultation, a physical examination is performed and information about your health history is gathered. Consultations are a wonderful opportunity for patients to ask questions or voice concerns.

How do implants prevent bone loss?

Bone loss commonly accompanies tooth loss. The roots of our teeth keep the jaw stimulated and active. When teeth are missing, their roots are no longer able to stimulate bone. Unstimulated bone is often lost due to atrophy. The body commonly resorbs bone that is inactive. Other tooth replacement methods only replace the visible structures of teeth and lay on top of the gums. Dental implants, however, are loaded into and secured by the jawbone. Since titanium is a biocompatible material, implants will stimulate the jaw the way that natural teeth do to minimize bone atrophy.

How much do implants cost?

The price of receiving dental implants can vary from person to person. This is because every implantation case is different due to patients’ unique needs and circumstances. Receiving dental implants involves more than just placing the implant in the jaw. Patients require checkups after their initial procedures to ensure that the implant is stabilizing, which is a process that takes some time. Moreover, some people require preliminary treatments like tooth extractions and tissue grafts prior to receiving their implant. Since so many factors can affect the cost of dental implants, it is recommended to speak with our staff about estimates after one’s consultation. Our team can determine estimates based on our dentist’s customized recommendations. mulas that won’t harm tooth enamel or permanently increase tooth sensitivity.