Implant Services

Missing teeth can affect jaw function, create malocclusion, and affect your day-to-day diet. Gaps between teeth allow neighboring teeth to drift into unoccupied spaces. When teeth aren't in their proper position, you begin to have issues with bite alignment (malocclusion) irregular teeth wear, and jaw stress.

An implantologist is a certified Dentist performing the implant procedure. A trained Prosthodontist and Periodontist can also place implants in your teeth.

Why missing tooth needs to be replaced?

A dental implant post is a replacement for your missing tooth’s root. Not only does it fuse with your bone like a root, but it also stimulates and preserves your bone structure.

On top of a dental implant post sits a restoration. Typically, it’s a single crown replacing one tooth. But dental implants can also support multiple missing teeth with a bridge and even secure dentures.

Who can get implants done?

Bone

When a tooth is missing, the surrounding bone begins to deteriorate. You need a certain amount of bone present so the post can fuse with it. If you have been missing a tooth for a while, there may not be enough bone to perform dental implant surgery.

To determine this, we use a CBCT scanner. This modern technology gives us a 3D view of your mouth and jawbone so we can evaluate your bone quantity. If you have enough bone, we will move forward with your personalized treatment plan.

If you don’t have enough bone for dental implants, then we can often perform a bone grafting procedure. This procedure can help your body regenerate bone and tissue. When you have sufficient bone, you will be able to move forward with the surgery.

Age

Dental implants are most successful if placed in adults who are done growing and developing.

If you or your child are too young, you may need to wait until your facial structure has developed. This is typically around the age of 16 for girls and 18 for boys.

In the meantime, our Bellevue… opens in a new window to Google Maps… and Issaquah… opens in a new window to Google Maps… dentists can create an interim solution for your missing tooth.

Health

Like most surgeries, good general and oral health is required for dental implant surgery. If you suffer from certain conditions like diabetes, are a heavy smoker, or have gum disease, then dental implants may not be viable.

Rest assured, our dentists will evaluate you on an individual basis and if necessary, will work with your physician to find a solution.

Are implants stronger than natural teeth?

The bite strength of a dental implant is generally 80- to 90-percent the strength of a natural tooth. If you've lived with dentures, bridges, or weak/diseased teeth for any period, you understand the importance of a firm bite. The cliches about biting into apples and corn-on-the-cob do have meaning in everyday life.

Are dental implants safe?

The answer is “yes.” This procedure has been used successfully in dentistry for more than 30 years, and is regarded to be extremely safe. For the majority of patients who are in good health, there is almost no risk of any major complications or problems with the dental implant procedure.

Benefits of Dental Implants

When it comes to replacing teeth that are missing or damaged, you have several options. However, one option stands out above the rest is dental implants. Dental implants offer benefits that other tooth replacement options, like dentures or bridges, just can’t offer. Here are the top benefits of this innovative option:

Prevents Bone Loss

When you lose teeth, you also tend to lose bone mass in your jaw. Your jawbone needs the stimulation it gets when your teeth connect to maintain its mass. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that also replaces that jaw bone stimulation, helping to prevent bone loss.

Matches Your Natural Teeth

Dental implants come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Your dentist will work with you to design implants that match the color of your surrounding teeth and fit perfectly in the gap. No one but you and your dentist will know which teeth are implants.

Restores Bite Force

Because dental implants are anchored into your jaw with a titanium post that replaces the tooth root, they allow you to bite with more or less the same amount of force you could use with your natural teeth. Other tooth replacement options do not restore nearly as much of your bite force because they sit on top of the gums and aren’t anchored in place.

Prevents Changes In the Shape Of Your Face

Your teeth help support your facial structure. When you lose teeth, you lose that support, which eventually causes your face to change shape, making you appear older. Dental implants provide similar support for your face as your natural teeth, preventing it from changing shape.

Enables Natural Speech

Some tooth replacement options, like dentures, can impact your ability to pronounce words correctly. Missing teeth can also alter your speech. Because dental implants feel and function just like natural teeth, they enable you to speak easily and naturally.

Won’t Get Cavities

Artificial teeth still need to be cared for to prevent bacteria from building up in your mouth and causing infections, but the material that dental implants are made of can’t decay. You’ll never have to worry about getting cavities in your dental implants!

Easy to Care For

Dental implants don’t require you to buy any special products to clean or care for them. There’s no need for cups, cleansing tablets, adhesive, or special flossers. You just brush and floss, just the way you would with your natural teeth.

No Embarrassing Slippage

Patients with dentures sometimes feel self-conscious about speaking, laughing, or eating in public, as dentures can visibly shift or slip inside your mouth. Dental implants are firmly anchored in place and will never embarrass you.

Supports Adjacent Teeth

A gap in your mouth caused by a missing tooth can cause the teeth on either side of the gap to shift positions, leading to misalignment. Dental implants fill the gap, allowing you to maintain a straight, even smile.

A Permanent Solution to Tooth Loss

Other tooth replacement options will need to be repaired or replaced periodically, but dental implants are designed to last for the rest of your life.

If you’re in need of a tooth replacement option, you should definitely consider dental implants. To find out if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, schedule a consultation.

Will I have teeth during the treatment?

If the teeth being replaced by the dental implants are visible, you are most likely to want to have some temporary teeth during the treatment period. Your dentist may attach replacement teeth on the same day that you have the implant, or you may have to wait several months to allow your mouth to heal. To avoid having spaces between your teeth or no teeth at all, you can be fitted with a temporary denture or bridge. If you already have full dentures, they can be modified to allow you to wear them when you are undergoing treatment.

How Long Does It Take To Get Dental Implants?

Has your dentist recommended dental implants maple grove mn and you are not really sure what you are getting into? This is a common experience. There are a lot of factors to consider before you decide if dental implants are right for you. You’ve heard that implants can take a while? Let’s walk through the steps so you have a better idea of the process.

Dental Exam

Prior to getting started with any work, your dentist is going to want to schedule a comprehensive exam to thoroughly check the health of your mouth. This may include X-rays and possibly 3D scans. Even if your dentist is very familiar with your mouth, this step is necessary to confirm that the health of your gums and jawbone is sufficient to support an implant, and also to develop a treatment plan that is best for you.

Implant Surgery

After you are finished with the comprehensive exam, your dentist will schedule you for surgery. The surgery is the real first step of the implant process. Your dentist will place the titanium implant in your jaw bone, right below the gums. This surgery usually takes about 1-2 hours for each implant being placed. After this step is complete, most dentist will wait about 3 months before the final restoration of the tooth replacement. This may seem frustrating, but the healing period is very important to making sure the dental implant procedure is a success. You need to allow time for the implant to integrate into the bone, so that it has the strength to support your final restoration.

Post-Surgery Recovery

Initially after surgery, some people will experience swelling, bruising, or pain. This can depend on how much work your dentist needed to do to install the implant, especially if a tooth needed to be removed in the process. The time window between your implant surgery and the fitting of your crown is really important. The length of that time depends on the healing of your gums and bone. This healing period is generally around 3 months.

Abutment & Crown Fitting

The last step, after your implant is healed, is the less invasive procedure of fitting the abutment and crown to the implant. An abutment is a small cushion like shock absorber that is placed between the implant and the permanent crown. This step often involves exposing the gums so that the implant may be imprisoned for a proper fitting abutment and crown. After the abutment is secure, your new artificial crown can be fitted, and the dental implant process is complete.

In summary, to complete and schedule the multiple steps involved in the dental implant procedure, you should consider the process taking several months, from start to finish. The payoff is a permanent replacement tooth. The best way to get an idea of how long the process will take for you is to have a conversation with your dentist.

What are the stages of implant procedure?

There are six major dental implant stages:

1. The initial consultation,

2. The first dental implant placement

3. Osseointegration implant fused with the bone and integrates to create strength)

4. The abutment surgery,

5. The designing and fitting of the crown.

Are dental implants costly?

The actual cost of dental implants varies greatly depending on the patient’s health and needs. For example, patients who have lost bone mass in their jaw may need a bone graft, which can add to the cost. On the other hand, patients with healthy bones will avoid this extra surgical cost. This is one reason that dental implants should really be considered first—the longer you’re missing teeth, the more bone mass you’ll lose, and the more expensive dental implants are likely to be.

There’s also a misconception that replacing all of your teeth with dental implants would be prohibitively expensive. However, with techniques like all-on-4 dental implants, it’s not necessary to replace each tooth with a separate dental implant. As few as four implants can anchor an entire upper or lower arch. This makes a full-mouth dental implant tooth replacement far more affordable than many patients assume.

If you need tooth replacement, it’s important to discuss all of your options with your dentist, including dental implants. Don’t rule out dental implants because of perceived cost. You may find out that they are far more affordable than you think. To find out more, schedule a consultation.

Benefit: Detects Small Damages.

Risk: Causes Tumors To Develop.

Benefit: Finds Bone Infections.

Risk: Causes Pregnancy Problems.

Benefit: Detects Periodontal Disease.