Dental Implants

Dental Implants

Who Qualifies for a Dental Implant?

Candidates for dental implants must be in good general health as the success of the surgery is significantly increased if the patient has a healthy daily diet, does not smoke, and does not have a systemic disease such as diabetes. Healthy gums are also necessary since they provide the essential seal to protect the dental implant, which allows it to properly fuse with the bone. Finally, patients need to have fully developed jawbones and a high bone density. This is because a dental implant requires a healthy level of existing bone to properly integrate into your mouth.

Our Dental Implant Process

A dental implant is an artificial root that is used to support a replacement tooth or teeth. This is done by placing a small titanium dental implant into the bone. In time, your bone will integrate with the implant, which will act as an anchor for one or more artificial teeth. The integration of your implant usually takes anywhere from 2-6 months to complete.

Once your dental implant has integrated with your healed jawbone, we will scan your mouth using our CEREC Omnicam. This creates a 3D model of your teeth so we can design and mill a perfectly matching artificial tooth. Once designed, we create them at our office using the CEREC dental mill. By performing this service in-house, we guarantee a replacement tooth that will look and function just like your regular tooth would. This entire process is performed in as few as three visits.

Caring for Your Dental Implant At Home

To promote the longevity of your dental implant, there are several at-home care steps to ensure it remains clean and free of harmful bacteria. During the healing process, certain bacteria can prevent an implant from fully integrating with the jawbone. To avoid this situation, follow these tips:

• Brush twice-a-day with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Use a non-abrasive toothpaste.
• If you experience bleeding during the first 24 hours, lightly bite down on a gauze pad for 30 minutes. Repeat with fresh gauze if bleeding persists.
• Avoid rinsing your mouth for 24 hours after the procedure. Rinsing will remove the blood clot that has formed, which may extend recovery time.
• Stick to a soft-food diet for the first 2-3 days before returning to your regular diet.
• Stay hydrated.
• Use Tylenol or Advil for pain management.
• Do not smoke.