Dental Implants

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.

A bridge requires that the teeth adjacent to the missing teeth are ground down and crowns placed on them.

When you’re missing a single tooth, the best permanent replacement is a dental implant placed in your jaw to replace the root, and a dental crown placed over it.

Traditionally, a single missing tooth has been replaced by a dental bridge. A bridge requires that the teeth adjacent to the missing teeth are ground down and crowns placed on them. A dental implant, however, not only acts and feels like your own tooth, but it does not require crowns on the adjacent teeth. Another option for replacing a missing tooth or teeth is a removable partial denture.

An explanation of the dental implant procedure:

1 Before the procedure

Expect a thorough examination. Drs. Singleton and Clark will take x-rays and examine them closely. They will also check your occlusion, periodontal health, and general health. There are a lot of factors to be considered in planning a dental implant.

2 Installing the dental implant

A titanium implant, chosen and sized to fit you and the space allowed, will be carefully and precisely placed in the space of the missing tooth. Getting this titanium post placed just right is critical to the success of this procedure.

3 Attaching the new crown

A dental crown, made out of porcelain and custom crafted to fit your mouth, your bite, and the exact color of your adjacent teeth, will be placed.

4 Allow healing to take place

With today’s technology, healing time is less than it used to be. Your dentist will determine the length of time to heal based on many individual factors.

5 Final result

With a dental implant from Drs. Singleton and Clark, you should expect the new tooth to look just like a natural tooth. The fit will be excellent, it will function just like a natural tooth, and it will be completely comfortable. Take care of it the same way you would a natural tooth, with brushing, flossing, and regular checkups, to keep the tooth and the gum tissue around it healthy.

If you are missing a row of teeth, it can be a challenging situation. Traditionally, this has been restored with a removable partial denture that clips onto your remaining teeth.

However, you can have this restored to full function with dental implants. The end result is comfortable, feeling like your own teeth. It is also healthiest for your remaining teeth, since the clasps that attached to your teeth can promote tooth decay or mobility in those teeth. If there are only one or two teeth missing, a dental bridge is a possible option.

An explanation of the dental implant procedure:

1 Before the procedure

A dental bridge will not work in the situation where a row of three teeth are missing toward the back of the mouth. This is because there is no tooth toward the rear to anchor to. A removable partial denture could be made, but because of the leverage caused by the very heavy biting forces that occur in this situation, the teeth it would be anchored to would be weakened. This is a great situation for dental implants.

2 The first step-installing the implants

In one appointment, the implants are placed in the ridge. Typically, a healing period of several months has been required after their placement before any teeth are placed on them.

3 Attaching the teeth

In this situation where there is a row of three teeth that is being replaced, the teeth are attached together for ease of insertion. They are made in a laboratory, and are matched to the exact shading of your teeth, and are blended into your bite so that they function effectively and comfortably.

4 Final result

When your case is completed, you will feel as if you have your own teeth back. The result is attractive, functional, and comfortable.

Following dental implant surgery, patients should refrain from spitting, rinsing, and touching their mouth for at least a day to avoid aggravating the treated area. Patients may notice blood in their saliva for approximately 24 hours after surgery, but biting on gauze pads should relieve any bleeding. Swelling and pain can be treated with ice packs and over-the-counter pain relievers. A diet of soft foods and liquids is advised on the day of surgery, but patients may resume eating solid foods as soon as they feel comfortable doing so.

It is important to take any prescribed antibiotics to avoid infection in the surgical site. Additionally, patients should use the prescribed oral rinse twice daily, as well as warm saltwater rinses (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) four to five times each day. Patients should have no trouble brushing their teeth gently with the new abutments in place. As with any surgery, physical activity should be limited immediately following the procedure. Partial or full dentures may be worn after 10 days of healing.