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When it comes to tooth replacement, dental implants are the best and most popular choice with patients for several reasons.
Dental implants both function and appear exactly like your natural teeth, which means not only will you regain your natural smile and ability to chew, but caring for them is also just as easy as caring for your regular teeth.
Most people who choose dental implants can tell you that they even forget which tooth is the implant because it so closely resembles their natural tooth.
One of the best ways to learn more about dental implants and to reassure yourself that they’re the right choice is to hear from other patients about their experience with implants.
You can also call our office in Kennewick at 509-783-7600 and we will answer your questions about dental implants and schedule your consultation with one of our wonderful oral surgeons.
Dental implants are one of the best long-term options for permanently restoring one or more missing teeth. Missing teeth can cause a variety of oral health problems in addition to making everyday functions, like chewing and smiling, more difficult.
Dental implants look and function just like natural teeth, allowing you to eat and smile with confidence and avoid associated oral health problems.
A dental implant consists of three main parts: the medical-grade titanium implant post, the custom-made crown, and the connecting abutment.
The dental implant post is placed in the jaw and naturally integrates with the jawbone, providing a secure base for a custom-made porcelain crown. This crown is fabricated to look just like your missing natural tooth or teeth and is firmly secured to the implant post through the connecting abutment. This solid foundation allows patients to experience a lifetime of benefits if their dental implants are cared for properly.
The three-part design allows oral surgeons to provide patients with the most functional, natural-looking, aesthetically pleasing restoration possible.
Other restorative options, such as a bridge, do not restore the entire tooth; they merely restore the crown. This means there is nothing to stimulate the jawbone since the tooth’s root has not been restored. This can cause the jawbone to shrink, resulting in shifting and loosening of healthy teeth over time.
By using the three-part design, oral surgeons eliminate the jawbone issues that are caused by the missing tooth root. Traditional restorations also rely on the strength of remaining natural teeth to bear their burden, damaging otherwise healthy teeth. The dental implant screw provides a sturdy base for the restorative crown, which ensures that the health of the mouth is maintained.
Dental implants are one of the most versatile tooth restoration options. Dental implants can be used to restore individual teeth, multiple missing teeth as part of a bridge, a full set of teeth through full-arch restoration, and even as a temporary anchorage device for orthodontic treatment. This versatility makes them one of the most attractive options for tooth replacement.
When placed properly by a trained oral surgeon, dental implants can last a lifetime. The team at Columbia Basin Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons works with every patient to understand their individual needs and provide treatment that will provide the desired results.
If you are interested in scheduling a consultation to learn more about dental implants, please contact our office in Kennewick, WA, to meet with one of our highly trained oral surgeons.
Placing dental implants is typically a two-part process — one surgical procedure to place the implant screw and a second procedure to secure the custom-made crown and complete the restoration.
The placement, fabrication, and final restoration process is completed hand in hand with our fantastic network of restorative dentists in the Tri-Cities area.
To begin the placement of your dental implants, you will first receive a consultation with one of our highly qualified oral surgeons. They will perform a thorough oral examination and form a specialized treatment plan just for you.
We will review your options for anesthesia and answer any questions you may have about the treatment. It is our goal to ensure that every patient feels well informed and confident about their treatment prior to the surgical visit. The surgical procedure to place your dental implants is typically the next step of treatment. If extensive extraction or bone grafting procedures must be completed to prepare the mouth to receive implants, these procedures may be performed before your dental implant placement to ensure the mouth has ample time to heal.
Next, the oral surgeon will restore the empty tooth site by placing the dental implant post into its proper position in the jawbone. An anesthetic will be administered to maximize comfort during the surgery, and the type used will have been determined by you and your surgeon during your initial consultation. All our surgeons are highly trained in the administration of anesthesia, and dental implant placement is an outpatient procedure that should not take more than an hour or two.
Once the implant has been placed, the surgical site will be closed, and you will begin the healing process. Some patients use a temporary prosthesis so that they do not have to go without teeth during this healing phase.
Typically, a few months of healing time are required to allow the implant to integrate with the jawbone. The oral surgeon will provide specific post-operative care instructions to ensure that the proper steps are taken to maximize implant success. A connective piece will eventually be attached to the dental implant post to anchor your new crown to the implant.
Once your jaw has healed, your general dentist will attach the new tooth or bridge to the implant, and you can begin reaping the benefits of your new smile.
If you are interested in learning more about dental implants or your upcoming procedure, please contact our office in Kennewick, WA. We would be happy to answer any questions you have and schedule your consultation.
With any surgical procedure, one concern for many patients is the cost of dental implants. Patients typically want to ensure that the treatment itself is worth its value. We are happy to tell our patients that dental implants are usually the best investment that you can make when it comes to restoring missing teeth.
The cost associated with the procedure itself is dependent on several factors that will be determined before agreeing to treatment. Our oral surgeons will scrutinize each unique situation, taking into consideration the patient’s health history, the number of missing teeth, the need for extractions or bone grafting, and the relationship of adjacent structures in the mouth such as the nerves and sinuses.
Next, a custom treatment plan will be tailored to achieve optimal results. While some advertisements may boast bargain dental implants, it is important to understand that the only way to get an accurate cost assessment is through a thorough consultation with a trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
At Columbia Basin Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, the patient’s desired outcome is our top priority. We make every effort to work hand in hand with our patients to ensure we fully understand their restorative goals and develop a plan that best suits these needs.
Dental implants offer a wide variety of benefits over other tooth restoration options, such as bridges and removable dentures. The numerous benefits of dental implants make them a popular restorative option for patients who are missing one or more teeth.
Dental implants can last a lifetime if they are properly cared for and provide patients with a natural-looking restoration. Patients who are pursuing dental implants for tooth restoration are happy to find that they receive an array of benefits from their selection.
When you choose to restore your teeth with dental implants, there is no risk of your flipper or denture falling out or becoming dislodged. A dental implant functions just like a natural tooth because the implant post integrates directly with your jawbone.
This integration allows you to eat almost anything you like! In fact, most patients report that dental implants feel like natural teeth once they have healed.
The custom-made crown, which attaches to the dental implant, is designed to look identical to a healthy, natural tooth. You will be able to enjoy a beautiful, healthy-looking smile once your implant has healed. Many patients express that they can’t tell the difference between their natural teeth and their dental implants.
When a tooth is lost, the jawbone slowly begins to deteriorate in the area surrounding the missing tooth site. A missing tooth also puts more pressure on surrounding teeth, which can cause tooth shifting and even jaw misalignment.
Dental implants can help preserve the shape of your jaw while taking the burden off your remaining healthy teeth. Other tooth replacement options, such as tooth-supported bridges, require support from surrounding teeth, which can damage the remaining healthy teeth. Dental implants are a complete restoration system, stimulating the jawbone and working with healthy teeth to accomplish tasks such as chewing.
If you are healthy enough to have a tooth extracted, you are likely healthy enough to have a dental implant placed. Some people do not have enough remaining jawbone to support dental implants, but it is often possible to restore the bone through bone grafting or other bone regeneration treatments before the implant placement.
Dental implants can be used to support a single tooth restoration, a bridge or a full denture. No matter what your restoration needs are, there is a dental implant solution to restore your oral function and smile.
Schedule a consultation with one of our qualified oral surgeons at our practice in Kennewick, WA. Our team will gladly perform a full consultation to answer any questions you may have about the benefits of choosing dental implants for your tooth restoration.