Replace one tooth or transform your whole smile with advanced dental implant systems
Healthy teeth support efficient chewing, proper digestion, and good nutrition. They also support a confident, attractive smile and clear speech. Additionally, teeth that function well keep the supporting facial bone strong. For instance, the strength of the jaw depends on the stimulation it gets from the teeth (through functions such as grinding down food). Missing teeth accelerate the loss of bone. This destructive process worsens existing challenges with chewing and speaking and can prematurely age your face.
For these and other reasons, Boulevard Dental of Clearwater and Seminole, FL, recommends prompt tooth replacement, such as treatment with implants. In some cases, you never have to be seen without teeth! With options such as immediate implants, you do not give bone loss the chance to occur.
What are implants?
The dental implant is a cylinder made from biocompatible (“tissue-friendly”) materials such as titanium. It is shaped and designed to replicate a natural tooth root.
How do implants replace teeth?
Just like natural roots, the implant is placed in the jaw during a straightforward procedure. The titanium integrates or joins with the rest of the jawbone in the following weeks or months. It becomes a part of the jaw. So, it can act as a natural tooth root to stabilize the prosthetic tooth.
What if I need to replace more than one tooth?
No problem! While a single implant may support one tooth, a couple of implants may hold a dental bridge in place to replace two or more teeth. Or, as few as four to six strategically placed implants may be used to support an entire upper or lower arch of teeth in a denture. Restorations are generally placed on top of the implant. They are linked to the implant with connector pieces (or “abutments”). Alternatively, a denture base may “snap” into place.
How can so few implants support a denture?
The implants are positioned to provide maximum support and make the best possible use of available bone. For this reason, we can replace all of the teeth in the arch with a minimal number of implants. This approach to implant-supported dentures uses advanced techniques to minimize surgical sites, treatment time, and the costs associated with implants (as fewer implants are needed).
What are the benefits of implants?
Since the crown, bridge, or denture is connected to implants in the jaw, the replacement teeth are not going anywhere! They stay securely in place for optimal comfort, eating, and other functions. Grinding down food also keeps the supporting facial bone healthy and strong, which prevents the loss of bone in the jaw.
Clearwater
Seminole
Dental Implants
Dental implants are titanium roots, that are replaced with in the jawbone to resemble a tooth or group of teeth. A screw is inserted through the gums and into the jawbone. A porcelain crown is then attached to the screw to become the new tooth or teeth. They can be used to support dental prosthesis including crowns, dentures, and bridges. Today’s treatments are so natural looking, no one will know you had surgery. There’s approximately a 95% success rate for all implants. With modern advances in dentistry, some implants can be restored immediately with life like all porcelain crowns. For more details ask your dentist.
What if I already have existing bone loss?
Procedures such as bone grafting are generally recommended to build up bone. However, Boulevard Dental provides alternatives to additional surgical procedures to prepare the jaw for implants. Patients with existing bone loss may be candidates for short dental implants. As the word “short” suggests, these implants are smaller than “standard” implants. They may be applied through more conservative techniques, making this a suitable option for patients who cannot undergo surgery or who have inadequate bone mass to support implants. They also help reduce complications associated with the sinus cavities or nerves, allowing patients who might otherwise not be good candidates to benefit from dental implants. Likewise, our approach to placing implant-supported dentures may benefit those with more extensive needs. This approach can be “graft-less” due to how each implant is placed.
Are you holding on to painful, decayed teeth? Do you have gaps in your smile? Please don’t delay reaching out to us today. We look forward to completing your smile! Contact our Clearwater, FL office at (727) 758-2898. Or, if our Seminole office is more convenient for you, please call (727) 308-6224.
