Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. Dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture.
Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone. Integration of the implants into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural and some people also find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes.
Candidates for dental implants need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. A thorough evaluation by your dentist will help determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants.
Some patients at our Cherry Hill, NJ, dental clinic are disappointed to learn that they can’t get dental implants right away due to another pre-existing condition, but oftentimes our dentist can help correct this condition so that the tooth implant procedure can be completed.
If you have been missing teeth for several years or more, you may lack adequate bone mass to place the implant post. That’s because once you lose a tooth, your jawbone begins to recede in this area. Replacing the tooth with a dental implant tricks the jaw into thinking there is a natural tooth there, and it keeps the bone healthy and strong. If our dentist finds that your jawbone is not strong enough, we can usually do a bone graft. For bone grafts, we either use a piece of your own bone or synthetic bone. After a period of time in which the new bone integrates with the old, we can proceed with the dental implant.
While sometimes patients with gum disease cannot get tooth implants right away, our dentist may be able to correct the condition if it has not progressed too far. Periodontitis, if not treated in time, can lead to a patient’s teeth loosening and even falling out. Our dentist will clean out the pockets of infection in your gums, and may also perform scaling and root planing to clean away plaque, tartar and bacteria. Advanced periodontitis may require gum grafting.
Tooth Implants
Problem
Missing teeth.
Solution
Dental implants are the most realistic tooth replacements available. Implants begin with a surgically placed post that is securely anchored into the jawbone. The bone surrounding the anchor will heal in approximately six months. With a completely solid and stable anchor point, an artificial tooth is then installed. The end result is a new artificial tooth that is virtually indistinguishable from a natural tooth, both from an aesthetic and functional standpoint. In cases where several teeth are missing, dental implants can also act as the teeth to which bridges are fixed, again perfectly mimicking the function of healthy, natural teeth.
Alternatives
A bridge or partial dentures may be considered if the financial burden of dental implants is too great.
Implant Dentures
Problem
Ill fitting, loose dentures. While dentures that are loose and ill fitting make eating difficult, they can cause painful sore spots on the gums as they slide around while chewing.
Solution
An implant denture may be the answer. Usually two to four implants are surgically placed in the bone and become anchored as the bone heals and secures itself to the implant. This healing process takes about six months after which the dentist can begin constructing an implant denture. An implant denture is a removable denture with attachments on the underside that clip onto a bar connected to the implants. The attachments and bar hold the denture in place and keep it from moving when chewing and speaking. Implant dentures can be classified into two groups: Implant Retained Dentures and Implant Supported Dentures. Implant Retained Dentures are held in place by the attachments, but are mainly supported by the bone and gum tissue as is a conventional denture. Implant Supported Dentures are for patients who do not have sufficient bone and supporting gum tissue. This denture is mainly supported by the bar attached to the implants.
Alternatives
New dentures may be considered if the financial burden of dental implants is too great.
How Getting Dental Implants Can Change Your Life
Having missing teeth can be stressful and embarrassing. You may avoid social gatherings, shy away from speaking up at work and spend more time alone. This can affect your mood, your career and even how much you enjoy life. But there is an easy solution: dental implants.
Of all the methods of teeth replacement — dentures, bridges, tooth implants — dental implants are the best. They’re stronger, more durable, they last longer and they function just like your natural teeth. Some patients at our Cherry Hill, NJ, dentist office who need a replacement tooth choose a bridge instead of a dental implant because insurance more often pays a portion of the cost of a bridge. However, bridges usually last about 10 years, while dental implants can last a lifetime.
If you have missing teeth, make an appointment at our dentist office today to talk about which teeth replacement method is best for you.
All-on-X
A reason to smile again: Full mouth dental implants
Can just four implants replace all of the teeth on the top or the bottom of your mouth? Thanks to advances in dental implant technology, that answer is a resounding yes.
Believe it or not, tooth loss is extremely common among adults, especially as we age. In fact, more than 35 million people in America are missing all of their upper and/or lower teeth. Rather than living with the discomfort and hassles of dentures, many people are opting for what is called full mouth dental implant restoration.
One full arch of teeth, four dental implants
To fully understand this remarkable technique for replacing teeth, you should first understand what a dental implant is. An implant is a small titanium screw that fits inside your jawbone and replaces the root-part of a missing tooth. Minor surgery is required to insert the implants. Once the implant is in place, a crown is attached to give you a highly realistic-looking and functional prosthetic tooth.
Here's where it gets really interesting: You do not need a dental implant for each and every one of your missing teeth. All you need is four precisely placed implants on the top of your mouth, and four on the bottom, to restore your full smile. That's the beauty of the full arch. And because the implant is made of titanium, it has the unique ability to fuse to living bone and function as part of it. So eventually, the dental implant becomes part of the jawbone and serves as a strong, long-lasting foundation for your new teeth.
Besides ensuring that your implants are permanently fixed in place, this bone fusion has another important benefit: it can prevent future bone loss in the jaw. This helps to maintain a more youthful facial structure—and better oral health. But perhaps the biggest surprise about the full arch is how quickly it can transform your life.
Yes, you can get a radiant, new smile in just one day
By combining the precise technology of the full mouth procedure with the expertise of our implant teams, Barclay Family Dental has developed a way to give most patients a new smile in one day.
Here's why the all-inclusive approach at Barclay Family Dental works for people who are missing a majority of their teeth:
- Your team of doctors, lab technicians and equipment are all in one patient-centered facility
- We're able to place the dental implants and the arches of your new teeth in your mouth
- You leave our center with a natural looking, fully functioning set of teeth—all in one day
- After your day at Barclay Family Dental, your new smile will look and feel great, but it's only temporary. You see, it takes dental implants some time to heal and fuse to your jawbone. Once that happens, you'll come back in and your team will replace your temporary teeth with a permanent, customized smile designed just for you.
How do you know if the full mouth treatment from Barclay Family Dental is the right option for you?
Every Barclay Family Dental Dental Implant Center offers a free consultation for first-time patients. At your consultation, a free 3D CT Scan will be taken. This scan will help determine if you need implants and assist your doctors in creating your treatment plan. So if you want to learn more about dental implants and Barclay Family Dental's unique all-inclusive treatment approach, simply schedule your free consultation. It's the best way to find out how dental implants can change your life.