Dental Implants Norwood
The Closest Alternative to Your Natural Teeth
Dental implants are used to replace teeth that have been lost. Through a surgical procedure, these artificial roots and teeth are placed directly into the bone. Implants replace teeth, restore chewing ability, and improve facial tissues in the process. Dental implants in Norwood are natural-looking, secure, and durable, and they can last for many years. By the time your treatment is complete, you won’t even be able to distinguish your natural teeth from your new restorations. Contact our office today to have your implant restored with a custom crown!
Why Choose Norwood Dental Care for Dental Implants?
- Ability to Complete Entire Procedure In-House
- Eliminate Slipping or Shifting of Dentures
- Prevents Jawbone Deterioration Due to Tooth Loss
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are shaped like screws and designed to replace the roots of your missing teeth. They’re crafted from titanium because the metal is biocompatible, meaning that it’s able to naturally fuse with your jawbone to provide blood flow and stimulation to it as well as offering your restoration and unmoving foundation to be attached to.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Receiving dental implants requires that you complete a four-step process, one that includes an initial consultation, dental implant surgery, osseointegration and abutment placement, and the final placement of your custom restoration. Dr. Michaels and our team are here to ensure each phase is successful. If you want to learn more about what you can expect in preparation for your new smile or how dental implants work in Norwood, keep reading or call us with any questions.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
During your consultation, Dr. Michaels will review your diagnostic images and discuss your oral health history and goals. Based on your discussion with Dr. Michaels and our team, we can walk you through all your treatment options, including whether dental implants are the right choice for you.
What we see when examining your mouth will help us determine whether you need additional preliminary care to create a healthier environment for your future implants. You may need treatment for gum disease, tooth extraction, or bone grafting.
Dental Implant Surgery
After reviewing your treatment plan with you, the next step is to schedule your dental implant placement. In some cases, we complete this in-house; in others, we may refer you to a local specialist. No matter how or where the procedure is performed, you will receive local anesthesia to numb your mouth before each dental implant is positioned. This requires opening your gums and inserting the implant to ensure optimal placement. When finished, your gum tissues will be closed, and protective healing caps will be put on top.
Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment
After your dental implant placement, you’ll be able to return to work within a day or two. However, your dental implants will fuse with your jawbone over the next 3 to 6 months (osseointegration). During this stage of treatment, you will need to follow the detailed instructions we provide. This is to ensure that you do not develop any complications.
After osseointegration has occurred, you’ll return to our office so your implant dentist in Norwood can attach small metal connector pieces, called abutments, to the tops of your dental implants. These will help hold your custom restoration in place once it is attached to your implant.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
The final step includes receiving your final restoration. When our team receives your custom crown, bridge, or denture from the dental laboratory, and after your gums have healed around your abutments, we will call you back in to secure your replacement teeth to your implants and complete your smile. We’ll make sure your bite feels comfortable and that you are pleased with the results.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are ideal for replacing teeth in a wide variety of situations. It doesn’t matter if you’re missing one tooth or an entire arch, implants can revitalize your smile!
Missing Single Tooth
If you’re missing one tooth, a single, titanium implant and implant-retained crown are sufficient for replacement. The crown is made entirely from porcelain, a dental ceramic that looks almost exactly like natural teeth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
If you’re missing two to four teeth, a dental bridge can be customized to fit with dental implants. Instead of relying on neighboring teeth to anchor restorations like traditional bridges, implant-retained bridges use two implants on either side to hold up to four teeth at a time.
Missing All Teeth
If a denture is not the direction you’d like to go, implant dentures are the perfect solution. By placing four to six implants strategically throughout the mouth, they can hold an entire arch. This effectively replaces an entire row of teeth while still offering a more stable denture in the process.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are often considered to be the most durable and long-lasting option for tooth replacement and for good reason. On average, implants last as long as 25 years and carry success rates as high as 98 percent after a 10-year period. But reliability isn’t the only reason people are choosing them over dentures and bridges; implants look almost identical to natural teeth once they’re placed. They even perform the same functions as natural teeth, including bone stimulation and providing blood flow to the jaw bone. These work to keep your biting force strong and prevent premature signs of aging (i.e. facial sagging, shrinking jaw.)
Finally, eating your favorite foods is rarely an issue with dental implants. Tough or crunchy foods like steak or apples are easy to chew, so you can create a diet that matches your lifestyle. Just make sure to practice daily oral care to prevent plaque buildup on your surrounding gums.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
It’s important to note that the amount you pay for implants will vary depending on your needs. For example, those who need an entire arch replaced instead of just one tooth are guaranteed to pay far more. Additionally, those who need preparatory treatments like bone grafts or sinus lifts will also see a higher cost. With that said, dental implants are considered to be a long-term investment that lasts for many decades. Compared to other tooth replacement methods, this makes them the most cost-effective solution for many individuals.