Are you missing a tooth? Is a tooth extremely damaged? Have you lost multiple teeth?
Out of all the tooth replacement options we offer, dental implants will give you the greatest value. You’ll be able to chew the foods you like. Your smile will look natural. And your tooth implant will last a lifetime.
What Are Dental Implants?
Each dental implant works like a natural tooth root. Our dentist uses an implant to attach a new tooth directly to your jaw—as a natural tooth is attached.
The anatomy of a tooth is as follows:
- The visible part of the tooth, the tip of the iceberg.
- The tooth root, which gives stability to a tooth.
- The inside of the tooth, also called “pulp.”
About 60% or more of the tooth is under the gums and in the jaw bone. A dental implant replaces that root.
Through implant surgery, the implant becomes a permanent part of the mouth, as solid and stable as a natural tooth root. Your jawbone fuses with it in a natural healing process.
Understanding the Dental Implants Process
How do you actually get a new tooth? Later in the dental implant process, if you need a single new tooth, we’ll attach it to your implant through an implant abutment.
That’s called a tooth crown.
If you need multiple new teeth, we may use a dental bridge, which often holds two or more teeth or implant-supported dentures.
Before we get to that point at the dentist office, we’ll take you through several steps, starting with a FREE consultation. At this first meeting, we’ll make sure implants are right for you through these steps:
- Site Assessment: Your dentist will evaluate your tooth loss site or the extent of damage to a tooth or teeth.
- Dental Scans: We’ll use digital dental X-rays to see if you have enough jawbone to hold an implant.
- Health Check: You’ll get an exam of your dental health, ensuring that your gums and teeth are free of infection and disease. We may recommend general dentistry services if needed.
- Records Check: Your dentist will look over your dental and health records.
Ask any questions you have for your family dentist during your consultation. We can discuss the tooth implant process, schedule, dental implant cost, and more.
Preparing For Dental Implant Placement
Before we can schedule you for your implant placement, we’ll need to help you get your oral health in a good position. This means:
- No smoking: You should stop smoking and using any tobacco process for at least a few months before you plan to get surgery, as well as at least 6 months afterward to keep your gums and teeth as healthy as possible during the whole process.
- Good gum health: Your gums also need to be free of gum disease or periodontitis. This can weaken your bones, put you at serious risk of infection, and hurt your recovery period. We can help give you a gum disease treatment procedure beforehand to speed this process up.
Directly Before the Placement
We’ll give you more specific information on the days leading up to your appointment on foods and drinks to avoid before your treatment. In most cases, we’ll require you to fast for several hours before your surgery to avoid complications with the anesthesia and sedation.
Dental Implant Surgery
Our dental specialist will place each implant through a well-practiced, safe dental surgery. Dental implants are historically one of the most successful of all dental surgeries.
- Impressions: At the dental clinic, we thoroughly prepare for your implants using 3D scans and models, planning exactly where and how the implant will rest.
- Anesthesia: Using sedation dentistry, we’ll make sure you’re comfortable before, during, and after the implant procedure.
- Implantation: We’ll then place the implant into your jaw. How long does a dental implant procedure take? Usually, each implantation is about an hour.
- Healing: Afterward, we’ll send you how to rest and recover. Implants take about 2–4 months to integrate with the jaw and become the stable base for a new tooth.
Abutment and Crown Placement
After your recovery time, we’ll meet with you again and place an implant abutment on your implant. This creates a small platform to which we’ll attach your dental crown, which is your new tooth.
You’ll be able to brush and floss all your teeth in the usual way. When an implant is successful, you won’t notice a difference between your natural and replacement teeth.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
You can continue to use the implant for a very long time, replacing the crown on top or even moving on to a bridge or denture. Each dental implant is made of extremely strong titanium, which has many advantages, including:
- Compatability with the human body.
- Strength to support chewing.
- Can last the rest of your life.
Remember, the implant is the metal post or tooth root that joins naturally to your jawbone. The visible dental crown may be made of other materials, including porcelain, which can wear out eventually, but the metal implant can never wear out.
What Kind of Dentist Places Dental Implants?
Any dentist can become trained and experienced with dental implants. Of course, every individual dentist decides whether to practice implants or refer patients to others.
We have chosen to make implants more convenient for our patients by keeping the process in-house at our dentist office in Calgary. You’ll have the security and convenience of meeting with just your one local dentist throughout.
For Quality Dental Implant Placement, Contact Our Office Today!
Remember, the first step to a beautiful smile is a FREE implant consultation, which will include the following:
- A meeting with our dentist at our comfortable practice.
- All the information you need to make a smart decision for your health.
- No risk to you, financial or otherwise.
- Valuable scans and feedback from your local dentist.
If you proceed with your implants, you’ll have a durable investment in a new tooth that will last a lifetime.
Contact East Village Dental now to get your free, no-risk consultation in a caring office in Calgary.