Explore the Benefits of Dental Implants
When considering tooth replacement options you’ll soon discover there’s no better solution than dental implants. Unlike traditional restorations such as conventional bridges and dentures, implants are directly anchored to the jawbone for a secure fit.
Dental implants are the only tooth replacement solution that takes advantage of osseointegration, a process in which the jawbone fuses with the implant fixture. It’s this process that provides many of the benefits that implants offer.
People often choose dental implants for tooth replacement because they:
Restore Full Function
Traditional tooth loss solutions can slip out of place making it difficult to chew hard or sticky foods. But because dental implants are secured to the jawbone, they restore your ability to chew foods that may have been previously off-limits.
Provide a Safe and Long Lasting Solution
Dental implants have a high success rate compared to other tooth restoration options and are very long lasting. In fact, your implant fixture can last a lifetime if cared for properly.
Your tooth restoration–single crown, multi-tooth bridge, or full denture–can be replaced from time to time to refresh the appearance of your smile.
Improve Your Appearance
Your tooth restoration will be designed to blend in with your natural teeth, creating a rejuvenated appearance. In addition, because dental implants take the place of the natural tooth’s roots they stimulate jawbone growth, preventing premature wrinkling and the sunken facial appearance that is common in people who are missing many or all of their teeth.
Boost Your Confidence
When you replace missing teeth with dental implants, you can eat, speak, and smile with confidence knowing that your restorations will always stay in place and look amazing. Whether you need to replace a single tooth or many teeth, dental implants can give you the confidence to live your life to the fullest!
Can Be Cared For Like Natural Teeth
Designed to look and feel like natural teeth, dental implants can be cleaned the same way you do the rest of your teeth. A consistent routine of brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist for professional cleanings and checkups will ensure all of your teeth, and your dental implants, stay healthy for a lifetime.
Protect Your Dental and Overall Health
Dental implants help protect your health in many ways. They prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting out of place by filling in the gaps left by missing teeth. These gaps can also be the perfect spot for food particles and bacteria to collect, so by filling them in, dental implants minimize your risk of tooth decay and infection. They also help maintain bone density, resulting in a strong, healthy jawbone that helps protect the health of your entire mouth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental implants are the only tooth replacement solution designed to last a lifetime with proper oral care and regular checkups to our office. Each implant acts like your natural tooth root to provide support and durability for your restoration.
Made of a biocompatible material, dental implants fuse naturally to your jawbone to help regenerate lost bone density. This improves your overall health and enhances your facial appearance as it reduces wrinkling and defines jawlines.
The cost of your dental implant treatment depends on a variety of factors and is different for each patient. Things that will affect the price of your procedure include:
- How many implants are needed
- Supplementary procedures
- The condition of your oral health
- What your insurance will cover
You can get a better idea about the cost of your dental implant treatment during your consultation with Dr. Heffelfinger after he examines your dental health.
Caring for your dental implants can directly impact the success of your treatment. Immediate post-op care, maintaining good oral hygiene, using the right products, and visiting our Auburn dental office for regular checkups is essential.
Following your procedure, you should:
- Avoid eating hard foods
- Rinse regularly with warm salt water
- Don’t use a straw or spit
- Refrain from smoking or drinking alcohol
Additionally, your hygiene routine should be the same as with your natural teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush, a gentle toothpaste, nylon-coated floss, and avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol as an ingredient.
Yes, dental implants are a safe solution for tooth loss that offers many benefits. Since each implant is made of the biocompatible titanium material, you’ll tooth replacement will feel and function just like a natural tooth.
Dental implants reinstate functionality so you can eat and speak with ease, protect your mouth from infection and disease, strengthens your jawbone, enhances your appearance, and boosts your confidence.
Typically, insurance will cover a portion of your dental implant procedure, but not the entire cost. Dental implants are a restorative treatment for your health, so most providers may cover up to half of the procedure.
If you don’t have dental insurance and are worried about paying for your treatment, we offer various financing options that can help with the costs. Learn more about the costs of your dental implants during your consultation or by giving our Auburn office a call.
If you encounter a complication with your dental implant, you should give our team a call immediately so we can get you in for an exam (260) 925-4290. Dr. Heffelfinger will need to check your implant area and restoration to see if they have become loose or become infected.
Once we get you in for an appointment, we’ll be able to restore your problem back to health and function.