Millions of Americans are missing one or more of their teeth, causing a myriad of issues. When you have gaps in your smile, eating your favorite foods is difficult, and certain healthy foods are too difficult to chew without a complete set of teeth. Smiling and speaking correctly can be embarrassing when missing teeth affect your self-confidence.
Not only that but without your tooth’s root to stimulate your jawbone, you can suffer from bone density loss, making dental implants a popular tooth replacement option from your dentist in 60091. This complete guide to dental implants will give you everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
Understanding Dental Implants
Dental implants from your Wilmette dentist are an effective way to replace missing teeth and restore your smile and oral health. The dental implant serves as your tooth’s root, stimulating your jawbone and providing the stability and functionality of your natural teeth.
Your dental implants will be made of biocompatible titanium that will fuse with your jawbone. Then, a connector known as an abutment is added. The final step is to attach a dental restoration to the abutment. For a single tooth, that’s a dental crown. For more than one missing tooth, your restoration might be a fixed bridge or denture.
The Benefits of Choosing Dental Implants
When you are deciding between dental implants and other tooth replacement options, such as removable dentures, it’s essential to consider the following benefits:
Functionality — Your dental implants will function like your natural teeth. You can eat all your favorite foods without worrying about your teeth slipping or shifting.
Confidence — After replacing your teeth with dental implants, you can enjoy improved confidence and self-esteem. You won’t have to avoid social situations anymore and can smile in pictures without embarrassment.
Longevity — With proper care, your dental implants can provide you with a lifetime of smiles.
Easy Care — You will care for your dental implants much like you care for your natural teeth. Unlike dentures, you won’t have to worry about adhesives or other special products and won’t have to remove your teeth to clean them.
Jaw Health – Because each dental implant acts as your tooth’s root and becomes part of your jaw, you can maintain your jawbone density over time.
The Dental Implant Procedure
When you visit our dental office to discuss your tooth replacement options, we will follow these steps to give you the smile of your dreams:
- Assessment — The first step in the dental implant process is to evaluate your mouth to see if you’re a good candidate for dental implants. We will take x-rays to determine whether you have sufficient bone density and check to ensure your gums are healthy. If you are a good candidate for dental implants, we will form a treatment plan that fits your timeline and budget.
- Bone grafts — If your jawbone isn’t dense enough to support dental implants, the next step would be to perform bone grafts to improve the amount of healthy bone at the implant site. Any areas that undergo bone grafts need healing before the dental implants are placed.
- Implant placement — The next step is surgically placing your dental implants into your jaw. We will ensure your comfort before beginning this part of the implant procedure. If you are uncomfortable after your implants are placed, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Implant healing — Your implants will take several months to heal and integrate with your jaw so that we will place temporary restorations in the meantime.
- Abutment and restoration placement — Once your mouth has had time to heal, we will attach the abutments and dental restorations, either dental crowns, a bridge, or a denture.
Caring for Your Dental Implants
One of the tremendous benefits of dental implants is how easy they are to maintain. You will treat your dental implants just like your natural teeth. Follow these steps for success:
- Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Avoid abrasive products; use toothpaste and mouthwash for sensitive teeth.
- Avoid sticky and hard foods such as hard candy, chips, carrots, and caramel, as they can damage your implants.
- Use floss, an interdental brush, or Waterpik® each day to remove debris from between your implants.
- Visit your dentist every six months for regular checkups and cleanings.
- Contact your dentist right away if your implants are loose or if you are showing signs of infection.
Considering Dental Implants in Wilmette, IL?
If you think dental implants might be a good tooth replacement option for you, we’d love to help! At Wilmette Dental Institute, we aim to help you achieve optimal oral health and love your smile. Dental implants may be the best way to accomplish both. Contact our dental office at (847) 251-3110 for more information or to schedule a consultation.
We look forward to hearing from you!