Your quality of life doesn’t have to suffer just because you’ve lost one or more teeth. Dr. Cappello has multiple options for filling in that empty space in order to restore regular speaking and chewing capabilities. However, if you want the confidence that a stable, natural-looking smile can bring, your best bet will be dental implants. Call us today to schedule a consultation; if you’re a good implant candidate, our experienced team can provide you with functioning, beautiful teeth that might just last a lifetime.
An implant is a titanium post that mimics the roots of your teeth. Titanium is a biocompatible metal; once it is in the jaw, it will start to fuse with the nearby tissue in a process called osseointegration. This turns the implant into a permanent fixture in your mouth that feels both comfortable and natural. An implant can support a crown or another type of restoration that replaces one or more teeth in an arch.
Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement. Because they rebuild lost teeth from the roots up, they offer benefits that non-implant treatment options cannot measure up to. For example, they can provide a strong bite force and promote jawbone health. If you would like to learn how they can benefit you personally, contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cappello.
According to one survey, 34% of denture wearers say that dentures limit their ability to live life to the fullest. If you can relate to them, dental implants may be the solution you have been hoping for. Some of the lifestyle benefits they offer include:
The benefits of dental implants extend beyond improving everyday quality of life. They offer some health advantages, including:
Dental implants are designed to permanently replace teeth. In most cases, they accomplish that goal. In fact, they boast a 90 – 95% success rate even 10 years after placement. Plus, their longevity makes them an excellent monetary value. Over the course of a few decades, they may be even cheaper than non-implant tooth replacement options, such as dentures, that need to be replaced every 5 – 10 years or so.
That’s a question we can only answer once we’ve had the chance to thoroughly examine your mouth. We need to confirm that the bone structure is strong enough to hold a dental implant. Also, your gums need to still be healthy and safe for treatment; gum disease and other infections typically lead to implant failure. Potential complications will be dealt with before the implant surgery.
You can consider having dental implants placed in any of the following circumstances:
A single dental implant can be placed in the gap where missing tooth originally was. Once the mouth has healed around the implant, a crown is created and anchored to it. Using an implant-retained crown means we don’t have to remove enamel from nearby teeth for a dental bridge.
When missing a few or several teeth in a row, some patients are afraid that they’ll have to get multiple implants to replace each and every single one of them. Instead, we can use a pair of implants to support a dental bridge to fill in the entire space at once.
Even patients who are facing life without any natural teeth can get dental implants. In many cases, a full denture can be anchored to as little as four dental implant posts. Implant dentures don’t have to be removed at night, and they can be brushed and flossed as though they were real teeth.
To ensure the most predictable and successful dental implant treatment possible, Dr. Cappello and his team partner with some of the leading dental implant specialists in the area to complete the surgical portion of your treatment. By doing this, every aspect of your treatment is managed by highly trained experts. Once our trusted specialist has completed your surgery, you’ll come back to our dental office to have the replacement root covered with your custom-tailored restoration.
There is no universal price for the dental implant procedure. It’s different for every patient based on their circumstances. The number of implant posts, the need for preparatory procedures, and the current state of your oral health all need to be considered. Getting implants is a long-term investment; not only will you enjoy the benefits for decades to come, but since the implants are less likely to need to be replaced over time, you’ll save time and money in the long run.
If you’re trying to make a decision about whether to get dental implants, it’s normal to have questions. After all, this treatment is one of the most complex in dentistry. Dr. Cappello and the rest of our team want to help you make the right choice for your smile, which is why we invite you to ask whatever questions you may have. We’ve taken the liberty of answering some common questions here for your convenience, but if you have others, we encourage you to write them down and schedule a consultation. We can talk about your concerns in person!
The timeline for getting implants varies from patient to patient, and there are certain circumstances that can prolong the process. For instance, if you require a bone graft or gum disease therapy, we’ll need to wait and resolve the issue before starting implant treatment. Also, recovery from the placement procedure can take anywhere between three and six months. After that, it should take us several weeks to get your restoration created at the lab. Overall, we usually estimate implants taking about six months up to a year from start to finish, but again, we need to review your case before we make that assessment.
Right after the placement procedure, you may be given a list of restricted foods and told to eat soft foods like oatmeal and yogurt. This diet is only temporary to allow your jawbone time to surround the implant and give them stability. Once the implant is fully integrated with the bone and restored, you may resume a normal diet. Just keep in mind that, although implant restorations won’t decay, they can chip, crack, or sustain other damage like real teeth, so you may wish to be a little extra careful with excessively hard, crunchy, or sticky foods.
As a result of their realistic structure, dental implants also replicate natural teeth in appearance. They keep the jawbone strong, which provides a more youthful facial shape. If you look at an implant, you may worry that the titanium post may be visible above the gumline. We assure you that part will be well hidden beneath the gums’ surface. Your lifelike restoration is designed to look completely natural, which means that most new people you meet aren’t likely to tell you have replacement teeth at all.
Your dental implants’ lifespan will greatly depend on your ability to take good care of them. Otherwise, complications and infections could come up and cause implant failure. Fortunately, implants only require daily brushing and flossing as well as regular checkups with Dr. Cappello. With the proper maintenance, implants can last for longer than two or even three decades! Other ways to extend their longevity include drinking more water, reducing your sugar intake, and stopping bad habits like smoking or chewing on ice.
