Dental Implants – Chanhassen, MN

What Are Dental Implants?

Other tooth replacements, like dental bridges and dentures, only replicate the parts of the teeth you can see. So, they leave much to be desired in terms of how they look and feel. Dental implants go a step further by replacing the roots of the teeth with a titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone. They can then support a crown, bridge, or denture for many decades to come. With their comprehensive structure, dental implants are the closest thing to having your original teeth back!

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

• Consultation – Our team reviews your dental health and medical history to determine your eligibility for implants and complete any preparatory work if needed.
• Surgery – We can conveniently place dental implants in our dental office. Your gums are opened, and the posts are positioned in preplanned locations in your jaw.
• Osseointegration/Abutment – The success of dental implants depends on osseointegration, the process of the jawbone fusing to the implant posts. This could take up to six months, after which you return to receive metal attachments called abutments atop your implants.
• Restoration – We affix a crown, bridge, or denture to the abutments, restoring the visible parts of your teeth.

Benefits of Dental Implants

• Because of their sturdy foundation in the jawbone, dental implants will never shift around when speaking or eating. Plus, you can chew just as easily as you did with your natural teeth.
• The jawbone usually starts shrinking after tooth loss, but implants stimulate it to preserve its strength and shape.
• Dentures and bridges tend to only last for five to ten years, but implants can last for 30+ years, with many patients enjoying them for a lifetime.
• Dental implants can easily be maintained with daily brushing and flossing as well as regular checkups with a dentist.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

One of the many great things about dental implants is their versatility. Our team can use this solution to help patients complete their smiles no matter how many teeth they’re missing. After we’ve verified that your mouth and body are healthy enough to receive implants, we can determine which of the following treatments would best meet your needs.

Missing One Tooth

To bring back a single missing tooth, we can place one implant post between two remaining teeth and then attach a custom-made dental crown on top. Since the adjacent teeth don’t need to be reshaped to make room for the implant, this approach is actually less invasive than placing a dental bridge.

Missing Multiple Teeth

For a few missing teeth in a row, one implant can be placed at each end of the gap to anchor a dental bridge that doesn’t rely on natural teeth for support. Several nonconsecutive teeth may be replaced with a small number of implants positioned throughout the arch, which can hold a reliable partial denture in place.

Missing All Teeth

Even a whole row of teeth can be recovered with dental implants. Just four to six posts angled in specific ways can provide ample support for a full denture that is more lifelike than a traditional prosthetic could ever be. Implant dentures let you chew practically any food without worrying about slippage. 

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Dental implants may initially seem pricier than other tooth replacements, but in the long run, they’re actually the more cost-effective choice. They can last exponentially longer than any other option, saving you the costs of frequently replacing your prosthetics. The cost of dental implants varies for each patient based on factors like how many implants are needed, where in the mouth they’ll be placed, and which type of restoration they’ll support. Our team will go over these factors and how to make your treatment affordable with insurance and financing.

Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants

Ultimately, dental implants could give you a vibrant smile for a lifetime. They can, after all, last for decades at a time! Still, it’s a fact that implants need regular maintenance. The prosthetics will fail early from damage or infection otherwise. Should that happen, you may have to get replacements. Luckily, Dentistry on the Ponds is here to help: below are some tips on dental implant care in Chanhassen. Please read them over to take precautions and enjoy your new smile for many years!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

True, dental implants can’t develop cavities; they’re made of artificial materials like porcelain and ceramic. Even so, these prosthetic teeth still need you to practice good oral hygiene.

 

Implants, you’ll recall, sit next to your natural teeth and gums. As such, they could loosen and fail if you develop a tooth infection or gum disease. Such conditions, you see, can erode the bone tissue supporting the restorations.

 

Given these facts, ensure your whole mouth stays clean. More specifically, brush twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse with mouthwash often.

 

Eat a Healthy Diet

Since implants restore your bite force, they let you eat a wide range of foods. Still, you’re better off sticking to a mouth-healthy diet if possible.

 

In reality, some foods pose a risk to your implants. For instance, hard items like pretzels, nuts, and jawbreakers can chip them. Similarly, sticky and sugary things easily get wedged between implants and decay nearby teeth.

 

To avoid complications, eat foods that contain calcium and vitamin C. Good examples include certain fruits, lean proteins, and leafy greens. Their nutrients will help prevent gum disease and strengthen your jaw.

Break Bad Habits

In some cases, bad oral habits can also cause implant failure. So, quit these practices as best you can.

 

One such habit you’ll want to break is smoking. In truth, tobacco products slow recovery from implant surgery and promote gum disease. Consequently, continued use of them will cause implants to fail.

 

Harsh biting is something else to avoid. Biting nails, chewing ice, and using teeth as tools could chip or break an implant.

 

Protect Your Dental Implants

Dental implants may be strong, but they aren’t indestructible. They can and will break if subjected to enough force. Therefore, take some precautions to protect them.

 

Your best option is to wear oral appliances in risky situations. A mouthguard for sports, naturally, would keep you from getting dental chips or cracks. A nightguard for sleep, meanwhile, would keep your implants safe from tooth grinding.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

To fully ensure your implants work, attend dental checkups every six months or so. The appointments will address any issues your home care might miss.

 

Remember, dental checkups are the premier form of preventive dentistry. They let a dentist monitor your oral health and spot problems early. That being the case, you can trust them to maintain your implants. Each visit will diagnose and treat issues before your prosthetics are threatened.