When you are missing a tooth, the look, feel, and function of your mouth can feel awkward. Fortunately for our patients in Fayette County, Linton Dental provides dental implants to meet your tooth replacement needs. A dental implant involves three major pieces: a titanium post, an abutment, and the restoration (usually a dental crown). Patients love dental implants because their new dental implant will restore tooth-root functionality, without sacrificing their looks.
Dental Implant Services at Linton Dental
Dr. Brian Linton, Dr. Frank Rogers, and Dr. Hannah Voelker are your restorative dentists and dental implant specialists in Peachtree City, GA. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons provide dental implants for patients looking for an option to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are the premier tooth replacement option. They offer patients the restored look, feel, and function of their natural teeth.
The process is straightforward, but takes a couple of months to complete. First, your dentist or oral surgeon will place a titanium post beneath your soft tissues and into your jaw bone. We will let your mouth heal over a couple of months. Then, the dentist will attach an abutment to the fused post. Finally, he will attach the abutment and a dental crown to complete the dental implant process.
Are Dental Implants Right for Me?
We can evaluate your smile and see if you are a good candidate for dental implants and oral-facial surgery. A dental implant surgery is a permanent solution for restoring the look and full function of your mouth if you have missing teeth. To ensure that a dental implant will succeed for you, we will have to check a couple of things.
First, you need to be free of gum disease. If you have gum disease, we will need to treat it with periodontal disease treatment so that the dental implant has a healthy foundation. Next, we need to check if you have enough supporting jawbone structure for your implant. Without enough bone in your jaw, your implant may become loose and not function properly.
If you do not have enough bone tissue to support dental implants, you may need bone graft surgery. After an evaluation and x-rays, we will let you know if you are a good candidate for a dental implant, or if you will need to address existing issues first.
The Benefits of Dental Implants:
- Dental implants have a 95% rate of success and offer comfortable and minimally invasive treatment.
- Dental implants do not need routine replacement, unlike removable tooth replacement options.
- When a dentist secures a dental implant to the jawbone, it will naturally bond with the bone as it heals over 3 to 6 months. Once your mouth fully heals, the dental implant acts like a natural tooth.
Dental Implants Care
You can easily care for and maintain dental implants just like your real teeth. Remember to brush and floss at least twice a day, and even after every meal, to remove food particles from around your restoration. If you notice that you suffer from jaw pain and headaches, you may need to seek treatment for any tooth grinding or clenching. Schedule regular professional check-ups and cleanings in our Peachtree City dental office. Call 770.487.2363 to request a dental exam and consultation.
Frequent Questions
The following are some common questions we get regarding implant dentistry.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants offer a wide variety of benefits including no dietary restrictions, no extra care needed in your oral hygiene routine, improved speech and chewing patterns, higher self-esteem, and long-term strength. They are the premier tooth replacement method in restorative dentistry because of their high success rate.
How long does it take for my dental implants to heal?
Before your dental implant surgery takes place, bone and soft tissue grafting may be necessary to complete your treatment or preserve your jaw bone. It can take anywhere from 3-6 months for the titanium post part of your dental implant to completely heal after the surgical procedure.
It’s important not to rush the healing process. This post is what gives you the function that you desire from your dental implant. Once your mouth completely heals, your dentist can attach an abutment and dental crown to it to fully restore your tooth’s aesthetics.
How should I care for my dental implants?
One of the major benefits of dental implants is that they do not require any extra care beyond your regular brushing and flossing patterns. Unlike a dental bridge, an oral surgeon has to surgically implant them into your jaw bone. So none of the parts are above your soft tissue besides the dental crown.
How long does a dental implant procedure take?
After implant surgery, healing time is three to six months.The procedure itself takes one to two hours in total. We use sedation to relieve pain during the procedure.
Do gums grow around implants?
Dental implants are artificial teeth that mimic natural teeth. Your jawbone supports implants, and as you heal your gums will expand around your implants. We will keep an eye on your gums during healing and recovery to make sure they don’t infringe too much on the implant, but it is rare that they do.
What is the most common cause of implant failure?
An infection of the jawbone around the implant is the leading cause of dental implant failure. Despite the fact that implants cannot get cavities, they can still get gum disease.
How can I prevent infection after dental implant?
To avoid an infection after dental implant surgery, we recommend practicing thorough oral hygiene. Dental implant patients should continue their regular routine of brushing and flossing their teeth twice daily, but with more care.
Just make sure that you are maintaining good oral health and hygiene habits, and keeping the implant site clean while it heals. Dr. Voelker, Dr. Linton, or Dr. Frank Rogers will provide you with appropriate aftercare instructions following your surgical procedure.
If you are looking for dental implants near you in Peachtree City, GA, contact us today at 470-240-1432.