What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that serve as replacement tooth roots. They are placed into your jawbone during a simple in-office procedure. These strong metal roots bond with your natural bone over time, creating a sturdy foundation for artificial teeth called crowns.
Think of dental implants as anchors that hold your new teeth firmly in place. Unlike dentures that might slip or bridges that rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants stand on their own. They look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth!
When you lose a tooth, the bone that once supported it begins to shrink. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that actually stimulates bone growth, helping to maintain your facial structure and prevent that sunken appearance that often comes with missing teeth.
Bethlehem dentist Dr. Ren has advanced training and experience in the placement of all types of implants. He helps patients restore their smiles and their quality of life with this permanent, stable, and natural tooth replacement solution.
Types of Dental Implants
Single Tooth Implants: If you’re missing just one tooth, a single implant can support a crown that replaces it. The implant is placed where the root of your missing tooth used to be, and a custom-made crown is attached to it. The result is a replacement tooth that blends perfectly with your natural smile.
Implant-Supported Bridges: Implant-supported bridges can be an excellent solution when you’re missing several teeth in a row. Rather than grinding down healthy adjacent teeth (as with traditional bridges), implants serve as sturdy supports for your new teeth.
Full-Mouth Implant Solutions: For those missing all or most of their teeth, full-arch implant solutions offer remarkable stability compared to traditional dentures. Options include:
Implant-Supported Dentures: These snap onto several implants placed in your jaw, providing far better stability than regular dentures.
All-on-4 Implants: This innovative approach uses just four strategically placed implants to support an entire arch of teeth, often allowing patients to receive new teeth in just one day.
Mini Dental Implants: Mini implants are smaller versions of standard implants. They’re a good option for patients who don’t have enough bone for regular implants. The procedure is less invasive, and they’re usually more affordable.
What to Expect During the Dental Implant Process
The journey to your new smile happens in several steps:
Initial Consultation: Dr. Ren will examine your mouth, take X-rays, and create a treatment plan just for you. He will discuss your options and answer all your questions.
Preparation: Sometimes teeth need to be removed or bone grafting performed to prepare your jaw for implants. Not everyone needs these steps.
Implant Placement: The implant posts are placed into your jawbone during a simple oral surgical procedure. Most patients report less discomfort than expected, comparing it to a tooth extraction.
Healing Period: Over the next 3-6 months, your implants will bond with your bone in a process called osseointegration. This is what gives implants their incredible stability. During this time, you may wear temporary teeth.
Abutment Placement: Once healing is complete, small connectors called abutments are attached to your implants. These connect your implants to your new teeth.
New Teeth Attachment: Finally, your custom-made crown, bridge, or denture is secured to the abutments. This is the day your smile becomes complete again!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer numerous advantages over other tooth replacement options. They replace not only the visible tooth, but the tooth root beneath the gums, providing greater stability and supporting jaw structure.
Dental implants offer a revolutionary approach to tooth replacement that goes far beyond aesthetics. They will look and function exactly like natural teeth, allowing you to eat all your favorite foods without hesitation and smile with complete confidence. Unlike traditional dentures that may slip or click embarrassingly when you speak, implants remain securely anchored in your jawbone, eliminating these worries entirely. They’re also incredibly durable, often lasting decades or even a lifetime with proper care, making them a smart long-term investment in your oral health and overall well-being.
Perhaps most importantly, dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that actually preserves your facial structure by stimulating natural bone growth. When teeth are missing, the jawbone begins to shrink over time, leading to a sunken appearance that can make you look older than you are. Implants prevent this bone loss while protecting your remaining healthy teeth, as they don’t require grinding down adjacent teeth like traditional bridges do.
With improved speech clarity, better nutrition from enjoying a wider variety of foods, and the renewed self-confidence that comes with a complete smile, dental implants truly transform lives by restoring both function and appearance in the most natural way possible.
Who should consider dental implants?
Almost everyone is a candidate for dental implants! We’ve treated patients from age 20 up to age 90+. As long as you’re not an uncontrolled diabetic or a heavy smoker, implants may be the right choice for you. A few of our patients who have experienced the life-transforming decision to pursue dental implants include:
- Betty, age 67, who replaced her 4 missing front teeth with an implant bridge so she could ditch her old partial denture
- Charles, age 22, who replaced his missing front tooth after it had to be extracted from a wrestling accident
- Joe, age 90, who couldn’t stand to wear his lower denture. He added 2 dental implants to help anchor his denture and is now happily back to eating pretzels from the Philly Pretzel Factory
- Eva, age 50, who kept chipping her front teeth because she no longer had back teeth to chew. By adding 2-3 dental implants in each arch, we filled out her smile and gave her a stable bite again.
- Scott, age 36, who had too many cavities to save his remaining upper teeth. We placed 7 dental implants and gave him a fixed bridge on top of them so his confidence and speaking/chewing abilities have been restored.
Caring for Your Dental Implants
The good news is that caring for dental implants is very similar to caring for natural teeth:
- Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Floss daily, being gentle around the implant area
- Visit Dice Dental regularly for checkups
- Avoid chewing hard or crunchy items like ice or hard candy
With proper care, your dental implants can provide you with decades of comfortable, confident smiling.
Dental Implant FAQs
Do you do teeth in one day?
In some instances, we can offer an “immediate load,” or teeth-in-a-day like you see on tv. However, you must have enough bone and no active infection in order to be a candidate. We’re happy to review all possible options for treatment with you when you visit us for a complimentary consult.
Is the Dental Implant Procedure Painful?
Many patients are surprised by how comfortable the implant process is. The procedure is typically done under local anesthesia so that you won’t feel pain during the surgery. Afterward, most people report mild discomfort that can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication for a few days.
Will my dental implants last forever?
Most of our patients are pleasantly surprised by the relatively pain-free process of getting a dental implant. It’s a much quicker and streamlined process than most patients ever imagined.
Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most adults with missing teeth are good candidates for dental implants. The main requirements are:
- Healthy gums
- Adequate bone to support the implants (or willingness to undergo bone grafting)
- Good overall health
- Commitment to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits
Age is rarely a limiting factor. Implants have been successfully placed in patients in their 90s!
Start Your Journey to a Complete Smile Today
Dental implants have revolutionized tooth replacement, allowing patients to regain their smile and quality of life. Unlike traditional solutions that may need replacement, implants provide a permanent foundation for new teeth that look, feel, and function naturally.
If you’re tired of hiding your smile or struggling with uncomfortable dentures, dental implants might be the life-changing solution you’ve been looking for.
Schedule a consultation with Bethlehem dentist Dr. Ren at Dice Dental today to learn how dental implants can restore your confident smile and improve your overall quality of life.