Dental Implants Canton

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the only tooth replacement method that brings back the entire structure of your missing teeth – not just the part above the gumline. The dental implant itself is a titanium post that is surgically placed into your jawbone to act as a new tooth root. Your jawbone will fuse to the post over the next few months through a process called osseointegration. After your jawbone has healed, a connector piece called an abutment is placed on top of the implant to secure your custom-made crown, bridge, or denture. Thanks to their unique three-part structure and sturdy foundation in the jawbone, dental implants are able to function like real teeth and can potentially last for a lifetime! 

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

The dental implant process is a complex one that can vary from one patient to another, and it can take several months to complete. However, each treatment plan will typically consist of the same four basic steps to ensure successful results. Read on to learn the essential stages of the dental implant process and what to expect during each.

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Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Dr. Robison will first go over your smile goals, take X-rays of your mouth and jaw, determine your eligibility for dental implants, and walk you through the treatment process. Our team will have to verify that your jawbone density is sufficient enough to support the metal posts. If necessary, you might even require preliminary services, such as gum disease treatment or bone grafting, if your mouth isn’t already healthy or strong. Once we’ve helped you achieve great oral health, we can move forward with planning your surgical portion.

Dental Implant Surgery

You’ll be referred to one of our partnered oral surgeons or periodontists to have the implant posts surgically placed in your jaw. Before beginning your procedure, your team will administer a local anesthetic so that you don’t feel pain throughout your treatment. You might even be provided with sedation dentistry to remain completely calm and relaxed. Once you’re in good condition, your surgeon will make a small incision in your gums to reach the jawbone where they’ll place your implants and suture your gums closed around them. They’ll provide you with specific guidelines for your recovery before having your friend or family member take you back home.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Over the next four to six months, your jawbone grows around the implants, creating a lasting foundation. This is through a process called osseointegration, which will create the stability needed to support your future restorations or prosthetics indefinitely. After you’ve completely recovered, you’ll return to our office to receive your abutments—small metal connector pieces that will link your restoration(s) to your implants. Then you’ll be sent home to allow your gums to heal.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

You’ll return to our office to have Dr. Robison complete your smile with a personalized dental crown, bridge, or denture. Our team will confirm that your results fit perfectly and that you’re entirely satisfied with your treatment before sending you on your way. We’ll also give you instructions on how to maintain your implants so that you can make the most of them.

Benefits of Dental Implants

This treatment continues to gain popularity as a resilient and reliable way to replace missing teeth, with an estimated 500,000 dental implants placed annually. Part of the reason for their success is likely that, unlike dentures and bridges, these restorations are embedded directly into your jawbone. This provides many advantages over the alternatives.  

Continue reading to learn more about the different reasons to consider rebuilding your smile with customized dental implants!

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Day-to-Day Benefits

Missing teeth can detract from your daily quality of life in several ways. For instance, you might feel self-conscious about the changes to your appearance, or struggle to eat or speak normally.

Getting dental implants in Canton can help by:

• Restoring bite force. Once your jawbone fuses with the support rod of your implant, you can enjoy up to 70% to 90% of your original bite force, so you can enjoy a wider variety of wholesome foods.
• Boosting your confidence. These replacement teeth are customized to match the ones you were born with for seamless results you can feel proud of.
• Enhancing enunciation. Gaps in your grin can cause a lisp, slur, or other speech impediments that can often be overcome with a restoration in place.

Health Benefits

Getting dental implants can also enhance your oral and overall health in several ways, such as:

• Preserve jawbone structure. Your jawbone starts to thin when teeth are missing without roots to stimulate new bone growth with each bite down. Of all the replacement teeth available, only implants include a support rod to fulfill this function and prevent degeneration.
• Prevent oral issues. This treatment doesn’t rely on a bond with healthy teeth in your mouth or your gum tissues to remain put, which can help prevent sores, additional decay, gum disease, and other dental concerns.  
• Improve diet. You can enjoy a wide variety of healthy foods to give your body everything it needs to function at its peak, and can more easily chew food so it can be swallowed and digested.

Long-Term Benefits

This treatment can potentially protect and preserve your smile for decades, allowing you to enjoy the following long-term perks:

• High success rate. The implant procedure has an incredibly high success rate of over 90%, meaning you’re unlikely to experience complications if a qualified provider places it and you follow the post-op directions carefully.
• Resilient materials. The biocompatible materials used are unlikely to cause adverse reactions and can last 15 to 20+ years if it's well maintained.
• Save money over time. There’s no need to invest in additional accessories and supplies, such as adhesives, soaking solutions, or cleaners. Plus, this option is less likely to require repairs or replacements than the alternatives. That means you can potentially save money in the long run!

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Are you considering dental implants in Canton? If so, you’ll be happy to hear that this state-of-the-art tooth-replacement solution can help patients with mild, moderate, and severe tooth loss. If you are interested in finding out if you’re a candidate and which type is best for you, then schedule a consultation with Dr. Robison so he can complete a comprehensive oral exam. You can also read on to learn more in the meantime, including the qualities we look for in a good dental implant candidate.

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Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

As we mentioned above, pretty much any healthy adult suffering from tooth loss can benefit from dental implants since they can be used to replace any number of missing teeth. With that said, there are some cases when preliminary care is needed. For example, if your jawbone isn’t strong enough to support dental implants, then you may need a bone graft. Similarly, if you have gum disease, then we need to eliminate the infection first. That way, your dental implants look great, feel natural, and last for several decades.

Missing One Tooth

With dental bridges, the teeth surrounding the gap need to be altered. With dental implants, that’s not necessary! Instead of relying on dental crowns for support, the implant post is inserted directly into the jawbone. After the two fuse together, a custom dental crown is secured to a small connector (called an abutment), successfully restoring the entire structure of your tooth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

If you’re missing several teeth throughout your mouth, we always have the option of replacing each one with a single dental implant. However, patients often prefer a different option: an implant bridge. If we decide together that this is the best tooth-replacement solution for you, then we will secure the prosthetic teeth in place with two dental implants.

Missing All Teeth

What if you are missing all of your teeth? Does that mean your only option is a traditional denture? Fortunately, the answer is “no!” With four to six dental implants, we can secure your restoration in place. In addition to being much stronger, this tooth-replacement solution helps bring back more of a patient’s bite strength, enabling them to enjoy a more varied diet.

Learn More About Implant Dentures

Learn More About All-On-4

If you are interested in learning more about dental implants, including the benefits they come with and the different types available, take the next step: schedule a consultation at our office! That way, Dr. Robison can get an in-depth understanding of your dental history, needs, and goals before determining if dental implants are right for you.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Dental implants are quite versatile and able to help patients with varying degrees of tooth loss, and because of this, the overall cost of the treatment can be quite different from person to person. Factors such as how many teeth a patient wants to be replaced, where they are located in the mouth, and what kind of restoration is used can all influence the final price.

While dental implant restorations do tend to cost more than other traditional options, they are actually the best financial choice long-term. Why? Largely thanks to their longevity. Regular bridges and dentures typically need to be completely redone every seven to 10 years, multiplying their costs, while dental implants can be expected to last for 30 years or more. As a result, dental implant patients are able to avoid the periodic maintenance and retreatments required by other restorations, saving them thousands over time.

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Types of Dental Implants

Dental implants are a versatile tooth replacement solution that can fill a small gap in one’s teeth or restore an entire smile. The type of implant a patient needs to restore their smile will influence the final cost of treatment. For example, a single implant and crown to fill the gap left by a missing tooth typically cost less than an implant denture, which relies on four to six implants to remain in place.

What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?

The first step of dental implant treatment is to schedule an initial consultation. Once the dentist has thoroughly examined your teeth and mouth and discussed your smile goals, dental implantation typically proceeds as follows:

• Stage 1 – Placement of the dental implant(s) by a specialist
• Stage 2 – Healing period of several months
• Stage 3 – Possible addition of an abutment to connect the implant(s) with a crown, bridge, or denture
• Stage 4 – Placement of the final restoration

Each trip to the dentist may incur a unique cost that will vary from case to case. Furthermore, it is important to note that candidates for dental implants must be in excellent oral health before beginning treatment. Patients with gum disease, a weak jawbone, or other oral health issues that could impede successful implantation must partner with their dentist to address these issues first. If gum disease therapy or a bone graft is necessary, this will add to the overall cost of implant treatment.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

The answer to this question is a resounding “yes”! Although alternatives such as dentures and traditional bridges may cost less, nothing can match the maximum stability, natural appearance, and restored function that dental implants provide. Dental implants are the only treatment that replaces both the tooth root and the visible portion of the tooth.

In addition, with proper care, dental implants can last decades – or even a lifetime! Bridges and dentures, on the other hand, typically must be replaced about every 10 years. So, although their upfront cost may be higher compared to dentures or bridges, in the long run, dental implants can represent the most cost-effective restorative treatment! 

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Many dental insurance plans do not yet provide full coverage for dental implants. However, you may be able to take advantage of your insurance benefits for certain stages of the process – such as the initial consultation with Dr. Robison or if you need gum disease therapy prior to implantation.

At Robison Dental Group, we believe dental implants in Canton should be an affordable treatment option for everyone. That is why we are proud to offer flexible in-house financing plans and accept payment plans through CareCredit and LendingClub. If you want to explore either of these options or need assistance understanding your dental insurance coverage, do not hesitate to contact our experienced and knowledgeable team!

Dental Implant FAQs