Dental Implants: An Overview
Missing teeth cause a variety of problems for our patients. While negatively affecting the overall appearance of your smile, missing teeth also place extra strain on your surrounding teeth and facial muscles. This makes it difficult to chew or speak. Additionally, missing teeth throw off your bite pattern and can cause issues with your jaw.
As your trusted restorative dentist in Columbia, Maryland, our office is happy to provide solutions for missing teeth, including dental implants. The dentist firmly secures dental implants into your jawbone to give you the look, feel, and functionality of your natural tooth. You don’t have to live with the inconveniences and risks of missing teeth for long. Simply call our office today at 410-670-8211 and ask about our dental implant solutions.
Dental Implants In Columbia, MD
A dental implant is a permanent solution to your missing teeth. This is because we surgically secure a part of the implant, the implant post, into your jawbone. As the implant post heals, it fuses into your jawbone to provide a sturdy base for the remaining parts of the implant, the abutment, and dental crown. The healing process for the titanium implant post takes around 3-6 months but is well worth the wait. Once the abutment and dental crown can be attached to the post, you get the benefits of a fully restored tooth.
Here are some commonly asked questions about our dental implant procedures:
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants help preserve the jawbone so that your teeth do not shift or cause facial sagging. Additionally, dental implants do not decay over time. They act as your natural teeth, but better. Dental implant patients do not have to alternate their eating or lifestyle patterns when they receive a dental implant because they function like natural teeth.
Can anyone get a dental implant?
While dental implants are a great option for tooth replacement, not everyone is the best candidate for this treatment. You will need to have healthy gums and sufficient bone density to support your dental implant. People with certain medical conditions or gum disease may not be eligible for an implant. A thorough evaluation of the current condition of your smile will help our Columbia dentists determine if you are a good candidate for a dental implant.
Is the dental implant procedure painful?
We completely numb the dental implant site area for the dental implant procedure. You should not experience any pain, though there may be some pressure or discomfort. We offer sedation dentistry options for patients who are anxious over any of our dental procedures. Additionally, you may experience some soreness after the procedure, though we will provide aftercare instructions to help you manage this as well.
How does the implant placement work?
Some patients are concerned about the placement of their dental implant, as it will be permanently fused into their jawbone. Our office uses CBCT scans to help guide our dental implant placements. This ensures we secure the dental implant in the right position. A CBCT scan gives our doctors 3D images. They assist in determining the exact placement of the dental implant into the jawbone. These scans are also very helpful in determining if your jawbone is strong enough to support a dental implant before you begin treatment.
Schedule An Appointment
Dental implants are just one of our several restorative dentistry options for patients looking to replace missing teeth. If you are interested in learning what your options are for tooth replacement, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our team. We are happy to go over all of your options with you for restoring and improving your smile.