A dental implant is a small, titanium screw surgically placed in the jawbone below the gums. Dental implants are restorative dentistry treatments that can be used to replace one or more missing teeth. They can anchor a tooth crown, dental bridge, or denture and offer long-lasting dental restorations. Since they are permanently secured to your jawbone, they help restorations function similarly to natural teeth, allowing patients full chewing capacity. They also do not come with any dietary restrictions.
Dr. Jeffrey Bellisario restores dental implants and implant-secured dental restorations in Ardmore, PA. He works with oral surgeons to place the implants. Then, Dr. Bellisario and his team construct custom-made crowns, bridges, or dentures that the implants will permanently secure. Implants offer a restoration that looks and functions close to your natural teeth.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Compared to traditional restorations, dental implants offer multiple advantages to our patients. We recommend dental implants above all other treatment options to replace missing teeth.
Enhanced Aesthetics
When you lose permanent teeth, the jawbone begins to break down at the site where you lost the tooth root. Without replacing the tooth root, the deterioration continues. In that area, the face sags and appears sunken. It can also impact your speech patterns, depending on where the missing tooth is in the mouth. All of these things can greatly impact your self-esteem. Implants eliminate the sagging appearance and give you a natural smile and appearance.
One of the reasons implants are ideal is that they closely match the look, color, and shape of your natural teeth. They’re the most natural-looking and feeling tooth replacement option. When you replace missing teeth with dental implants, they will blend into your smile seamlessly, so you can feel confident smiling and laughing in public again.
Oral Health and Functionality
Implants feel the most like your natural teeth. They’re the only solution that replaces the tooth root. This stops jawbone deterioration and gives you a stable option. You don’t have to worry about dental implants slipping or falling out when you eat or speak. Implants give you back close to 100% of your bite function, as opposed to around 40% for traditional dentures. You don’t have to remove any foods from your diet because you can process all of them.
They don’t require any extra maintenance either. You don’t have to remove them; they can always stay in your mouth. All you have to do is brush and floss as you would normally. Solutions like dentures require special cleaning devices and soaks for peak performance. You don’t have that extra time and cost issues with dental implants.
Likewise, traditional tooth replacement methods can incur further future costs because they don’t restore jaw function or halt deterioration. Your jawbone continues deteriorating and changing with solutions like dental bridges or traditional dentures. You’ll have to spend money to reline or replace these solutions so that your restoration works as well as possible.
Treatment with Dental Implants
Before treatment, we will ensure that patients have enough bone tissue in their jaw to support their implants. If they do not have enough bone tissue to support implants, bone grafting is an option. Our office works with a local oral surgeon to place the implants. The surgeon inserts the titanium dental implants into your jawbone beneath the gums. During a process called osseointegration, the implants fuse with the jawbone. This may take anywhere from three to six months.
Once we determine that your implants have healed, we will place an abutment and temporary crown. The abutment attaches to the implant and connects it to the restoration. We will fit you for a temporary crown until your permanent restoration is created.
To create your permanent restoration, we will take dental impressions of your mouth that can be used to make your crown, bridge, or denture. The restoration will match your natural tooth’s exact color, shape, and size. Once your permanent restoration is complete, you can enjoy your new, aesthetically pleasing, and functional smile.
Same-Day Dental Implants
We offer same-day dental implants for individuals who need to replace an entire arch of missing teeth. Also known as All-On-Four, this treatment uses four or more implants to secure a denture. We place the implants strategically along the arch at specific angles to ensure we maximize support for the restoration.
Patients can enjoy their new teeth immediately, as we can temporarily restore them on the same day the implants are placed. We will provide you with your permanent prosthetic when the dental implants are healed. This type of implant typically requires less bone density than traditional ones, so All-on-4 may be a good option if you do not have enough bone density to support traditional implants. Call our office or schedule a consultation today to determine if All-On-4 could benefit your smile.
Dental Implant Aftercare
After we place your implants, you may experience tenderness and bleeding in your gums. This is completely normal and nothing to be concerned about. An OTC pain reliever can help alleviate pain. If your gums are actively bleeding, place gauze on them to help clotting form.
We recommend that patients refrain from smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, and drinking anything through a straw for at least 24 hours. We also recommend getting ample rest the day following your implant placement and laying your head above your heart. Rinsing with saltwater can help reduce pain and swelling. It is also important to be careful and gentle while brushing your teeth around the procedure site.
Implants are pretty easy to take care of in your daily routine. Usually, implants involve a fixed restoration like a crown or denture. You need to brush, floss, and visit the dentist regularly as you would with natural teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to ensure you don’t scratch or damage the restoration. If you need to floss or clean around a fixed bridge, we’ll teach you techniques and recommend any necessary tools.
Dental implants are designed to be permanent restorations. You’ll rarely encounter complications that require changes. However, if the crown restoration that completes the implant becomes damaged or worn down over time, you may need to replace it.
Restore Your Missing Teeth Today
Schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Bellisario or call his office at (610) 839-8967. If you have questions about your eligibility for dental implant treatment, let Dr. Bellisario know at your next consultation. He will be glad to assist you.