Are you missing one or more teeth? Dental implants are a life-changing solution that can bring back your confident smile. Dr. Aric Kuehner provides top-quality dental implant services in Clyde, OH, to restore your smile’s beauty and function.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that provide a strong base for fixed or removable replacement teeth. This restorative dental treatment looks, feels, and works just like your teeth.
A complete dental implant has three main parts:
- The Implant: A small titanium post that is gently placed into your jawbone where your tooth root used to be. This post bonds with your jawbone over time, creating a sturdy foundation.
- The Abutment: A connector piece that sits on top of the implant and holds your new tooth in place.
- The Crown: The visible part that looks just like a natural tooth. It’s custom-made to match your other teeth in color and shape.
Dental implants are made of titanium, a safe metal that works well with your body. This material helps your jaw heal properly around the implant, making it a permanent part of your mouth.
Types of Dental Implants We Offer
We provide several types of dental implants to meet your specific needs at Premier Dental.
Single Tooth Implants
Perfect for replacing one missing tooth without affecting nearby healthy teeth. A single implant supports one crown, giving you a complete tooth replacement that works and looks natural.
Implant-Supported Bridges
If you’re missing several teeth in a row, implant-supported bridges can help. Instead of using your natural teeth for support like traditional bridges, these bridges are held in place by implants.
Implant-Retained Dentures
For patients missing most or all of their teeth, we offer implant-retained dentures. These dentures snap onto implants, giving you much better stability than traditional dentures. You won’t have to worry about your dentures slipping while you eat or talk.
Full-Arch Implants
Also known as All-on-4 or All-on-6, these implants support a full arch of replacement teeth using just 4-6 implants. This is a great option for patients who need to replace all their upper or lower teeth.
Benefits of Dental Implants vs. Traditional Options
Dental implants offer many advantages over other tooth replacement options, including:
- Long-Lasting Results: With proper care, dental implants can last for decades or even a lifetime. Traditional bridges and dentures typically need replacement every 5-10 years.
- Preserves Jawbone Health: When you lose a tooth, the jawbone underneath starts to shrink. Implants stimulate your jawbone just like natural tooth roots, preventing bone loss and keeping your facial structure youthful.
- Natural Look and Feel: Implants match the shape and shade of your teeth. You can eat your favorite foods, speak clearly, and smile with confidence.
- No Impact on Neighboring Teeth: Unlike traditional bridges that require grinding down adjacent teeth, implants stand alone without affecting healthy teeth.
- Improved Comfort: Implants become a permanent part of your mouth, eliminating the discomfort often associated with removable dentures.
- Better Oral Health: Implants allow easier access between teeth for brushing and flossing, improving your overall oral hygiene.
- Boosted Self-Confidence: With implants, you can smile, laugh, and eat in public without worrying about your teeth slipping or falling out.
Are You a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most people with good general and oral health are candidates for dental implants. Factors that Dr. Kuehner will consider include:
- The health and density of your jawbone
- Your overall health and any medical conditions
- Your commitment to good oral hygiene
- Whether you smoke (smoking can affect implant success)
Even if you’ve been told in the past that you can’t have implants, advances in techniques like bone grafting may have made implants possible for you now.
What to Expect During Your Dental Implant Journey
Getting dental implants is a step-by-step process that takes place over several months. Here’s what you can expect.
Initial Consultation
Your journey begins with a thorough exam by Dr. Kuehner. We’ll take X-rays and scans to check your jawbone health and plan your treatment. This is a great time to ask questions and discuss your concerns.
Preparation
Some patients may need extra procedures before getting implants. This might include bone grafting if your jawbone isn’t thick enough, or tooth extractions if you have damaged teeth that need to be removed.
Implant Placement
During this procedure, Dr. Kuehner will place the titanium implant into your jawbone. Most patients are surprised by how comfortable this procedure is with modern techniques and proper numbing.
Healing Period
After the implant is placed, your jawbone needs time to grow around it. This process, called osseointegration, usually takes 3-6 months. During this time, you may wear a temporary crown or denture.
Abutment Placement
Once your implant has firmly bonded with your jawbone, we’ll attach the abutment. This connector piece will hold your new tooth.
Crown Placement
The final step is placing your custom-made crown. We carefully design this crown to match your natural teeth in color, size, and shape.
Aftercare and Follow-up
Dr. Kuehner will provide detailed instructions on caring for your new implants and schedule regular check-ups to ensure everything is healing properly.
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation Today
Do you want to know if dental implants are right for you? Contact Dr. Aric Kuehner’s dental office in Clyde, OH today to schedule your consultation. Our friendly team is ready to answer your questions and help you start your journey to a complete, beautiful smile.