A More Complete, Healthy, & Long-Lasting Smile
Are you embarrassed by missing teeth or struggling to eat and speak comfortably? At Legacy Dental Moses Lake implant dentist Dr. Briel Loiseau offers dental implants, which can help you achieve a permanent smile and improved oral health. Keep reading to learn more about our dental implant solutions and the benefits they offer.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a long-lasting solution for missing teeth. They’re made up of a small titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone, which acts as the root of the missing tooth. Once the implant has fused with the jawbone, an abutment is attached to the post to support a replacement dental crown or bridge.
Each dental implant is composed of three parts:
- The biocompatible post serves as a stable foundation.
- The abutment is the connector piece that secures the restoration to the implant.
- The restoration is the replacement for your lost teeth. This can be a single crown or an entire denture arch.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
When you choose to restore your smile with implants, you can enjoy the following benefits:
- Permanent Solution: Unlike other tooth replacement options, dental implants can last a lifetime with proper care.
- Improved Oral Health: Dental implants help prevent bone loss and maintain the structure of your jawbone. They’ll also help prevent other tooth-loss-related health issues such as inflammation and infection.
- Enhanced Appearance: Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, helping to restore your confidence in your smile.
- Improved Speech: With dental implants, you can speak more clearly and confidently.
- Improved Comfort: Dental implants are comfortable and don’t cause the pain or irritation that can occur with other tooth replacement options.
Candidacy For Dental Implants
You may be a candidate for dental implants if any of the following apply to you:
- You have missing teeth
- You’re at risk of losing teeth due to injury, decay, or gum disease
- Your gums are healthy
- You have enough healthy jawbone to support the implant
If you lack the healthy jawbone density necessary for implant placement, you may still qualify if you can undergo supplemental procedures such as bone grafting.
The Dental Implant Process
Consultation
Before you can receive a dental implant solution, you’ll attend an initial consultation at Legacy Dental. During your initial consultation, Dr. Loiseau will evaluate your oral health and discuss your goals for treatment. This includes reviewing your medical history, taking X-rays and impressions of your teeth, and determining if you have enough healthy jawbone and gum tissue to support the implant.
Your initial consultation is a great time to ask any questions you may have. If you’re feeling nervous about the procedure, Dr. Loiseau can offer sedation dentistry options to help you stay calm and relaxed while placing your implants.
Design
After evaluating your oral health and determining the best type of implant for you, your Moses Lake implant provider will create a treatment plan customized to your needs. This includes taking images and impressions of your mouth, teeth, and jaws, to design a customized abutment and prosthetic tooth or dental bridge.
Preparation
If you require any additional treatments before your dental implant surgery, such as a bone grafting or tooth extraction, we will schedule those appointments. Once any supplemental procedures or treatments are complete, we’ll schedule you for implant placement.
Installing Your Dental Implant
During the implant surgery, Dr. Loiseau will make small incisions in your gums and insert the titanium posts into your jawbone. The implant will then fuse with the bone in a process called osseointegration, which will take place over three to seven months. This fusion of implant and natural bone tissue provides a stable foundation for the replacement tooth or dental bridge.
Implant Placement Aftercare
After your implant surgery, it’s important to follow the aftercare instructions provided by Dr. Loiseau. This includes maintaining good oral hygiene, avoiding smoking, and attending regular check-ups with our team at Legacy Dental.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental implant success rates are generally over 95 percent. However, success depends on many factors, including your overall health, the amount of healthy jawbone you have to support the implant, and the steps you take to care for your implants after placement. Your dentist typically won’t go through with the procedure unless they’re certain it’ll be a success.
Not at all! Your implant dentist will use local anesthesia to numb the area and may offer sedation to help you relax during the procedure. Talk to your implant dentist beforehand to ask them about options that can increase your comfort.
It depends. The length of the dental implant process depends on your unique needs and the context of your case. Your implant dentist will give you a more accurate breakdown of your timeframe during your initial consultation.
The cost of dental implants varies depending on the number of implants needed, any additional treatments required, and your dental insurance coverage. However, dental implants are a long-term investment in your oral health and can help you avoid more costly dental problems down the line. Ask your dentist if their office offers in-house savings or financing plans to help finance your implant placement.
Learn More About Our Dental Implant Solutions, Call Us Today
At Legacy Dental in Moses Lake, we are committed to helping our patients achieve healthy, beautiful smiles that last a lifetime. Dr. Loiseau and our staff are pleased to provide dental implant solutions to patients from Moses Lake and surrounding areas such as Ephrata, Mitchell, and Winchester, WA.
If you are interested in learning more about dental implants and whether they’re right for you, please contact our Moses Lake dental office by calling (509) 765-1748 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Loiseau. You can also click the button below to schedule an appointment online and we’ll get back to you shortly. We look forward to helping you achieve the smile you deserve!