Dentures and dental bridges are extremely useful for those missing any of their teeth, but they tend to last about 10 to 15 years at a time; after that, they’ll likely need to be replaced due to the wear and tear they’ve suffered. Furthermore, these restorations can’t do anything to prevent the bone loss in your jaw that can eventually lead to a collapse of your facial structure. If you want a longer-lasting form of tooth replacement that will also help you maintain the overall shape of your face, get in touch with us to ask Dr. Marable if dental implants in Fort Valley, GA are right for you.
A dental implant is not actually a type of prosthetic tooth. Rather, it is a thin titanium post that the actual prosthetic (a crown, a bridge, or dentures) will be attached to. Since implants are made out of biocompatible materials, they will gradually fuse with the surrounding bone tissue once they have been surgically placed in your mouth. The number of implants you receive depends on the extent of your tooth loss and the kind of restoration required.
Getting dental implants in Fort Valley involves a longer process compared to traditional bridges and dentures. While the treatment may extend over several months to a year or more, the end result is well worth the wait. With proper care, these implants can last for 30+ years! During your consultation, we will discuss the specifics of the dental implant procedure in detail. For now, here's a brief overview of the four fundamental steps.
You’ll start off your journey to a new smile with a consultation with Dr. Marable. During this session, he'll discuss your specific goals for dental implants and conduct a thorough examination of your mouth and jaw to ensure your eligibility.
Dr. Marable will outline each step of the treatment process to provide clarity on what to expect. This is also your opportunity to ask any questions about how dental implants work in Fort Valley. Depending on your situation, preliminary procedures may be necessary before the surgical placement of implants. For instance, if your jawbone has weakened post-tooth loss, Dr. Marable will guide you through procedures like bone grafting to establish a solid foundation for your long-lasting implants.
When your mouth and jaw are prepared, Dr. Marable will skillfully insert the posts into your jaw. The surgery is relatively uncomplicated, and thanks to modern anesthetic techniques, it should be painless.
After creating small incisions in your gums, Dr. Marable accesses your jawbone and strategically places the implants to mimic the functions of natural teeth. The gums are then carefully stitched closed, and you're sent home to begin the healing process.
The next phase is osseointegration, where the biocompatible implant posts fuse with the bone and tissue in your jaw, forming a strong base for your replacement teeth. This process typically spans three to six months for most patients.
Once you've healed, you’ll return to our office for the installation of abutments. These small metal connectors play a crucial role in linking your implants to the final restorations. Following the placement of abutments, you'll be granted a few additional weeks for further healing.
After recovering from the abutment placement, the exciting moment arrives – getting your new teeth! Your implant dentist in Fort Valley will attach your custom crown, bridge, or denture onto the abutments. Dr. Marable will check your bite before you get to enjoy your fully restored smile!
The major advantage of dental implants is that they allow us to replace the root of the tooth. Obviously, this goes a long way towards keeping your new teeth stable; dentures will not slip at inconvenient times as long as they have been anchored to sturdy implant posts. These advantages along with so many more simply cannot be enjoyed with replacement options like traditional bridges or dentures. With the ability to improve health, beauty, and confidence, there are many benefits of dental implants in Fort Valley.
Cost: Dental implants require a step-by-step process that is usually more costly compared to traditional dentures or bridges. However, with their durability and health benefits, they can actually help you save money in the future from avoiding dental care and the costs that come with it.
Whether you have lost one tooth, a few teeth, or all of your teeth, dental implants in Fort Valley may be the ideal treatment for you. Even patients who have already suffered from bone loss in their jaw or are dealing with gum disease can be candidates for implants once they have undergone the proper preparatory procedures. Dr. Marable can evaluate your oral health and adjust the implant process depending on your needs.
Ideal candidates for dental implants:
Even if are not sure if you qualify for dental implants, we encourage you to visit us for a consultation. Most adults do qualify, either right away or after some preparatory procedures, such as a bone graft or gum disease therapy.
It takes just one dental implant post to replace a single tooth. That said, you won’t be able to receive a crown right away. We’ll need to wait until the implant is fully joined with the bone. After that, we can take an impression of your mouth in order to design a dazzling crown.
This type of single tooth replacement is superior to a traditional bridge because it allows your nearby teeth to remain intact. It also rebuilds the lost tooth from the root up, allowing you to enjoy the most natural-feeling results possible.
Have you lost at least three teeth in a row? While getting individual implants to replace each of them would be one possible approach, more often than not we’ll recommend a more conservative treatment. With just two dental implants, we can place a beautiful, reliable dental bridge in your mouth.
If your missing teeth are not consecutive, your dental implant dentist in Fort Valley may recommend a different solution. It may be best to place a few single-tooth implants. It is also possible that you will qualify for a partial denture.
When it comes to replacing all of your teeth at once, the appropriate number of implants tends to vary. That said, it usually takes anywhere from 4 to 8 posts to provide adequate support for a full arch of prosthetic teeth. In many cases, implant dentures are permanently locked in place (they can only be removed by a dental professional). However, it is also possible for us to design a removable, or “Snap-On” denture that you can take out of your mouth daily for cleaning and maintenance. After Dr. Marable assesses your needs, he will make an appropriate recommendation for the type of implant denture you should receive.
It’s important to consider a number of factors when determining the cost of dental implants in Fort Valley. Naturally, you’ll have to think about the correct number of implant posts to get as well as the price of each individual procedure. However, you should not overlook the long-term benefits of investing in dental implants. Not only will they allow you to enjoy a strong, stable smile, but they can easily last for several decades, meaning you’re less likely to need to pay for a replacement in the future.
While virtually any healthy adult suffering from tooth loss makes a good candidate for dental implants, many patients need to undergo preliminary procedures to ensure their new teeth have a reliable foundation. Bone grafting, gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, and more add to your overall treatment costs, but they increase the long-term success of your implants. Plus, they’re often eligible for some degree of insurance coverage.
Dental implant surgery also incurs its own cost, which is influenced by the location of the surgical site within the mouth and the type of sedation required. As an implant dentist in Fort Valley, Dr. Marable can conveniently perform this procedure in-house, saving you from having to pay a separate bill to an outside specialist.
Each part of your dental implant – the implant post, abutment, and restoration – has a different price depending on the specific material it is made from as well as the brand that makes it. Our team will be transparent about why we might choose one brand or material over another.
Additionally, your treatment will have a higher cost the more teeth you’re replacing. Not only will you have to pay for each implant, but your restoration will cost more if you’re bringing back a full arch of teeth with a denture than if you were only recreating a single tooth with a crown.
You might be tempted to save money by getting a denture or bridge, but in the long run, dental implants in Fort Valley actually pay for themselves several times over. Traditional solutions require you to purchase daily maintenance products and adhesives, and they must be repaired or replaced every decade at least. Dental implants, on the other hand, only require the same oral hygiene products you’d use for real teeth, and they can easily last for 30+ years. They’re definitely an investment worth making!
Although most dental insurance providers do NOT pay for the implants themselves, they most likely mitigate some other aspect of your treatment, such as preliminary procedures or your final restoration. Our team at Fantastic Smiles will gladly take a look at the details of your plan to help you maximize your benefits. We’re even in-network with many of the nation’s leading PPO plans!
Of course, we understand that many patients need extra help funding their smile care. Our Smile Savers Plan is a great alternative to insurance – for a flat fee, you access two free cleanings, bitewing X-rays, and emergency exams a year, plus a 25% discount on all other services, including dental implants. We also partner with CareCredit and GreenSky to help you break up your treatment costs into low- or no-interest payment plans.
Dental implants are known to have a long lifespan but if they are to last, you must commit to following the dental implant post-op instructions your dentist provides after surgery. The time you spend in recovery is crucial to the long-term success of your new teeth. To help you prepare, we’ve included some helpful information about what you can expect immediately following your procedure as well as what you can eat, which symptoms are normal, and how to properly care for your smile. If you have additional questions, please make sure to call our office.
The anesthesia you receive before your surgery will take time to wear off, so you’ll need someone to escort you home. There, you will need to make sure that you are careful not to do anything that might cause your blood clot to become dislodged, as this can lead to a painful dry socket. This means that you should avoid:
After your procedure, it is helpful to know what is normal and what is not when it comes to your symptoms. Do not be alarmed if you notice some bleeding, as it can last for several days. You can use gauze to apply gentle pressure to the area so that it stops. Also, some general swelling is normal after undergoing oral surgery. This can last for more than a week but can be reduced with the help of a cold compress. Lastly, there’s no question that you will feel some slight discomfort, which can be alleviated with the help of an over-the-counter pain reliever.
If you notice that your symptoms do not improve, don’t hesitate to call and let us know.
Making sure you eat the appropriate foods will help with the healing process. Those that are hard, crunchy, hot, acidic, or spicy will only irritate your mouth and cause unnecessary discomfort. For the first few days, it’s best if you stick to a soft food diet that includes things like mashed potatoes, yogurt, oatmeal, pasta, pudding, and other similar items.
After you begin to notice an improvement in the way you feel, you can begin to slowly incorporate denser foods into your diet, only be careful to limit your consumption of tough, hard foods. Also, try to avoid chewing on the side of your mouth with the new implants.
Your new smile will need to be cleaned even during recovery, which is why your dentist recommends that you wait a full 24 hours before resuming your regular brushing schedule. You can continue to brush your teeth as normal, but you’ll need to be careful around your implants. The same precautions can be applied to flossing as well.
When rinsing your mouth, do not use traditional rinses, especially those that contain alcohol. Instead, opt for a saltwater rinse that helps encourage faster healing while eliminating harmful bacteria.
After making it through recovery, you can finally receive your customized dental restoration and begin enjoying the benefits of your permanent smile. While there may be some temporary gum sensitivity following the placement of your crown, bridge, or denture, it will not last long and can be managed with an over-the-counter pain reliever.
While dental implants are the most comprehensive and effective way to rebuild missing teeth, they’ll only last long if you take great care of them. Not only will you need to implement good hygiene habits to maintain them, but you’ll also want to keep other things in mind like your diet and proper mouth protection. Keep reading below to learn some of the best ways for you to practice dental implant care so that you can make the most of your brand-new smile.
Since dental implants will look and function like your natural pearly whites, you’ll simply have to brush, floss, and rinse them with mouthwash every day to maintain them. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid wearing down your restoration over time. While your implants themselves will be immune to decay, the surrounding gum tissue can still be susceptible to bacteria and disease. For this reason, flossing will be crucial for cleaning between your teeth and beneath the gum line, that way you can significantly lower your risk of implant failure.
On top of cleaning your smile every day, implementing a healthy diet can promote stronger gums and better overall health. Dental implants will help restore 80% or more of your natural biting power, meaning you’ll be free to choose from a wider range of food options. Be sure to opt for choices like fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and dairy products—all of which can improve your oral health and strengthen your jawbone tissue. Try minimizing your sugar and starch intake, which can increase the risk of cavities and decay.
Smoking or chewing tobacco, using your teeth as tools, or even chewing on ice can be detrimental to the health of your teeth and dental implants in the long run. One wrong bite and you can end up chipping or damaging your restorations, which can lead to further treatment and cost more money than necessary. Additionally, smoking can increase your risk of oral cancer, so it’s best to kick this habit to the curb if you want to maintain great health and make the most of your new teeth. Our team can offer the support, resources, and guidance you need to help with this process.
For those who enjoy playing contact sports, a custom athletic mouthguard could be great for protecting your dental implants in the long run. Not only will they be a good cushion for your smile, but you’ll be less likely to damage or knock your restoration out. If you typically clench or grind your teeth during sleep, we might be able to recommend nightguards for bruxism to keep your pearly whites safe.
Other than brushing and flossing daily, visiting our team for checkups and cleanings will also help you keep your dental implants safe and healthy for a long time. Not only will we help freshen up your teeth, but we’ll also monitor for and address any underlying complications that could pose a risk in the future, such as gum disease, decay, and infection.
The lifespan of dental implants usually depends on the health and lifestyle choices of the patient. To ensure that implants last, it’s crucial that you brush twice and floss every day. Attend regular cleanings and checkups, and avoid chewing on anything particularly hard or sticky. When maintained properly, dental implants can last for 30+ years. That’s several times longer than traditional bridges and dentures.
The jawbone doesn’t have very many nerve endings, your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic before the procedure begins. You will also most likely be sedated, lowering your body’s ability to register pain. While your surgery itself shouldn’t be uncomfortable, you may experience some soreness for a few days afterwards. Take prescribed and over-the-counter pain relievers as directed. Cold compresses can also help. Give us a call if discomfort worsens instead of improving after two to three days.
When placed by a skilled professional, dental implants can have a success rate of over 95%! This success rate of your implants will depend on how well you take care of them with oral hygiene, routine checkups, a healthy diet, and other lifestyle choices. Success can also vary depending on the location of the implant in the mouth. For example, molars receive more strain from chewing than front teeth, so they have a slightly lower success rate.
Most dental professionals will not place implants in patients younger than 18. If dental implants are placed before the jaw has finished growing, it could interfere with further bone development and potentially result in complications. Some people’s jaws take until their mid-20s to fully develop. On average, men’s jaws take longer to develop than women’s jaws do. During your initial consultation, we can determine whether or not dental implants are the ideal tooth replacement option for you.
