Dental Implants in Chicago, IL
Dental implants are the next best thing to a natural tooth. The dental implant replaces and behaves just as the missing natural tooth with a very strong post and gives a strong foundation. The dental implant supports the bone and prevents the bone and jaw from deteriorating.
Most implants are made of biocompatible titanium, the same material used in medical prosthetics. After the implant is placed, it heals and bonds with your bone. Then an abutment and custom crown are added, giving you a natural-looking, permanent tooth replacement.
The Advantages of Dental Implants
Have you ever said, “I want my life back!”, or “I’m tired of taking my teeth in and out!”, or “I’m tired of wearing dentures!”. Have you finally come to the realization that partials are no longer for you?
Then you should realize the advantage of dental implants!
People who have dental implants have a profound advantage over people with broken teeth, dentures, or partials because dental implants are permanent and do not need to be removed. Also, dental implants promote dental health by means of restoring your natural chewing ability, maximum chewing force, and the stability of your dental arch. If you have lost teeth, bone, or both, the best thing for you may be permanent replacements with dental implants.
Whether you’re missing one tooth or many, dental implants offer a permanent, natural-looking solution. Many patients even qualify for “implants in a day,” where they leave with a secure temporary smile while their implants heal.
Use the following questions to determine if Dental Implants might be the right solution for you.
- DO YOU WANT TO REPLACE MISSING TEETH?
- DO YOU PREFER A PERMANENT SOLUTION?
- DO YOU LIKE YOUR SMILE?
- ARE YOU IN GOOD OVERALL HEALTH?
- DO YOU HAVE ADEQUATE BONE TO SUPPORT THE IMPLANT?
- ARE YOU READY TO COMMIT TO A DAILY ORAL CARE ROUTINE AND REGULAR DENTAL VISITS?
- DO YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR OTHER NATURAL TEETH UNCHANGED?
(IF YOU HAVE DIABETES OR MAJOR ILLNESSES YOU MAY NEED AN EVALUATION TO DETERMINE OR CONSIDER OTHER REPLACEMENT OPTIONS)
Questions About Dental Implants
Of all the ways modern dentistry has to replace missing teeth, dental implants are by far the best. There is no tooth-replacement option that will give you a longer-lasting result. Implants also help preserve tooth-supporting bone that naturally deteriorates when a tooth is lost. Loss of bone is one of the major hidden consequences of losing teeth.
A dental implant most often takes the form of a small, screw-shaped titanium post that replaces the root-part of a missing tooth. The surgical procedure used to place an implant is actually quite minor and routine, requiring only local anesthesia in most cases. After a healing period, the implant is topped with a lifelike crown custom-made to match your existing natural teeth. Implants have a documented success rate of over 95%, which is significantly higher than any other tooth-replacement option.
The Dental Implant Procedure
Patients are often surprised by how quick and comfortable implant placement can be. After applying a strong topical anesthetic, The dentist will place your implant, a process that usually takes less than 30 minutes.
Your implant then needs time to heal and integrate with the bone. This step is essential for long-lasting stability. Once healed, the abutment and final crown are added, completing your new tooth and letting you chew and smile with confidence for years to come.
Dental Implant Care
After getting an implant, it’s still important to maintain daily oral hygiene such as brushing twice daily and flossing at least once a day. Some people have found that using the water flosser is a great adjunct to flossing and brushing to help maintain their dental implant so that it can continue to function with the rest of their natural teeth. It is also important to return to More Smiles of Beverly at least two to three times a year for implant maintenance and professional cleanings
Tooth Replacement Options Using Dental Implants
Implants can replace missing teeth in a variety of ways. They can be used to:
Replace One Tooth — When you have one tooth missing, a single implant is inserted into the bone to replace the root part of that tooth; a crown then goes on top to simulate an actual tooth. This treatment choice has the highest success rate, making it the best long-term investment for replacing a single missing tooth. Even if the initial cost is slightly higher than other options, it is the most cost-effective solution over time. An implant will never decay or need root canal treatment, and feels just like the tooth that was there.
Replace Multiple Teeth — When you have more than one tooth missing, implants provide an ideal replacement mechanism. You don't even need one implant for every missing tooth. Instead, implant teeth can act as supports for fixed bridgework. For example, if you are missing three teeth in a row, we can place two implants, one on either side of the gap, and a crown in between that has no implant underneath. That way, you won't need to use any of your remaining natural teeth as bridge supports, which could weaken them and make them more susceptible to decay.
Replace All Teeth Permanently — Implants can support an entire arch of upper or lower replacement teeth that are fixed into the mouth and are never removed. Sometimes the new teeth can be supported by as few as 4 implants. It's comparable to the structure of a table, which only needs 4 legs to hold it up. In cases where jawbone density and volume have deteriorated, 5 or 6 implants might be needed to support a row of 10 to 12 teeth. Dental implant replacement teeth protect your jawbone, won't slip, and should last a lifetime.
Support Removable Dentures — Implants can even make removable dentures more comfortable, effective and healthier to wear. Traditional dentures rest on the gums and put pressure on the underlying bone. This accelerates bone loss so that the jaw shrinks and the dentures slip, particularly on the bottom. But today dentists can attach a removable denture onto implants, transferring that pressure into the bone structure rather than the bone surface. This prevents the dentures from slipping while you eat and speak, and preserves the bone directly beneath them.
Are you missing teeth or interested in learning more about Dental Implants? Call More Smiles of Beverly today at (773) 980-8900 to schedule an appointment!
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