For people who have missing teeth, the challenges can be large and varied. Of course, what most affects people with tooth loss is just the knowledge of what others see—a gaping hole in your smile. This often leads to a compromised sense of self-confidence and self-esteem. In addition, tooth loss—even one missing tooth—can cause some degree jaw deterioration. Foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables can be difficult to eat without all of your teeth. Finally, tooth loss can affect your ability to speak clearly—another factor that can contribute to reduced self-confidence at work, school, or leisure.
While a bridge or denture can restore some of the function and appearance of your missing teeth, they only rest atop your gums. As a result, many patients with these oral prosthetic devices experience deterioration of jawbone tissue that can lead to changes in facial structure that age a person’s appearance. In addition, you may miss the permanence and confidence of your old teeth. Fortunately,Dr. David Weinmanis certified in dental implants and can restore your missing teeth with this comfortable, permanent treatment. Pleasecontact our Westfield, NJpractice today to schedule your first appointment with our dedicated team. New patients from Springfield, NJ and surrounding areas are always welcomed.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a small titanium post that is placed directly into the jawbone to replace the roots of a lost tooth. This provides a much more stable foundation for the replacement teeth when compared to options like dentures or dental bridges that only replace the crowns of missing teeth. The post is then topped with a custom-made restoration to replace the visible part of your missing tooth. Depending on how many teeth you’re replacing, this could be a crown, dental bridge, or denture. Thanks to the durable, high-quality materials this restoration will be crafted out of, they will blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. The end result of rebuilding teeth from the roots up like this is a smile that once again looks, feels, and functions just like natural!
The Dental Implant Process
Dr. Weinman has specialized training and expertise in dental implant treatment. This expertise includes every step of the process, including surgical placement and restoration. Placement involves a minor surgery where the implant post(s) will be positioned within your jawbone. Unlike other dental offices,Dr. Weinman can actually handle this procedure in-house, saving you from having to see an outside specialist. The implant is placed using the office’s state-of-the-art computer guidance software, ensuring the best placement and adhesion of tissue and bone possible. Afterward, you’ll be given about 3-6 months to heal. Once the dental implant (the titanium post) has fully integrated with your bone, he can begin fabricating your restoration. Then, you’ll return to our office for restoration, where Dr. Weinman will fit your replacement teeth to the implants, completing your new smile.
Benefits of Dental Implants
When you have missing teeth in your smile, it can make it extremely difficult to show it off. For many, this is the main concern they have with their tooth loss, and it can really leave a damaging effect on your self-esteem. Thankfully, dental implants restore your appearance in more ways than one as well as ensure many other long-term benefits you may not have expected. Below, you’ll find a handful of the most notable benefits that you won’t find with other methods of tooth replacement.Call our officetoday to schedule your very first dental implant consultation!
Regain Your Smile, Maintain Your Appearance
When a tooth is lost, the bone tissue begins to break down, which only affects your natural appearance further. In fact, your face can begin to prematurely sag and your cheeks can start to hollow out. Since dental implants replace the entire tooth structure, not just the visible crown, you can expect comprehensive restoration to your face, not just your smile.
Eat the Foods You Want
Even dentures and dental bridges can make it difficult to chew certain foods with confidence. The key with dental implants is it stimulates bone tissue once they are placed, which means your jaw’s fullest biting force comes back. Chewing steak, apples, and other tough or crunchy food is possible again after your implant treatment is complete.
Prevent Bone & Tissue Atrophy
When teeth are no longer stimulating bone tissue inside of your jaw, that causes the bone to break down and resorb back into the body where it’s needed. Unfortunately, this also results in a higher risk of future tooth loss. With the help of an implant, your bone tissue stays in place, preventing your jaw from atrophying and changing shape.
Take Care of Your Existing Teeth
In the case of dental bridges, you will need to have existing teeth modified so they can hold a dental bridge. Instead of removing valuable tooth enamel, dental implants rely on titanium posts to act as the foundation for your replacement tooth.
Easier Maintenance
Dental bridges can be difficult to clean, and dentures (especially removable ones) can be hard to maintain, particularly if you are older and not as dexterous as you may have remembered. Since dental implants are fixed, you just need to practice daily oral care and visit the dentist regularly to keep your smile looking good and your oral health in good shape.
Experience a Long-Lasting Solution
While dental bridges and dentures can prevent many problems caused by tooth loss, they often do not stand the test of time like dental implants do. In fact, dental implants are designed to last well over 30 years without issue. In most cases, they remain healthy for the remainder of the patient’s life, which is far different than the 5 to 10 year lifespan that dentures and dental bridges maintain.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are one of the most versatile tooth replacement options out there. Whether you’re missing one tooth or an entire arch, they can make it possible for you to chew, speak and smile with ease again.
Missing 1 Tooth
A single tooth is replaced via a single implant, porcelain crown and abutment, which keeps the two components attached.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Similar to a traditional bridge, two and four teeth can be replaced via an implant-retained bridge. Instead of buffing down natural teeth to anchor a bridge, an implant is placed on either side to hold the restoration. That means you can replace several teeth at once even if you’re only using two implants.
Missing All Teeth
If you’re missing an entire arch of teeth, you don’t need to replace every single pearly white with its own dental implant. Instead, we can use just a few, well-placed implants to anchor a full denture securely into place. For patients who have been suffering from tooth loss for a long time and perhaps don’t have enough jawbone density for traditional implant-dentures, we also offer All-On-4 dental implants, which can hold a full denture with just four dental implants.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Your dental implant treatment will not look exactly the same as another patient’s, as each individual’s needs are different. Many factors can influence the cost, including the type of restoration used, the number of implants you’re receiving, the preparatory treatments necessary to make implant possible (i.e. bone grafts and sinus lifts) and other factors.
However, it’s important to note that dental implants are considered a long-term investment. Their longevity and durability makes them the most cost-effective option for replacing teeth. Dental implants are able to last decades while other treatments need to be replaced every 5-7 years.