Dental Implants White Marsh
Natural-Looking & Feeling Results That Last
Whether you struggle from a single missing tooth, several, or you’re missing an entire row, dental implants in White Marsh offer a near lifelike alternative. With the ability to restore the entire structure of teeth, including the roots, you’ll be able to enjoy a smile that doesn’t just look full, natural, and healthy again, but also feels and functions as such. If you’re interested in learning more, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our team today.
Why Choose Dental Designs of Maryland for Dental Implants?
- Periodontist for Expert Implant Placement
- Streamlined Start-to-Finish Implant Treatment
- We Accept & Maximize Dental Insurance
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically placed below the gumline and into the jawbone. They’re designed to replace the missing root structure of teeth, providing restorations like dentures, bridges, and crowns with a strong, unwavering foundation to be attached to. Their biocompatible nature also allows them to fuse with the bone through a process called osseointegration. This will keep the bone from eroding over time, like what happens with traditional tooth replacement methods.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
- Consultation: The consultation will take place with our dental implant team, which will include our in-house periodontist and one of our skilled general dentists. After a thorough examination of your teeth and gums, as well as any diagnostic images we take, our team will be able to determine if you’re a good candidate for treatment. If so, we’ll develop a plan for you, answer any questions you may have, and schedule the next step of the process.
- Surgery: Our in-house periodontist has been specially trained to expertly place dental implants, allowing us to complete this part of the procedure in-house.
- Healing: After your implant placement, you’ll undergo a healing process that takes between three and six months. This is also when your implants will fuse with your jawbone.
- Restoration: Finally, our team will attach your abutments to your implants, which will anchor your permanent restorations in place and complete your smile.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Our team has seen our patients experience many benefits of our dental implant services.
Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, so they can significantly improve your:
- Speech – You will speak more clearly with dental implants than if you had dentures.
- Chewing – Dental implants help you chew food with greater ease and accuracy than with dentures.
- Dental health – These implants preserve the jawbone, preventing it from deteriorating over time.
- Overall physical health – Proper dental health with dental implants is a crucial factor in overall physical health.
We work closely with each of our patients to ensure that their dental implants are perfectly fitted to their teeth. Dental implants can last for decades with proper maintenance, so our team instructs our patients about the best ways to keep their dental implants beautiful for years to come.
Implant Dentures
Another option for dental implants is implant-supported dentures. Implant dentures are similar to regular dentures, except they are supported on the bottom by four to six dental implants. The implants latch onto the denture via connectors that snap in. Although patients still must remove their dentures nightly, implant-supported dentures ensure a tight fit, which is the top reason that people don’t like wearing dentures. Implant dentures are horseshoe-shaped, so there’s no need to cover the roof of the mouth, which is another potential source of discomfort.
Hybrid Overdenture
One of the most advanced dental implant options is the hybrid overdenture. A hybrid overdenture is a full arch prosthesis firmly anchored to the jawbone by four to six dental implants. This prosthesis is permanently attached and does not come out. A hybrid overdenture is one of the best options that we have to improve the appearance of our patients’ smiles.
Dental Implant FAQs
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
The lifespan of dental implants is mostly influenced by the health and lifestyle choices of the patient. To keep dental implants healthy for as long as possible, it’s important to brush twice, floss, and rinse every day. Attend your regular dental visits and don’t use your implants as tools to open packaging or open bottles. Avoiding poor habits, like smoking, can also help to increase their longevity. When cared for properly, dental implants can last upwards of thirty years or even the rest of your life!
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
The first step during dental implant surgery is numbing your mouth with a local anesthetic. You will also most likely receive sedation, lowering your body’s ability to register pain. The jawbone doesn’t have very many nerve endings either, so your surgery shouldn’t be uncomfortable. However, you may experience some soreness for a few days afterward as the area heals. By taking your prescribed and over-the-counter medications as directed and using cold compresses, this discomfort can be managed. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us.
How Long Does Dental Implant Surgery Take?
The length of your surgery depends on the number of dental implants you are getting. Generally speaking, getting one dental implant usually takes between one and two hours during an appointment. The more dental implants you are getting, the longer this procedure will take. During your consultation with us, we will discuss the estimated surgery time in detail so you can plan accordingly.
Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Eat with Dental Implants?
For the first few weeks after your surgery, you should avoid foods that are difficult to chew. You should also stay away from alcoholic, sugary, or acidic beverages as the area heals. Don’t use a straw either as this can dislodge the blood clot protecting the implant site. After the healing process is complete and you’ve received your replacement teeth, you can pretty much enjoy anything you want. Just be careful when eating foods that are particularly hard or sticky.
Can I Get Dental Implants If I Have Gone Through Cancer Treatment?
Patients who have undergone radiation therapy in the head and neck areas might be at higher risk for dental implant failure. The implants may be up to two or three more likely to fail due to the treatment’s effects on the immune system. Even if you had radiation therapy a long time ago, it may still have affected your ability to heal from dental implant surgery. If you have been through cancer treatment and are interested in dental implants, talk to your oncologist and dentist about whether you are a good candidate and how possible risks can be reduced.