Are you one of millions of Americans who are suffering from tooth loss due to tooth decay, periodontal disease or injury? You may think the only alternatives available to you are bridges, dentures or not replacing the problem tooth or teeth.
Major advancements in dental care in the past 20-30 years have changed the way modern dental treatments for missing teeth. Today’s solution is dental implants, which offer patients great results and numerous benefits.
In short, a dental implant is a metal post or frame that is surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath your gum. A natural-looking replacement tooth or teeth can then be mounted onto the post or frame.
Because implant posts are usually made of titanium, a material that stimulates new bone growth within the jaw, dental implants help preserve tooth-supporting bone that deteriorates when a tooth is lost. If you lose a tooth, you should consider replacing that tooth with a dental implant as soon as possible in order to prevent bone loss.
The surgical procedure Rider Oral Surgery uses to place a dental implant is considered a minor and routine outpatient surgery and usually requires only local anesthesia.
The process is performed in three stages:
Placement of the implant into the bone or as close to it as possible is critical. During the healing period, the bone actually grows – or fuses – onto the surface of the implant. This bone growth is called osseointegration. Osseointegration produces one of the major benefits of dental implants: a strong and stable foundation for the replacement tooth or teeth that has improved durability over time.
Most of a dental implant rests below the gum line, in the socket left by your missing tooth. Just a small part of the implant is visible above the gum. Dr. Rider attaches a connector (known as an abutment) to the top of the implant. This abutment holds the replacement tooth/teeth.
Once the abutment is attached to the implant, the area is left to heal for several months. When the healing process is complete, Dr Rider attaches the replacement teeth or bridge, which are custom-made to match your existing natural teeth.
Dental implants are not only strong and durable, they are changing the way people live!
Dentures that slide can make chewing difficult or painful. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures and the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.
Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are permanent, you never experience the sunken look around the mouth and cheek areas that comes with the removal of dentures.
Poor-fitting dentures may allow teeth to move or slip within the mouth, resulting in mumbling or slurring of words. Dental implants eliminate this worry.
Dental implants don’t require nearby teeth to be altered to support the implant (the way a bridge does, for example). This leaves more of your own teeth intact and also allows easier access between teeth, improving long-term oral health.
All of these benefits of dental implants mean that you can expect improved overall self-confidence and quality of life. You’ll smile more and feel better about yourself! Contact Rider Oral Surgery today to make an appointment for an initial consultation.
At the initial consultation, Dr Rider conducts a thorough dental exam to determine the nature and extent of any current dental problems. She prioritizes these and the treatment plans that may be necessary to stabilize any gum- or tooth-related issues. She reviews and explains your existing conditions and any risks of delaying or declining treatment.
Your questions and concerns are important to us
and the team at Rider Oral Surgery will work closely with you to make your procedure a success.
During this consultation, Dr Rider and her staff will discuss with you all the alternatives available to you, including the feasibility of dental implants. If you believe implant dentistry is the right choice for you, your consultation will include a health history, dental history and clinical/films (x-ray) evaluation. Based on these findings, Dr. Rider will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs. This written plan summarizes your treatment process and likely costs.
Because dental implants can fail – typically due to loss of bone surrounding the implant – longer -term care of your dental implants is also required.
This is accomplished during regular dental check-ups with Rider Oral Surgery.
This care includes: X-ray imaging every 6 months for the first two years, and then every three years thereafter along with cleaning every 6 months.
There are many reasons to trust Rider Oral Surgery with your overall dental health and your dental implants.
These include: