Missing teeth can impact your confidence and oral health. At Ravenwood Dental, Dr. Ariba Memon and our skilled team are proud to offer full-service dental implants for a reliable, long-lasting solution for patients who want to replace missing teeth with natural-looking, functional replacements. Dental implants are a key part of our restorative dentistry treatments.
Implants restore the appearance of your smile, help maintain bone health, and prevent shifting of surrounding teeth. Our comprehensive approach to dental implants ensures that each step of your implant journey. We’ll give you the utmost care and precision.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a modern and effective solution for replacing missing teeth. They consist of a small titanium post that is surgically placed into the jawbone and acts as an artificial tooth root. This post fuses with the bone over time to provide a stable foundation for an artificial tooth (crown), bridge, or even a full arch of replacement teeth. Once the implant has integrated with the jawbone, an abutment is attached to the post to hold the artificial tooth securely in place.
Dental implants are considered the gold standard for tooth replacement because they closely mimic the look, feel, and function of teeth. Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, implants are securely anchored into the jawbone. Implants prevent your false teeth from slipping and offer lasting stability.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are a popular choice for patients who want a strong, natural-looking smile. Dr. Memon works to provide custom implants. Key advantages include:
- Improved Appearance: Dental implants look and feel just like your natural teeth. We color-match your teeth and work with labs so your new teeth match the color, shape, and size of your other teeth. Filling the gaps left by your missing teeth also helps your smile look even and beautiful.
- Better Function: With dental implants, you can eat your favorite foods without worry. You can also speak clearly, and you won’t feel your teeth slipping or moving around. When restorations use the support of implants, you can bite, chew, and talk much easier than if you had a removable denture or traditional bridge.
- Stronger Jawbone Health: When you lose a tooth, the bone in your jaw can shrink over time. You can experience bone loss once your mouth loses support from the tooth roots. Dental implants help keep your jawbone healthy by giving it the support it needs. We can build up your jaw bone and implant posts fuse to your bone to keep your face looking full and natural.
- Long-Lasting Results: Dental implants can last many years if you take good care of them. While you may need to replace your resotration over time, the implant posts are permanent. They’re strong and dependable, making them a smart and long-lasting choice to replace missing teeth.
- No Harm to Other Teeth: Unlike traditional bridges, implants don’t need help from your other teeth to stay in place. We don’t need to prepare healthy teeth to support your restoration. Our office uses implants to keep your nearby teeth healthy and also keep your bite straight and even.
Are Dental Implants Right for You?
Dental implants are an excellent option for many patients who want to replace missing teeth. Good candidates for implants generally have healthy gums and adequate bone density to support the implant. Even if you’ve experienced some bone loss, bone grafting may be possible to create a strong foundation for implants. You can also get periodontal disease treatment or tooth extractions to remove severely infected or damaged teeth. Dr. Memon will work with you to assess your oral health, answer any questions, and develop a treatment plan that aligns with your goals and lifestyle.
Getting Dental Implants at Ravenwood Dental
Dr. Memon and her team work with local surgeons and dental labs to provide dental implant treatment. It takes a few office visits to get an implant restoration, but the results are worth it for many patients. You can get a permanent implant restoration in multiple steps.
Pretreatments
Before you get dental implants, Dr. Memon will check your teeth and gums. Some patients need treatments like bone grafting or gum treatment to make sure their mouth is healthy enough for implants. This step helps prepare your mouth for the best results.
Surgery
The next step is the surgery to place the implant. We’ll refer you to a local oral surgeon to place the implant post. First, he or she will numb your mouth for your comfort. Then the surgeon will place a small titanium post into your jawbone where the missing tooth used to be. This post will act like a new tooth root and helps keep your jawbone strong.
Healing
After surgery, your mouth needs time to heal. This healing period can take a few months because the implant needs to fuse with your jawbone. This process is called “osseointegration” and helps the implant stay strong.
Once your mouth has healed, Dr. Memon will place a small connector called an abutment on top of the implant. The abutment holds the new tooth in place. You’ll need several more weeks for your gums to heal.
Final Restoration
The last step is placing your custom-made crown, bridge, or denture on top of the abutment. You’ll return to our office once your gums are healed and your restoration is complete. We’ll ensure your new tooth or teeth will look and feel natural. Our office will also give you tips on how to clean your implants at home.
Restore Your Smile with Dental Implants in St. John, IN
At Ravenwood Dental, we care about helping you get back a confident, healthy, and complete smile. Dr. Memon and our team will be with you through every step of the dental implant process. We’re here so you feel comfortable and get the high-quality care you deserve.
If you’re ready to learn more about dental implants and how they can restore your teeth, call our St. John, IN office today at 219-365-9750. You can also schedule a consultation in our office online.