Dental implants are a safe, reliable, and highly successful solution for replacing one or more missing teeth permanently. The treatment involves implanting a small titanium screw into the jawbone, so it acts as the foundation for your new tooth replacement. A dental implant dentist near you will happily explain the procedure and help you determine if implants are best for your smile.

The technology behind dental implants has been around since the 1960s and has been well-proven to replace one or several missing teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. The result is an attractive, durable tooth replacement that stimulates the underlying bone, contributing to healthy gums around the new tooth. 

Other benefits of dental implants include:

• Secure and permanent tooth replacement 
• Look, feel, and function like natural teeth 
• Stimulate the surrounding soft and hard tissues – helps to maintain the facial structure 
• No interference with the surrounding healthy, natural teeth
• The comfortable end result with no adhesives or routine adjustments required 
• Easy to care and maintain your new teeth, with normal brushing and flossing 

What to Expect 

Dental implants are made from a biocompatible material that completely integrates with your bone tissue. If your dentist determines that you’re a good candidate for implants, the dentist will surgically insert the implant, which is usually in the form of a screw, into your jawbone. Dental implants come in different sizes to suit the quality of your jawbone. 

As it heals in the next few months, the screw will integrate with the underlying bone through a process known as osseointegration. This will provide strong and sturdy support for your new teeth that function as the root of your tooth replacement.  

When the implant has healed, an abutment is attached to it on one side to hold the tooth in place. Your replacement tooth is then connected to the abutment on the other side. The tooth is custom made to match the shape and color of your existing natural teeth. 

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

Dental implants are the ideal tooth replacement option for anyone missing one or several teeth. Each solution is custom designed for your specific situation, with some patients requiring additional treatments such as bone grafting to ensure a successful tooth replacement. 

Please visit your dentist in Ocala FL to learn more about dental implants and whether they’re right for you. 

A dental implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed in your jaw to form an artificial “tooth root” that functions as a sturdy support for the replacement tooth, denture, or bridge. Dental implants in Ocala FL are a popular, effective, and long-lasting solution for replacing missing teeth. 

They offer many other advantages over other tooth replacement options as follows:

• Can be used to replace one or more teeth without affecting the health or structure of neighboring teeth like conventional bridgework 
• They’re natural-looking and feeling, so you can enjoy your usual foods and care for your mouth as usual without necessarily giving the new tooth any special attention 
• Can be used to support a denture, making it more secure and comfortable
• Can be used to support a bridge to replace more than one tooth, as an alternative to removable partial dentures 
• They stimulate the jawbone to prevent bone resorption, which can make your face appear older

Placing dental implants involves a surgical procedure that requires extreme care. The implant requires three to four months to integrate with the underlying bone tissue before crown placement. During this time, the dentist will place dentures or partials to cover the gap and allow you to eat normally. Complex cases that involve soft and hard tissue grafting will take nearly twice as long. But the actual time depends on your age, health, number of teeth, and quantity and quality of bone tissue. 

Treatment Process for Dental Implants in Ocala FL

The oral surgeon uses state-of-the-art 3D digital imaging and advanced implant planning software to analyze your jaw anatomy and identify the best site for the implant before surgery. This is important to reduce the recovery time to a few months. After surgical placement of the implant, you need to wait 4-6 months for the gums to heal before the replacement tooth can be placed. If your gum and/or bone tissue needs to be rebuilt, like through grafting, then the full treatment time will be longer. 

Please schedule an appointment with your oral surgeon in Ocala FL for a proper assessment of your case. 

Implants are one of the most common options for replacing one tooth or multiple teeth when combined with bridgework or dentures. Dental implants are preferred to other tooth replacement solutions because they are more secure and stable, offering the same level of comfort as your natural teeth. With this in mind, many patients find the cost of dental implants worth their time and money.

What May Increase the Cost of Getting a Dental implant?

The cost of getting implants varies considerably depending on different factors. For instance, some people may not be good candidates for the procedure because of using tobacco products or having a medical or dental condition that could prevent a successful dental implant placement. 

Your oral surgeon may recommend bone grafting for patients with severe bone tissue loss to ensure that they have sufficient bone tissue to integrate with the titanium implant, and subsequently provide strong support for your replacement teeth. If you use tobacco products or have a medical condition or are taking medications that may affect bone healing such as diabetes, you need to get the situation under management before starting treatment. All of these situations increase the cost of your dental implant procedure. 

Replacing a front tooth may also cost more because it involves a lot more work, owing to the minimal work-space available compared to a back tooth. In addition, the abutment used in the front teeth is usually more costly than the standard abutments used in back teeth placement. You also need to keep in mind that each implant comprises three elements: the implant, abutment, and crown, all of which are made from different materials, through different processes, and are placed at different appointments.

Specialist Care Costs More

Implants also require specialist care that is typically more expensive than general dental care. Dental implants lie in the category of implantology under restoration dentistry. The consultation for dental implants also involves a number of costly exams including diagnostic imaging (panoramic X-ray). Moreover, they can only be placed by an oral surgeon, periodontist, or dentist with relevant advanced training and experience.

To find out the cost for your dental implants, please visit your dental surgeon in Ocala FL today.