Unlike your natural teeth, dental implants can't get cavities.
Your South Tampa dentist will first sit down with you to determine if dental implants best suit your unique needs. After examining your mouth, administering X-rays, and checking your jaw health, your dentist will decide if one or more dental implants will provide the proper tooth restoration required for your smile. At this time, you and your dentist can discuss other restorative dentistry alternatives that may be a better fit for you.
Once you’ve been approved for treatment, your dentist will schedule your oral surgery appointment and provide a surgical plan. During the surgery, your dentist will open your gum tissue slightly to securely place a dental implant in the jaw. Your dentist will complete the procedure by cleaning the area and adding sutures to begin the healing process.
Your gums will begin to heal once your implants have been placed. Most patients heal completely from surgery within 1-2 weeks. In a process called “osseointegration,” the dental implant will take between 3-6 months to permanently bond with your jaw bone.
To ensure proper healing and bonding occurs, you’ll want to visit our office for a few follow-up appointments after your surgery. Your dentist will examine your jaw and gums and take impressions of your implant and teeth. These impressions will be sent over to a lab, who will craft a custom prosthetic, dental crown or arch of teeth.
After the lab has completed your prosthetic and your mouth has fully healed, you’ll visit our office for your final appointment. During the visit, your dentist will complete the procedure by permanently placing the restoration to your dental implant.
Keep your mouth and dental implant healthy by brushing and flossing regularly. Don’t forget to see your dentist every six months for a teeth cleaning and oral exam.
As the most-frequently used dental implant, single-tooth implants are made up of two main parts. The dental implant, or post, is a titanium rod with a screw-like shape. A dental crown is the restoration that is usually applied to the single implant.
To place a single dental implant, the post is bonded permanently into your gum and jaw. As the gum heals, a dental crown is created, which is eventually attached to the post by an “abutment.” This dental crown reinstates the shape, function, and appearance of your natural tooth. Unlike a partial denture, single-tooth implants are extremely durable and never move or shift.
If you are missing all or most of your natural teeth, and are looking for a secure, durable alternative to traditional dentures, full-arch implants may be the best option for you. By placing a series of 4-6 dental implants per arch into your mouth, you can enjoy the look and function of a new smile that can last a lifetime.
These dental implants act as artificial roots that allow a set of removable implant-supported overdentures or fixed dental bridges to permanently bond to the gumline and restore your smile. Full-arch implants look and feel much more natural, and will never shift or move when you eat or speak, unlike dentures.
Similar to standard dental implants, mini implants are about half of the size of a traditional implant. They can be used to restore one tooth or several missing teeth, but mini implants are most commonly used to support a set of dentures in the lower jaw.
Due to their small size, the placement process is not as invasive as traditional implants. Plus, mini implants can usually still be applied in your jaw even if it has been weakened by bone resorption after tooth loss.
Unlike dentures which require replacements, dental implants can potentially last a lifetime.
Dental implants are composed of two unique parts: one screw-shaped titanium “post”, and the restorative component, which is usually a dental crown and abutment. A wide selection of pre-selected post sizes are available to ensure each patient gets an implant that suits their needs. The restoration, on the other hand, is a custom-made appliance. Once your dentist secures your dental implant, they will administer impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental lab.
The lab will create a long-lasting, resilient dental implant restoration. Most are crafted out of porcelain or another high-quality, durable material. Once the restoration is complete, the lab will send it back to our office, and your dentist will complete the procedure by securely attaching your dental implant in place.
When properly placed and maintained with care, dental implants can last up to 30 years or more. It’s very common for patients to keep their implants for the rest of their lives.
The dental implant restoration, on the other hand, may not last this long. Restorations such as dental crowns or overdentures are exposed to regular wear and tear from chewing, biting, and more. Over the years, the restoration may need to be replaced a few times to keep your smile healthy and functional.
Dental implants can become infected, but it is a very rare complication. Known as “peri-implantitis,” a dental implant infection usually only occurs if the implant is not kept clean or cared for after surgery.
To avoid peri-implantitis and maintain a healthy implant, follow your dentist’s instructions while recovering, and be sure to brush and floss regularly after your implant has healed.
Yes. When your jaw is no longer stimulated by the natural pressure of chewing and biting, bone loss will occur. Losing a tooth stops this process, causing the jaw bone to weaken.
When the dental implant post is bonded directly into the jaw bone, it acts as an artificial tooth root and transmits the force of chewing and biting through the root and into your jaw bone, keeping it healthy and strong.
There are a few types of dental implants that can be done in one day. The restoration your dentist provides is a temporary appliance to keep your tooth healthy and functional until you have fully healed from your dental implant placement surgery. With your restoration, you can speak and eat normally throughout the healing process.
Your dentist will schedule a series of follow up appointments to track your healing process and take impressions of your teeth. These impressions will help the lab create your custom-made restoration, which will be a more permanent, durable, and natural-looking prosthetic than your temporaries.
For the most part, you can treat your dental implants just like you would treat your natural teeth. This means that you should brush at least twice a day for two minutes using fluoride toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Make sure that you spend at least 30 seconds each quadrant of your mouth, and don’t forget to brush around your gum line. You also should floss your teeth and your implants once per day, since this removes food particles and other debris that can’t be removed with brushing alone.
That’s really all there is to it. As long as you brush your teeth and floss regularly, your dental implants will stay in great shape. In addition to this, though, you should come to Tampa Smile Co. every six months for a checkup. During your teeth cleaning, your hygienist will clean your teeth and your implants thoroughly to ensure they stay healthy. And during your oral exam, Dr. Bawany will examine both your teeth and your dental implants to make sure they're in good shape.
No. Unfortunately, most dental insurance companies do not cover the cost of dental implants. While dental insurance typically covers dentures and dental bridges up to applicable limits, it does not cover the cost of dental implant surgery.
However, this does not necessarily mean that you have to pay for your entire procedure out of pocket. Depending on your policy, your insurance may pay toward other preparatory procedures like tooth extractions, alveoloplasty, or even bone grafts. To learn more about your coverage, we recommend consulting with your policy documents and your insurer directly.
You will not experience any pain or discomfort at all during your surgery at Tampa Smile Co. We use the latest numbing techniques to prevent pain and discomfort. We also offer a variety of dental sedation options. Together, numbing and sedation will keep you comfortable throughout your entire appointment with Dr. Bawany.
However, you will likely experience some pain and discomfort a few hours after you leave our office, once your numbing and sedation wear off. This is normal, and to be expected. You can take over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen to help with pain. You can also ice the cheek near your surgical site to help with swelling and discomfort.
Typically, your pain will peak within 2-3 days of your surgery. If possible, we recommend taking a day or two off of work or school. This way, you can rest and recover more quickly. We also recommend avoiding heavy exercise and exertion for a few days after your surgery, since this can cause pain and bleeding.
After a few days, most patients start to experience much less pain. As you continue to follow the recovery instructions provided to you by Dr. Bawany, your pain, swelling, and discomfort will fade. Most patients feel minimal pain after a week, and are fully recovered after two weeks.
Dental implants are made of titanium, which is one of the strongest and most durable metals.
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