Your teeth are made of the hardest substance in your body, which makes them perfect for all of the eating, grinding, chewing, and speaking you use them for every day. This is why it can be devastating when they are lost to either accident or decay. You may not be able to eat or speak as well anymore, and your jawbone may even shrink without the tooth around to keep it strong, so we recommend getting dental implants.
Restore Your Smile with Permanent Dental Implants
But you do not have to live with missing teeth! Teeth can be replaced permanently and reliably with dental implants, which act as new tooth roots that can provide the strength and durability of natural tooth roots. There are many treatment options involving dental implants in Norwalk, Connecticut, provided at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Fairfield County. Learn more about your options by reading below or calling 203-489-0980 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Imanuel Babayev, our professional and experienced oral surgeon.
Single Tooth Dental Implants
One of the advantages to dental implants is that they help prevent the loss of bone density and mass in your jaw when they are used to replace the roots of your natural teeth.
Dental implants are typically made of two parts. One is the implant post which is much like a screw that is made of titanium or another biocompatible material and placed in your jawbone. This provides a stable foundation for the second part, which is the restoration itself, and can be a fixed or removable tooth.
When the post is placed, it begins to fuse with your jawbone over a period of a few months. This fusing process is called osseointegration. The restoration or replacement tooth is typically placed after this process is completed.
Implant-Supported Bridges
When you are missing three or more teeth in a row, our oral surgeon may use an implant-supported bridge to restore your smile. This type of restoration will often use two implants to support a porcelain that will fill in that space. It creates a functional and aesthetically pleasing restoration.
Typically, a dental bridge is anchored in your mouth by being attached to crowns placed on the teeth adjacent to your gap. Implant-supported bridges are different because they are supported by two or more dental implants. This treatment preserves more of your natural teeth because crowns require that your natural teeth be shaved down to prepare for their crowns. Your natural teeth will also be stressed by any pressure placed on your bridge which can be damaging, especially if the area around the teeth that the crowns are placed on, their roots or surrounding jawbone are already compromised.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Our practice is happy to offer our patients who are missing many or all of the teeth implant-supported dentures as an effective alternative to regular dentures. There is a minimum of two implants to use this solution and if you require dentures to replace an entire arch of teeth, we will recommend at least four implants be used. There are a number of factors that our oral surgeon will have to examine in order to determine if you are able to get implant-supported dentures. One of the most important factors is the density of your jawbone.
Implant-supported dentures provide a more comfortable and secure fit than traditional fit, because they are attached to your jaw via the implants and not simply help in place using a dental paste or adhesive. It also allows for a small and more comfortable base on the denture itself.
With this restoration option you can get dentures that are fixed or removable. If you choose a removable denture then the denture itself will snap into place on the implants. You can remove your dental implant before bed to be cleaned.
Another advantage to implant-supported dentures is that the placement of the implants can help to stimulate growth in your jaw. This process, called osseointegration, leads a reduction in the bone loss that is typically associated with missing teeth.
Guided Implant Placement
We can provide you with the ideal treatment plan using CBCT scans, virtual treatment planning and our specialized training. This plan uses a digital 3D model or a physical model to simulate treatments and take a comprehensive look at the different aspects of your implant placement. The result is optimal aesthetics, function and longevity. The 3D model can also help you, the patient, understand your treatment better.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
What Does a Dental Implant Cost?
The oral surgeon and team at our practice have performed a large number of cases. This means that we are able to offer dental implants at reasonable prices similar to those of dental bridges. We provide each of our patients with a written estimate of the cost of their treatment after they have received their examination and determined the extent of the treatment they will need. This does not include the cost of the abutment and the crown that will be placed.
Will the Implant Be Placed at the Time of the Extraction?
There are times when the implant can be placed at the time of the extraction. There are two factors that determine whether or not that is possible. First, your anatomy, and second, the amount of available bone. When we have finished all of the presurgical planning, our oral surgeon will let you know if this option is possible to you.
Are Implants Effective? Are They Guaranteed to Work?
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that your implants will absolutely be a success. Implants are foreign objects inserted into your body, which means there will be always a chance of failure. Due to the significant advances in dental implantology, including better materials, surface treatments, and implant designs, the rate of success has dramatically increased. Modern dental procedures have a success rate of over 90%, compared to 60% success in the 1980s. In our experience, only one in 20 (5%) of implants have a failure occur. When this happens, we will replace them at no cost to you.
What Are the Potential Complications?
There is a risk of numbness in the patient’s lip and chin when the implants are placed in the lower jaw. When they are in the upper jaw, there is a risk of exposure into the sinus. With our plentiful experience and high-tech diagnostic planning, our oral surgeon and team can greatly decrease this risk of these complications occurring.
What Type of Anesthesia Will I Receive?
We offer to our patients the option of being asleep using anesthesia for any dental procedures if you suffer from moderate to severe anxiety. We recommend this service for implant surgery, but it is not required, and it provides for a very safe, pleasant, and stress-free experience. Another option that we offer is to use Novocain to numb the area, much like is available at a regular visit to the dentist.
Is There Special Care for Implants?
One of the benefits of dental implants is that they don’t need any special care beyond the regular brushing and flossing, as well as normal visits to the dentist that are required with your natural teeth.
Am I a Good Candidate for Implants?
Most patients are good candidates for dental implants, and those who are not typically have an anatomy that is not favorable for the procedure. When patients have missing teeth, they usually are able to receive dental implants, but there are those who will need bone or soft tissue grafts before they get implants in order to receive the best results that they can. During your consultation, our oral surgeon should be able to determine your prognosis and risks.
If I Am Having a Front Tooth Replaced with an Implant, Will I Have to Be Toothless During the Healing Period?
No, you will not have to be toothless. During the healing period, you can receive a temporary, removable replacement for a missing front tooth. The healing period can take you from four to six months, but while your implant is healing, you should be able to receive a temporary replacement in the form of a partial denture, retainer, or splint. This replacement will be placed during your surgery.
