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Dental Implants – Santa Clarita, CA
When Permanence Meets Perfection
Many tooth replacement solutions only replicate the look of your smile, but only dental implants can rebuild the complete tooth structure. As an implant dentist in Santa Clarita, Dr. Ramtin is pleased to provide in-house dental implant placement and restoration for patients suffering from tooth loss. When faced with the reality of missing teeth, these permanent prosthetics can deliver top-of-the-line results that can last a lifetime. Call us if you are interested in learning more about dental implants and what they can do for you.
Why Choose A New Smile Dental Canyon Country for Dental Implants?
- Start-to-Finish Dental Implant Placement & Restoration
- No-Mess Digital Impression System
- Dentist with Advanced Training & Expertise
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts that look like small screws. Positioned within the jawbone to replicate tooth roots, they fuse with the bone tissues over several months before creating a firm foundation for new teeth. When topped with a customized implant crown, bridge, or denture, you can enjoy a complete smile that will last a lifetime with proper care.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Although your new dental implants were designed to last for a lifetime, getting them takes a little bit longer than it might to get traditional restorations like dental bridges and dentures. However, despite the wait, most patients agree the end result is well worth the investment.
At A New Smile Dental Canyon County, our caring and talented team of dentists is pleased to offer your entire dental implant treatment right here in our office. While each patient’s journey will likely vary slightly, all follow the same four main steps: the initial consultation, the surgical procedure, the healing and osseointegration period, and finally, the placement of your new teeth!
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
During your initial consultation, your dentist will examine the condition of your gums and jaw and review your medical history to determine if you qualify for treatment. If necessary, we will make recommendations for tooth extractions, gum disease therapy, or bone grafting that may need to be completed before your mouth is ready to get dental implants. Then, once it is, we can continue creating your treatment plan, including the timeline and total price.
Dental Implant Surgery
The next step in your dental implant journey is the surgical procedure, where your dentist will permanently attach your dental implants to the jaw. At A New Smile Dental Canyon County, we are pleased to perform this procedure right here in the office!
When you arrive for surgery, your dentist will numb your mouth, so you are completely comfortable before beginning. Then, once you’re ready, we’ll make an incision in your gum tissue where the implant(s) will go, insert the implants into the jawbone, close the gum tissue with sutures, and cover the post(s) with a protective cap.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement
Following your surgery, your dental implant(s) will need to permanently integrate with your jawbone via a process known as osseointegration. This typically takes between four and nine months, depending on the patient. Once your jaw has successfully healed around the post, you will be ready to return to our office to have your abutments placed. These are small parts that will eventually connect the restoration (either a crown, bridge, or denture) to the implant post.
Abutment placement will require another minor surgical procedure where your dentist will need to make incisions in the gums and close them back up. However, this procedure is far less invasive than the initial surgery and healing should be much more comfortable and only take a few weeks.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
Once your mouth has healed from your abutment surgery, your dental implant journey concludes with the delivery of your final restorations in the form of a crown (single tooth) bridge (multiple teeth) or a denture (entire arch of teeth).
You’ll return to A New Smile Dental Canyon County once again, where your dentist will place your prosthetic, ensure it looks and feels great, and send you off to enjoy your gorgeous new grin. This step shouldn’t require any recovery or downtime, and you can even begin using your new teeth that very same day!
Benefits of Dental Implants
With over half a million dental implants placed annually, this durable and natural looking treatment is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to replace missing teeth. Thanks to their unique placement inside the jawbone, dental implants have a wide array of important benefits that you simply won’t find with dentures or dental bridges. In fact, your new prosthetics even have the potential to dramatically improve your self-confidence, health, and quality of life!
Day-to-Day Benefits
Dental implants have a variety of impressive benefits that you can expect to enjoy in your daily life. These include:
- The ability to chew all your favorite foods with ease.
- The ease of brushing and flossing like you would your natural teeth, instead of the difficulties of caring for other prosthetics like dentures.
- The ability to smile confidently knowing your new teeth look realistic and will never slip or fall out of place.
Health Benefits
In addition to daily benefits, your new dental implants also boast several important health benefits, including:
- Maintaining a strong, healthy jawbone.
- Supporting your surrounding teeth.
- Enabling you to eat a nutritious diet full of the foods you love.
- The end to painful tooth sensitivity and gum sores from dentures or dental bridges.
- Easier cleaning means a lower risk of oral and overall health problems.
Long-Term Benefits
Finally, your dental implants also provide several amazing long-term benefits you may not have considered, such as:
- An impressive 95% success rate, even ten years after placement.
- Because they’re permanent, you won’t need to replace your dental implants like you would dentures or dental bridges.
- Easier care and more durable prosthetics often translate into a savings of time and money when compared to other options.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
If you are an adult who has suffered from tooth loss, there is a good chance you are a candidate for dental implants. No matter how many teeth you are missing, these prosthetics are versatile in being able to restore your smile and confidence. While a thorough consultation is required, it may be that you need to undergo further treatment before receiving dental implants. Your initial consultation will help to determine how to proceed, and which type of restoration is best for your needs:
Missing One Tooth
With more than 120 million people missing at least one tooth in the U.S., we can replace a single tooth with one dental implant, a metal abutment, and a customized implant crown. This allows you to resume eating your favorite foods while also enjoying greater confidence in your appearance.
Missing Multiple Teeth
When two or more teeth are missing, we can suggest an implant bridge that is similar to its traditional fixed counterpart. The main difference is that instead of altering healthy abutment teeth to serve as anchors, we can place two dental implant posts into the vacated sockets before securing a customized bridge on top. Not only does this offer continuous jawbone stimulation, but it also fills in the gaps of your smile for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Missing All of Your Teeth
An entire row of missing teeth can now be replaced with 4-6 dental implant posts and a custom-made implant denture. Allowing you to eat all your favorite, nutrient-rich foods while also improving your speech and aesthetics, you can enjoy fully functional teeth that last a lifetime with proper care.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of dental implants is determined during your initial consultation with our team. It is during this visit that we will examine your smile and determine the various factors that must be considered when creating a cost estimate. No matter the official number provided, we will work with you to maximize your dental insurance benefits so that your out-of-pocket expenses remain low.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
A lot of effort and time goes into getting dental implants, so you’ll undoubtedly want to do everything you can to keep them in great shape after you receive them. Fortunately, dental implants require little more than basic oral hygiene practices and a little common sense to stay functional and beautiful for a lifetime. Here’s a brief overview of a few excellent ways to keep your restorations in excellent condition for as long as possible, but please contact the staff at A New Smile Dental Canyon Country if you have any questions.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Since dental implants are made from titanium and ceramic materials, they are completely immune to cavities. However, the gum tissue supporting them can still be compromised by infections, so it’s important to practice excellent oral hygiene every day. This includes brushing, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash to remove plaque and kill harmful bacteria. Remember to use a gel-type toothpaste, as traditional types are abrasive enough to leave scratches on your restorations.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Dental implants give patients the chewing power to enjoy any food they like, but excellent nutrition is a crucial part of keeping these appliances in great shape. Be sure to enjoy plenty of foods that are rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins C and D so your gums and jawbones have the nutrients they need to support your implants. It’s also important to refrain from excessive consumption of sugary and acidic foods and beverages.
Break Bad Habits
Some common habits can make your implants more likely to fail. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are quite harsh on gum tissue and can leave you more vulnerable to destructive oral infections. Using your natural and artificial teeth to open packages or bottles or to chew on non-food substances like metal, wood, and ice are excellent ways to chip, crack, and fracture them. Kicking these habits is an excellent way to set your implants up for success.
Protect Your Dental Implants
While dental implants are incredibly strong, they are not indestructible and can be compromised if exposed to too much force. When playing sports or riding a bike, be sure to wear an athletic mouthguard to protect your teeth from blows and falls. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, wear a nightguard to prevent unnecessary wear and tear. We’ll be happy to provide you with a customized nightguard that offers superior protection in our office.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Even if all your teeth have been replaced with dental implants, you’ll still need to see us every six months for routine exams and cleanings. These visits allow us to monitor your natural and artificial teeth and address problems in their early stages. This can prevent serious oral infections that can compromise the gum and bone tissues your implants depend on for support.
Dental Implant FAQs
Are Dental Implants Removable?
It’s natural to hesitate to proceed with getting dental implants in Santa Clarita if you’re not sure what life looks like once they’re placed. Many patients have questions about what to expect, like whether or not their new teeth can be easily removed.
Unlike dentures, dental implants include a titanium rod that’s surgically inserted into your jawbone for added strength and stability. Eventually, your jawbone fuses with the metal, making it a permanent part of your smile. That means no, your restoration is not meant to be taken out. If yours is loose or wobbling, please contact us right away so we can ensure it’s functioning as intended.
How Long Do Dental Implants Usually Last?
Of all the options for replacing missing teeth, implants tend to last longer than the alternatives because of their unique placement in your jawbone. The support rod stimulates new bone growth with each bite down until enough material is produced to fully encompass and fuse with the metal in a process called osseointegration.
Once that’s complete, the implant itself can potentially remain put for the rest of your natural life. However, the dental crown (or other appropriate restoration) anchored to it might wear down after 10 to 15 years, depending on how well it’s cared for, and require repairs or replacement.
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
Any surgical procedure has the potential to cause discomfort, and dental implants are no exception. That said, our team goes above and beyond to ensure that you’re kept calm and comfortable throughout your procedure. For instance, we’ll numb the area with a local anesthetic to prevent the nerves in your teeth and jaw from sending pain signals to your brain. That means you won’t experience any discomfort until the meds wear off afterwards.
It's normal to experience some associated aches and inflammation for a few days following your procedure. Typically, this peaks around the third day and then gradually starts to dissipate. If you notice prolonged or severe throbbing for longer than a week, let us know so we can ensure you’re healing properly.
What Causes Dental Implants to Fail?
These teeth typically have an incredibly high success rate of more than 90%, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely invincible. You must care for them correctly, or they might fail. Although uncommon, some reasons your restorations might experience problems include:
- Peri-implantitis. This pervasive form of gum disease erodes the connective and bone tissues surrounding your implant, leaving it without a firm enough foundation to remain in place. Brushing and flossing twice daily prevents it.
- Insufficient jawbone density. Your jaw must be thick and strong enough to support your implant and complete osseointegration or it could fail.
- Unhealthy habits. Tobacco products contain nicotine, which suppresses your body’s ability to fight infections like gum disease and increases the likelihood of loosing your dental implant. Also, alcoholic beverages can dissolve the cement holding the tooth-shaped restoration to your implant.