Dental Implants
Our team of dentists at LifeSmile Dental Care want you to have the greatest dental health possible. To meet this goal, we are pleased to offer a full range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to help you look and feel your best. If you have lost one or more teeth, our experienced doctors will restore your teeth with dental implants that are every bit as stable and strong as natural teeth.
Losing a tooth is never something to look forward to in life. But it can happen to anyone, often as the result of an emergency or accident, gum disease, or tooth decay. Whether you are missing one tooth or all of your teeth, everyday activities such as speaking and eating can become an uncomfortable challenge —and your self-confidence can suffer, as well. Dental implants give you the opportunity to reclaim those missing teeth with a replacement that is natural-looking and fully functional.
If you have lost teeth and are interested in learning about implants as a possible solution, talk with a dentist at our Hazelwood, Missouri office. Schedule your free consultation about treatment options today.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants consist of a titanium base, which is surgically embedded into the bones and tissues of your jaw, to replicate the root structure of a biological tooth. After the base has successfully integrated into the bone, a prosthesis can be attached—providing you with an artificial tooth, bridge, or set of dentures.
| Dental Implant Treatments | |
|---|---|
| Crown | For single tooth replacement, a natural-looking crown is custom made to permanently attach to one dental implant. |
| Bridge | For multiple, adjacent missing teeth: two implants can be used to support a bridge. Unlike traditional bridges, implant-supported bridges do not put any pressure on healthy teeth for stability. |
| Dentures / Overdentures | For multiple missing teeth: a full or partial set of dentures can be attached to 4 to 6 implants, which will provide a stable foundation for your replacement teeth. The dentures snap in and out for comfortable removal and cleaning. |
| Hybrid Dentures | Non-removable dentures are permanently attached to an implant base. |
Better than Dentures
Traditional dentures will not fit into your mouth the same way as natural teeth. They will not be attached to the bones of your face, but will rely on the soft tissues of the mouth, or adhesive gels, to stay in place. This can make them uncomfortable or unwieldy, even with regular re-fittings. Because they function differently from natural teeth, one must relearn how to chew, speak, and smile when wearing them. Facial muscles will be used differently, as you learn to hold the dentures in place, and over time, bone loss can change the appearance of your face.
Dentures that attach to dental implants are different. Because they are anchored to the jawbone, they provide the same stability and strength as natural teeth, and do not allow bone loss or jawbone recession. They do not shift or slip out of place, and will only come out when you choose to remove them. Chewing and speaking habits are less likely to be affected, and, once the dentures are properly attached to the implants, they will never need to be refitted or re-sized.
Replacement Teeth, for Life
Dental implant surgery is a more complex procedure than having a standard bridge or set of dentures made, as it is a two-part process.
First the implant base, usually made of titanium, must be surgically set into the jawbone. After the surgery it may take up to three months for the implant to successfully fuse with bone tissues, via a healing process called osseointegration. Only after the implant has integrated into your mouth can a permanent prosthesis be added. (Temporary prostheses can usually be used during this time, however.)
Our patients tell us that this longer process is entirely worth the extra time, because the result is a permanent replacement for missing teeth. With a success rate of up to 98%, most patients find that the dental implants let them carry on with no notable change to their eating and speaking habits, their appearance, or their quality of life.
- No re-learning how to bite and chew favorite foods.
- No worrying about replacing a crown or bridge every 6-8 years.
- No worrying about unwieldy dentures slipping out or needing to be refit regularly.
If you would like to learn more about dental implants, contact us at our Hazelwood, Missouri office at 314-521-5678 or make an appointment online. Let us know what your concerns are, and one of our dentists will provide you with a consultation in which we look at your overall dental health and determine whether dental implants might be right for you.