Dental Implants — Beachwood, OH

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are an advanced tooth replacement treatment designed to replace teeth all the way down to the root. While other tooth replacement options only restore the visible portion of missing teeth, dental implants rebuild the structure entirely for unmatched results. The dental implant itself is a small titanium screw. The titanium fixture is designed to integrate with existing bone tissue where the missing tooth once was. On top of the fixture sits a restoration, typically made from porcelain. An abutment connects the two components together. Once healing has been completed, the tooth replacement will look, feel, and function just like natural.

The 4 Step Dental Implant Process

The dental implant treatment process takes place across multiple appointments, which may span the course of several months or longer. That might seem like a long time, but the end result is well-worth it! What exactly can you expect to experience during your tooth replacement journey? Each patient’s treatment plan is slightly different. However, there are four major phases of care that you can expect to go through: the initial consultation, dental implant placement surgery, osseointegration and abutment placement, and restoration.

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Initial Dental Implant Consultation

During this important appointment, your dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth. They will seek to learn about the extent of your tooth loss, the health of your gums, the health of your jawbone, and a little bit about your medical history and lifestyle habits. Based on the information they gather, they will determine if dental implants are suitable for you. If you are not a candidate for implants right away, they may recommend that you undergo one or more preliminary procedures, such as a bone graft or gum disease therapy.

Feel free to ask questions during your consultation — we want all of our patients to feel well-informed about the road ahead of them!

Dental Implant Surgery

After the details of your treatment plan have been worked out, you will receive your dental implants during a minor oral surgery. We are able to perform this part of your treatment right here in our office, so you will not have to worry about getting to know a specialist or dealing with another practice’s financial policies.

The surgery itself is usually straightforward. We will numb your mouth and possibly administer sedation. Then, we will create incisions in your gums and carefully insert the implants into your jawbone. We will close the incisions and send you home so you can start the recovery process.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

During the 4 – 6 months following your implant placement surgery, a biological process known as osseointegration should take place. Basically, your jawbone should form a strong bond with your implants.

Once adequate osseointegration has occurred, you may need to undergo a second minor surgery. The implant posts will be exposed, and healing caps will be placed on them. Later, you will receive abutments (small connector pieces that will keep your new teeth in place). Some patients get abutments at the same time as their initial procedure, so this second surgery is not always necessary.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

To finish your tooth replacement treatment, you will receive a crown, bridge, or denture to go on top of your dental implants. We will design your restoration by taking detailed impressions of your mouth, which a laboratory will use to fabricate your new teeth (in some instances, we can use CEREC technology to make restorations right here in our office).

When your crown, bridge, or denture is ready, we will verify that it meets our high quality standards before we secure it onto your implants. Then, you can go off and start to enjoy all the benefits of your rebuilt smile!

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of the most popular methods of tooth replacement, and for good reasons! Countless individuals choose them every year because of the many benefits they offer. When you visit our Beachwood practice for a consultation, we can explain how they may enhance your life. In the meantime, you can gain some general information about their advantages by reviewing the information below. They have the potential to improve your daily life, support your health, and provide benefits that endure for decades.

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Day-to-Day Benefits

Dental implants can contribute to enhanced daily quality of life in several ways:

• Enhanced eating ability. Dental implants can restore between 70% and 90% of your original bite force, allowing you to enjoy a wide variety of foods — including many that are difficult or impossible to eat with traditional dentures. You should be able to confidently bite into crisp fruits, chew tough meats, and savor your favorite meals without restriction.
• Natural-looking smile. The custom restorations that we place on top of dental implants are designed to closely mimic the appearance of natural teeth. This means your new smile will blend seamlessly with your existing teeth, opening the door to greater confidence in social and professional settings.
• Improved speech clarity. Because dental implants remain securely in place, they help maintain the proper alignment of your teeth and jaw. This stability supports clear, articulate speech.
• Simple maintenance routine. Caring for dental implants is straightforward and very similar to caring for natural teeth. Regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental checkups can all play a role in keeping your new smile in great shape.

Health Benefits

Dental implants have the potential to support your oral and overall health in multiple ways:

• Preservation of jawbone structure. After the loss of natural teeth, the jawbone naturally begins to deteriorate through a process called resorption. Dental implants serve as artificial tooth roots, offering the stimulation necessary to maintain bone health. This helps preserve your natural facial contours and prevents the sunken appearance that often accompanies tooth loss.
• Enhanced nutritional intake. Dental implants significantly improve your ability to chew a wide variety of foods. As a result, you may be able to enjoy a more balanced and nutritious diet, which may lower your risk of several chronic conditions.
• Increased oral comfort. Unlike traditional dentures, dental implants do not cause irritation or sores on the gums.
• Improved emotional well-being. Living without teeth can lead to feelings of sadness and social isolation. Restoring your smile with dental implants may boost your self-esteem, help you engage more confidently in social activities, and contribute to greater overall happiness and mental health.

Long-Term Benefits

The benefits provided by dental implants can stretch well into the future. Their long-term benefits include:

• Longevity. With consistent oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, dental implants have the potential to last for many decades. In some cases, people may enjoy their dental implants throughout their entire lifetime.
• Excellent monetary value. Traditional dentures need to be replaced every few years, which can result in significant costs over the years. Therefore, due to their extended lifespan and minimal maintenance needs, dental implants may prove to be a more economical choice in the long run.
• Longer life. Research has shown that losing natural teeth is linked to a higher risk of mortality. Since dental implants address many of the challenges caused by missing teeth, they might allow you to live longer!

Who Dental Implants Can Help

It doesn’t matter if you need to replace one tooth or an entire arch, dental implants are incredibly versatile and ideal for both situations.  While you should always talk to a dental implant expert to determine your eligibility, advancements in the technology have made it possible for most people to receive dental implants. It’s possible to replace single teeth, multiple teeth, or an entire row of teeth in either the lower or upper jaw.

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Missing 1 Tooth

To replace one tooth, regardless of the location, we utilize one titanium implant and one porcelain crown. Titanium is designed to integrate with the body and is commonly used in other forms of implant surgery. Porcelain mimics natural tooth enamel the best and is incredibly durable, making it ideal for implant restorations.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Dental bridges can be easily customized to fit on top of dental implants. Instead of using natural teeth to anchor the bridge, which requires removal of tooth enamel to do, we use two implants on either end of the restoration. If you want to replace teeth without removing tooth structure, this option is definitely the way to go.

Missing All Teeth

Tired of your denture constantly slipping and sliding when speaking or chewing food? By placing four to six implants throughout your jaw, we can create a more stable foundation for your full or partial denture. Implant dentures can be made to replace the top or bottom arch of teeth. They can also be customized as a fixed or removable denture depending on your preference. Implant dentures can make your denture more stable and remove the need for denture adhesive. Plus, your denture does not need routine relinings like traditional dentures in order to fit properly. Overall, you can expect a denture that last longer and is easier to maintain.

Additionally, we offer All-On-4 dental implants to help patients with severe tooth loss and low jawbone density. All-on-4 treatment allows us to cover your dental implants with a permanent restoration the same day your implants are placed. This means you can maintain a natural-looking smile as your implants integrate with your bone tissue. The treatment uses only four dental implants to restore a full arch of teeth.

Metal-Free Zirconia Dental Implants

Many patients would prefer to avoid using metal materials for their implant treatment, which is why we are happy to also offer a solution that is entirely metal-free! The CeraRoot dental implant is made entirely from ceramic materials (specifically zirconium dioxide), while still offering a functional, esthetic and long-lasting solution to tooth loss. These implants are also biocompatible but offer an improved appearance thanks to their tooth-colored properties. This is especially ideal if you have thin gums that could allow the metal-components of dental implants to show.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Due to the high level of customization that comes with dental implants, it is difficult for us to give an exact price for every patient. Each individual is going to have their own needs, which means some patients will require more implants and more complex restorations to replace teeth. This, along with the potential need for preparatory treatments like bone grafts, periodontal therapy, tooth extractions or sinus lifts, all influence your total cost.

That’s why we recommend an implant consultation in order to best determine how much you’ll pay for treatment. It is no secret that treatment can be more expensive than traditional tooth replacements, but the long-term benefits generally outweigh the short-term savings. Think of dental implants as an investment to your oral health and a path to achieving a natural-looking and fully functioning smile.