Dental Implants – Montgomery, MN
Replacing Missing Teeth from the Roots Up
Whether you’re missing only one tooth, a few teeth, or even an entire arch, dental implants can recreate the appearance and feel of your original smile. As the only tooth replacement to bring back the roots, they’re virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth in every way. Not to mention, they can last for 30+ years or even a lifetime! If you’re interested in tooth replacement with dental implants in Montgomery, MN, contact our team at Geoffrey A. Iverson, DDS today to schedule a consultation!
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small, cylindrical posts that are made from titanium or other biocompatible materials. The post is surgically inserted into your jawbone, where the bone naturally grows around it to create a bond just as strong as that of your original tooth. This foundation allows the implant to support a tailor-made dental crown, bridge, or denture for years – if not decades – to come.
The Dental Implant Process
Dr. Geoff Iverson partners with local oral surgeons and periodontists to ensure that your surgical dental implant placement is as safe as possible. The placement procedure is relatively simple, and consists of a small incision in the gum tissue followed by the implant being properly positioned in the supporting jawbone. A protective cap is positioned over the implant site to aid in the healing process. Over the course of three to six months, the dental implant fuses with bone tissue creating a solid foundation to support a replacement tooth or teeth. Once this fusion process, called osseointegration, is complete, patients return to our Montgomery, MN dental office to receive their restoration.
Benefits of Dental Implants
By replacing missing teeth from the roots up, dental implants give you multiple benefits that you simply can’t get with traditional options like dentures and dental bridges. These advantages include:
- Prosthetic teeth that reliably stay in place
- Chewing all of your favorite foods with ease
- Stimulation of your jawbone, preventing the collapse of your facial muscles
- Tooth replacement that can last for 30 years or longer
- Minimal maintenance beyond regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are one of the most versatile and conservative tooth replacement options. By placing a strategic number of implant posts, we’re able to restore any number of teeth, from a single tooth to a full arch.
Missing One Tooth
To bring back a single missing tooth, a dental implant post can be vertically inserted into the empty space. Then, Dr. Iverson can secure a customized dental crown on top that seamlessly recreates the appearance of your lost tooth without relying on your adjacent teeth for support.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Instead of permanently modifying your existing tooth structure to place a conventional dental bridge, we can secure a bridge onto dental implants – one placed at each end of the gap. This solution is much more conservative and healthier in the long run.
Missing All Teeth
Patients who are missing all teeth on an arch, or those who currently have dentures but would like to improve stability, may want to consider an implant retained prosthetic. Implant dentures are attached to between four and six strategically placed implant posts. These posts stabilize the denture and improve overall oral health by retaining gum tissue volume and jawbone density. Patients who lack adequate jawbone density to support a traditional implant denture may be candidates for the All-on-4 procedure. Rather than placing the four implant posts vertically, two are placed in the traditional way and two are angled from the back to the front of the mouth making use of the naturally denser bone in the front of the mouth to support the back of the denture.
Mini Dental Implants
Mini implant posts, as the name suggests, are smaller versions of traditional implants. They are typically recommended for the smaller teeth in the front portion of the mouth because they are able to attach more naturally to these teeth. We may also recommend mini implants for patients interested in implant supported prosthetics who have had previous bad experiences with surgery or who do not have adequate jawbone density to support a traditional implant post.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Each dental implant treatment plan is personalized to meet a patient’s specific needs. For that reason, it’s impossible for us to give you a cost estimate unless and until we’ve had the chance to go over your circumstances during a consultation. We’ll outline how much you can expect to pay for treatment, as well your financing options, such as CareCredit. Keep in mind that even if implants seem expensive initially, their long lifespan means they could actually save you money overall compared to traditional options.
Dental Implant Failure & Salvage
Although dental implants typically have a success rate of 95% or more even 10 years after placement, it isn’t impossible for them to fail. Though it’s rare, these metal posts have a slim chance of being unsuccessful due to various factors. Fortunately, if you start to feel discomfort in your restoration or believe there’s an underlying issue, make sure to notify our team right away. We’ll work with your oral surgeon to provide dental implant salvage treatment to get you back on track with a successful process.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
Following dental implant placement, it’ll take a few months for the posts to successfully fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. Once that process is done, you can expect your newly rebuilt smile to remain complete and strong for a lifetime! However, that’s only the case with proper maintenance. Click on the button below to learn what steps you can take to ensure your implants last many years.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Believe it or not, dental implants require the same level of attention as your teeth, even though they can’t develop cavities. Although the restoration itself is not made of any organic materials, the gum tissue surrounding the implant can still become inflamed and affected as a result of plaque and bacteria buildup.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Once your dental implants become fully healed, you can eat almost any food you want! However, you should avoid indulging in hard or sugary foods as these can wreak havoc on your smile. Eat a balanced diet complete with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy. These foods are rich in calcium and vitamin C, which are crucial for keeping your jawbone strong and gum tissues healthy.
Break Bad Habits
It’s true that dental implants are very durable, but that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible. Never use them to smoke, bite your fingernails, chew on hard objects, or open packages. Otherwise, they can become damaged or loose. Instead, you should ask someone to lend you a helping hand or wait until you have the right tool.
Protect Your Dental Implants
Your dental implants can easily break or fail due to forced trauma or physical injury. As such, you should wear protective gear to keep them safe if you are active. Sports like football, basketball, soccer, hockey, and wrestling could damage your teeth if you’re not wearing a mouthguard. If you grind or clench your teeth at night, you can protect your mouth with a custom-made nightguard.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
A complete oral hygiene routine includes regular checkups and cleanings. You need to visit our office every six months so we can monitor your dental implants. We’ll make sure you’re taking proper care of them at home and clean them thoroughly to prevent further complications.
Dental Implant FAQs
Dental implants are an excellent investment to replace your missing teeth; however, they are a big commitment. It’s normal to be a bit apprehensive before you’re ready to begin the process, but there isn’t any reason to worry. We’ll take the time to explain everything during your consultation. To help calm your nerves until your appointment, here are the answers to a few of the most common questions patients ask us about dental implants.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
You won’t have to deal with having your new teeth replaced every few years like traditional prosthetics because dental implants can last for decades. It’s not uncommon for them to thrive for 30 years or longer with the right aftercare. The lifespan of your new smile will largely rely on your oral hygiene routine and lifestyle. We recommend brushing your teeth at least twice daily, flossing nightly, and using an antimicrobial mouth rinse to prevent dental implant failure. You’ll also need to visit our dental office at least every six months for a cleaning and checkup. It’s best to avoid anything that might damage your dental implants, like using your teeth as tools, chewing on inedible objects, or eating overly hard/sticky foods.
Are Dental Implants Removable?
You cannot take your dental implants out on your own because the titanium posts are surgically placed into your jawbone. Your bone will fuse to the posts through a process called osseointegration, allowing them to potentially remain in place forever. As a result, only a dental professional can remove them. While you can’t take out the implants, there are some types of implant dentures that can be removed for cleaning.
How Can I Tell If My Dental Implant Is Failing?
Dental implants are the most reliable option to treat tooth loss. Generally, the risk of failure is less than 5%; however, it’s best to monitor for any signs of a complication, like severe pain near the post, inflamed gum tissue, or a feeling that the implant is loose. If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t wait to contact our dental office. We’ll pinpoint the cause of the problem to provide the right intervention to prevent complete dental implant failure.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Dental Implant Surgery?
You’ll require oral surgery to insert the posts into your jawbone, but you can often resume your normal activities the day after your procedure. It’s normal to experience some bleeding for a couple of days while swelling can last for three to four days. You can manage your discomfort by taking any prescribed or over-the-counter pain medications as recommended by Dr. Iverson. Applying a cold compress to the outside of your face can also reduce pain and swelling. We suggest avoiding strenuous activities for about a week to avoid causing any delays with the healing process. While you will be healed on the surface in a couple of weeks, it can take up to six months for your jawbone to fuse to the posts.