Dental Implants in Nashville TN

Dental Implants: A Comprehensive Solution for Missing Teeth

Dental implants serve as a permanent, advanced solution for individuals with missing teeth. As a superior dental restoration option, dental implants replace the entire tooth structure, including the root, providing a lifetime of comfort and natural appearance. No other tooth replacement alternative can replicate the look, feel, and function of natural teeth as effectively.

A dental implant comprises three components. 1) The implant (a titanium screw) is inserted into the jawbone and fuses with the bone, creating a stable foundation for the replacement tooth’s visible portion. 2) The crown is the final restoration that appears as the portion of the tooth that is visible in the mouth. 3) The abutment connects the implant with the crown. The outcome is a tooth or set of replacement teeth that closely resemble and function like natural teeth, allowing you to eat, laugh, and smile confidently.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer numerous benefits over dentures or other temporary solutions for missing teeth, such as:

1. Preserved Oral Health: Dental implants serve as replacements for the roots of missing teeth and help maintain jawbone health by stimulating bone growth. Without these implants, the jawbone can lose mass over time. Additionally, implants help prevent the remaining teeth from shifting into empty spaces left by missing teeth.
2. Increased Comfort: Dentures can slip, shift, and cause discomfort. Improperly fitted dentures may also create sores on sensitive gum tissue. Dental implants, on the other hand, are securely anchored within the jawbone, and can connect to the denture, ensuring stability and reducing irritation. Dental implants can even replace the denture altogether! Dental implants distribute bite force evenly, similar to natural tooth roots, allowing you to enjoy all types of food, including sticky, hard, or crunchy items, without pain or difficulty.
3. Improved Aesthetics: No other tooth restoration method preserves your appearance as effectively as dental implants. By preventing jawbone deterioration, implants help maintain your facial structure and minimize sagging. Dental restorations used with implants are made from high-quality materials that mimic natural teeth and are customized to match any remaining teeth, seamlessly blending with your smile.
4. Convenience: Dentures and bridges must be removed for cleaning and at night, which can be inconvenient and embarrassing if they shift or click while eating, kissing, or laughing. Dental implants, however, never shift or interfere with daily activities and require no special care. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups ensure that your dental implants last a lifetime.
5. Durability: Dental implants are designed to last 30 years or longer, often lasting a lifetime for most patients. The restorations, whether crowns or an arch of replacement teeth, typically last 20 years or more and do not require frequent relining, repairing, or replacement, as dentures and bridges often can.

Determining Candidacy for Dental Implants

Healthy adults with one or more missing teeth can benefit from dental implants to restore their oral health. Our doctors will evaluate several factors during your initial consultation to determine whether implants are suitable for you. Conditions that may impact your eligibility for dental implants include:

• Smoking
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Certain autoimmune disorders
• Bleeding or clotting disorders
• Gum disease (treatable before implant placement)
• Insufficient jawbone mass (correctable with bone grafts)
• Bisphosphonate use or radiation to face and/or neck

In cases of jawbone deterioration, bone grafts can be utilized to rebuild the area and encourage new bone growth before implant surgery. Many patients with long-term missing teeth can proceed with implants once bone grafting has strengthened and increased bone volume.

Types of Dental Implants Available

To cater to each patient’s unique needs and ensure successful outcomes, we offer various dental implant options:

1. Implant-Supported Dentures: Implant-supported dentures resemble conventional dentures but are attached to dental implants for a secure fit and long-lasting solution. These reduce shifting and provide a superior fit without the hassle of traditional dentures.
2. All-On-4 Dental Implants: All-On-4 dental implants are implant-supported dentures attached to just four implants. They are ideal for patients with minimal to moderate bone loss. The angled insertion of the implants maximizes stability with less surgery and fewer implants.
3. Immediate Dental Implants: Sometimes referred to as Teeth-In-A-Day, immediate implants can be placed the same day teeth are extracted, eliminating the need for a separate procedure. In most cases, a temporary crown or denture is attached so the patient does not have to endure missing teeth while the implants heal.
4. Zygomatic Dental Implants: Zygomatic dental implants serve as an alternative for patients with severe upper jawbone deterioration. These longer implants screw into the cheekbones instead of the jawbone, providing greater stability and eliminating the need for bone grafts.
5. Emergency Dental Implants: If your teeth are knocked out, broken, or infected, emergency dental implants may be placed immediately after tooth extraction. A temporary crown is attached and later replaced with a permanent restoration after a few months.

Dental Implants: Cost Considerations

While the upfront cost of dental implants may seem high, they are a worthwhile long-term investment as the only permanent solution for missing teeth. Dental implants and restorations, once in place, often last a lifetime.

Factors affecting the cost of implants include the number of teeth replaced, the type and number of implants, and the need for bone grafting. To obtain an accurate estimate of the cost, schedule a consultation with one of our doctors. A thorough oral exam, detailed X-rays, and a review of your medical history will be conducted before providing a personalized estimate for your dental implants.

To learn more about dental implants, contact Hermitage Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Hermitage Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Phone Number (615) 883-0067. We will schedule an appointment with one of our doctors to address your questions and begin your journey toward a healthy, long-lasting smile.