
Having an incomplete smile can negatively influence a person’s life in various ways over time. Not only is their oral health directly affected, but they may also struggle with not being able to chew favorite foods, speak clearly with friends, or smile without embarrassment. At Weber Family Dentistry, we’d like to introduce these patients to a state-of-the-art method for lasting tooth replacement – dental implants.
Dental implants stand apart from more traditional services like dentures and bridges because they actually replace the entire natural tooth, including the root underneath the jawbone. This comprehensive approach is not only much better for a patient’s continuing wellbeing, but the finished result is virtually seamless in look, and feel, and function when compared to the original tooth. If you’d like to learn more about this transformative service or schedule an implant consultation with Dr. Weber, contact us today in Lincoln, NE.
Contrary to popular belief, patients with a wide spectrum of tooth loss can successfully regain their full smiles with dental implants, from a single gap to an entire arch. Take a look below to see what situation fits your circumstances best and what types of restorations are available:
When replenishing a single tooth, pairing a state-of-the-art implant with an all-porcelain crown is the ideal solution. The crown will sit atop the implant without threatening the health of surrounding natural teeth, and its appearance will blend right in. In fact, it’s very likely that no one will even notice the “tooth” isn’t actually natural.
If there are multiple gaps throughout the mouth that need to be filled, implant-retained crowns can still be successfully used to recreate functional, attractive teeth. If the lost teeth appeared in a row, an implant-retained bridge is also available. We’ll place two dental implants – one on either side of the gap – to serve as anchors that hold the new prosthetic securely in place.
Instead of replacing each individual tooth with its own implant and restoration, an implant-retained denture can work wonders by helping patients recreate an entire arch of lost teeth in a reliable and cost-effective fashion. These prosthetics may be permanently fixed in place over a small number of anchored implants or kept removable in nature, which could be preferable for people who are already used to the convenience of a traditional denture.
At Weber Family Dentistry, we enjoy providing our patients with a smooth, comprehensive care experience that doesn’t skimp on quality. With his advanced training and experience, Dr. Weber is fully capable of performing every stage of dental implant treatment – including the surgical insertion of the implant(s) into the jawbone – right here in his Lincoln area dental office, which means that you won’t have to worry about spending time in an unfamiliar specialist’s practice or unnecessarily traveling. We’ll take care of everything!
There isn’t a clear-cut answer when it comes to estimating the cost of dental implants, at least not before you’ve undergone a consultation with Dr. Weber. Every patient’s needs are different, and there are several stages to the treatment process that will incur their own prices, such as the implant’s initial surgical placement, the addition of an abutment (connector between the implant and the restoration), and the custom-made restoration itself. After assessing the condition of your oral health and the scope of your reconstructive needs, our team can provide a confident treatment plan that includes financial information.
While dental implants may initially seem like a significant investment, it’s important to remember that they will last for decades and almost certainly pay for themselves as time goes on. While more traditional services may require costly replacement and repair over the years, an implant-retained “smile” stays strong!
Learn More About the Costs of Dental Implants
We want our patients to be well-informed before they commit to any restorative dental procedure. We’re here to answer any and all inquiries you have about dental implants in Lincoln and the process of getting them; feel free to contact us and schedule a consultation. In the meantime, here’s the answers to some of the questions we often get.
Not all patients are suitable candidates to receive dental implants. If the jawbone has already lost a lot of its density, there might not be enough of a foundation for the posts. In many cases, though, you can get bone grafts to reverse the effects of bone loss and make dental implants a viable option. Gum disease and other oral health problems will also need to be dealt with before the procedure can be performed.
Children can sometimes get dental implants if they’ve lost a permanent tooth due to an injury. This is usually done after their facial growth and development is complete (usually at age 16 for girls and age 18 for boys).
In most cases, the posts will be made of a titanium alloy, which is also used to create hip implants and shoulder implants. Titanium is very biocompatible (meaning it can safely join with the bone tissues), and while allergies to it exist, they’re very rare. In some cases, implants can be made of zirconia.
The prosthetic teeth supported by the implant will usually be made of porcelain. This substance is extremely similar to natural teeth in the way it’s colored and reflects the light, which helps give your restoration a natural look. Porcelain also carries the advantage of being stain resistant.
It can be hard to give a general answer to this question because every patient is different. It depends on how many implants you need, the kind of restoration you get, your medical and dental history, the health of your jawbone and the techniques and material used. Usually, once the implant posts are in your mouth, you’ll need to wait a few months for integration to be complete before you receive a replacement tooth; the exact amount of time is affected by your body’s ability to heal.
One of the benefits of getting dental implants is that they can provide almost as much chewing power as natural teeth. This means that unlike with traditional dentures or bridges, you can eat all of your favorite meals without issue!
Of course, there will be a period of time after the surgery where you’ll need to limit your diet to soft foods (yogurt, pureed vegetables, ice cream, soup, mashed potatoes and so on) while your mouth is recovering. This usually lasts about 3 weeks; after that you won’t have to worry about damaging the site while eating.
You won’t need to do anything special to keep your implants in good shape. You can brush and floss like you normally would. Of course, regular checkups and cleanings at Weber Family Dentistry will be just as important as ever!