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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 overall wellbeing, but the finished result is virtually indistinguishable from the original tooth in look, and feel, and function. If you’d like to learn more about dental implants in Lincoln, NE or schedule a consultation with Dr. Steven Weber, all you have to do is give us a call!
A dental implant contains three main components:
Once the dental implant post is placed in the jaw, it actually integrates with the surrounding bone tissue, forming a reliable, sturdy foundation for an abutment to support the restoration. Unlike dentures and dental bridges that merely sit on the gums, dental implants replicate every part of a missing tooth, making them more lifelike than any other option. In fact, they look and feel so natural that many dental implant patients eventually forget that they lost any teeth in the first place!
To provide their unique benefits, dental implants require a unique process. Unlike other tooth replacement options like dentures or a dental bridge, rebuilding your smile with dental implants is a multistep treatment that spans several months. However, the end result is a smile that looks, feels, and functions just like natural, and has the potential to last a lifetime! Every treatment plan will vary depending on the unique needs of the patient, but there are four general steps you can expect: initial consultation, dental implant surgery, osseointegration, and the delivery of your final restoration.
Your first step towards a new smile is to visit Dr. Weber for an initial consultation. He’ll take the time to understand your goals for your smile, review your medical history, and inspect your oral health. Issues like tooth decay, jawbone loss, and gum disease can threaten the success of your dental implant, so they’ll need to be treated first. Once you’ve recovered from any necessary preliminary treatments such as periodontal therapy, tooth extractions, or bone grafts, we can schedule your dental implant surgery.
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!
The surgery is relatively straightforward. Once Dr. Weber has numbed the area and ensured that you’re comfortable, he will make a small incision in your gums to access the jawbone. There, he’ll insert the small titanium implant post into its precisely predetermined spot. The number of implants you’ll have placed will depend on how many teeth you’re missing. Then, the gums are closed up and a cap is placed over the implant post to protect it and maintain the shape of your gums during the healing process.
After your dental implant surgery, you’ll need to heal for about four to six months before moving onto the next step of the process. While it will only take a few days for you to recover from the implant surgery itself, your dental implant needs to undergo osseointegration. This is where the post fuses with the surrounding bone tissue to form the stable, comfortable foundation for your new tooth.
If Dr. Weber didn’t place the abutment during your first implant surgery, you’ll need to come back for a second minor surgery to have it attached. As you heal over the next few weeks, your custom-made crown, bridge, or denture will be created.
Once your final restoration is ready, you’ll come back to our office for the last step. We’ll remove the protective cap and fasten your crown, bridge, or denture securely into place. Then, we’ll check to make sure your bite feels comfortable and you’re happy with your results. Afterwards, you’ll be ready to start enjoying your complete, confident smile for years to come!
There are many reasons why dental implants in Lincoln are considered the gold standard for tooth replacement. Not only are they capable of replacing the tooth’s root and crown, but they offer far greater durability, flexibility, and longevity, making them stand high above the rest. In fact, it is estimated that more than three million people have dental implants and more than 500,000 are placed each year. There has also been a more than six percent increase in the prevalence of dental implants from 2019 to 2020. Some of the advantages you expect when receiving dental implants include:
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. However, the journey to a completed grin with dental implants can be different depending on your unique needs as a patient, which is why it’s crucial to visit your implant dentist in Lincoln for a consultation first. This way, we’ll be able to walk you through the process so that you’ll know exactly what to expect before choosing to invest in the procedure.
Most patients are good candidates for dental implants in Lincoln, but sometimes it takes a little bit of work to get there. For example, some patients require preparatory procedures to make sure that their gums or jaw are healthy enough to support the implant posts, like a bone graft or periodontal therapy. Here are a few traits that we look for in a patient who would make a good candidate for this procedure:
During your initial consultation, we’ll conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and gums, go over your medical history, and learn about any goals you have. Based on all of this, we’ll be able to help you determine whether this procedure is the right choice for you.
If you’re missing a single tooth, we’ll place one dental implant below the gumline in the space between your teeth. Over the course of the next several months, your gums will heal and the implant will fuse with your jawbone to provide it with necessary blood flow and stimulation. Then, we’ll secure an abutment to the implant, which will hold a customized dental crown to fill the space in your arch.
Traditional dental bridges require altering your existing teeth by removing a small amount of enamel from the abutment teeth. This allows the dental crowns on either side of the bridge to secure the prosthetic to your mouth. By anchoring the bridge to two dental implants instead of your existing teeth, no alteration of your healthy teeth will be necessary.
Finally, to replace an entire arch of teeth with an implant denture, we can secure the prosthetic to anywhere from four to eight dental implants that we strategically locate along your jaw. This will eliminate the need for messy denture adhesive and slipping and shifting prosthetics that make eating and speaking more difficult.
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-supported smile stays strong!
The pricing of your dental implant posts is the first factor that impacts the cost of your dental implant tooth replacement plan. Each implant post is custom crafted from high quality materials, usually titanium or zirconia. However, these customized restorations do come at a premium, so the bulk of the overall cost of dental treatment is wrapped up in the expense of crafting these implant posts. In addition to the crafting of the custom dental implant posts, the cost of surgical implant placement can also be high. Before we begin your treatment, we’ll review your dental implant options and partner with you to find a solution that meets your needs and fits your budget.
In addition to the creation and placement of dental implant posts, there are several other phases of dental implant tooth replacement that will also impact the cost of your treatment. Before the implant posts are placed, we may perform one or more preparatory procedures like tooth extractions or tissue grafts. After your implant placement procedures, we’ll still need to attach the abutments that affix the replacement teeth to the implant posts. Finally, we’ll design and attach the replacement dental crown, bridge, partial, or full denture.
While this complex tooth replacement process does come with a hefty price tag, many patients find that the benefits are worth the added investment. Some of the many advantages of replacing missing teeth with dental implants include:
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 three 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!
Thanks to their unique structure, dental implants have a remarkable success rate. After more than 10 years, over 95% of dental implant patients are still enjoying their replacement teeth. That said, this solution can only last that long if you practice good dental implant care in Lincoln. Here at Weber Family Dentistry, Dr. Weber can give you the guidance you need to ensure your implants provide you with healthy smiles for many years to come. Here are the five simple steps you need to follow to keep your dental implants in good condition.
Once your implants are in place, you can essentially brush and floss them just like you would natural teeth. Establishing a good oral hygiene routine is a great way to prevent bacteria from building up and compromising the tissues that support your implants. Not to mention, you can avoid getting cavities in your remaining teeth. Brushing twice daily for two minutes each time, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash can go a long way toward keeping your new smile healthy.
Just like with real teeth, consuming a diet rich in sugars and starches can spell disaster for your dental implants in Lincoln. Items like cake, potato chips, and sugary juices can cause the harmful bacteria in your mouth to thrive, increasing the risk that they’ll infect your gums and create cavities in your natural teeth.
Try switching these foods and beverages out for healthier ones, such as lean meats, leafy greens, and calcium-rich dairy products. They’ll strengthen your enamel and promote healthy gums, giving your dental implants a stable and lasting foundation.
Smoking, eating ice, biting your nails, opening bottles with your teeth, and chewing on pencils or pens are all examples of bad habits that can damage tooth enamel as well as dental implants. Remember that you invested a great deal of time and money replacing your missing teeth, so engaging in these habits can put you right back where you started… with missing teeth.
Do your smile a favor and work on kicking these habits. Feel free to ask our team about resources to help you quit smoking. For the other habits, we recommend carrying sugar-free gum with you at all times to help you avoid the temptation to chew on harmful items.
Do you tend to grind your teeth while you sleep? Do you play contact sports? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, you’ll need a mouthguard. Dr. Weber can fabricate one of these oral appliances to fit comfortably over your teeth and protect them from sports-related injury or the pressure of teeth grinding.
Perhaps the most important tip of all is to visit your implant dentist in Lincoln for a checkup every six months. At these appointments, Dr. Weber can closely examine your smile. If he detects any problems, he can treat them early on, potentially saving you a lot of pain, time, and money by preventing the problem from worsening.