Implant Dentistry

IMPLANT DENTISTRY IS A PERMANENT ALTERNATIVE TO DENTURES & BRIDGES

Dental implants are an exciting, modern alternative to removable dental appliances — and we offer them right here at Southern Shores Dental, surgical implantation offers many benefits over traditional tooth replacement options, including:

  • Permanence – Once you have your dental implant placed, they often last a lifetime. This sets it apart from removable dentures and partial dentures, which tend to wear down over time and require repair, adjustment, or even total replacement. A good-quality implant can last forever — and can be used to hold a denture in place or to hold a crown or bridge.
  • Ease of Care – If you dread the daily and nightly rituals of placing your “teeth” in a special cleaning solution, you’ll love having dental implants. Implants require no special care apart from the proper dental hygiene everyone should practice for healthy teeth and gums. That means you can go about your normal routine of brushing, flossing, and periodic checkups and cleanings.
  • Comfort – Removable dental appliances can be uncomfortable to wear. Even if you receive dentures that fit perfectly at first, changes in your mouth and in the lining of dentures can erode that fit. The resulting friction can cause painful sores. Dental implants, however, typically remain completely comfortable at all times — you’ll forget all about them, which is just as it should be.
  • Security – Do you worry about your dentures slipping when you try to talk, laugh, or eat? This embarrassing, frustrating situation seldom occurs with dental implants. You can converse in total confidence and enjoy all your favorite foods without having to apply messy dental adhesives that may or may not hold.
  • Bone integrity – Removable dentures can’t prevent resorption, which is the loss of bone in your jaw that occurs naturally when no tooth root is present. Dental implants supply permanent artificial “roots” that trigger the jaw to keep manufacturing bone, preventing this potentially disfiguring problem.

Receiving a Dental Implant

The first step in getting a dental implant involves making sure an implant would likely be a success. Abuse of alcohol and tobacco, certain diseases, or lack of jawbone density might delay or prohibit the procedure.

If you are a good candidate, be aware that the entire implant process may take several months. Over a period of months, the threads of the post will interlock with newly grown bone, creating a strong bond. At that point, we will place an abutment onto the implant and then cement a permanent crown, carefully shaped and colored to match the surrounding teeth.

Schedule an initial consultation with Southern Shores Dental so we can determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions and provide you with the best option for your particular needs.