Dental Implants – Northbrook, IL
Completely Replacing Teeth from the Roots Up
Tooth replacements have become more and more lifelike. Dental implants are currently considered to be the ideal tooth loss solution thanks to their ability to mimic the roots as well as the crowns of missing teeth. If you want your new smile to look and feel like your original one, Dr. James Woodruff and Dr. Justin Woodruff may recommend dental implants in Northbrook. Schedule a consultation at Northbrook Dental Group today to see if this modern tooth replacement option is right for you.
Why Choose Northbrook Dental Group for Dental Implants?
- Entire Dental Implant Procedure Performed In-House
- Affordable Dental Financing Available
- State-of-the-Art Dental Technology and Techniques
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant has three main parts: a post made out of biocompatible titanium, a prosthetic that mimics your natural teeth (also known as a restoration), and a connector piece called an abutment. The post is inserted into the jawbone, and a process called osseointegration takes place, causing the titanium to form a strong bond with the bone tissue. The prosthetic tooth or teeth will be attached to the post via the abutment. Once all the pieces are in place, you’ll have a smile that feels natural while also looking incredibly lifelike.
The 4-Step Dental Implants Process
Dental implants replace the entirety of the missing teeth, including the roots. To achieve this, they require a multi-step process that takes several months. Then you will be able to experience all of the amazing benefits that dental implants have to offer. While each patient’s dental implant experience is slightly different, the entire process can be broken down into four steps. Here’s what you can expect.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
We begin the dental implant process with a consultation. We will need to confirm that you’re a candidate for dental implant surgery as well as whether you will need any preliminary treatments like bone grafting beforehand. If your jaw and gums are in good shape, we can move on to the rest of the dental implant procedure, including discussing the cost and timeframe.
Dental Implant Surgery
The surgery to place dental implants is performed in-house at Northbrook Dental Group. This makes the process much more convenient for you, as you won’t have to worry about visiting a specialist across town. First, your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic, so you don’t feel a thing. Next, an incision is made in the gum tissue and the dental implants are inserted into the jawbone. Lastly, the gums are closed, and protective caps are placed over the end of the dental implants to keep them safe as the area heals.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Once implants are placed, the process of osseointegration begins. It usually takes about three to six months. An abutment can be attached to each implant once osseointegration is complete. Once healed, metal abutments are attached to the dental implants, and impressions are taken of the area.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
After you’ve received abutments and your mouth has fully healed, we will take impressions to design your restoration. You will return to our office one last time once the final restoration is ready to be placed. If everything looks and feels as it should, you will be sent on your way to show off your smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Fully restored dental implants that are integrated with your jaw let you enjoy a wide variety of foods – that might give traditional denture-wearers trouble. Implants also improve the health of your jaw by continuously stimulating the bone. This prevents bone loss and facial collapse which usually occurs when teeth are missing. Compared to other tooth loss solutions, dental implants have an extremely high 95% success rate, and they can last for decades with good maintenance.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Are dental implants right for you? That’s a question that can only be answered by your dentist at your initial dental implant consultation. That said, you are most likely a candidate if you are missing teeth, do not have oral health issues like gum disease, have a healthy jawbone, and don’t mind a process that can take months to complete. If you decide that dental implants are the best choice for rebuilding your smile, we can recommend one of the following treatments based on how many teeth have been lost.
Missing One Tooth
The space where the tooth is missing will be filled with a dental implant and a dental crown. The materials used to make the crown will be expertly shaded so that they match the teeth around them.
Missing Multiple Teeth
For a single large gap left by three or more consecutive teeth, two dental implants are inserted into the jaw to support a dental bridge. If there is more than one gap to fill, a specific number of implants will be placed in specific areas; they’ll be used to support a partial denture that replaces all the teeth at once.
Missing All of Your Teeth
Four to eight dental implants are placed in the jaw at specific locations and angles. A denture can be attached to these posts to replace all of your teeth at once. Implant dentures are usually made to be fixed in place at all times, but there is a removable option as well depending on what you prefer.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
You will not know exactly how much dental implants cost until you’ve had a consultation at our dental office. We will then go over the factors that affect how much you pay, including bone grafts, gum disease treatment, and the number of implants placed. Compared to traditional dentures and bridges, dental implants are meant as a more long-term solution to tooth loss; they can potentially stay in your mouth the rest of your life without needing to be replaced. Oftentimes, they are the more cost-effective option in the long run.
Dental Implant FAQs
So, maybe you have concerns about dental implants. Fair enough – you don’t want to jump into a treatment too quickly. If possible, knowing the basics is better before you decide on care. Luckily, we at Northbrook Dental Group can help out: listed below are some oft-asked implant questions and their respective answers. By reading them, you’ll get a sense of how these prosthetic teeth work. Otherwise, please call our office for more details.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
When placed by a qualified dentist, dental implants are pretty safe. They won’t harm your teeth, gums, or other mouth tissues. On the contrary, they’ll only enhance your life!
That said, implant patients should have good oral health before surgery. Those with low jawbone density or gum disease won’t have a successful treatment. Luckily, the dentist can fix such issues beforehand. You’ll then have a safer and more effective surgery.
If you have diabetes, cancer, or similar health problems, talk to your dentist during the consultation. They can settle whether surgery would be too risky or not.
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
Usually, dental implants are very successful in the long run. They seldom fail when properly placed by a dentist. In fact, their ten-year success rate exceeds 95%!
Of course, your implants’ success partly depends on your lifestyle. These prosthetic teeth need daily care to work well. In particular, you’ll need to practice good oral hygiene, routine checkups, a healthy diet, and more. Otherwise, your restored smile will falter rather soon.
You should also take note of your implant’s location. One acting as a molar will receive more strain than a front tooth. As such, it may have a slightly higher risk of failure.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Dental Implant Surgery?
After implant placement, you won’t need long to recover. Most patients can resume normal life the day after surgery. Still, avoid harsh exercise for the first week following your treatment. Such activity will delay the healing process. (You should also take pain medicine as directed.)
All that said, your jaw will take longer to heal from treatment. Implants usually need six months (or more) to fuse with your jawbone. Before that period ends, you’ll want to be careful. Bad oral habits could interfere with the fusion process.
Will People Be Able to Tell That I Have Dental Implants?
You can rest easy – people won’t notice you have dental implants. The latter are designed to blend seamlessly with adjacent teeth.
Firstly, implants are custom-made for your mouth. Lab workers base them on dental impressions of your smile. As such, the prosthetics will match their surroundings in shape, color, and size.
Furthermore, remember how implants work. They fuse with your jaw to act like tooth roots. In other words, they remain stable and secure. You won’t have to hold your jaw strangely to keep them in place.