Dental Implants Questions

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is a tooth replacement solution that uses a titanium fixture to perform the same role as your natural tooth root. Dental implants are placed in your jawbone, where they bond with the bone to create a highly stable foundation for replacement teeth.

Who is a candidate for dental implants?

If you have had a previous tooth extraction or if you have a tooth that needs extraction, you may be considering a dental implant to replace your missing tooth. You may be a candidate for dental implants if you:

• Have good overall health
• Have good oral health
• Have adequate bone in the treatment area to support an implant

If you lack bone in the treatment area, you may have to undergo a bone grafting procedure prior to receiving your dental implant. Certain drugs may increase your risk of complications, so you should share your complete medical history with us as well as any drugs and nutritional supplements you are taking.

What are the advantages of dental implants?

Dental implants are the most natural-looking and -functioning dental restoration available for missing teeth. Unlike dentures, they do not slip or click, which can interfere with speaking or eating. Dental implants allow you to eat all your favorite foods, and unlike dentures and bridges, they do not require special cleaning: just brush and floss normally. And, unlike bridges, they do not require modification of adjacent teeth. Most importantly, dental implants support your gum tissue and stimulate your jawbone so you do not lose gums and bone mass in the area where you lost your tooth.

Can dental implants be used to replace more than one tooth?

Yes. Dental implants can be used to replace one tooth, several teeth, or even all your upper or lower teeth. If multiple teeth are being replaced, the implants will be placed to give maximum support to your new smile, but will likely be fewer implants than the number of teeth being replaced.

How successful are dental implants?

Dental implants have a clinical history that stretches back over thirty years. With millions of dental implant patients, we have a good understanding of their success and failure rates. Estimates of dental implant success rates range from 95-98% when placed in good dental implant candidates.

How is the dental implant procedure performed?

Most often, the dental implant procedure is performed in two steps. During the first step, which can generally be done at the same time as your tooth extraction, the dental implant is placed in your jawbone. Then the implant is allowed to integrate with your jawbone for 3-6 months. During this time, you will wear a temporary crown that is cosmetic but not fully functional. When your implant is integrated, the final restoration is placed. Sometimes, this may also be a two-step process that may take a couple weeks.

I have heard about people getting teeth in a day. Can I get that?

Sometimes, the dental implant and restoration are placed at the same time. In order for this approach to work, you must have good bone in the area where the implants are going to be placed, and the amount of chewing force the tooth experiences must be minimal. During your consultation, we can discuss this option and let you know whether it is a good one for you.

Why should I choose Premier Dental for my dental implant procedure?

At Premier Dental, our focus is on offering the ultimate in customer service and personal attention to your dental needs. This allows us to customize your treatment to your unique dental needs. And because we utilize state-of-the-art dental solutions, you can have confidence that the dental treatment you receive is comparable to the best available anywhere. Omaha implant dentist, Dr. Dan Beninato is a native of Omaha, Nebraska, and he treats you not just as a patient, but as a friend and neighbor.

If you have more unanswered dental implant questions, please contact Premier Dental to schedule your impland dentistry consultation today.