Dental Implants – Herndon, VA
The Modern Answer for Tooth Loss
Traditional tooth replacements only replace those parts of patients’ smiles visible above the gum line, but without the restoration of the underlying root structures, oral health is not fully renewed. That’s why Dr. Nazila Ganji and the Cosmetic & Orthodontic Family Dentistry team frequently recommend dental implant tooth replacements. Dental implants are titanium posts surgically inserted below the gum line that mimic the supportive root system anchoring a restoration in position. We partner with local oral surgeons or periodontists in order to ensure the safest, most predictable results. Once the dental implants are in place, patients return to our office where we attach a custom-crafted restoration. To find out more, contact our Herndon, VA dental team to schedule a dental implant consultation.
Why Choose Cosmetic & Orthodontic Family Dentistry for Dental Implants?
- Dental Implants Placed In-House
- Highly Experienced Dental Team
- State-of-the-Art Technology
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are made of three major components: a biocompatible titanium post inserted into the jaw, a restoration designed to resemble your natural teeth, and a metal abutment. The post is the part that is placed in the jawbone, and the abutment is attached to it later. Once the mouth has fully healed, the restoration (which might be a crown, bridge, or denture depending on how many teeth have been lost) will be connected to the post via the abutment.
Dental Implant Restorations
Following the surgical placement of dental implant posts, patients undergo a process known as osseointegration. This is the fusing together of dental implants with gum tissue and supportive alveolar bone. The process can take anywhere from three to six months depending on the extent of the tooth loss, the patient’s overall health, and a number of other factors. Once the process is complete, the dental implant will closely mimic the lost root structure and support one or more replacement teeth. Patients with one to four consecutive missing teeth will need restoration with a dental crown or fixed bridge. Single teeth are replaced by attaching a crown to an implant post. Two consecutive teeth can typically be restored by attaching two replacement crowns together and fixing them to a single implant. Patients with three to four consecutive missing teeth will need two implants to support either end of a fixed bridge restoration.
The Dental Implant Process
Not everyone has the same experience when getting dental implants, but the process can generally be broken up into four major steps:
- First comes the consultation where we make sure that your mouth is ready to receive dental implants and put together a treatment plan. If necessary, we can plan bone grafts and other procedures to prepare the mouth for a successful implant surgery.
- Your dental implants will be surgically placed in your jaw. We can personally handle this step without sending you to a separate specialist.
- The implant gradually joins with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. An abutment can be attached once osseointegration is complete.
- Finally, we’ll design your permanent restoration and attach it to your implant post(s).
Benefits of Dental Implants
There are many advantages to getting new teeth supported by dental implants. Dental implants don’t slip the way dentures sometimes do since they’re joined with the jawbone. They also let you regain most of your biting force, and as a result chewing will feel more natural and comfortable than ever. Also, you can count on dental implants to last a very long time; the average lifespan is around 30 years, but some stay in the patient’s mouth for the rest of their life.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
You may be a good candidate for dental implants if:
- You have lost at least one tooth.
- You have a healthy smile free of gum disease.
- You have enough bone in your jaw to support an implant post (or are willing to get bone grafts).
- You can commit to the dental implant process, which can take several months.
- You want a tooth replacement solution that can actively prevent bone loss in your jaw.
The implant procedure will look different depending on how many teeth you’ve lost.
Missing Single Tooth
After making sure your jaw is ready, we can place an implant post in the gap where the tooth used to be. After an abutment has been placed on top, we can take impressions to design a dental crown that looks just like your natural teeth so that people won’t be able to tell that any of your teeth were ever missing.
Missing Multiple Teeth
There are different options for replacing multiple teeth with dental implants. For example, partial dentures that fill in gaps throughout a single arch can be attached to a specific number of implant posts. We can discuss your options during your initial consultation. We’ll aim to use the fewest number of implants possible to replace all of your teeth.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
How much will you end up paying for dental implants? There’s no way to answer that question until we’ve examined your mouth and determined how many implants you need, what preliminary treatments are required, and other factors. Dental implants will normally cost more than other tooth replacement options, but they also last much longer, and they offer a variety of health benefits that traditional restorations can’t provide.
Implant Dentures
Patients with extensive tooth loss have traditionally relied on partial and full dentures. The removable partial dentures utilize remaining healthy teeth to anchor the restoration, and full dentures are held in place through suction between the denture and gum tissue or denture adhesive. While these restorative solutions significantly improve patients’ oral health, self-confidence, and overall wellbeing, they often shift while patients eat or speak, rub against gums, and can limit diet. Implant partials and dentures offer patients complete restoration with superior comfort and stability. The number of implant posts needed to support a partial denture depends on the size of the patient’s jawbones, the extent of the tooth loss, and the location of missing teeth. Full dentures are typically attached to between four and six implant posts. We offer both fixed and removable implant-supported prosthetics in order to meet any patient preference.
Dental Implant FAQs
On this page, we’ve covered everything from who dental implants can help to the treatment process and benefits. However, we still encourage questions! After all, your dental implants can last for more than 30 years with proper care, so it’s only natural to want to know as much as possible beforehand. Of course, our team will happily answer any questions you have at your consultation and throughout the treatment process. If you want to learn more between now and then, you can also read on for the answers to some FAQs!
Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Eat with Dental Implants?
Immediately following your surgery, you’ll be asked to stick to soft foods and avoid sugary, acidic, and alcoholic beverages. Once you’ve healed, then you’ll be able to enjoy a varied diet once more! Of course, we still recommend being mindful of what you eat since your diet directly impacts your oral health. For example, sugar is one of the leading culprits of cavities, so it’s a good idea to keep foods and drinks with added sugar to a minimum. You should also avoid extremely crunchy items, like tortilla chips, raw nuts, and pretzels, since they can chip one of your teeth or your dental implant.
Do Dental Implants Decay?
No, dental implants do not decay! That doesn’t mean that you don’t have to brush, floss, or visit us for a checkup and cleaning anymore though. On the contrary, it’s as important as ever that you commit to a solid oral hygiene regimen. That way, your teeth, gums, and dental implants stay in pristine condition.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
How long your dental implants last depend largely on how well you care for them. With that said, they have the potential to last for more than three decades! That’s why it’s so important that you prioritize good oral hygiene habits, like brushing twice a day, getting a checkup and cleaning every six months, and not using tobacco products.
What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?
One of the biggest perks of dental implants is that the success rate is more than 95%. There are some rare cases where they “fail,” which usually is the result of peri-implantitis or failed osseointegration. The first (peri-implantitis) is a form of gum disease that causes the implant to become loose. Fortunately, it’s largely preventable with a solid oral hygiene routine in place. The second (failed osseointegration) is when the implant doesn’t fuse properly to the jawbone. This is typically the result of insufficient bone density, which is why a bone graft is sometimes recommended. Don’t worry – we will review all of this information with you so you know what the risks are as well as how to reduce your chances of experiencing them.
Am I Too Young to Get Dental Implants?
Although candidacy for dental implants isn’t determined by age alone, this tooth-replacement solution isn’t ideal if your jaw isn’t fully developed. As a result, patients who are under the age of 18 may have to restore their smile with a different tooth-replacement option, like dentures or a dental bridge. Once your jaw has fully developed, then we can replace your existing restoration with a dental implant.
