Dental implants consist of three parts. The first part is the dental implant itself. This is a small, screw-shaped piece of titanium. It is surgically implanted into your jaw bone, where it heals and acts as an artificial tooth root. The next part is the “abutment.” This is another small piece of metal that connects the implant to your implant restoration, such as a dental crown.
The final part is the implant restoration. Dental crowns are the most common type of implant restoration, and are used to restore one or more teeth. Implant crowns replace your missing natural teeth in appearance and function, restoring your smile. At Gainesville Dentistry Co., we use a fully guided approach to implant surgery, resulting in safer, more predictable outcomes. By planning the surgery using a restoratively driven approach, we can achieve more esthetic, easier to maintain implant crowns.
Dr. Feldman is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and has completed hundreds of hours of training on the surgical and restorative aspects of implant dentistry. Contact us today to see if dental implants in Gainesville are right for you.
Dental implants look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. They will never shift or move, and do not require special care beyond regular brushing and flossing. Your smile will also look completely natural, and your implants will be indistinguishable from your other teeth.
Dental implants also last longer than any other type of tooth replacement. With good oral hygiene, a healthy lifestyle, and six-month visits at your Gainesville dentist, your implant(s) could last you for the rest of your life.
One of the best things about dental implants is that, once they heal, you can treat them just like natural teeth, so it’s easy to care for them. Proper dental implant care is essential for preventing gum infections (peri-implantitis) near your implants, and for keeping your implants and your other natural teeth healthy.
To care for your new dental implants, you’ll just need to make sure you brush at least twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. It’s also important to floss your teeth and your dental implants at least once per day. Flossing removes small food particles and other debris that can’t be removed with brushing alone.
You should also make sure to come to Gainesville Dentistry Co. every six months for a teeth cleaning and implant maintenance appointment. Our team will clean your natural teeth and your implants, and check them to make sure that your grin is healthy and strong.
If you take good care of your new dental implant, you can expect your dental implant to last 30+ years. And with proper care, it could last you a lifetime. That’s one of the reasons that dental implants are such a good investment. Unlike other treatments like bridges and partial dentures, they can last you for the rest of your life. However, while your metal implant can last a lifetime, your dental crown (false tooth) may eventually need to be replaced.
Just like a natural tooth, your crown experiences a lot of wear as you chew, bite, and eat. Eventually, it may break or become damaged and require replacement. This is a very simple procedure, though, and crowns can last up to 20 years or longer with proper care. As part of your routine six-month oral exam and checkup, Dr. Feldman will check on your metal dental implant to make sure it looks healthy, and will also examine your crown to make sure it’s in great shape.
No. Dental implants are fixed in place permanently. Once you get a titanium dental implant, it will bond with your natural jaw bone. The bone tissue will heal around your implant, locking it in place in a process known as “osseointegration.” For all intents and purposes, your new dental implant will become a natural part of your mouth.
This means that your implant will be very strong and will never move or shift, and it will provide a stable platform for a false tooth. Unlike a partial denture, for example, your new dental implant will not move when you speak or chew.
Of course, this also means that it’s very difficult to remove dental implants. However, there’s not usually a good reason to have a dental implant removed. Unless your dental implant is damaged or doesn’t heal properly, there’s no reason to ever have it removed. As mentioned earlier, you will likely be able to keep your dental implant for the rest of your life!
After you’re approved for an implant, Dr. Greg Feldman will create a treatment plan and implant guide specifically for your procedure. Then, you’ll come into our office to have your implant placed. Under local anesthetic, the process is fast and pain-free. Our guided treatment process ensures the most predictable results.
After your surgery, you’ll be sent home to heal. You can get back to your routine right away, but it will take about two weeks for your implant site to heal. It will also take approximately 8-12 weeks for the bone to heal around your implant. This is known as “osseointegration.” During your recovery, you’ll come to our office for follow-ups so that Dr. Feldman can check your progress, and begin building your restoration.
We’ll begin fitting you for your dental restoration, such as a dental crown, during your follow-ups. We utilize our intraoral scanner to capture a digital final impression of your mouth and the implant site. Then, at your final appointment, Dr. Feldman will check the fit of your restoration, and attach it to your implant. This permanently restores your tooth, eliminating the space(s) once present due to missing teeth.
If you are missing one or more teeth, but your mouth is healthy and your jaw bone is strong, you may be a good candidate for dental implants. If you do not have an adequate amount of bone in the areas needed, you may still qualify, but you will require further treatment like bone grafting to prepare for an implant. The best way to find out if you’re a good candidate for a dental implant in Gainesville, Florida is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Feldman at Gainesville Dentistry Co. today!
Check out these frequently asked questions, or call us at (352) 88-SMILE to speak with our team.
Dental implants, when properly cared for, can last a lifetime. This longevity is one of the main reasons why dental implants have become the gold standard for tooth replacement. They are designed to be durable and to mimic the function of natural teeth. However, their lifespan can be influenced by several factors including the patient's overall health, oral hygiene, and regular dental check-ups. It's important to note that while the implant itself can last a lifetime, the crown or prosthetic tooth attached to it may need replacement after 10 to 15 years, depending on wear and tear.
Getting a dental implant is generally not painful. The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia, which numbs the area and ensures that the patient feels no pain during the surgery. However, like any surgical procedure, some discomfort may be experienced after the anesthesia wears off. This can include minor swelling, bruising, or bleeding, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs. Most patients report that the discomfort is less than they anticipated, and it usually subsides within a few days.
The healing process after dental implant surgery varies from person to person and depends on several factors including the number of implants placed, the patient's overall health, and how well they follow post-operative care instructions. Generally, it takes a few weeks to a few months for the gums to fully heal. During this time, the implant fuses with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. Once this process is complete, the prosthetic tooth or crown can be placed. It's important to maintain good oral hygiene during the healing process to avoid complications.
Whether or not a patient is put to sleep for dental implant surgery depends on the complexity of the procedure and the patient's comfort level. For a straightforward single implant, local anesthesia is often sufficient to numb the area and the patient remains awake but comfortable throughout the procedure. For more complex cases involving multiple implants or bone grafts, sedation dentistry or general anesthesia may be used. This allows the patient to sleep through the procedure. Dr. Feldman at Gainesville Dentistry Co. will discuss the best anesthesia options with you based on your individual needs and preferences.
