The loss of a tooth makes it much more challenging to bite, chew, and enjoy your favorite foods like normal. It may also prevent you from feeling fully confident in your smile. The good news is that full smile restoration is possible through dental implant placement. At Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons & Dental Implant Center, we are proud to be a trusted provider of dental implants, restoring smiles throughout the Saginaw, MI community.

What Are Dental Implants

A dental implant is essentially a small titanium rod, which is carefully inserted into the jaw and left to fuse with the surrounding bone. Once fully healed, the implant functions as an artificial tooth root. On top of it, your oral surgeon will place a connective piece known as the abutment, followed by a porcelain or zirconia prosthesis that looks and behaves just like your natural teeth. This porcelain restoration may be a single crown, a bridge, or a complete denture.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

Dental implants are widely considered to be the top option for smile restoration. Patients in Saginaw, MI can anticipate several benefits following dental implant placement:

  • Because they integrate with your jawbone and provide ongoing stimulation, dental implants can prevent bone reabsorption and unwanted changes to your facial appearance.
  • Dental implants provide a level of stability that closely matches that of your natural teeth, which makes it possible for you to enjoy your favorite foods as normal.
  • Titanium is so durable that the typical dental implant lasts at least 10 years. With rigorous oral hygiene, however, your implants can potentially last a lot longer than that.

These are just a few of the benefits of seeking dental implants from Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons & Dental Implant Center.

Can You Benefit from Dental Implants?

The best way to determine whether you are eligible for dental implant placement is to schedule a consultation with one of our oral surgeons. Your doctor will examine your teeth and jaw, review your medical history, and recommend a treatment plan for you. The best candidates for dental implant placement:

  • Are missing one or more teeth or anticipate an extraction.
  • Do not have any untreated gum disease.
  • Have not lost a lot of bone tissue or are eligible to have bone regenerated via a bone graft.

The Dental Implant Process

At Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons & Dental Implant Center, we provide every patient with a personalized treatment plan, ensuring a procedure that meets their dental health needs and aesthetic goals. Generally, dental implant placement involves the following steps.

Initial Consultation

During your initial consultation, your surgeon will confirm that you are qualified for safe and successful implant placement. This is also a great time for you to ask any questions you may have about the procedure, financing, recovery, aftercare, or results.

Preparing for Surgery

Sometimes, our oral surgeons recommend preparatory steps to ensure the mouth is ready for surgery. For example, you may need to have a bone graft performed, or you may need to have a non-viable tooth extracted before your implants can be placed.

The Day of Surgery

On the day of your procedure, our patient care team will welcome you back to a private treatment room, where we will administer anesthesia to ensure your comfort. The procedure usually takes an hour or two, though it can vary depending on how many implants are placed.

Recovering from Surgery

It will take a few months for your implants to fully heal and fuse in place, but most patients only experience physical discomfort for the first day or two. These symptoms can be mediated with over-the-counter pain medications. You will also need to start off with a diet of liquids and soft foods, shifting back to your regular diet as you feel able.

Completing Your Smile

You will return to your oral health provider once your implants have fully fused with the jawbone. At this point your final prosthesis will be placed, completing your smile and allowing you to once again feel utterly confident in your oral health.

Why Choose Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons?

At Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons & Dental Implant Center, we have decades of experience providing comprehensive oral health solutions, proudly treating patients in Saginaw, MI and beyond. Our board-certified oral surgeons are highly trained to promote safety and comfort, and we use industry-leading technology to ensure a frictionless patient experience. We are proud to be Saginaw’s choice for smile restoration.

Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation in Saginaw

Dental implants may be your best option for restoring the full form and function of your smile. At Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons & Dental Implant Center, we are pleased to provide implant placement for patients in the Saginaw, MI region. Reach out to us today in order to schedule a dental implant consultation.