Any time you lose a tooth, whether to damage, decay, or dental neglect, it compromises your confident smile. Not only that, but tooth loss can also make it more difficult to enjoy your favorite foods. There are multiple options for restoring a healthy smile, and dental implants are generally considered the most sophisticated and effective option of all. At Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons & Dental Implant Center, we are pleased to provide total implant care, helping our patients in the Midland, MI community to enjoy long-lasting and natural-looking results.
What Are Dental Implants?
The dental implant itself is a small titanium post, which is carefully inserted into the jaw. It fuses with the surrounding bone where it becomes a stable and secure tooth root. On to this artificial replacement root, your dentist will place a custom prosthesis, made to replicate the look and feel of your natural teeth. This prosthesis may be a single crown, a dental bridge, or a complete denture. The result is full restoration of your dental form and function.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
For patients in the Midland, MI area, dental implants can provide a number of benefits. Consider a few of the reasons why dental implants are considered standard-of-care for tooth replacement:
- Because they fuse with your jaw bone, dental implants provide the ongoing stimulation needed to prevent bone reabsorption. This helps you to avoid any unwanted changes to your facial appearance.
- Once they have fully integrated with your jawbone, dental implants provide a level of stability that nearly matches that of your natural teeth, meaning you can enjoy your favorite foods like normal.
- Due to the long-lasting nature of titanium, your dental implants are designed to function for at least a decade. With the right commitment to oral hygiene, you can extend your implants’ life far longer.
Can You Benefit from Dental Implants?
The best way to assess whether you are qualified for safe and successful implant placement is to schedule a consultation with one of our oral surgeons here at Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons & Dental Implant Center.
During your consultation, your oral surgeon will perform a physical examination of your teeth and jaw, ask some questions about your medical history, and let you know more about potential treatment options. The best candidates for dental implant placement:
- Are either missing one or more teeth or anticipate tooth extraction.
- Do not have any untreated gum infections or periodontal diseases.
- Have sufficient bone matter or qualify for a bone graft.
The Dental Implant Process
Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons & Dental Implant Center provides personalized treatment plans for each of our dental implant patients. Generally, the process involves the following steps.
Initial Consultation
Your consultation provides your oral surgeon with an opportunity to verify your candidacy for surgery. It also gives you a chance to ask any questions you might have about the surgery, recovery, and results.
Preparing for Surgery
Some patients are advised to have supplemental surgeries to prepare for dental implant placement. This might involve having bone regenerated through a bone graft or having non-viable teeth carefully removed.
The Day of Surgery
On the day of your dental implant placement, our patient care team will welcome you back to a private treatment room. We will then provide anesthesia to promote your safety and comfort. Dental implant placement typically takes one to two hours, but this can vary according to factors such as the total number of implants being placed.
Recovering from Surgery
Following dental implant placement, you will need to allow a few months for your implants to fully heal. During this time, you will wear a temporary replacement tooth. Some discomfort can be expected during the first couple of days, but this can be mediated with over-the-counter medications. A soft foods and liquids diet is also required for the first few days of recovery.
Completing Your Smile
Once your implants have fully fused with the surrounding bone, you will return to your oral health provider. Your final replacement teeth will be placed at this point, completing your confident, healthy smile.
Why Choose Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons?
At Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons & Dental Implant Center, we are proud to be a trusted dental implants provider for the Midland, MI community. Our practice boasts decades of experience, and our doctors have the highest standards of training and credentialing. We also leverage best-in-class technology to promote your comfort and safety and ensure a frictionless patient experience.
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation in Midland, MI
Dental implants may be your best option for a second chance at a healthy smile. At Greater Michigan Oral Surgeons & Dental Implant Center, we are pleased to provide implant placement for patients in the Midland, MI area. Contact us today to schedule a dental implant consultation with one of our oral surgeons.