Dental Implants in Charlotte, NC
Missing teeth can significantly impact the quality of your life: changing the way you look, how often you smile, what you eat, how others perceive you, and how you feel about yourself.
Your smile is probably the first thing people see when they look at you. A gap in your smile can be a significant distraction to others, which can be devastating – no matter how old you are. That’s why many people in Charlotte, NC, choose to improve their lives through dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants In Charlotte, NC?
If you need a permanent tooth replacement option to restore a healthy smile, you may be interested in learning more about a dental implant procedure.
During dental implant surgery, dentists surgically fuse a thin titanium post to the jaw bone: this serves as a restored tooth root. Other tooth replacement options, like dentures, rest on top of the gums and have the embarrassing potential for falling out or sliding around. Titanium is biocompatible, so your body is unlikely to reject the dental implant posts, and it is durable and reliable enough to handle biting.
The post is capped with a temporary crown during the healing period, and your Charlotte, NC dentist will monitor the implant’s healing progress and fit you for a permanent dental crown (the visible part of the dental implant). Dentists will match the crown to your natural tooth shade, so it will easily blend in. Very few people will be able to tell that you have a replacement tooth. You would have to tell them!
Some tooth replacement options, like veneers or dentures, can’t handle extended regular functions like biting into chewy meat or tough fruit, but dental implants can handle it all. That is why it’s known as the gold standard of tooth replacement: it acts and looks like your regular teeth.
Have you had multiple tooth extractions? No problem! Some restoration options include implant-supported bridges that can restore a big part of your smile without damaging adjacent teeth.
This allows them to restore your smile and the contours of your face, and you can eat whatever you want. Your speech is restored, along with your self-esteem and confidence. You’ll never have to worry about what people think when you start smiling or talking. You will never have to worry about your implants falling out during a meal or in the middle of a conversation.
Many Charlotte, NC patients receive implants for various reasons, including:
- Foundation for a dental bridge or complete set of dentures
- Restoring a single tooth or multiple teeth
- Restoring the ability to eat hard or chewy foods
- Never having to worry about tooth replacements falling out
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Durable and long-lasting
- Building confidence
- Restoring oral health
There are many great reasons to receive dental implants, from the way you look and feel about yourself to the future of your oral health.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants have many benefits, including that they appear and function just like natural teeth. The titanium root of the dental implant anchors to the jaw bone and serves as the foundation for a dental crown. This is the portion of the dental implant that other people can see, and typically it is the portion that fills in the gap in your smile. The best part is that the titanium root rarely needs to be restored, but if for some reason the dental crown is cracked, it can easily be replaced. You never have to worry about cavities and tooth decay, although you still need to brush and floss regularly to support gum health.
A dental implant treatment can anchor bridges and dentures, so you can quickly restore any gaps in your smile. Plus, dental implants are fully independent, so you don’t need to depend on adjacent teeth to make them work.
However, the best part of dental implants is that they keep your jawbone strong and healthy.
Patients love how their new dental implants look and feel like natural teeth.
How Does the Implant Dentistry Procedure Work in Charlotte, NC?
Dental implant procedures work in two surgical procedures: the artificial root (titanium implants) placement, followed by the dental crown.
Dental implants are tiny, biocompatible titanium posts placed in the jawbone where the natural tooth was located. Over time, they integrate with the bone and become a permanent foundation.
The process generally takes four to six months, and many patients can go about their daily routine without disruption during the healing period.
Don’t let tooth loss affect your eating patterns, self-esteem, and looks.
Caring for Dental Implants in Charlotte, NC
There are many reasons why dental implants are a popular tooth restoration alternative. First, they look and feel amazing, just like your natural teeth. Beyond that, they are straightforward to maintain.
No further treatment is needed once they are secured to the jaw bone. Proper care for your dental implant is as easy as regular brushing and flossing. That’s it! You don’t need special equipment, pastes, routines, or anything else.
Brushing and flossing in tandem with routine dental visits to check the integrity of the dental implant is all that is needed.
Is Implant Placement Right for You?
The only instances when dental implants are not recommended are when the jawbone is not fully developed (such as in children) or when there are signs of gum disease or periodontal disease. Dental implants need to anchor to the jawbone, and if there is insufficient bone, then a bone graft is often necessary.
Excellent oral health is the only guarantee that the dental implant placement will succeed without any issue. The only way to determine this is by consulting with your dentist or oral surgeon. During your examination, you can ask about other alternatives or if you are a good candidate for this dental procedure.
It’s important to remember that the best time to get a dental implant is now. That’s because teeth anchor your jawbone, and when there is a gap (or multiple gaps), the jawbone starts to recede.
The good news is that if there isn’t enough jaw bone for the dental implant, there are reconstructive dental procedures that can help reestablish bone and soft tissue for support. Regardless of any health issues patients may have with their mouths or jaws, there are usually reasonable fixes.
Interested in Learning More About Dental Implant Treatment?
If you are one of the many Americans living with missing teeth, it’s completely understandable to feel self-conscious about it – especially if the space is easily visible at the front of your mouth. People with missing teeth often live through the stigma of a hole in their smile. They may even feel unfairly judged by others.
In many cultures, missing teeth are almost taboo, so maintaining a professional air with a gapped smile can seem impossible. But beyond the cultural and social implications of a missing tooth, there are also health problems.
Often, one missing tooth can lead to multiple missing teeth. When a tooth is missing, neighboring teeth often have to work harder to pick up the slack. They may start to shift towards the gap, which commonly results in teeth rubbing against each other and changing the alignment of your smile. Missing teeth are the number one cause of continued tooth loss.
Therefore, the best solution for a missing tooth is permanent dental implants. Because dental implants are permanently fused with your jawbone, they will never shift or fall out. You don’t have to do anything unusual to maintain them: you just brush and floss as you normally would.
If you, like many others, believe dental implants are the right choice for you, contact us for a consultation about dental implant surgery.
Our team of dentists in Charlotte, NC will guide you through the entire process. We will review your health history and your dental care options, explaining how traditional implants work and providing options for affordable dental implants. Your unique needs and specific requests will be our top priority during your complete dental consultation. Your concerns are significant at Park Crossing Dentistry, and our dental team will work closely with you from your first steps to your follow-up examinations. We will assist you with choosing dental implants and help you determine if you need a single implant or multiple implants.
Call us today to start your journey to a more confident smile.