Dental Implants Indianapolis
If you’ve never had dental implant treatment before, the steps and processes involved can be confusing because it’s a little different than your traditional dental visits. However, since their introduction in the early 1970s, dental implants have quickly become the gold standard for tooth replacement.
When Dr. Chisler placed my implant in the very back of my mouth on the left side, I felt no pain at all. I’ve had my share of root canals, crowns, and bridges, and this was by far the easiest of all. – Marilyn
Comprehensive Implant Treatment with Detail Dental
In most dental practices in Indianapolis, Indiana, if you need a dental implant, you will need to travel to outside offices for special x-rays, extra evaluations, the actual dental implant placement surgery, and multiple post-operative check-ups before you’re able to receive your restoration. At Detail Dental, our doctors are trained in all aspects of dental implants. They use some of the most sophisticated technology available today to ensure your implant is placed exactly where it should be. The color, shape, and size of each implant crown are then custom-made to match the rest of your teeth. Each step is performed here with the doctors you already know and trust.
What is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are composed of titanium, similar to the plates and screws physicians use to hold broken bones together. Even if you have a metal allergy, you will still be an excellent candidate for implants. Implants are designed to function like the root of a tooth, anchoring it into the jaw bone, just as your tooth’s natural root is. The top portion of the implant can be a single tooth, a part of a bridge, or a component designed to hold down a denture or partial denture.
Different Uses for Dental Implants
Missing a few teeth
When most people think of dental implants, they think of a single tooth being replaced, but actually, they can be used in various indications. Multiple implants can support bridges that cover more than one tooth to lessen the total number of implants needed. For example, two implants may be used to reproduce the look of 3-4
Missing all of your teeth
When a patient has lost all of their teeth, four or more implants can be placed to support a full arch set of teeth that stays in permanently. These teeth look and function just like natural teeth.
Partial and complete denture patients benefit greatly from implants because precision attachments can be placed on top of the implants instead of crowns and bridges. These attachments help the denture fasten in place and provide a major improvement in stability, comfort, eating, and talking.
A set of complete dentures can only provide 20-25% of the chewing forces that your natural teeth can. If we add just two implants at the lower canine positions, the patient improves to 50-60% of their previous chewing ability.
Implants adapt to your current situation
The top portion of each implant can be changed or updated throughout the patient’s life. If an implant was first placed to replace a single missing tooth, it can be altered to help support a bridge if nearby teeth are later extracted. If many or all of a patient’s teeth end up being removed, the crown or bridge can be changed to an attachment to help support a partial or complete denture. This ability to modify how an implant is used helps the patient to continue to benefit from the implant as they age and their circumstances change.
So, what can you expect after your consultation appointment?
Phase 1
First, the titanium implant is surgically placed into the jawbone. Most of the time, the implant will need 12-14 weeks to attach to your bone fully. You will go home with a temporary tooth in the missing spot that will look just like a real tooth. In terms of discomfort, patients receive an anesthetic just like any other dental procedure. Most people say getting an implant is faster and easier than a normal filling.
Phase 2
Next, the abutment (middle part of the implant) is attached to the implant. This step allows the gums to form around the new implant, which will help it look like a real tooth. This step usually takes 2-3 weeks.
Phase 3
Lastly, the crown will be attached to the abutment. At Detail Dental, we custom make the majority of our implant crowns right here within our office. Your implant crown is digitally scanned in less than one minute, designed on 3D software, and milled to micron-precise-accuracy to make sure it fits the first time.
