Dental Implants Orlando
The Absolute Gold Standard of Tooth Replacement
Dental implants are considered the gold standard when it comes to replacing missing teeth, and for several good reasons. Unlike other tooth replacement options like dentures or bridges, implants can replace the entire structure of a lost tooth. Better yet, they can last for a lifetime under ideal circumstances and vastly boost a patient’s day-to-day routine. To learn more about the innovative and life-changing restorative option, continue reading below or give our office in Orlando a call!
Why Choose Premier Dental Care of East Orlando for Dental Implants?
- Entire Implant Process Completed In-House
- All-on-4 Dental Implants Available
- 3D-Printed Same-Day Restorations Available
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small posts made from biocompatible materials like titanium that are surgically placed beneath the gumline, directly into the jawbone. They’re able to fuse with the bone matter and function as replacement tooth roots, which is something that other restorative solutions cannot do. This means that they offer numerous unique and life-changing benefits in addition to fully replacing the entire structure of lost teeth!
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Dental implants are more complex than dentures or dental bridges, so getting them usually takes several months. That said, please don’t worry – the posts are worth this time and effort! At Premier Dental Care of West Orlando, we perform the entire treatment in-house to ensure the best results. That means Dr. Scarpitti and his team will oversee your entire implant process. In particular, they’ll handle your consultation, implant surgery, osseointegration, and delivery of the final restoration.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
At the start of treatment, you’ll have a consultation with Dr. Scarpatti. This talk lets us learn about your implant goals, oral health history, and other key background factors. Using the feedback we gather, we can confirm whether dental implants suit you and tailor your final care.
If you don’t qualify for dental implants, please don’t worry. Preliminary dental work – gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, etc. – can make you a good treatment candidate later. After all, the right services would strengthen your mouth enough to handle implant posts.
Dental Implant Surgery
You’ll receive dental implant surgery if the initial consultation goes well. For that phase of treatment, Dr. Scarpatti himself will perform the relevant placement work. His experience and expertise ensure your new teeth will be placed effectively!
For your dental implant surgery, you should expect the following:
- Anesthesia – Dr. Scarpatti will numb your treatment site before surgery starts. That way, the placement work should be painless; it won’t cause any aches or pains.
- A Minor Incision – Once the anesthesia “kicks in,” we’ll make an incision in your gums. Doing so makes room for your final implant post.
- Implant Placement – We’ll use advanced tools and methods to precisely place your implant post.
- Gum Closure – Dr. Scarpatti will close your gum incision after the placement. He’ll then set a cap over your new implant.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Soon after placement, your dental implant will begin fusing with the surrounding bone tissue. This process – osseointegration – lasts 4-6 months and helps your post take root in your jaw. In other words, it’ll make your new “tooth” a permanent part of your mouth.
You’ll receive an additional surgery after your implant fuses. For this “extra” treatment, we’ll place an abutment – a metal connector – on your implant post. A dental lab will craft your final restoration while you recover from the abutment’s placement.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
We’ll deliver your implant’s final restoration at the end of treatment. However, the kind of prosthetic you get will depend on how many teeth were lost. Your final device could thus be a single dental crown, a dental bridge, or even an implant denture.
Rest assured that fitting your final restoration won’t take long. To do so, we’ll simply apply dental cement to your abutment, set the device, and make a few final adjustments. You’ll be ready to enjoy your restored smile once it’s clear your post fits well!
Computer-Enhanced Dental Implant Treatment
Dr. Scarpitti utilizes new technology such as CBCT, CAD-CAM computerized dentistry, and 3D printing to make sure his implants are placed safely and effectively. This allows us to evaluate your dental CT scan in three dimensions for bone quality, bone density, and bone location, enabling the best possible placement of your dental implants. This technology, along with CEREC® technology and Sprint Ray 3D printer, is also used for pre-planning and surgical guide fabrication.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants do so much more than replace your missing teeth! They also offer numerous other life-changing benefits, such as:
- They prevent bone resorption in the jawbone and prevent facial collapse, keeping your jaw strong and intact and your face looking full.
- They can restore up to 80% of a patient’s original biting power, meaning that they can eat virtually all types of food.
- They don’t require any special type of maintenance or cleaning solutions; simply care for them as you would your natural teeth.
- They can potentially last for decades under the right circumstances.
Caring for Your Dental Implant
You should consider your dental implants to be the same as your natural teeth, and care for them in such a manner. The areas where they were placed need to be kept clean and free of infection. Whether you have just one tooth replaced by an implant or several, you’ll still need to come in semi-annually for routine preventive care and teeth cleanings. Additionally, be sure to brush and floss your teeth every day, as well as supplement with an antibacterial mouthwash. Remember, just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your implants, the longer they’ll last – they can even last a lifetime if you’re diligent!
Dental Implant FAQs
Can I Take Dental Implants Out?
These prosthetics are unique among the different types of restorations because they’re the only ones surgically inserted into your jawbone and are not intended to be removed. Once they’ve been placed, your jawbone fuses with the titanium pole of your implant in a process called osseointegration. Once that is complete, your new tooth is considered ‘permanent’.
Sometimes, several rods are placed to support a specially designed set of dentures. These teeth are removable, so they can be cleaned, but the implant itself is still embedded in your mouth and can’t be taken out.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
If you’re looking for a resilient long-term solution, then you could benefit from dental implants. They have been known to last 30+ years with the right care, which could potentially be the remainder of your natural life!
However, their longevity is dependent on how well you maintain them. You should brush and floss twice daily to remove plaque and bacteria that contribute to cavities and gum disease, which could lead to implant failure if left unaddressed. Also, visiting our team every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning allows us to monitor your condition and spot and treat potential problems, like a loose implant, before it gets worse.
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
It’s natural to worry that getting new teeth surgically placed in your jaw involves a long and agonizing procedure, but thankfully, that’s not the case. Before starting, our team applies a topical anesthetic and sedates you so your body doesn’t register pain during your surgery. That way, you don’t even have to worry about discomfort until the medications wear off afterward.
Then, it’s normal to have some moderate aches and inflammation for a few days. Taking over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or Tylenol to reduce symptoms is usually safe. You can also try rinsing with warm salt water to draw swelling out of your gums while naturally disinfecting your mouth, or holding a cold compress to that side of your face for 15 minutes at a time.
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
If you’re concerned that your new teeth are likely to fail, you can set your concerns aside! These restorations have an incredibly high success rate of over 95% when they’re placed by a qualified professional.
However, that doesn’t mean they’re invincible. You’ll need to continue to prioritize oral hygiene, attend routine checkups, and eat a healthy diet to support your recently upgraded grin. If you have ongoing pain around the implant or it feels loose, contact us immediately so we can ensure that yours is healing as intended.