What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a highly effective tooth replacement option used to restore missing or badly damaged teeth. It is composed of three parts: a small titanium post that acts as a natural tooth root, a dental prosthesis (crown, bridge, or denture) that serves as the visible body of the tooth, and an abutment that works as a foundation to keep the prosthesis in place. Together, they are designed to form a fully functional, natural-looking artificial tooth that should be indistinguishable from the rest of your surrounding teeth. Dental implants can not only rebuild a stunning smile, but they also typically allow greater structural reinforcement and improved oral wellness.

Why We Recommend Dental Implants

We may recommend dental implants instead of dentures or a dental bridge for several reasons. Dental implants are a stable, secure and permanent solution for replacing missing teeth and support healthy bone tissue. Dentures and bridges rest on top of the gums so the jaw bone is still left untouched. The lack of bone tissue stimulation can lead to jaw bone loss over time, causing further problems down the road.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Functional Benefits

• Restores the bite
• Improves jaw function
• Prevents bone loss
• Prevents damage to surrounding teeth

Cosmetic Benefits

• Improves appearance of the smile
• Looks like natural teeth
• Boosts self-confidence
• Preserves youthful smile

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Dental implants can benefit patients seeking a long-lasting tooth replacement for missing, damaged, or severely decayed teeth. Additionally, because dental implants require jawbone support to stay rooted in the gumline, candidates for treatment should have an adequate amount of bone density to accommodate the implant(s). Our dentists will examine the state of your oral structures during your consultation to determine whether there is enough healthy bone to immediately undergo implantation. If there is significant jaw bone loss, Dr. Rallis and Dr. Chondrogiannis offer many different periodontal services that can help rebuild healthy bone prior to your dental implant treatment.

Those considering dental implants should also be in good overall health, with no uncontrolled medical conditions that can interfere with the healing process. Consequently, those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment may not be good candidates for dental implants.

What Are My Dental Implant Options?

Dental implants are versatile in function and can be used to replace a single tooth, several teeth, or a full dental arch. Your custom-designed tooth replacement(s) will be crafted using the finest dental materials and are meant to look and feel like a natural part of your mouth.

Single Tooth Implants

A dental implant can work beautifully as a replacement for individual missing or extracted teeth. They are designed to match the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth on either side of the absent space for optimal aesthetic enhancement. In cases where an implant is being used to replace badly damaged or decayed teeth, the titanium post (meant to act as a natural tooth root) can usually be implanted simultaneous to tooth extraction, provided the root of the compromised tooth does not contain an infection. In either case, a temporary dental crown is usually placed in lieu of the missing tooth while the post has time to fuse with the jawbone.

Multiple Teeth Dental Implants

For patients with three or more consecutive missing or damaged teeth, multiple dental implants can be used to restore both form and function to your smile and bite. They typically offer several advantages for individuals with an adequate amount of jawbone density to support the implants, including greater security than an attached dental bridge as well as healthier bone structure. This solution involves using two or more dental implants to secure a natural-looking dental prosthesis (such as a bridge or partial denture) to fill in the entire gap created by absent teeth. The number of implants necessary will be determined by your bone density and how many teeth require replacement.

Implant Dentures with All-on-4®

All-on-4® implant dentures are an exciting restoration option for patients who require replacement of an entire upper and/or lower arch. Unlike traditional dentures, which are prone to slipping uncomfortably along the gumline, implant dentures are securely affixed to your jawbone by four strategically placed dental implants. When compared to unanchored dentures, this can allow more confidence when speaking, drinking, or chewing, and doesn’t require use of messy pastes or adhesives. While several implants are traditionally required to sustain a full denture arch, the cutting-edge All-on-4® technique can achieve optimal support and security with only four implants postured at precise angles. A custom-fabricated denture arch is then affixed to the implants for a beautiful and seamless result.

What is the Dental Implant Procedure Like?

The process for replacement of a single tooth, multiple teeth, or complete arch will begin with a consultation in which one of our dentists will assess the state of your bone structure and determine whether you have enough jawbone density to support dental implantation. If the amount of bone loss suffered is too great to accommodate an implant, Dr. Rallis or Dr. Chondrogiannis may recommend bone grafting treatment to regenerate new bone before dental implantation, or suggest another restorative option.

The nature and length of your procedure will depend on the details of your treatment plan, such as the health of your gum tissue, the number of extractions necessary, the number of teeth requiring replacement, and other factors. During the procedure, one or multiple titanium posts will be inserted into your gum tissue where necessary to ensure a comfortable and secure fit for your restoration. For patients who experience dental anxiety or who are concerned with discomfort, our practice offers a number of sedation dentistry techniques to alleviate anxiety levels and allow a more relaxing treatment experience. Once the implants have successfully fused to your jawbone, an abutment will act as an anchor for placement of a custom-designed restoration on top of the implant post(s). At the end of the process, you should have an indistinguishable tooth replacement that is designed to last decades.

Do Dental Implants Hurt?

While the dental implant process may sound intimidating, patients are usually pleasantly surprised to learn that there is minimal discomfort during the implantation procedure. Local anesthesia is utilized to help ensure there is as little pain during surgery as possible, and our dentists additionally offer several sedation dentistry options for those who may still be apprehensive about receiving dental implants.

Immediately after the procedure, patients may feel temporary soreness around their mouth as the gum tissue begins to heal. These reactions can typically be alleviated with over-the-counter pain medication and ice packs. To further minimize potential discomfort, it is often helpful to stick to a soft-food diet for approximately two weeks after implant surgery.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Dental implants are meant to serve as a long-lasting tooth replacement that does not require retreatment. Implants typically function similar to natural teeth; therefore, if bacteria and changes in your medical health affect the bone around your natural teeth, your dental implants could be affected the same way. With that said, as long as you maintain good oral hygiene, as well as regular check-ups and cleanings from your dentist, implants can restore function and beauty to missing teeth for years—and even decades—to come.

How Do I Clean Dental Implants?

You can keep your dental implants in good condition simply by adhering to the daily oral hygiene habits required to maintain the health of your natural teeth. As dental implants are designed to function like real teeth, they do not require any additional maintenance beyond brushing, flossing, and semi-annual dental visits. With that said, it’s important to regularly undergo professional dental cleanings in order to monitor bacteria buildup and address the hard-to-reach areas that may be missed when brushing and flossing. This can minimize the formation of tooth decay that may be harmful to the implant and increase the longevity of your restorations.

Are Dental Implants Safe?

Although there is a measure of risk involved with any oral surgery, dental implants are considered a safe way to restore missing teeth as long as you are under the care of an experienced dental professional. Implants have a very low failure rate, provided you are a good candidate for treatment, and are often regarded as the ideal tooth replacement by dentists for a number of reasons. Not only do they offer the most enduring results when compared to other reconstructive techniques, but they also do not require surrounding teeth to be filed down (a necessary measure when replacing the teeth with dental bridges). Our team of qualified prosthodontists, oral surgeons, and restorative dentists are among the best in their field and carry out the dental implant process with uncompromising standards of safety. We will thoroughly evaluate your oral structures to determine whether dental implants are the best solution to your needs, and will always recommend an alternative treatment if you are not a good candidate for dental implants.

How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?

As a tooth replacement solution that can last decades with proper oral hygiene, dental implants can be a long-term investment in the enhanced beauty and structural integrity of your smile. We understand that cost is a major consideration when undergoing any procedure or treatment, and we take great measures to accommodate the unique needs of all of our patients.

Because the dental implant procedure is tailored to the needs and goals of each patient, the total cost of treatment is subjective. Factors that usually influence dental implant pricing include:

• The number of implants necessary
• The location of the implants
• The complexity of the procedure
• Whether any treatment to improve bone density is necessary
• The type of restorations and dental materials used
• Applicable insurance
• Dentist’s fees

Rest assured that a friendly member of our office will break down the entire cost of treatment with you prior to the start of any treatment. Our office accepts a wide range of payment methods, insurance plans, and financing options to suit your budgetary concerns. Please don’t hesitate to contact our office for any additional questions you may have.

Why Should I Choose Dr. Rallis for My Dental Implants?

As a graduate of the prestigious Dawson Academy, Dr. Rallis has received the advanced training necessary to place dental implants with impeccable results. Through his comprehensive training at the Dawson Academy—one of the most acclaimed postgraduate dentistry institutions in the country—he has perfected the process of preparing a site for dental implantation and enjoys the treatment’s high success rate as a tooth replacement procedure.

Dr. Rallis believes there is no reason to harm surrounding teeth in order to restore a patient’s smile and feels dental implants are a relatively conservative treatment. Unlike other restorative options, dental implants do not force extra stress or pressure on supporting teeth and can also have a short healing time. Performing treatment with careful consideration of your unique needs and concerns, Dr. Rallis has the extensive experience necessary to achieve a beautiful final outcome according to your smile goals.

“Dental implants allow me to improve the quality of a patient’s life. No one is ever disappointed they received an implant.” Dr. Rallis

Are There Any Alternatives to Dental Implants?

If dental implants are not the most ideal treatment for your needs, there are other solutions that can help you restore full function of your teeth and mouth. For patients who are not good candidates for dental implants, dental bridges can be an exceptional restoration to replace one or more consecutive teeth while blending in seamlessly with your smile.

Using a custom-designed prosthesis that is crafted to fulfill the entire span of an absent space, dental bridges are securely fastened to healthy teeth on either side of the gap via dental crowns. The dental crowns are affixed to adjacent teeth in order to anchor the prosthesis and provide a comfortable fit. Bridges do not require jawbone support to stay rooted, affording patients with excessive bone loss an alternative treatment option. Plus, our practice uses advanced ED4 technology to fabricate dental bridges on the same day as your visit, canceling the need for turnaround time and allowing you to leave our offices with a beautifully restored smile.

Ready to rebuild your smile? Schedule a consultation for dental implants today.