Dental Implants Cherry Hill
The Modern Answer to Replacing Missing Teeth
Over the past couple of decades, dental implants have quickly emerged as the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Instead of restoring just the visible surface of teeth, this treatment allows our team to replace your roots as well, providing you with a restoration that doesn’t just look real, but also feels completely natural. We invite you to schedule a consultation today to learn more about how dental implants in Cherry Hill may be able to benefit you.
Why Choose Kingston Family Cosmetic Dental Center for Dental Implants?
- Start-to-Finish Dental Implant Treatment
- Holistic Dentist with Decades of Experience
- Can Replace Any Number of Missing Teeth
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants themselves are small titanium posts that are surgically placed below the gumline and into the jawbone to restore the roots of missing teeth. Due to their biocompatibility, they’re able to fuse with the bone structure through a process called osseointegration, creating a strong anchor for any type of prosthetic, including crowns, bridges, and dentures, to be attached to. The addition of the posts not only leads to replacement teeth that last longer, but also ones that feel and function like natural.
Why Choose Dr. Lee for Dental Implants?
When looking for a doctor who performs dental implants, experience matters. Dr. Lee has placed hundreds of dental implants since opening her practice in 1994 and has completed several specialized training courses, including a mini-residency through Implant Educator. Her experience in full-service implant dentistry surgery is widely recognized.
Every treatment and patient is different, and we will provide you with options that will fit your needs. If you are ready to reestablish self-esteem with a full and functional smile, give us a call today to schedule an appointment to discuss if dental implants are right for you.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
- Initial Consultation: The first step of every treatment is a consultation with Dr. Kessy Lee. At this appointment, our team will discuss your smile goals, examine your mouth, and capture any necessary diagnostic images to help determine whether you’re a good candidate. We’ll then create a custom-tailored treatment plan and walk you through it. Once all of your questions have been answered and you consent to moving forward with the procedure, we’ll schedule your surgery.
- Dental Implant Surgery: Dr. Lee is able to place dental implants in her office, allowing patients to forego the inconvenience of needing to schedule this part of the procedure with a separate specialist’s office. She’ll access the jawbone by making a small window in the gums and secure the dental implants.
- Osseointegration & Abutment Attachment: After your surgery, you’ll undergo osseointegration, where the implants fuse with the jawbone. This typically occurs within about three to six months. Then, we’ll secure a small metal connector piece to the tops of your implants, called abutments.
- Attaching the Final Restorations: After your final restoration has arrived at our office, we’ll call you back in for the last step—to attach your replacement teeth and complete your smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
With countless unique benefits to offer that distinguish dental implants from their traditional restorative counterparts, it’s no surprise that they’re a top choice among patients. Some of the advantages that you’ll be able to enjoy include:
- Preservation of jawbone density and facial structure.
- Ability to eat and speak with greater ease.
- Lifespan of 35+ years with proper maintenance.
- Can replace any number of missing teeth.
- Restore up to 80% of your biting power.
- Easy to maintain.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
If you’re missing one, multiple, or all of your teeth, dental implants could be the solution you’ve been looking for. They offer all sorts of benefits that you can’t achieve with traditional tooth replacement options, like dentures and dental bridges. Read on to learn more about dental implants and whether they are a good fit for you!
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most healthy adults are able to get dental implants without much of a problem. Here are some important criteria that we consider when determining who is a good candidate for dental implants:
- General Health: Placing dental implants requires a minor procedure. You need to be in good enough health to undergo this surgery.
- Oral Health: Cavities and gum disease increase your risk of dental implant failure. If you have existing dental issues, they need to be treated and eliminated before you can get dental implants.
- Jawbone Density: You need to have adequate jawbone density to provide a sturdy foundation for your dental implants.
If you don’t immediately make a good candidate for dental implants, this doesn’t necessarily rule them out for the future. Some patients need to undergo preliminary procedures before they are able to get dental implants. This can include tooth extractions, bone grafting, gum disease treatment, and more. If any of these apply to you, we can help to get them scheduled. Once your gums and jawbone are in excellent shape, we can move on to planning the rest of your treatment.
Missing One Tooth
If you’re only missing a single tooth, it can be replaced with one dental implant. Once the implant has fused to the jawbone via osseointegration, an abutment is placed on the end of the implant. This is used to secure a customized dental crown to the implant.
Missing Multiple Teeth
A traditional dental bridge requires the removal of tooth structure to be placed. On the other hand, implant bridges are anchored to the jawbone with dental implants. If you have several consecutive missing teeth, an implant bridge is a great solution. If you are missing teeth in multiple places on an arch, a partial denture can be secured to dental implants to complete your smile.
Missing All Teeth
If you are missing all of the teeth in an arch, a full denture can be supported by dental implants strategically placed across the arch. One of the best parts about implant dentures is that you no longer need to worry about taking your denture to be relined, repaired, and replaced every few years. Implant dentures are designed to last for multiple decades.
Dental Implant FAQs
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Dental Implant Surgery?
Most of the time, you should be able to resume your normal activities the day after your surgery. However, it can take up to six months for your dental implants to completely fuse to the jawbone. There isn’t much you can do to speed this process up, but there are steps you can take to make the healing go efficiently and comfortably:
- Avoid strenuous exercise for at least a week after your procedure. Straining yourself too much can slow down healing.
- Take over-the-counter and prescribed pain relievers as directed.
- Stick to soft foods after surgery. As time goes on, you can introduce more foods, but avoid chewing directly on the implant site.
- It’s best to refrain from smoking for several months as the osseointegration process takes place.
- If you have any questions or concerns, give us a call so we can help!
Can I Get Dental Implants If I’m Diabetic?
If your diabetes is under control, your odds of dental implant success are generally comparable to those of a non-diabetic patient. However, uncontrolled diabetes can slow down the healing process, making it harder for your implants to integrate with your jawbone and increasing your risk of infection. If you have diabetes and are interested in getting dental implants, talk to your endocrinologist or primary care physician about getting your blood sugar levels under control beforehand.
Do Dental Implants Decay?
No. Dental implants are not made from tooth enamel, so they are unable to get cavities. However, your remaining natural teeth still can. Your gums can also still become infected, and poor oral hygiene could increase your risk of peri-implantitis, which is one of the top causes of dental implant failure. That’s why it’s so important that you continue to maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine after getting implants.
How Soon After a Tooth Extraction Can I Get Dental Implants?
In some cases, if the jawbone is healthy, a dental implant can be placed right away after a tooth extraction. However, dentists will often recommend waiting three to six months for the mouth to heal. Waiting too long can cause the jawbone to shrink because of the lack of stimulation from the tooth’s roots. Ultimately, the answer will depend on your unique situation. During your consultation, we can discuss this in detail so you know exactly what you can expect.
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