Dental Implants – Idaho Falls, ID
The Gold Standard for Replacing Missing Teeth
Dental implants are the preferred method to replace missing teeth. They’re strong, durable, and can often last a lifetime when done correctly. More importantly, they feel and function just like a regular tooth, so you can easily wear a dental implant without sacrificing everyday comfort. At Oxford Dental Care, Dr. Cline can perform the entire process in-house, which means that you don’t have to spend time at a specialist’s dental office. When you’re ready to enjoy a strong smile again, give our team a call and schedule a consultation to discuss tooth replacement with dental implants in Idaho Falls, ID.
Why Choose Oxford Dental Care of Idaho Falls for Dental Implants?
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Placement Performed
In-House - High-Quality, Custom Restorations for Each Patient
- Compassionate, Friendly Dental Team
What is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are the closest option to a natural tooth that dentistry has to offer. A dental implant consists of three parts: the post, abutment, and restoration. The post acts like a tooth’s root structure and becomes integrated with the jaw bone, and the abutment piece connects the restoration on top. Altogether, it restores about 70 percent of your original biting power, enabling you to have a nutritious diet even after tooth loss.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are able to deliver countless advantages over traditional tooth replacement options. This is because the implant posts fuse to your existing jawbone, essentially becoming a part of your own anatomy. As a result, your new teeth will be more reliable than a denture or dental bridge alone ever could be. But this is just one of the many benefits of dental implants in Idaho Falls. Read on to learn more about all of the ways this treatment could change your life!
Day-to-Day Benefits
- Because dental implants recreate the root structure of your lost teeth, you’ll regain most of the chewing power you had before tooth loss. This allows you to enjoy a varied diet of nutritious foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Traditional dentures might warp if you drink hot beverages, causing them to not fit correctly. Implant-supported prosthetics should retain their shape, so you’ll be able to enjoy coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to your heart’s content.
- Dentures also notoriously slip around or even fall out of your mouth every so often. If your new teeth are secured onto dental implants in Idaho Falls, you can trust that they’ll remain in place, preventing any embarrassing moments.
- Your implant restorations are carefully designed to mimic the size, shape, and color of your original pearly whites. Overall, your implants should look and feel just like the teeth you used to have!
Health Benefits
- Studies show that prolonged or extensive tooth loss is associated with higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other medical conditions. Dental implants prevent these issues by filling all of the functions of your natural teeth.
- Bridges require natural teeth to be filed down, and dentures can rub up against the gums. In contrast, dental implants are self-supporting and secure – they won’t irritate your gums or require the removal of healthy tooth structure.
- Dental implants stimulate the jawbone whenever you talk or chew. This makes them the only solution that prevents the bone deterioration that commonly occurs after tooth loss. Jawbone loss has been linked with additional tooth loss, and it also causes a sunken facial appearance. Dental implants keep your jawbone strong and you looking young!
Long-Term Benefits
- While dentures require you to learn a whole new cleaning process, dental implant maintenance is simple. For the most part, you can pretty much brush and floss as you would natural teeth. Of course, you’ll also want to visit your implant dentist in Idaho Falls for routine checkups.
- If you take good care of your implants, they can last for 30+ years or even a lifetime. Bridges and dentures, on the other hand, rarely last more than 10 years. So, while traditional options may cost less initially, their frequent repairs and replacements will compound that lower cost over time. Dental implants are the most cost-effective solution in the long run.
Are Dental Implants Right for You?
Even though dental implants are popular for tooth replacement, not all patients are good matches for implants. In order to be a candidate for this type of procedure, the patient should meet these six guidelines:
- Healthy gums
The health of a person’s gums has a strong correlation with the health of the bones in their mouth. Patients with gum or periodontal disease may not qualify for dental implants because the infection that causes gums to be unhealthy may have also done damage to the bone. Since dental implants are set into the bone, gum health is important for dental implant candidates.
- Proper bone density
In order to properly support the implant, the patient must have good bone density. While there are certainly procedures such as bone grafting that can be done, bone density is a vital part of successful implants.
- General oral health
Because bacteria can easily spread, it is important that an overall state of good oral health is maintained by patients who are good dental implant candidates.
- Patience
Healing takes time, so the patient needs to be prepared for this. Oftentimes, it can take 4 months to a year for the gums to heal, and sometimes there are also additional things that need to be done. While a fully functioning mouth is definitely worth it, sometimes the process to get there takes time.
- No smoking
While this isn’t exactly a requirement, it’s ideal for a patient to avoid smoking, at least during the initial procedure and during the healing process.
- Good overall health
Patients with compromised immune systems or oral cancer are not considered ideal for dental implants. It is important to look after other aspects of your general health to make sure that you are a good candidate for dental implants.
The best way to determine whether or not dental implants are the right option for you is to schedule a consult with Dr. Cline.
Missing Single Tooth
Instead of reducing healthy teeth with a dental bridge for just one missing tooth, we can utilize one dental implant to take the place of the root. Then, we’ll bond a dental crown to the implant, making your replacement tooth seamlessly blend in with your natural teeth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Whether the missing teeth are grouped together or are more spread out in the arch, we have solutions that can be customized to your situation. Using just a couple of dental implants, we can permanently fix a partial denture or bridge in place for more security and longevity.
Missing All Teeth
If you’ve lost all of your teeth, don’t worry! Your dentures can be held in place by four to six dental implants strategically placed in the arch. You can choose to have your full dentures permanently fixed for a more natural feel or keep them removeable for convenience.
How Dental Implants Work
The dental implant process involves two main steps—placement and restoration. At Oxford Dental Care of Idaho Falls, we believe that you should receive the best possible care. That’s why Dr. Cline handles every step of the process. With years of advanced training, he can expertly perform this complex procedure. Then, once the jaw bone and tissue have fully healed, which typically takes a couple of months, you’ll come back to our dental office to have the restoration placed.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
When you initially consider your replacement options, you’ll likely notice that dental implants are more expensive than dentures or bridges. However, you need to keep in mind that implant-retained restorations tend to last significantly longer than the traditional choices. When you add in the cost of the necessary replacements over the years, you can consider dental implants a smart long-term investment in your smile.
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