Dental Implants — Wheaton, IL

Why Replace Missing Teeth?

Whether you’re missing one pearly white or an entire arch, leaving that empty gap in your mouth can have serious consequences for your oral health. Not only will you feel insecure from your incomplete smile, but you may also struggle to chew many foods. This can cause limitations in your diet, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies.

There are also serious complications brewing beneath the surface of your gum tissue. Your jawbone is slowly deteriorating because it’s no longer stimulated by the tooth root. This causes your surrounding teeth to lose support. Over time, they shift out of position, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. As more time passes, they may even become loose and fall out.

The more bone you lose, the more your facial appearance will change as well. Your tissues and muscles lose support, which can cause premature wrinkling and sagging skin. Leaving your missing teeth untreated can make you appear years older than your true age.

Fortunately, there is hope with dental implants!   A dental implant is the only treatment to replace the entire structure of the tooth, including the root.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants in Wheaton are the most predictable and reliable option to treat one or more missing teeth. Unlike other prosthetics, dental implants are the only treatment to replace the entire structure of a tooth.

The dental implant itself is a small titanium post. This post can be anchored directly into the jawbone, just like the roots of a natural tooth. Titanium is a biocompatible material, so the bone tissue with strengthen and grown around the implant to provide security. Then, a crown, bridge, or denture can be supported by one or more dental implant to complete your smile.

Not only does this allow them to closely mimic your natural teeth, but it also gives you a solution that can last for a lifetime. Their long-term success relies on a multi-phased treatment process. Although it may take longer to complete your smile than when choosing a traditional option, it is time well spent.

The 4 Step Dental Implant Process

The placement of dental implants into the jawbone is a very complicated and sensitive procedure, which is why we refer our patients to one of our partner oral surgeons to perform the surgical part of the treatment. Every one of our specialists has received years of advanced training, and each of them has literally placed thousands of implants over the course of their careers. Thanks to their expertise, we can make sure that when we restore a patient’s implants, we can guarantee that their new teeth are going to last a lifetime. Read on to learn more about the four main steps in getting dental implants.

Benefits of Dental Implants

The reason dental implants are so revolutionary is because they are the only restoration that replaces the entire structure of a lost tooth. Regular bridges and dentures only bring back the visible portion of the tooth (the crown), and this inherently makes them less stable and more likely to breakdown than real teeth. Implants, on the other hand, use a small titanium post placed within the jawbone to replicate the root of a tooth, and this is then topped with a restoration.

This two-part construction not only makes implants extremely stable, but they also stimulate the jawbone, preventing the loss in bone density that is common after tooth loss. No other treatment can do this, and this helps maintain the overall shape of a person’s face over time.

Plus, because implants are anchored within the jawbone just like real teeth, they look just like real teeth as well. There aren’t any noticeable metal attachments needed to secure the implant, helping it blend seamlessly into any smile.

With dental implants, you can enjoy:

• Over a 95% success rate to last for several decades.
• Lifelike and natural-looking results thanks to all-ceramic restorations.
• As much as 70% or more of your natural biting force.
• A stronger jawbone and a lower risk of dental drift.
• Reduced risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and additional tooth loss.
• Support for your facial tissues to maintain a youthful appearance.
• Easy maintenance and care.
• A good investment that may never need to be replaced.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

If you are an adult with at least one missing tooth, you likely make an excellent candidate for dental implants in Wheaton! Factors that contribute to the success of the procedure include whether the patient:

• Maintains excellent oral hygiene habits
• Has healthy gums
• Has a strong and thick jawbone

To find out more about dental implants and learn whether the procedure is right for you, schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Lam today.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Dental implants are a highly versatile procedure, and as a result, their cost can vary quite a bit from person to person. Someone who needs a single implant is probably going to pay less than someone who requires four, and because of aesthetic concerns, replacing the front teeth usually costs more than the back. The only way to really know what your implants will cost is simply for you to come see us for a consultation. Beware of anyone who offers a flat-rate for implants—they are likely not of the highest quality!

Dental implants should be considered a long-term investment in your oral health. They might be more expensive than traditional bridges and dentures, but they provide better function and last much, much longer as well. Over the course of someone’s life, they’ll likely need to replace a bridge or denture multiple times, but implant patients often have the same restorations for decades at a time. In the long run, a patient will spend much less on implants because they don’t require as much maintenance or retreatment.

Dental Implant Salvage

Dental implant failure is extremely rare – in fact, dental implants enjoy a very high success rate of 98%! However, let’s look at the rare cases in which dental implants can fail and why they are not successful.

Osseointegration, the natural process in which an implant fuses with the jawbone, can be negatively impacted or even prevented by:

• Tobacco use
• Low bone density
• Diabetes

When osseointegration fails, the dental implant cannot provide the stable base necessary for an artificial crown or bridge, and the implant will fail.

Oral infections such as gum disease can also diminish the chances that an implant will heal properly. That is why it is critically important that patients who wish to replace missing teeth must practice excellent oral hygiene both before and after getting dental implants.

Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants

Caring for your dental implants is no more complicated than cleaning your natural teeth! Be sure to brush twice daily for a full two minutes each time. Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush and use a non-abrasive toothpaste when brushing. In addition, be sure to floss at least once day. Lastly, we encourage you to visit us every six months for a routine dental checkup and professional cleaning to help ensure that your dental implants – and the rest of your smile – remain in tip-top shape.

Dental Implant FAQs

Are you considering joining the thousands of Americans who get dental implants each year but still have questions about the procedure? You have come to the right place. Dr. Lam has compiled some of the most common questions – and answers – about dental implants in Wheaton. Take the time to read through this dental implant FAQ section. Then, if you still want to know more – or if you are ready to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Lam – do not hesitate to give us a call!