Your journey to a new smile begins with a consultation with one of our experienced dentists in Herndon, VA. This is your time to ask questions as we explain the process and develop your treatment plan.
Dental Implants in Herndon, VA
Restore Your Smile & Function With Dental Implants
Dental implants are widely recognized as the optimal choice for replacing missing teeth, standing out for their effectiveness and durability.
This procedure involves the insertion of a titanium post into the jawbone. This post serves as a sturdy foundation for the crown, designed to replicate a natural tooth’s look and function. The result is a blend of aesthetic appeal and practical functionality.
One of the key advantages of dental implants is their ability to maintain and promote the health of your jawbone. They help in preserving bone structure, preventing the bone loss that often accompanies missing teeth. Furthermore, they contribute to the stability and functionality of your remaining teeth, offering a secure and reliable solution.
Opting for dental implants means choosing a tooth replacement option that feels comfortable and natural in your mouth. With our top-quality dental implants in Herndon, we’ll enhance your smile and overall oral health, allowing you to eat, speak, and smile confidently.
Components of Dental Implants
Our implants mimic the natural tooth structure.
Fixture
A titanium screw inserted into the jaw bone, that integrates with the surrounding bone structure to become a stable foundation for a crown.
Abutment
A custom made connector that serves to connect the implant fixture with the future crown.
Crown
A custom made tooth that is fixated on the abutment and implant, this blends in the remaining dentition in color shape and size.
Bridge
An Implant-Supported Bridge is composed of 2 single unit dental implants, spaced apart to restore 3 or more teeth to blend into your dentition.
How Dental Implants Work
Dental implants provide a robust and long-term solution for missing teeth, closely mimicking the function and appearance of natural teeth. At our dental clinic, the implant process begins with the placement of an implant post into the jawbone. This post is designed to integrate seamlessly with the surrounding bone through a process known as osseointegration. Over typically 3 to 4 months, the implant and bone bond together, forming a strong and secure foundation for the replacement tooth.
The beauty of dental implants lies in their ability to replicate the natural tooth root’s function. Not only do they provide stable support for artificial teeth, but they also encourage jawbone health, preventing bone deterioration that can lead to facial sagging.
Dental implants often involve multiple stages, including a healing period. Our Herndon dentist provides temporary dental crowns to ensure patients have a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing solution while waiting for the final crown.
Once the implant post is fully integrated with the jawbone, it’s time for the next step: attaching the abutment. This piece serves as a crucial connector between the implant post and the dental crown, uniting the entire structure.
The Implant Process
Certain oral health issues must be addressed before proceeding with dental implants at our Herndon clinic. Our comprehensive approach ensures that conditions like gum disease, inadequate bone density, or significant tooth decay are thoroughly treated to optimize the patient’s oral health for successful implant placement.
Key preparatory steps include:
- Treating Gum Disease: This involves deep cleaning and possibly advanced treatments to eradicate gum disease.
- Ensuring Adequate Bone Density: Bone grafts may be necessary if the jawbone isn’t dense enough to support an implant.
- Addressing Oral Injuries: Any existing injuries must be healed before implant surgery.
- Dealing with Tooth Decay: To prevent complications, decayed teeth should be treated or extracted.
- Overall Health Assessment: Managing conditions like diabetes and ensuring a healthy lifestyle, including quitting smoking.
- Tailored Treatment Planning: Personalized plans may include specific oral care practices and dietary adjustments.
Once you’re ready to receive your dental implants in Herndon, we’ll start by placing the titanium post in your jawbone. We use local anesthesia to numb the site. Then it’s time to let the implant integrate with the jaw over the course of 1 to 2 weeks.
The final step is creating a customized crown to fit over your implant. We build your crown to match your preferences for color, size, and shape. Once the crown is placed, you’ll enjoy a strong, healthy, and attractive smile for a lifetime.
After having enough time to integrate with the supporting bone structure, the implant post should be stable enough to place an abutment. An abutment acts as the connecting piece between the implant post and dental crown, connecting the entire appliance.
The final step in the dental implant process involves placing the crown or bridge, which serves as the visible part of the implant. This custom-made restoration is designed to match your natural teeth in color and shape, restoring the full functionality and aesthetics of your smile.
What to Expect
On the day of your dental implant procedure at GoSmiles Dentistry Herndon, the process is carried out with precision and care. The implant placement involves surgically inserting the implant post into your jawbone. This surgery is usually quick and is carried out under local anesthesia to ensure comfort.
Post-surgery, some soreness or discomfort is normal but typically manageable with pain medication. We advise patients to eat soft foods and maintain good oral hygiene to aid in the healing process.
The healing period is crucial for the success of the implant. During this time, the bone and the implant fuse together – a process that can take several months. It’s important to follow our Herndon dental team’s aftercare instructions closely during this period.
Once the implant has fully integrated with the jawbone, a second procedure to attach the abutment and, eventually, the dental crown will be scheduled. These final steps complete the restoration, leaving you with a strong and natural-looking tooth.
Why Get Dental Implants from GoSmiles?
Natural Appearance
Dental implants not only look aesthetically pleasing, but they also function exceptionally well, especially in situations where the tooth structure that would normally support a crown is inadequate or absent.
Long Lasting
Dental implants are renowned for their longevity and can last for an extended period, potentially even permanently. In situations where the dental implant crown requires replacement, the dental post remains intact, providing a solid foundation for a new crown.
The Closest Thing to Real Teeth
Dental implants are considered the gold standard in tooth replacement, as they restore natural function and aesthetics to your smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dental implant procedure takes 3 to 4 months primarily due to the need for the implant to integrate properly with the jawbone. Here are the key reasons for the extended timeline:
- Healing and Integration: After placing the titanium implant post in the jawbone, it requires time to fuse with the bone. This fusion process, osseointegration, is crucial for providing a stable and durable foundation for the new tooth. It typically takes several months for the implant to integrate fully with the jawbone.
- Multiple Procedures: The dental implant process often involves multiple stages, including tooth extraction (if necessary), bone grafting (if there’s insufficient bone density), placement of the implant, and then adding the abutment and crown. Each of these steps may require separate appointments and healing periods.
- Bone Grafting Recovery: If a bone graft is required to strengthen the jawbone, additional time is needed for the graft to heal and develop new bone. This can add several months to the overall timeline.
- Customization of the Prosthesis: Crafting a crown or bridge that perfectly matches the color, size, and shape of your natural teeth takes time. This customization is crucial to ensure that the final result looks natural and fits comfortably.
- Ensuring Success and Longevity: The extended duration of the procedure is also a measure to ensure the success and longevity of the implant. Rushing the process could lead to complications or failure of the implant.
Each patient’s case is unique, so the exact timeline can vary depending on individual circumstances, such as the patient’s oral health, the number of implants needed, and the body’s healing response.
Dental implants can be used with dentures, creating a solution known as implant-supported dentures or overdentures. This approach offers enhanced stability and comfort, as the dentures are securely anchored to the jawbone, reducing the movement and slipping common with traditional dentures. This stability improves chewing and speaking abilities and helps maintain jawbone health, preventing the bone loss often associated with regular dentures. Implant-supported dentures can be designed as either removable for easy cleaning or fixed for a more permanent solution. They significantly boost confidence for wearers, as the risks of dentures shifting or falling out are greatly minimized.
To determine the suitability for dental implants, an initial assessment of your jaw bone is necessary, which is typically performed using a 3D cone beam scan. We’ll consider:
- Oral Health: Healthy gums and enough bone density to support the implants are essential. If you have conditions like gum disease or significant bone loss, they may need to be treated first.
- General Health: Good overall health is important for healing and recovery. Chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease should be well-managed. Additionally, lifestyle choices like smoking can affect implant success and healing.
- Oral Hygiene Practices: A commitment to maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups are important for the longevity of the implants.
- Bone Development: Dental implants are typically recommended for adults whose jawbones have fully developed. This usually means they are not suitable for children or some adolescents.
- Lifestyle Factors: Habits like smoking or excessive alcohol consumption can negatively impact the success of dental implants.
- Allergies or Sensitivities: Any known allergies to implant materials should be discussed with your dentist.
Yes, dental implants can be a very good option for seniors, and age by itself is typically not a barrier to receiving them. Here’s why dental implants can be a great choice for older adults:
- Age is Not a Limiting Factor: Dental implant success is more closely related to overall health and jawbone condition rather than age. Many seniors successfully receive dental implants.
- Preventing Bone Loss: Implants can help prevent the bone loss that often occurs with missing teeth, which is particularly beneficial for seniors who are more prone to bone density loss.
- Improved Quality of Life: Dental implants can significantly enhance the ability to eat, speak, and smile comfortably, which can positively impact overall quality of life for seniors.
- Durability and Convenience: Unlike dentures, implants are fixed in the jawbone and don’t require removal for cleaning. They’re also designed to be long-lasting, potentially serving the individual for life.
However, there are some specific considerations for seniors:
- General Health: Chronic conditions common in older age, such as diabetes or osteoporosis, can affect healing and the success rate of implants.
- Bone Density: Sufficient bone density is required to support an implant. In cases of significant bone loss, a bone graft may be necessary.
- Medications: Certain medications that are more commonly taken by seniors can affect bone health or healing processes.
- Healing Time: Older adults might experience a slower healing process, and this can affect how quickly the implant integrates with the jawbone.
It’s important for seniors considering implants to undergo a comprehensive evaluation by a dentist in Herndon at GoSmiles Dentistry.
Top-Quality Dental Implants in Herndon, VA
The GoSmiles team is here to keep you smiling.