Are you tired of being embarrassed to smile because you’re missing teeth? More and more of our patients are choosing dental implants in Bethesda, MD, than ever before. At Bethesda Family Smiles, we value our patients and their families. Our office offers a welcoming, state-of-the-art environment that will allow you to feel comfortable and allow us to deliver quality dental services.
We help patients address complex dental concerns such as missing teeth every day. In addition to dental bridges, our office also offers dental implant restorations to patients who have already undergone the dental implant surgical procedure. Learn more about dental implants below.
Dental Implants in Bethesda, MD
Dr. Khanna helps patients restore their smiles following tooth loss. She will help you achieve a comfortable bite pattern and proper crown placement for improved speaking and chewing. The following are answers to common questions regarding dental implants.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a popular choice because they are permanently attached, offering a stable and durable solution. According to tooth replacement experts, a dental implant offers people with missing teeth a permanent solution to filling in the gaps in their smiles. A dental implant is a small titanium or zirconium post embedded in the jaw. Your dentist will attach a dental crown to this post to complete the dental implant.
The crown, a false tooth created specifically to match the patient’s existing teeth, fills in the gap left by a lost tooth to restore the appearance, health, and full use of their teeth.
Both patients and dentists highly recommend the placement of dental implants because they look, feel, and function like your natural teeth. Dental implants may cost more than other options like dental bridges. Although, their many benefits, such as their longevity, durability, and ease of care, make them well worth the extra costs. Maintaining regular dental check-ups is essential for the long-term success of dental implants.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement options for many reasons. They provide a strong and lasting foundation for replacement teeth, closely mimicking the function and appearance of natural teeth. For starters, it’s the only method that replaces the tooth root in addition to the crown.
It gives implants more stability than other solutions. It also stops the jawbone from continuing to deteriorate and spurs jawbone growth so that it fuses with the implant. Your dental implant immediately looks and feels natural. We also provide full arch solutions to replace all teeth on the top or bottom jaw with tooth implants.
When you get dental implants, you don’t have to worry about your diet. You don’t need to remove any foods from your diet because dental implants give you back 100% of your bite function. Your restoration isn’t going to slip or fall out when you’re eating or speaking. You can be confident in your restoration and your smile.
You don’t have any extra maintenance with dental implants, either. With dentures, you have to take them out and clean them properly. Messy adhesive can damage the restoration if you leave it on too long. When you have dental implants, you just brush and floss them like you would your normal teeth. They’re permanent, and you never have to take them out. The restoration also does not irritate your gums, either.
The Dental Implant Procedure
While living with missing teeth can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, dental implant surgery is a mostly comfortable procedure. It is minimally invasive and leaves most patients with little or no post-procedural discomfort. For most patients, the placement process is very simple. In more complex cases where the jaw bone has degraded, it may take several months for them to have their implant placed.
You must schedule a dental exam and consultation to determine if a dental implant will work for you. If you have a sufficient jawbone, you can have the procedure as soon as possible. If not, the jaw bone needs bone grafts to strengthen it, which can increase the overall cost of dental implants.
Although the cost of a dental implant treatment plan may be slightly higher than other options, they don’t require regular replacement or cause dental health problems that those other options can. Once the oral surgeon has embedded the dental implant into the jawbone, it will fuse to the bone over the next few months, ensuring it is stable and secure. Once fully healed, you will have a full smile that looks, acts and feels like your natural teeth.
How to Care For and Clean Dental Implants
Dental implants are surprisingly easy to care for and maintain. Their maintenance is much the same as caring for your natural teeth. Simply follow these basic oral health guidelines:
- Brush your teeth twice daily
- Floss at least once daily
- Seek treatment for any tooth-grinding or clenching habit
- Attend regular professional check-ups and cleanings
Dental Implant FAQs
What is the difference between dental implants and dental bridges?
Dental bridges require the support of your surrounding teeth to hold a prosthetic tooth instead of a missing tooth. On the other hand, a dental implant gets its support from a titanium post that an oral surgeon implants. The titanium post fuses with your jawbone and your soft tissues protect it. While both options will effectively restore your smile following tooth loss, dental implants provide many benefits you won’t find in other restorative dentistry options.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants are the premier option for tooth replacement. Your soft tissues secure the implants and give your restoration tooth root functionality. Because we surgically implant a supportive titanium post into your jawbone and allow it to fuse with your bone structure, your dental implant will become a fully and permanently restored tooth. This means no dietary restrictions or oral hygiene hassles.
How should I care for my dental implant?
Once your dental implant has healed, you can care for it like your natural tooth. Brush and floss at least twice a day, and schedule routine preventative care appointments with your dentist at least once every six months.
What happens if I don’t replace a missing tooth with an implant right away?
Once you lose the tooth root, the jawbone starts deteriorating immediately. In as little as a year, the jawbone can regress enough to not support a dental implant alone. You may need a bone graft to ensure you can support an implant. This adds cost and extra time to the process.
Can my body reject dental implants?
Yes, this is always a possibility with any procedure. However, it’s extremely rare. The success rate for dental implants is around 95%-98%. If you follow your aftercare instructions and continue to take care of your oral health, your implants should last a lifetime.
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
There are some requirements you have to meet to get dental implants successfully. First, you have to be in good oral and overall health. You have to be healthy enough to withstand the surgical component. We must treat anything like gum disease or remaining tooth fragments before the implant process continues. You also need to have enough healthy bone structure to support the implant. Otherwise, you may need to get a bone graft.
How long do dental implants last?
Dental implants can last over 20-30 years. The titanium implant post that connects to the jawbone can last a lifetime with good bone health and oral hygiene. Moreover, your oral surgeon will likely need to replace the abutment and crown that attaches to the implant post in 10-15 years due to wear and tear.
Request a Dental Exam Today
If you’re in Bethesda, MD, or surrounding areas and are interested in seeing if dental implants can give you the smile you want, contact Bethesda Family Smiles at 301.500.2205 or schedule an appointment online today.