Dental Implants in Stamford, CT
Spaces between the teeth are not just for aesthetics. They may affect your speech, cause chewing to be painful, and even change the way your face looks. Fortunately, dental implants can give a successful, long-term remedy for patients with one or more missing teeth. At Aurora Smiles we specialize in delivering our patients with truly incredible dental implants that are completely compatible with their natural teeth’s function and form, bringing back not only aesthetics, but also function. The following is a step-by-step walkthrough that guides you through the entire process of all there is to know about dental implants, from how they work and what they are to why they might just be the perfect solution for you.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are computer-age tooth-replacement technology. Unlike the former dentures or bridges, which sit on your gums, dental implants are embedded in your jawbone, which grips artificial teeth firmly. The procedure is done by inserting a tiny titanium post into the jawbone where the missing tooth root once was. Then the bone covers the implant and forms a solid, permanent base for a new crown or other dental work.
Dental implants are not just cosmetic in their advantages. When you lose a tooth, the bone underneath it in your jaw will start to resorb because there is no longer stimulation from the tooth root. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that stimulate the bone, prevent bone loss, and maintain your facial structure.
Types of Dental Implants
We have different implants based on the number of teeth missing and what your overall situation is. There are two most commonly used implants:
1. Single Tooth Implants
If you’re missing just one tooth, a single-tooth implant is the ideal solution. This involves placing a single titanium post into your jawbone, followed by a custom crown that blends in with your other teeth. Single-tooth implants are often the best option for maintaining the integrity of the surrounding teeth and restoring full function.
2. Implant-Supported Bridges and Dentures
For multiple missing teeth, bridges or implant dentures provide a stable, comfortable alternative to conventional dentures. Rather than resting on adhesive or the supporting teeth, multiple implants in the jaw hold the bridge or dentures in place. This removes tilting and discomfort of conventional dentures and offers more stability and function.
3. All-On-4 Implants
For those requiring a full arch of teeth replacement, All-On-4 dental implants can be considered. The latest treatment includes four implants placed in a strategic position to hold a full arch of replacement teeth. All-On-4 provides the advantage of fixed, permanent replacement without the need for bone grafting and is the perfect treatment for low-density bone patients.
Process of Getting Dental Implants
Though the procedure itself differs based on your specific requirements, the overall process for getting dental implants is the following:
1. Initial Consultation
The process starts with a thorough consultation with one of our experienced dental implant specialists. On the initial visit, we will check the oral health and take digital X-rays or 3D impressions of your jawbone and surrounding teeth. If necessary, we can also discuss bone grafting treatments so that there is sufficient healthy bone to act as a foundation for the implant.
2. Positioning of the Dental Implant
Once we’ve established that dental implants are the best option for you, surgery comes next. The dental implant, usually made of titanium, is inserted into your jaw where the root of the original tooth had been. It’s a base for the new tooth. We can also fit a temporary crown upon it to hide the implant while it heals.
The procedure is usually straightforward and performed with a local anesthetic, so you will be comfortable. We also have some forms of sedation if you are nervous to help you relax.
3. Healing and Osseointegration
After your implant has been completed, healing is possible. Your jawbone and titanium implant will be integrated within three to six months. This is crucial as it gives you a firm and stable foundation for your artificial tooth. Meanwhile, we can provide you with a temporary crown so that you may smile until your implant heals.
4. Abutment Placement
After the bone fully integrates with the implant, an abutment is screwed into the implant’s top. The abutment is a small bridge piece upon which the restoration or custom crown will be seated. Depending on your needs, the abutment can be completed separately or simultaneously with final crowning.
5. Final Restoration (Crown or Bridge)
After your gums heal completely around the abutment, we restore with your permanent restoration. The restoration, which is usually a crown, is constructed to be the same size, shape, and color as your teeth, resting on and being absolutely unnoticeable. For people who lost many teeth, bridges or dentures on implants can be constructed to rebuild a complete smile.
Ideal Candidates for Dental Implants
Dental implants may not fit everybody, but most people are good candidates. To be a dental implant candidate, you should have:
Healthy gums and sufficient bone structure to hold the implants.
Overall good health because medical issues will impede healing.
Be a nonsmoker as smoking will lead to increased healing time and implant failure.
Be compliant with an enhanced oral hygiene routine and appointments with your dentist at a regular interval.
Be edentulous and dream of a permanent solution which restores the functionality as well as aesthetics.
Be willing to have the procedure to provide thickness to the bone, or
With dental implants, we can assess whether or not dental implants would be right for you during the first visit. Even in cases where you have lost bone, we can perform bone grafting in such a way that we can have the necessary bone structure in the region.
Advantages of Dental Implants
Dental implants possess enormous advantages over any other dental procedure of tooth replacement for missing teeth, and some of them are:
Permanence
Since dental implants have the potential to last for the rest of one’s life if well maintained, they form one of the most inexpensive and long-lasting solutions to missing teeth.Natural Appearance and Feeling
Since the dental implants are placed within the jawbone, they can’t be identified as anything other than your own teeth. Crowns are designed to match your color, shape, and size so that the process can lead to a naturally appearing denture-free solution.Enhanced Oral Health
Implants bypass bone loss because they stimulate the jawbone, preserving your facial structure. And since the implants are in the bone, they won’t chafe against your other teeth, like a standard bridge would.More Comfort and Confidence
While dentures can tend to slip or move, dental implants are secured deeply in your jawbone, and that gives them the solid foundation upon which to anchor your new teeth firmly in place. You are free to eat, smile, and talk as you desire without worry, never clumsy or wobbly.No Special Maintenance Needed
Compared with dentures that have been cleaned by adhesives and cleaners designated for their specific use, dental implants are easy to clean. They can be brushed and flossed as any one of your own teeth, and oral care is less cumbersome.
Potential Hazards of Dental Implants
Although dental implants are a safe and successful procedure in most patients, risks exist, as they do with any surgical procedure. Risks are:
Infection of the implant
Damage to the surrounding teeth or vessels
Damage to the nerves, though this is uncommon
Failure of the implant due to bone integration failure
All very low risk if carried out by a very highly skilled and experienced implant dentist such as Aurora Smiles. We ensure all precautions in taking care of you to ensure a successful implant and guide you correctly on how to take care of yourself after the procedure to not bring any chance of causing a risk of complication.
Dental implants are a bit expensive with prices ranging depending on different parameters such as how many dental implants the patient may need, which type of restoration the patient is going to need to do, and whether or not he or she will need some supporting processes like bone grafting.
After-Care and Recovery
After your dental implants are placed, it is best to heed the advice of your dentist closely so that you have as quick a recovery time as possible. A few easy rules for aftercare are:
Eat soft foods for the first few days after surgery in order not to put pressure on the implants.
Brush and floss your teeth normally but with great caution around the implant site.
Do not smoke and avoid alcohol as they have a tendency to slow down the healing process.
Follow medication to manage pain and prevent infection.
If you take good care of them, dental implants will be your best friend forever, giving you a lovely, functional smile for the rest of your life.
Why Choose Dental Implants at Aurora Smiles?
We, at Aurora Smiles, make every effort to provide the maximum level of dental care in a personalized experience. As soon as you select us for the procedure of dental implants, you can rely on:
Personal Care: We take responsibility to take care of your unique needs, desires, and condition of your mouth to create customized care in a coordinated plan that is most helpful for your specific purpose.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: From X-rays to 3D imaging, we employ cutting-edge technology for precise diagnosis and planning of dental implants.
Professional Team: Through the experience of staff being our prime concern as a team member, our experts possess an enormity of experience in conducting dental implant surgeries with the best rates of success.
Comfort and Convenience: We provide different levels of sedation to make you feel at ease during treatment, and we will strive to make everything as simple as possible.
Conclusion
Dental implants in Stamford, CT, are a revolutionary solution for replacing missing teeth, offering long-term benefits in both function and aesthetics. Whether you’re missing one tooth or several, Dr. Amul Patel at Aurora Smiles, can help restore your smile with high-quality dental implants tailored to your needs. If you’re ready to take the next step in improving your oral health, contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how dental implants can transform your smile.