Dental Implants: What You Should Know | Newbury Dental South Edmonton Dental Clinic

Most people have heard of the term "dental implants", but many are not completely sure of what they are and how they can benefit from them. Patients are often hesitant to pursue dental implant treatment because of reasons such as they "don't want a giant screw" put into their jaw or they don't want to go through a "big surgery and painful recovery". At Newbury Dental, we've heard it all, and for many patients it is really the unknown that is holding them back from enjoying the many benefits of dental implants.

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What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a biocompatible medical device that acts as an artificial root to support an artificial tooth (a crown). It is inserted into the jawbone and serves as a foundation to support a replacement tooth such as a crown, bridge or denture.

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Should I Get Dental Implants?

There are some health and risk factors to consider before getting dental implants placed, but there are many benefits for patients who are missing teeth. Dental implants can improve your quality of life by restoring your ability to chew or restoring the cosmetic appearance of missing teeth. Dental implants can also improve your health by preventing your jawbone from shrinking due to a lost tooth, maintain the health of surrounding bone and gums, and stabilize neighboring teeth and your bite by preventing harmful changes. Lastly, dental implant restorations can be fixed in the mouth, meaning they don't need to removed daily like a denture and they can brushed and flossed similar to a natural tooth.

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Are Dental Implants Safe?

Dental implants are very safe for good candidates. The procedure has a long track record of more than 30 years and the success rate is very high. Generally, for patients who are in good health, the risk of major complications after dental implant treatment is low.

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How Long Does it Take to Get a Dental Implant?

The entire restoration process will occur in phases and, in its entirety, usually takes three to five months, with added time for more complex situations.

1. Phase 1: Evaluation and Surgical Planning - Our dentists will evaluate your overall oral health and determine dental implants would be a good option for you. This almost always involves radiographs of your teeth and jaw, a CBCT or 3-D radiograph and a 3-Ddigital scan of your teeth and gums. Your surgery will be planned digitally so that we can try to achieve the best results for you.‍
2. Phase 2: Implant Placement - On the day of your dental implant surgery, the dental implant will be placed under local anesthesia so that you won't feel any pain during the procedure. We also offer oral sedation for patients who may be anxious undergoing a dental procedure. After the surgery, you will have some small sutures that help the dental implant site heal, and it will take a few months for the dental implant to fuse to your jawbone. During those few months, you will have follow-up appointments for us to remove sutures, to ensure that you are doing well and to ensure that healing is progressing well.‍
3. Phase 3: Implant Restoration - Once your dental implant has fused to your jawbone (osseointegrated), we will take a 3-D digital impression of your mouth so that a crown can be fabricated and attached to the dental implant. Once the crown is placed, you can brush, floss and function with it as if it were a natural tooth.

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Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

Dental implants offer many benefits and are a great treatment option, but they must be balanced with your needs, goals and oral health priorities. If you'd like to know more or are ready for a consultation you can BOOK ONLINE and we'll be sure to arrange an appointment for you.

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At our South Edmonton dental clinic, we are committed to providing you with high quality dental implant services in South Edmonton. Using modern surgical techniques and technology, combine with thorough post operative instructions and post-implant check-ups, we will guide you and make sure you feel looked after throughout the entire process.