Dental Implants
Our Middle Georgia Family Dentistry team of dentists place and restore dental implants for replacement of missing teeth with implant crowns, bridges or dentures.
Dental implants become a stable part of your bite through osseointegration, the process in which bone cells attach to the implant and grow around it to make it part of the bone structure of the jaw.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a small titanium cylinder that the dentist or oral surgeon places in the jaw bone. The dental implant serves as a structural attachment for a restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth, such an implant crown, bridge, or a complete or partial denture.
How do Dental Implants work?
Our dentists place dental implants in a minor oral surgery appointment at our Dublin dental office.
Your dental implant is selected based on the height and amount of supportive bone in the location of the implant. The implant dentist may place a bone graft to supplement the area and increase bone density prior to implant placement.
After accessing the bone with an incision into the gum tissue, the dentist drills a small hole for the implant. The dental implant is inserted into the bone and covered with a healing cap or abutment (for connection to the replacement tooth).
There is a reason that dental implants are made of titanium. Titanium is medically compatible with bone structure; following implant placement, healthy bone cells can attach to the titanium surface and stimulate new bone growth around the implant (osseointegration).
It generally takes 3-12 months after placement for the proper amount of bone growth to make the dental implant stable enough to support a permanent restoration. Our dentists can help plan for a temporary crown or removable tooth replacement during this time so you can chew properly and keep smiling.
Some implants are designed to ‘load’ or restore immediately if there is adequate bone support; this can be especially helpful for front teeth or a complete denture. Your dentist will review your dental implant timeline with you during your examination and consultation appointment.
Multiple Dental Implants
For patients that are missing several teeth or all of the teeth in an arch (upper or lower), dental implants are an excellent option to replace teeth and regain the ability to chew and smile with confidence.
Multiple dental implants can be used to replace missing teeth with fixed or removable bridges, partial dentures or complete dentures to rebuild your smile. Your dental implants and tooth replacement restoration is planned by our dentists together with our dental laboratory to achieve a proper fit and a natural-looking appearance.
Our dentists can design an upper or lower removable full denture to attach to as few as four dental implants; known as ‘all on four’, the denture is adapted with connectors that fit securely onto the implants to hold it in place.
If you wear dentures and are tired of them slipping and falling when you try to bite apples or chew steak, please contact us to schedule a consultation to learn more about the benefits of implant dentures.
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
If you are missing one or more teeth, you should consider dental implants to restore your bite function and rebuild your smile. Most people that are in good health are able to have dental implants placed in their mouth.
During your dental implant consultation, your dentist will examine your teeth, jaw bone and gums and review your medical history and dental x-rays to determine if you:
- Have healthy oral tissues
- Have one or more missing or non-restorable teeth
- Are in overall good health and do not smoke
- Do not have any problems with healing
- Have adequate bone or are able to have a bone graft
Sedation Dentistry
Our Middle Georgia Family Dentistry team of dentists provides surgical services and dental implant procedures at our Dublin dental office. If you feel anxious about dental treatment, we have nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas) available to make you comfortable during your surgery.
Dr. Trent Herring is also licensed in the State of Georgia to administer IV dental sedation. Learn more about oral surgery and sedation.
Your Local Implant Dentists in Dublin, Georgia
Contact our Middle Georgia Family Dentistry team to schedule a complete dental examination and dental implant consultation to take the first step towards your new smile with dental implants.