Dental Implants

Dental Implants

Do you have a missing tooth that’s affecting your appearance? Or do you have one that’s causing problems with chewing food? Missing teeth can cause all kinds of issues — but dental implants offer a great option for replacing them!

At Catlin Dental, our dentists in Fort Myers, FL, provide different types of implants. Not sure if they’re the right option for you? We can evaluate your teeth and jawbone to see if you’re a good candidate for this kind of tooth replacement.

What Are Dental Implants?

These are small posts made of titanium or zirconia that serve as anchors for dental crowns or other dental restorations. Depending on what kind you get, they either go inside your jawbone or on it. They help hold an artificial tooth or denture in place as securely as possible, so it feels and acts like a natural tooth.

What Types Are There?

You can have implants replace multiple teeth — or just one tooth. Some types fuse to surrounding jawbone tissue. Others are placed just under the gum instead. The main types used for replacing missing teeth include:

• Endosteal implants that are inserted into the jawbone
• Subperiosteal implants that go through the gum rather than inside the jawbone

Different implant options to fit different situations include:

• Single tooth implants
• Multiple tooth implants
• Full mouth implants
• Mini implants

Implants can be used with crowns, bridges, or dentures as dental restorations or artificial teeth. Our dentists can help you decide which type is best for your mouth!

When to Consider Them?

Are you missing a tooth, a couple of teeth, or several teeth? Dental implants may offer a suitable option for replacing any teeth that are missing, whether from decay, trauma, gum disease, or other causes. If you’re looking for a restoration that lasts a long time, you may want to explore implants as an option.

Missing teeth can affect various areas of your life. You might be too self-conscious to smile in front of other people or for photos. Depending on where a tooth was, you might also have trouble speaking or chewing foods. If a lost tooth is affecting your life, it’s time to look into implants!

Benefits of Dental Implants

What makes implants a good choice for replacing teeth? They provide a long-lasting and convenient solution that helps restore smiles and tooth functionality. Some of the top advantages of getting these include the following:

• Improving your smile for greater self-confidence
• Making it easier to chew and talk without any issues
• Preventing bone loss in your jaw
• Stopping other teeth from shifting

Dental implants give you a customized option that’s based on your particular needs. Your restorations can be designed to look like your natural teeth as much as possible.

What Does the Implant Process Involve?

The exact steps needed depend on the type you’re getting. With endosteal being the most common kind used, we’ll go over this process in more detail. Getting these implants involves the following:

• Having a post placed in your jaw
• Letting the post fuse to jaw tissue as it heals
• Having a connecting piece placed on the post
• Getting a permanent dental restoration, such as a crown

Note that these steps take place during a few or more visits — rather than just one.

Recovering from Getting Dental Implants

It can take months for your jaw to heal before you’re ready to have the connecting piece and restoration put on. If you’re getting subperiosteal implants, the overall process might not take as long.

Are You a Good Candidate?

That depends on different factors that our dentists will consider. You may not be a suitable candidate if you:

• Smoke
• Have underlying medical issues
• Have poor oral hygiene
• Lack enough jawbone

If you don’t have an adequate amount of jawbone, you might be a good candidate for mini implants. Or you can have bone grafting done to increase the amount of bone needed for implants.

Schedule an Appointment Today!

Are you considering implants for teeth you’ve lost? Our team at Catlin Dental can help! We offer dental implants in Fort Myers, FL, to replace one or more teeth, giving you a beautiful smile and full functionality again!