Lasting Tooth Replacement with Dental Implants / Implant Dentistry – Tuscaloosa Area

Attractive, Reliable Solutions for Missing Teeth

Replacing missing teeth with dental implants restores function and appearance to the mouth, allowing patients to chew, speak, and smile with renewed comfort and confidence. Titanium screws are implanted in the jawbone, where they act as tooth roots, anchoring prosthetic teeth below the gum line. Because dental implants are unmatched by other restoration options in terms of their stability, durability, and aesthetic appeal, they are becoming increasingly popular among patients who want the most realistic replacements possible for their natural teeth.

 

To learn more about restoring your smile with dental implants, contact Fikes &Wagner Dentistry in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The Dental Implant Procedure

Once you’ve chosen to replace your missing teeth with dental implants, the titanium posts will be expertly implanted into your jaw by an oral surgeon. During this procedure, the surgeon will make an incision in the gum, drawing it back to expose the jaw bone. A hole will be drilled in the edentulous (toothless) jaw site, which will then accommodate the titanium implant post. Over a period of two to six months, the titanium post will fuse with the jawbone through a process known as osseointegration. The implant’s incorporation into the physical makeup of the jaw is what gives it superior stability compared to other dental restorations.

 

When the implant site has healed, a second procedure will be performed to attach an abutment, or anchor, to the post, after which it will be ready to support your new dental restorations. Dental implants accommodate a wide variety of replacement teeth, from single crowns to bridges, implant-retained overdentures, and fixed hybrid dentures.

Types of Dental Implant Restorations 

Single-tooth Implant Restorations

If you are missing just one of your natural teeth, a single implant post will be used to anchor a porcelain crown custom-crafted to blend seamlessly into your smile. In addition to offering significant aesthetic advantages, a single-tooth dental implant restoration also helps to preserve the integrity of the jaw bone. When a tooth is missing, the supporting tissues fall into disuse and begin to degrade, something that a removable dental bridge cannot prevent. By actually fusing with the jawbone, dental implants preserve the health and function of the jaw. With proper care, dental crowns can last as long as fifteen years, and the implant post can potentially last a lifetime.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridges

If you are missing several teeth, implant-supported dental bridges are an excellent option. Traditional dental bridges rely on healthy adjacent teeth to provide support for replacement teeth. These healthy teeth, however, may be compromised by the bridge placement procedure, since they will need to be reshaped and fitted with crowns. With dental implants, however, this reliance on adjacent teeth for support is eliminated.  Implant-supported bridges provide the strength and reliability of natural teeth, and, like single-tooth restorations, are anchored below the gum line for the most natural-looking results.

 

The placement of implant-supported dental bridges will require several intermittently spaced dental implant posts. The bridge itself is composed of a series of porcelain crowns, connected by a metal framework that will attach to the implant posts. Learn more about how bridges can be supported by dental implants by contacting our Tuscaloosa, Alabama office today.

Implant Retained Overdentures

The placement of several implant posts in the upper and lower jaws allows for the support of complete dentures. While traditional removable dentures can slip, or cause discomfort while chewing or speaking, dentures that are anchored by implant posts are designed to be long-lasting and immovable. Also, when dentures are implant retained, they can be crafted in a comfortable arch shape, as opposed to removable dentures that cover the entire palate. Implant-retained dentures are an especially good option for patients whose lower jawbones have deteriorated to the point that they cannot support removable dentures. Similar to traditional dentures, implant retained overdentures are equipped with a metal framework comprised of clips or snaps that connect with the implant posts for added stability.

Fixed Hybrid Dentures

If you are missing many or all of the teeth on either your upper or lower jaw, fixed hybrid dentures may be an ideal solution. Using approximately six implant posts as anchors, dentures composed of an acrylic and metal frame and prosthetic teeth are placed. Fixed hybrid dentures can be unscrewed and removed for dental maintenance and cleaning, and not only provide prostheses for missing teeth, but also simulate gum and missing bone tissue through their acrylic framework.

 

Dr. Fikes and Dr. Wagner are committed to providing you with a healthy, beautiful smile and will work with you to determine which type of implant-supported restoration is best suited to your case.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants provide functional and aesthetic benefits unmatched by other dental restorations.

·         With traditional dentures or bridges, the bone of the jaw may continue to deteriorate. However, implants fuse with the jaw bone, keeping it healthy and intact.

·         Implants are designed for permanence, and with proper care the osseointegrated posts can last up to forty years.

·         Traditional bridges rely on the support of adjacent teeth, requiring healthy teeth to be reshaped and fitted with crowns. Dental implants eliminate the reliance on neighboring teeth, allowing more of your natural teeth to remain untouched.

·         Because the restorations anchored by dental implant posts are secured below the gum line, replacement teeth feel more secure and more natural. Patients are able to speak, chew, and smile without having to worry about their removable dentures or bridges slipping.

To view a sample of the aesthetically pleasing results our satisfied patients have achieved with dental implants, explore our photo gallery.

Learn More about Dental Implants

At Fikes & Wagner Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we are committed to exceeding the expectations of our patients. To discuss your candidacy for dental implants, contact our Tuscaloosa, Alabama practice today.