There are several ways you can replace a tooth, but there’s only one method that allows your new smile to practically become part of your body. Dental implants in LaGrange, GA are unique in that they join with your jawbone and act as artificial tooth roots, giving your prosthetic much better stability as a result. And with Dr. Jacobs’s expert touch, your implant surgery will have the highest possible chance of success. Schedule your dental implant consultation with LaGrange Oral Surgery & Implant Center today!
A dental implant is a small titanium screw that is designed to replace the roots of a missing tooth. Titanium is a biocompatible material, so once the dental implant is inserted into the jawbone, it will fuse with it to become a natural part of your jaw. This creates a strong, reliable foundation for whatever restoration is supported on top of the dental implant. One or more implants can be used with crowns, bridges, partials, and full dentures to replace any number of missing teeth. As the only tooth replacement option to rebuild missing teeth from the roots up, dental implants look, feel, and function just like natural teeth.
Replacing teeth with dental implants is a safe and effective treatment, but it does take time to complete. You’ll need to undergo several appointments over the span of four to six months following your surgery. Thankfully, Dr. Jacobs is prepared to make that process as simple, comfortable and straightforward as possible, no matter how severe your tooth loss may be. Read on to learn more about the dental implant procedure ahead of your very first appointment at La Grange Oral Surgery & Implant Center!
Filling in the empty space in your smile with dental implants requires cooperation between your dentist and your oral surgeon, Dr. Jacobs. Many dentists simply don’t have the training to perform implant surgery; you’ll need the knowledge and skills of an oral surgeon to make sure the procedure is performed without a hitch.
To ensure the most successful and predictable care possible, you’ll speak one-on-one with our team to discuss your treatment plan and eligibility to receive dental implants. While you will have likely had this talk with your dentist already, Dr. Jacobs will make absolute sure there are no existing problems that could interfere with your treatment.
Since implants directly interface with the jawbone, minimally invasive surgery is required in order to receive them. After the proper forms of sedation have been administered, Dr. Jacobs will create a small hole in carefully chosen spots in the bone. The posts are then inserted, sometimes without the need for sutures. The gum tissue is then closed so the implant can start to heal. Our office will go over your aftercare instructions in greater detail so you can begin to recover right away upon arriving home.
At this point, you’ll wait a few months for osseointegration (the process of the bone and implant fusing together) to take place; once that’s done, you may require one more simple procedure to have an abutment placed. This attachment is what will ultimately hold your dental restoration and keep it secure for decades to come. While it depends on the circumstance, many patients only need over-the-counter pain medicine after the implant procedure. We may also prescribe stronger pain medications if necessary.
Once your mouth has fully healed, you’ll return to your normal dentist; they’ll be responsible for designing and placing a crown, a bridge, or dentures on top of your implants. The restoration will be custom-made to blend in with your existing teeth, ensuring only you, our office, and your dentist know that you had dental implants attached. If any modifications are needed, your dentist will be the person you visit to get it taken care of. They are also the professional you’ll see regularly to have your tooth replacement examined.
With so many benefits to offer, it’s no wonder why dental implants are such a highly recommended treatment for tooth loss by patients and professionals alike. They offer priceless advantages for your oral and systemic health, improving your overall quality of life. They also have the ability to last a lifetime with the proper care, helping patients spend less money in the long-run. Learn more about all of the benefits of dental implants in LaGrange that you’ll be able to enjoy below.
Even though dental implants may have a higher up-front cost than traditional restorations, with their ability to last 35 years or longer with the proper care, they’re able to save you money and time. Instead of spending several appointments every year getting your traditional restorations readjusted or replaced, you’ll have more opportunities to get the most out of your smile.
No matter how many teeth are missing or where the gaps are, dental implants are an option you can consider. Before beginning the procedure, we’ll need to confirm that your mouth is healthy and that there’s still enough bone in your jaw to support the post. (Some additional treatments might be needed depending on what we find.) Once we’ve decided that implants are right for you, we can start planning the process based on your needs.
Truthfully, almost any healthy adult can get dental implants in LaGrange. It’s one of the many reasons why they’re so popular! Of course, there are a few things you’ll need to have to be considered a good candidate for this modern tooth loss solution, including:
For minor cases of tooth loss, only one implant will be needed to fill the gap. The post will support a single ceramic crown that will help you chew and speak normally again. The crown will be specially designed so that it looks just like your natural teeth and thus won’t stand out when you smile.
If you’ve lost multiple teeth (but not enough to get full dentures), you might be able to replace them all at once with just two dental implants. A special restoration called a dental bridge (made of two crowns and one or more false teeth) can take the place of three to six teeth in a row.
Dentures remain one of the most reliable solutions for patients who have lost all the teeth in their upper or lower jaw, but even they can be improved with the use of implants. Four to six posts will hold the dentures in place at all times and allow you to eat anything you want without limits.
Learn More About Implant Dentures
With All-on-4, not only can we minimize the number of implants needed to support your dentures, but we can also let you enjoy the benefits of new teeth in one day with temporary dentures. Thanks to Dr. Jacobs’s experience and training, you can enjoy the rare benefit of receiving the All-on-4 procedure from a friendly, small-town oral surgery office.
Learn More About All-On-4 Dental Implants
Mini implants are normally about half the size of traditional ones. We normally use them whenever a patient doesn’t have enough bone density to support a full-size implant. This way, you can still have the procedure performed even if you wouldn’t normally be considered a candidate; older patients can especially benefit.
You can expect the price of dental implants to vary from person to person depending on the number of teeth missing; obviously, one implant to support a crown will not cost the same as four implants to retain dentures. Also, you may need to account for any necessary additional procedures such as bone grafting. We’ll make sure you have an accurate idea of how much you’ll need to pay before we move forward with the process.
Many steps go into dental implant placement, which is exactly why Dr. Jacobs takes as much time as possible to create a comprehensive treatment plan ahead of your procedure. His office utilizes some of the most advanced dental technology today specifically for the planning and placement of dental implants. Below, you can learn a bit more about the dental instruments he utilizes and what they do to ensure the most successful and comfortable tooth replacement process.
Digital X-rays are the standard for examining the many detailed structures of your bone tissue, but they aren’t always the best option when preparing for certain treatments. For example, in the case of oral surgery, a step that’s necessary to place dental implants, Dr. Jacobs uses a 3D cone beam scanner to plan your treatment.
3D cone beam scanners are designed to capture a highly detailed, comprehensive 3D image of your mouth and jaw. Not only does this provide our office with information on your complex nasal passageways, but it also informs us of the specific locations of your blood vessels, nerve points, and other sensitive structures we want to make sure to avoid during surgery. It also results in faster and more effective healing after the implants are placed.
Placing dental implants in the most viable position within the jaw is crucial to the long-term success of your tooth replacement. The more control an oral surgeon has over the surgical process, the safer and more predictable it becomes.
Dr. Jacobs uses the X-Guide system to perform guided dental implant surgery for his patients. As a result, he can deliver a more desirable functional and aesthetic outcome following dental implant surgeries. Almost like a GPS for a drill, X-Guide uses your unique treatment plan to provide turn-by-turn guidance during live surgery. This makes it much easier for Dr. Jacobs to visualize the precise movements of his other dental tools (such as his handpiece) in real-time. This reduces the risk of complications following surgery and creates the most efficient surgical process possible.
Some patients are not initially good candidates for dental implants, either because of existing oral health issues or a lack of jawbone density. Both of these problems can threaten the success of dental implant treatment. Fortunately, even if you don’t qualify for dental implants right away, that doesn’t mean you can’t work to become one! We’re proud to offer advanced dental implant procedures like bone grafting and sinus lifts to help get you on track for your brand-new smile.
Even if your jaw has been damaged or has deteriorated, we can build it up again before implant placement. We’ll take a small amount of tissue from elsewhere in your body (or from a donor) and use it to stimulate the growth of new bone until there’s enough for the surgery to move forward.
You might need to get a sinus lift if you’ve lost teeth in your upper jaw. Not only does it give your jaw additional height, but it will also move your sinuses away from the mouth so that there’s room to place the dental implants without causing any unnecessary damage.
As experienced oral surgeons, our doctors will be sure to provide you with plenty of advice on making a smooth and successful recovery after getting dental implants. After all, following these guidelines is the key to ensuring your new teeth have a healthy enough foundation to stand the test of time. Our team will give you a detailed list of dental implant post-op instructions when you visit our office, but we’ve also provided this handy guide that you can reference at any time before or during the healing process.
In the two or three days following your procedure, your main priority should be to leave the blood clot forming over the implant site undisturbed. Otherwise, you might end up with a painful condition called dry socket, which delays recovery. To keep the blood clot in place, be sure to avoid:
It’s normal to experience a few side effects for a few days to a week after dental implant surgery. Keep in mind that these should all be temporary and easily managed:
If for some reason these side effects intensify or persist instead of subsiding, please contact us immediately.
Chewing directly on the implant site can prevent proper healing. That’s why, ahead of your procedure, you’ll want to stock up on soft foods that will be easy to eat over the next week or so. These include:
Once you feel comfortable with it, you can gradually begin adding chewier foods to your diet. Try to wait at least a week after your surgery to give your gums and jaw a chance to rest.
Infection is one of the main reasons why dental implants fail, so you’ll want to keep your mouth as clean as possible during the recovery period. Starting on the day after your procedure, you should be able to brush and floss your teeth as normal, but be extra gentle near the implant site. We also recommend rinsing your mouth with saltwater after every meal, but don’t swish or spit it out too forcefully!
A few months later, your implants should be fully bonded to your jawbone. At that point, all that is left is to attach your new prosthetic teeth to your implants. You might experience some gum soreness after this quick procedure, but it can very likely be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen. It should also only last for a couple of days at most.
Many patients love the idea of getting dental implants, but before they commit to treatment, they need a few questions answered first. Our team is always willing to take the time to share any information you need so you can feel completely confident about your care decision. You’re welcome to give us a call, but first, be sure to read over our responses to some of our most popular implant questions below.
Thanks to Dr. Jacobs’ extensive experience and use of the latest techniques and technology, most patients barely feel anything during the dental implant placement surgery. Some patients describe experiencing “pressure” in their mouth, but nothing that resembles pain. If you’re nervous about the procedure, our practice offers multiple types of sedation that can help you easily relax throughout the process.
The answer to this question will be different for every patient. For someone just getting a single implant that has a healthy jawbone, the process can usually be completed in a few short months. But, if a patient needs several implants as well as a bone graft beforehand, the timeline may be closer to a year. Dr. Jacobs can outline what your treatment will be like at your initial consultation after he gives you an exam.
Typically, Dr. Jacobs’ recommends a bone graft for patients who have been missing teeth for a long time and experienced bone loss, but he really can’t make this determination until he’s able to examine and X-ray your mouth. If you would like to avoid a bone graft, options such as All-on-4 and mini-dental implants are designed to maximize a patient’s existing bone to make the treatment process much simpler.
You will likely need to rest for a day or two after dental implant surgery, and beyond that, Dr. Jacobs may recommend that you take it easy for a few more days and avoid strenuous physical activity so your mouth can heal properly. Most patients are able to resume their normal routine after about 3-4 days.
Most of the time, dental insurance will not provide coverage for the placement surgery, but it may help pay for the restoration that goes on top of the implant. This is changing, however, so it is wise to go over your policy and talk to your provider to see what benefits you are entitled to. Our practice is able to work with several popular dental insurance plans and also offers flexible financing to ensure that our care is easily affordable for every patient.
Getting dental implants is a life-changing decision. With the right aftercare and maintenance, implants can last upwards of three decades or even the rest of your life. This makes them the longest lasting tooth replacement option available. However, they will only last if you care for them. Here are the steps that you should be taking to keep your implants in excellent shape.
Dental implants don’t get cavities like normal teeth. However, you still need to practice excellent oral hygiene. In addition to keeping your surrounding teeth in good shape, sticking to an excellent dental hygiene routine can prevent other dental problems, like gum disease, that can cause your implants to fail. Remember to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day.
One of the great benefits of getting implants is the fact that you don’t need to worry about restricting your diet. You can easily enjoy nutritious meals without struggling to chew your food. Just remember to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day.
You should refrain from smoking or using other tobacco products immediately after your dental implant placement surgery. This can slow down healing and increase your risk of developing an infection. Don’t use your teeth as tools either. You could end up accidentally damaging your dental implants or surrounding teeth. Instead, try to find some scissors, pliers, a bottle opener, or another tool that can help you to complete your task safely.
Your dental implants are very strong, but they aren’t indestructible. You should always wear a mouthguard to protect your dental implants and natural teeth when participating in sports. If you grind your teeth at night, ask about a nightguard to protect your implants from additional wear and tear.
You should always attend regular cleanings and checkups twice a year. This way, we can monitor your dental implants and spot any issues as easily as possible. By catching potential problems now, you can keep them from becoming more serious and leading to greater complications.
