Dental Implants
Dental implants in Calvert City, KY, are a popular tooth replacement option for people who have lost at least one natural tooth. Whether you are missing one tooth or all of them, Drs. Wilson and Pool Hi-Tech Family Dentistry can help with your new implants.
THE DENTAL IMPLANT PROCEDURE
Dental implants consist of a small titanium rod that replaces the root of your tooth, an artificial tooth, and an abutment that connects the two together. Getting dental implants typically requires you to schedule a number of appointments.
At the first appointment, Dr. Wilson and Dr. Pool examines your gums and remaining teeth and then takes several X-rays to plan your treatment. After Dr. Wilson and Dr. Pool determine you are a good candidate for dental implants, they will schedule you an appointment with a local oral surgeon to place the implants. Dr. Wilson and Pool both work closely with the oral surgeon in the placement and restoration of these implants.
The best candidates for dental implants are non-smokers in good general health. If you decide to proceed with the procedure, you must stop smoking at least several months ahead of time and remain committed to not smoking as you heal or the bone will not grow around the implants and they will fail.
Once you have the implants installed, you need to wait 4 months before having the abutment attached. Dr. Wilson and Dr. Pool attach your replacement tooth as soon as the abutment feels secure. You need to wait between appointments because your jawbone needs a chance to heal, and the post acting as your new tooth root must fuse with your existing bone.
You should plan to eat a soft food diet for a few days after surgery. Advil or ibuprofen are usually adequate to control pain as you recover at home.
MINI DENTAL IMPLANTS
Our dental practice also offers mini dental implants for patients who do not have enough bone for full size implants. Mini implants are used to turn a denture or partial into a snap in denture or partial. A huge difference in fit and feel. By having mini implants you can eat anything you want and never have to worry about your appliance falling out and embarrassing you. You also do not need an upper denture to cover your palate. So it makes an upper denture almost like having your real teeth again. For lower dentures it is a total game changer. So much more comfortable of a fit and so life changing, you can not imagine.
People who take anticoagulant medication, are receiving radiation or chemotherapy treatments, take medication that slows the process of bone healing, or smoke cannot receive mini dental implants. For those who can receive them, mini dental implants offer several benefits you do not always find with traditional implants. These include:
- Surgery is less invasive, and recovery time is shorter
- No bone graft is necessary, as is sometimes the case with standard dental implants
- The procedure costs less
- Mini dental implants require less jawbone density
- Requires fewer appointments
Are you ready to learn about mini or standard dental implants in Calvert City, KY? We welcome you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Wilson at your convenience. He is prepared to answer all of your questions and let you know if either implant is a good tooth replacement option.