Your smile is one of the most important ways you communicate friendship and confidence, but it’s next to impossible to feel confident when you’re missing teeth. Cosmetic dental implants in Warrenville can change that. As an excellent alternative to traditional dentures or bridges, cosmetic dental implants provide the best in aesthetics and function. Securely anchored to the jawbone, dental implants are both comfortable and durable.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant consists of a titanium rod that is surgically embedded into the jawbone and a replacement tooth (or teeth), created using tooth-colored porcelain, placed above the gumline. This structure not only creates a durable tooth replacement, but the titanium rod stimulates the bone to grow and integrate with it – just like the roots of natural teeth, ensuring the bone doesn’t deteriorate as it does when dentures or partials are used to replace missing teeth. The best part is, your cosmetic dental implants feel, function, and look exactly like your real teeth!
Why Should I Choose Dental Implants?
In addition to the aesthetic improvement afforded by dental implants, they can help improve your speech as well as your ability to chew properly. Dental implants also allow for more natural movements, meaning they are infinitely more comfortable than other replacement options. Additionally, because the dental implants integrate and become part of your jaw, they look and feel exactly like natural teeth – never moving or slipping around when you eat or speak.
Another advantage is that you will be able to clean your dental implants using normal brushing and flossing techniques, and they never need to be removed. With proper care, dental implants will last a lifetime, compared with traditional bridges which typically last between 7 – 10 years, or dentures which will need to be replaced every 5-7 years.
If you have a gap between your teeth, an implant can help prevent your existing teeth from shifting around in an attempt to fill the gap. The bottom line is implants provide the most permanent and realistic option for replacing a missing tooth or teeth.
What is the Implant Process?
Acquiring dental implants is a multi-step process that will take a minimum of two to three dental appointments. During the first appointment, Dr. Sumeet Bagai will surgically insert a titanium screw into your jaw in place of the missing tooth or teeth. This procedure requires oral surgery, generally using local anesthesia. At this point, you may receive a temporary cap to fill the space. Once the screw is placed, it can take up to a few months for your jawbone to attach to the metal and integrate the screw securely into the bone.
Once the implant screw has properly fused with your bone, Dr. Bagai may place a healing cap to ensure the gum tissue heals correctly. This usually takes around 2 weeks, and after the cap is removed, the abutment (support structure for the crown) is screwed onto the implant screw.
You will receive a temporary crown at this time while the gums finish healing around the abutment. Of course, every implant is different, and some of these steps may be omitted or combined, depending on the situation.
Creating Your Crown
Dr. Bagai will make a final impression to create the crown if this is a single tooth implant, which will be permanently secured in place on top of the abutment. You will be able to treat this “tooth” the same as any other in your mouth – brushing and flossing to keep your gums healthy.
If your dental implant in Warrenville, Wheaton, and West Chicago consists of more than one tooth replacement, and you are receiving a bridge, partial denture, or full denture, the process may be slightly different. However, no matter how many teeth you are having replaced, the resulting implant will be permanently attached over the titanium post(s) that have now become fully integrated into the structure of your jawbone.
The replacement tooth, or teeth, will be expertly matched to the color and shape of your surrounding natural teeth to provide completely natural and aesthetically superior results.
What to Expect from the Recovery Process
After each step of the procedure, it is normal to feel mild discomfort. You may experience some swelling, bruising, or minor bleeding. Over-the-counter pain medication will help relieve the discomfort, and the other symptoms will subside on their own after a few days. Dr. Bagai will advise you about what foods to avoid during the healing process to minimize irritation. You will want to stick to soft foods and liquids, avoiding anything that is sharp or too hot.
Contact Us Today
Our experienced dental team is well-trained and highly skilled in the placement of cosmetic dental implants in Warrenville, Wheaton, and West Chicago, Illinois. We strive to provide each of our valued clients with exceptional workmanship and extraordinary patient care, while creating a beautiful smile that will last a lifetime. If you have any further questions about dental implants and restorations, we invite you to give us a call at 630-393-2733.
