Dental Implants Tampa

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small titanium posts that function like regular tooth roots. Fusing with the jawbone, they deliver stimulation to the bone each time you chew, preventing shrinkage over time. This not only alleviates the concern of additional tooth loss but also keeps facial features in place (not sagging). Dental implants are highly versatile, which means they can support crowns, bridges, or dentures and last decades or even a lifetime.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

• Initial Dental Implant Consultation – Before placement of dental implants can occur, you must first meet with your implant dentist to discuss your eligibility. Preliminary treatments are often recommended (i.e., bone grafting, gum disease treatment, tooth extraction, etc.), which will be provided before you can receive your permanent prosthetics.
• Dental Implant Surgery – The entire dental implant surgery is provided in-house, so you can expect to remain with the same professionals from beginning to end. After receiving local anesthesia to numb your mouth, we will place each implant with guided surgery for accuracy and precision.
• Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment – You will need between 4 and 6 months for osseointegration to complete so that your implants properly fuse to the bone. When finished, you will return to our office to receive your metal abutments, which will require a small procedure to ensure your restoration remains attached to your implant posts.
• Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s) – After healing from your abutment placement, you will receive your customized restoration. You can expect the new crown, bridge, or denture to mimic the look and feel of natural teeth, giving you a more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing smile.

Benefits of Dental Implants

From their day-to-day function to their 30+ year lifespan, the benefits of dental implants are unlike any other tooth replacement solution. Considered superior because of their root-to-crown tooth replacement, they accomplish what dentures and dental bridges cannot – permanence and greater longevity. Because of their placement within the jawbone, they appear natural, function like normal teeth, and restore your bite force so that you can eat the foods you love without worrying about denture slippage. Also, their ability to stimulate the bone reduces the chances of tooth and bone loss over time, which positively impacts both oral and overall health.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

If you are without one or more teeth, there is a good chance you will be considered a candidate for dental implants. However, your ability to undergo surgery right away may not be an option. If during your consultation we find that you have existing tooth decay or gum disease, we’ll need to administer the necessary form of treatment right away. If your jawbone lacks the essential density to support your new teeth, we will recommend a bone graft.

These preliminary procedures are not uncommon. If you are recommended for one or more, don’t be alarmed, as they will help to set your oral anatomy up for greater success once your dental implants are put in place.

Missing One Tooth

When missing only one tooth, we can use a single tooth dental implant to restore the root-to-crown structure while continuing to deliver optimal stimulation to the jawbone. This will improve your ability to eat and speak while also generating greater confidence in daily life.

Learn More About Single Tooth Dental Implants

Missing Multiple Teeth

Having two or more missing consecutive teeth along an arch can be treated with the help of two dental implants and a customized implant bridge. Instead of altering healthy abutment teeth, we can fill in the gap by placing the implant posts into the exterior sockets and allowing the remaining teeth to rest on top of the gums for a complete look.

Learn More About Implant Dental Bridges

Missing All of Your Teeth

Having no teeth in the upper or lower arch can be problematic when trying to complete daily tasks; however, an implant denture can change all of that. Using between 4 and 6 implant posts, a customized denture can be secured on top to not only instantly restore the look of your smile but also create better oral function.

Learn More About All-On-4 Dental Implants

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

The cost of dental implants in Tampa can seem daunting for many patients. While it’s true that the initial price tag is higher than dentures or dental bridges, the long-term investment will actually save you money. Of course, we cannot determine how much your out-of-pocket expenses will be until we meet with you for a complete examination. Once we identify the kind of restoration you need as well as how many implant posts are required, we can build a cost estimate that will allow you to better plan for the financial side of dental care.