Dental Implants – Lancaster, PA
A Second Chance For a Permanent Smile
At Dentistry for Life, we believe in providing advanced dental services to our dentistry patients suffering from tooth loss. No matter the number of teeth that are missing, dental implants are a stronger and more natural way to rebuild and restore your smile and ability to eat and speak with greater ease. With the help of dental implants from our Lancaster, PA dentist, not only do we replace the visible crown/tooth, but also the root. An added benefit of dental implants is bone stabilization, preventing additional jaw bone loss. Call our dental team today to schedule an exam to determine your candidacy for dental implants.
Why Choose Dentistry for Life for Dental Implants?
- In-House Dental Implant Placement & Restoration
- CT/Cone Beam Scanner for Accurate Treatment Planning
- No-Mess Digital Impression System
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are considered a superior form of tooth replacement because they consist of titanium, screw-like posts that fuse with the jawbone to create a solid foundation for new teeth. Mimicking the natural root-to-crown structure, they remain firmly in place and can last 30+ years or longer with optimal maintenance. Not to mention, they look and feel natural, making them the preferred choice for millions of Americans who once suffered from tooth loss.
Dental Implants in Conjunction with Dentures or Partial Dentures
Some patients find they can function better with a denture or partial denture when there are dental implants under their existing denture to help secure their denture and give them greater confidence when eating and speaking. This allows many of our patients to return to a more normal lifestyle free from a limited diet and awkward social encounters.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
We are able to offer start-to-finish dental implant treatments, which means that we will handle everything from the surgery for placing the implant posts in your jaw to the delivery of your beautiful replacement teeth. To make sure that you are fully prepared, we encourage you to learn more about the dental implant process, which can slightly vary from patient to patient depending on the circumstances but can generally be divided into four main steps as detailed below.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
The initial consultation is meant to help answer a simple question: will you be able to get dental implants? We’ll need to evaluate the health of your mouth and the level of bone density in your jawbone before we can confirm whether you’re a viable dental implant candidate. Bear in mind that in some cases, you may need to have preliminary work done before you can get dental implants. This may include bone grafting, tooth extractions, or gum disease treatment.
Dental Implant Surgery
We want you to be able to stay as comfortable as possible during your dental implant surgery. As such, a local anesthetic will be used to ensure that discomfort is kept to a minimum. We know some patients may require extra help to stay calm during their surgery, which is why we offer dental sedation as well.
When the dental implant surgery begins, incisions will be made in your gums so that we can work with the underlying bone. The appropriate number of implant posts will be inserted into your jaw in precisely chosen locations. Then the gums will be closed with sutures. Special caps will be attached to the implant posts to protect them during the recovery process; they will also help ensure that the gum tissue maintains the correct shape.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
After dental implant surgery, the implant posts will gradually fuse with your jawbone. This is called osseointegration, and it is necessary for making sure that your dental implants stay firmly in place in your jaw. Osseointegration usually takes about three to six months; our team will give you instructions for taking care of your mouth during this period.
After osseointegration, it will be time to place abutments on the implant posts. Abutments are connector pieces made out of metal. They will eventually perform the vital task of keeping your new teeth secured to the dental implants.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
After impressions of your mouth are taken, your final crown, bridge, or denture can be designed and created. Once the final prosthesis is complete, we’ll schedule one last appointment to attach it to your dental implant posts. Remember, your new teeth will be carefully customized with your unique mouth in mind, leaving you with a confident and natural-looking new smile.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer unique benefits that cannot be achieved with other tooth replacement solutions (i.e., dental bridges, dentures). Some of these include:
- Greater jawbone stimulation because of how implants work when you bite down or chew. This, in turn, allows for the prevention of facial sagging or collapse.
- Improved appearance by helping you look and feel younger.
- Lowered risk of systemic issues commonly caused by tooth loss such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Greater bite force and chewing power that allows you to eat nutrient-rich foods that are good for your smile and body.
- Prosthetics that are capable of lasting 30 years or more with proper care.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Most adults who face tooth loss are capable of receiving dental implants. The differentiator between those who are given the green light immediately versus those who are not is whether preliminary treatments are needed. For those who require bone grafting, periodontal therapy, or even tooth extraction, the hope of dental implants remains a possibility, no matter how many teeth are missing.
Missing One Tooth
Replacing a single tooth only requires one dental implant, one custom abutment, and an implant crown. This will make eating and speaking much easier, and it will allow you to feel more confident in your appearance.
Missing Multiple Teeth
If multiple missing teeth need to be replaced, we can place multiple dental implants and fabricate an implant bridge or a fixed or removable partial denture.
Missing All of Your Teeth
An entire arch of missing teeth can now be replaced using implant retained dentures. Using between four and six implants, implant retained dentures allow for a customized prosthetic with attachments that snap onto attachments on the implants, giving you greater stability than that of a traditional denture.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
When considering dental implants, you’ll likely begin to wonder if they’re a worthwhile investment. Because no two cases are alike, the cost of dental implants can vary. This is why we look at each case individually, and draft a treatment plan that is best for each patient. We will sit down with you and review our recommendations and allow plenty of time for your questions or concerns.