Dental Implants in Edina, MN
Permanent Solutions for Missing Teeth
WHAT ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?
Dental implants are a titanium screw-shaped post that is placed directly into the jaw bone. An abutment and dental crown are then attached to this implant to complete the restoration. Implants fully restore the structure of a missing tooth, including the root.
About 3-6 months after implanting the titanium post into the jaw bone, it will become fused with surrounding tissue through a process called osseointegration. This means that when you chew, your jaw bone will be stimulated and preserve the jaw bone to prevent bone loss.
Implants also hold the tooth securely in place so you don’t have to worry about your tooth shifting around or falling out. This enables you to use the tooth like normal, with no restrictions to your diet or the need of high maintenance cleaning protocols.
If you’re interested in dental implants, you’ll need to come in for a consultation so we can assess your jaw bone structure and density. Contact us for restorative dental care with Dr. Marwa.
ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR IMPLANTS?
DENTAL IMPLANTS PROCEDURE
STAGE 1: IMPLANT PLACEMENT
The dental implant surgery is considered the first stage of the overall implant procedure. Your dentist will take a biocompatible titanium post and surgically place it where the tooth is missing in your jawbone. It will then fuse with your bone so it can act as a replacement tooth root. Once the implant is fully fused with the jawbone, we will begin the second stage of the dental implant procedure.
STAGE 2: CROWN PLACEMENT
During a follow-up appointment, a custom-made crown will be placed on the top of the implant, which will give it the appearance of a tooth. The implant will mimic a permanent tooth. However, because it is fused to the jawbone, it will be more stable than a natural tooth. This means it won’t be susceptible to unwanted movement.
The process for a proper dental implant can last up to three months depending on healing time after surgically placing the implant.
IMPLANTS VS BRIDGES
Who wins?
Dental implants have become widely popular for tooth replacement simply because traditional dentures and bridges are not fixed to the bone. Because they are unstable, it can be especially difficult to eat or smile with confidence.
Dental implants also look more natural than dentures or bridges, and they feel and act more like natural teeth with a stronger biting force.
You may only be a candidate for dental implant surgery if you are in good health in both your mouth and body. This means you should not have any gum disease or any other infection/condition in your mouth. It is important that your jawbone has enough density and volume to hold the dental implant securely. Whereas, dental bridges require you to be healthy and ready to maintain your restoration.
IMPLANT SERVICES OFFERED
Placements – At Mint Dental, we can place a single tooth implant or full arch dental implants for all of your restoration needs.
Single Tooth Implants – A single tooth dental implant replaces a single missing tooth in the mouth to fill in the gap in your smile and restore the function and structure of your tooth, all the way down to the root.
It involves making an incision into the gums to implant a titanium post which will take 3-6 months to fuse with the jaw bone. After that, we’ll reopen the gums to attach an abutment. After you’ve healed from the second oral surgery, we’ll attach a dental crown which is created from impressions taken of your teeth.
Full Arch Implants – Full arch restorations, also known as All-on-4 implants, support an entire arch of teeth with the placement of just four dental implants. Two dental implants are placed toward the front of the jaw and two implants in the back of the jaw are tilted at a 45-degree angle to support a fixed bridge.
DENTAL IMPLANT MAINTENANCE
Dental implants are low maintenance compared to dentures, which need to be regularly removed, brushed with a toothbrush, and soaked in denture cleaner. Dental implants are cleaned just like your natural teeth.
However, full arch dental implants require some more thorough cleaning because they support a fixed bridge that can collect food debris and bacteria if not properly cleaned. We recommend flossing twice a day with a water flosser which thoroughly removes food particles.
Another tool you should invest in is a rubber tip gum stimulator which removes food particles and other bacteria from the gum line so they don’t get trapped in between the bridge and your gums. Patients with dental implants should return for a dental cleaning and checkup every 6 months.
