Dental Implants — Louisville, KY
The Modern Way to Replace Teeth
Tooth loss can have a devastating effect on patients, damaging not only oral health, but their quality of life and sense of self-confidence as well. Traditional bridges and dentures have been a solid solution for many years, but patients often don’t enjoy the relative looseness and potentially unnatural feel. Here at Remmers Dental, Dr. Stephen Remmers can’t reverse time to give you back your natural smile, but he can give you the next best thing. Dental implants are a revolutionary reconstructive treatment option that restores teeth seamlessly, improving both health and your aesthetic appearance in a revitalizing fashion. If you’re interested in undergoing a consultation for implants, contact our Louisville, KY dental office today.
Why Choose Remmers Dental for Dental Implants?
- In-House Placement and Restoration
- High Professionalism and Attention to Detail
- State of the Art Dental Technology
What Are Dental Implants?
First, you’ll want to know more about the basics of dental implants. A dental implant is simply a titanium post that we surgically implant into your jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. We offer dental implants made from a number of materials, including titanium, gold, other precious metals, ceramics, and polymers. We most often provide implant posts crafted from titanium and zirconia. These two restoration options have been tested and proven successful. Titanium posts support a single tooth, bridge, or implant denture allowing us to customize tooth replacement to fit your specific needs. Because they replace every part of the tooth, dental implants have several benefits for your appearance and oral health, including a healthier jawbone and a more pleasing facial shape.
4-Step Dental Implant Process
Unlike other practices that refer patients to an outside specialist, our team at Remmers Dental can perform your entire dental implant procedure at our office. While your treatment will provide the best way to replace missing teeth, the process does take several appointments that can take several months to complete. However, every patient will typically experience the same four steps of the treatment. Afterward, you’ll be able to enjoy the many long-term advantages of your new and improved smile. Feel free to give us a call or read on to learn how dental implants work in Louisville!
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
You’ll first have to undergo an initial consultation with our dental team. During your visit, we’ll evaluate your dental situation and facial structure to determine if you’re eligible for the procedure. Some patients might need to receive preliminary treatments to address certain conditions—such as bone grafting, periodontal therapy, or tooth extractions—before getting dental implants. Once you’re in a good condition to receive your restorations, we can proceed with your surgery.
Dental Implant Surgery
Our team will begin by numbing your mouth so that you remain comfortable throughout your procedure. We’ll then make tiny incisions in your gums so we can access your jawbone. Your dental implants will be placed at the ideal location and angle before we suture your gums back together. Afterward, we’ll cover the surgical site with a protective cap to keep your restorations safe during your recovery period.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
For the following three to six months, you’ll need to wait for osseointegration to occur—the process by which your implants fuse with your jawbone. That’s why it’s important to have plenty of rest throughout your healing period, as well as to maintain proper dental hygiene. After the osseointegration process is finished, you’ll come back to our office to receive your abutments. These are metal connectors that are fitted atop your implants to properly anchor your customized restoration, such as a crown, bridge, or denture.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
Your dental restorations will be specifically constructed based on the impression of your teeth that we previously sent to a dental lab for fabrication. They’ll create your replacement teeth to look as natural as possible, matching the color of your enamel and providing a seamlessly blended solution. After we’ve attached your permanent restorations to your abutments, you’ll look and feel as if you have your normal pearly whites again!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Now, more than 500,000 people every year choose dental implants to replace their missing teeth because they offer a diversity of benefits that are not possible with any other dental prosthetic, including:
- Replace the Root and Crown: Dental implants are the only solution to replace both the root and a crown of a tooth. With the implant post in place, it acts as a new tooth root, stimulating the jawbone to preserve its density. The new bone growth allows the post to fuse to your jawbone, creating a secure and stable foundation for your replacement tooth.
- High Success Rate: Dental implants have become the most predictable and reliable option to treat tooth loss due to the materials used and the treatment process. Now, they provide over a 95% 10-year success rate.
- Natural Function: With an implant post anchoring your tooth in place, it closely looks and feels natural. In fact, you will enjoy an increased biting force of over 70% when compared to traditional options, like a bridge and crowns.
- Enhanced Aesthetics: The use of all-ceramic materials allows your replacement tooth to meet your exact specifications to blend in seamlessly with your remaining natural teeth.
- Improved Oral Health: Dental implants are stand-alone, meaning they do not require adjacent teeth to anchor them in place. As a result, you will not have to worry about them causing damage to a tooth. Instead, they will improve your oral health by providing your remaining teeth with the support they need to stay firmly in place.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
No matter what degree of tooth loss you might have, dental implants can be designed to fit your needs. Read on below to see which restorative option best suits your particular situation:
Missing One Tooth
When restoring a single implant, our team recommends a custom dental crown. This preserves the health and structure of your natural teeth, which would typically need to be altered to accommodate a traditional bridge or denture. Your new, tooth-colored crown will be precisely designed and created so that it blends in beautifully alongside the rest of your smile. In fact, you may even forget it’s not natural after some time has passed.
Missing Multiple Teeth
If the patient needs multiple teeth in a row replenished, an implant bridge could be the perfect solution. This prosthetic closely resembles a traditional bridge except for one important aspect – it’s designed to attach to a small number of implants placed within the jawbone, creating a much sturdier and confident fit overall.
Missing All Teeth
Many patients enjoy the convenience and affordability of traditional dentures, but others find them unreliable and uncomfortable. Thankfully, an implant denture can give patients a strong smile that looks and feels completely natural. Implant dentures are designed to attach to a small number of strategically placed implants within the treated site, and both fixed and removable options are available, depending on the patient’s preference. By having implants placed, patients prevent jawbone deterioration and encourage new growth for a healthier smile.
For a regular denture wearer, an implant denture can create amazing changes in their daily routine and overall self-esteem. The prosthetic is virtually seamless when compared to natural teeth, and patients will be amazed by how much of their biting strength has returned, allowing them to eat all their favorite foods again.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Depending on your unique oral health needs, dental implant cost in Louisville can vary greatly. After examining your mouth and determining that dental implants are right for you, our dentists will walk you through a personalized treatment plan that will help you achieve your smile goals. We’ll discuss factors such as how many implants you need, what type of restoration would best benefit your smile, and how long each step in the process will take. To learn more about the details of filling the gaps in your grin with implants, call us to schedule a consultation today!
Types of Dental Implants
Dental implants are versatile enough to solve any degree of tooth loss. The primary factor in the cost of your tooth replacement will be the number of implants you need to rebuild your smile. Here are some of the types of dental implants you may hear during your consultation:
- Single implant. If you’re only missing one tooth, we can place a single implant post and top it with an incredibly lifelike crown made of dental porcelain.
- Implant bridge. For several consecutive missing teeth, we can install an implant at either end of the gap in your grin, with a dental bridge filling the space in between.
- Implant denture. For patients missing all their teeth on one or both arches, we can place four to eight implants to hold a full denture, restoring your ability to smile and chew with confidence.
What are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?
At your consultation, we’ll walk you through the various stages of your implant journey. Because the process takes several appointments, you’ll be able to break up the total payment into manageable chunks. A basic outline of your treatment might look like this:
- Undergo any needed preparatory treatments such as bone grafting or gum disease therapy
- Have your implants surgically placed beneath your gum line
- Wait for your gums to heal and your implants to fuse with your jawbone
- Receive the abutments (tiny metal connectors) on top of your implants
- Get your final restorations placed
Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?
Absolutely! While there are several options available to replace your missing teeth, none of them offer the strength, stability, and longevity of dental implants. Traditional dentures and bridges must be replaced every 5-10 years, while implants can last a lifetime with proper care. Although implants might come with a higher initial price tag, rest assured that you’re saving money in the long run.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Even though most dental insurance plans don’t cover the cost of the implants themselves, they may pay for other portions of your treatment, such as your consultation, preliminary procedures, or your restoration. This is why it’s always worth your while to check your individual policy to see what coverage they offer. If you need help contacting your insurance company, our friendly team would be more than happy to help!
Dental Implant Post-Op Instructions
After having dental implants placed, a patient’s mouth and gums will need time to heal before their restoration(s) can be attached on top. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on the health of a patient’s jawbone. For the first few days, they may experience a bit of soreness and swelling, but these symptoms can be easily managed with OTC pain medication. A patient should also avoid spitting, rinsing their mouth, and drinking from a straw for the first 24 hours. A soft food diet is advised for the first few days as well, and patients should completely abstain from tobacco use during this time.
Maintaining & Caring For Your Dental Implants
While this restoration treatment typically has a 90-95% success rate, regularly maintaining them will be essential for ensuring they last a lifetime. For this reason, it’s important to practice dental implant care in Louisville to preserve your results. Our team at Remmers Dental can help make this process easier by providing you with the best ways to make the most of your restorations. By proactively caring for your oral health, you’ll be able to enjoy greater comfort and confidence with your fully restored smile! Keep reading or feel free to reach out to us today to learn more about maintaining and caring for your dental implants.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
After receiving your restorations, you’ll have to keep them clean from bacteria and debris. Without proper care, you can run the risk of allowing harmful germs to attack your soft tissues, which can cause serious issues like tooth loss, decay, and infections. This can also negatively affect your dental implants, as a weakened jawbone or gum tissue can cause them to fail later on. To avoid these complications, make sure to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes and floss before going to bed. You can also use ADA-approved mouthwash to maintain a clean and healthy smile.
Eat a Healthy Diet
While sugary and starchy treats aren’t entirely bad, consuming them too frequently can lead to issues for your dental implants, such as cavities and disease. Instead, it’s best to switch these foods out with a healthier diet consisting of fruits, veggies, dairy, leafy greens, and lean proteins. Your gum health will thank you for this, as well as your tooth enamel. Your dental implants will also benefit from foods rich in vitamin C and calcium, which are essential nutrients for healthy bone tissue.
Break Bad Habits
Another way to protect your dental implants is to avoid damaging them with poor oral habits. These may involve biting your fingernails, chewing on pens or ice, using your teeth as tools, and smoking. Any of these actions can wear down the surface of your pearly whites, including your dental implants. By breaking bad oral habits now, you can ensure to keep your smile strong and healthy in the long run. And if you do have the urge to chew something, try sticking with sugar-free gum for a tasty and safe alternative!
Protect Your Dental Implants
Do you tend to grind your teeth when stressed or enjoy playing sports? If so, then you might consider investing in a custom-made mouthguard. By wearing these oral devices, you’ll be able to protect your teeth from getting damaged during physical activity or while you sleep. Not only are mouthguards able to prevent the wear and tear of your enamel or your dental implants, but they’re also quite comfortable.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
One of the best ways to maintain your smile and restorations is to schedule regular dental checkups with our team. We’ll be able to thoroughly examine your oral health and your dental implants, addressing any developing problems we might detect. By providing early preventive treatment, we can effectively avoid more costly issues in the long run. This way you can make the most of your fully restored smile with little to no worries!
