Dental Implants

In today’s day and age, you don’t have to settle for a gapped smile or a tooth replacement that doesn’t quite look or feel natural. Here at Dentistry on the Ponds, we can replace your lost pearly whites with a solution that’s practically indistinguishable from the real thing – dental implants.Thanks to the state-of-the-art technology at our dental office, we can complete the entire dental implant treatment process under one roof, and you can learn more by contacting us and scheduling your consultation to explore options for tooth replacement with dental implants in Chanhassen, MN.

What Are Dental Implants?

Other tooth replacements, like dental bridges and dentures, only replicate the parts of the teeth you can see. So, they leave much to be desired in terms of how they look and feel. Dental implants go a step further by replacing the roots of the teeth with a titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone. They can then support a crown, bridge, or denture for many decades to come. With their comprehensive structure, dental implants are the closest thing to having your original teeth back!

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

Consultation – Our team reviews your dental health and medical history to determine your eligibility for implants and complete any preparatory work if needed.
Surgery – We can conveniently place dental implants in our dental office. Your gums are opened, and the posts are positioned in preplanned locations in your jaw.
Osseointegration/Abutment – The success of dental implants depends on osseointegration, the process of the jawbone fusing to the implant posts. This could take up to six months, after which you return to receive metal attachments called abutments atop your implants.
Restoration – We affix a crown, bridge, or denture to the abutments, restoring the visible parts of your teeth.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Because of their sturdy foundation in the jawbone, dental implants will never shift around when speaking or eating. Plus, you can chew just as easily as you did with your natural teeth.
The jawbone usually starts shrinking after tooth loss, but implants stimulate it to preserve its strength and shape.
Dentures and bridges tend to only last for five to ten years, but implants can last for 30+ years, with many patients enjoying them for a lifetime.
Dental implants can easily be maintained with daily brushing and flossing as well as regular checkups with a dentist.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

One of the many great things about dental implants is their versatility. Our team can use this solution to help patients complete their smiles no matter how many teeth they’re missing. After we’ve verified that your mouth and body are healthy enough to receive implants, we can determine which of the following treatments would best meet your needs.

Missing One Tooth

To bring back a single missing tooth, we can place one implant post between two remaining teeth and then attach a custom-made dental crown on top. Since the adjacent teeth don’t need to be reshaped to make room for the implant, this approach is actually less invasive than placing a dental bridge.

Missing Multiple Teeth

For a few missing teeth in a row, one implant can be placed at each end of the gap to anchor a dental bridge that doesn’t rely on natural teeth for support. Several nonconsecutive teeth may be replaced with a small number of implants positioned throughout the arch, which can hold a reliable partial denture in place.

Missing All Teeth

Even a whole row of teeth can be recovered with dental implants. Just four to six posts angled in specific ways can provide ample support for a full denture that is more lifelike than a traditional prosthetic could ever be. Implant dentures let you chew practically any food without worrying about slippage.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Dental implants may initially seem pricier than other tooth replacements, but in the long run, they’re actually the more cost-effective choice. They can last exponentially longer than any other option, saving you the costs of frequently replacing your prosthetics. The cost of dental implants varies for each patient based on factors like how many implants are needed, where in the mouth they’ll be placed, and which type of restoration they’ll support. Our team will go over these factors and how to make your treatment affordable with insurance and financing.

Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants

Dental implants can last for decades, and often a lifetime, but only with the right care. Like natural teeth, they depend on healthy gums and bone to stay strong, and neglect can lead to infection or damage that causes them to fail early. Here are a few simple habits our Chanhassen team recommends to keep your new smile in great shape for years to come.

Brush & Floss Every Day

Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste, and clean around your implants daily with floss, an interdental brush, or a water flosser. Plaque buildup around an implant can inflame the gums and weaken the bone that holds it in place.

Keep Up With Checkups

Regular cleanings and exams let us spot early signs of trouble around your implants before they turn into bigger problems. Your hygienist will use tools designed to clean implants without scratching them.

Protect Your Implants From Damage

Avoid chewing ice, hard candy, or other very hard foods, and never use your teeth to open packages. If you grind or clench your teeth at night or play contact sports, ask us about a custom nightguard or mouthguard.

Avoid Tobacco Products

Smoking and chewing tobacco slow healing and restrict blood flow to your gums, which raises the risk of implant failure. Cutting back or quitting is one of the best things you can do to protect your investment.

Call Us if Something Feels Off

Swollen or bleeding gums around an implant, discomfort when chewing, or a restoration that feels loose are all reasons to give us a call. The sooner we take a look, the easier it is to fix.