What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a state-of-the-art tooth replacement option that also replaces your roots, giving you the strength, stability, and bone stimulation that you would enjoy with natural, healthy teeth. The implants prevent bone loss and help to restore your youthful appearance, giving you added confidence.

Are Implants safe?

Implants have been successfully placed in over 95% of patients between 18 and 90 years, who have lost one, several, or even all their teeth.

What are the advantages of implants over other tooth replacement options?

• Implants integrate with the jawbone, which helps to prevent bone loss and stop adjacent teeth from shifting.
• This in turn prevents jaw pain and popping, TMJ disorder, and migraines.
• The stabilized soft and hard tissue also reduces the risk of the formation of gum pockets that trap bacteria and cause periodontal disease.
• They reduce the risk of gum disease associated with other solutions that create hidden spots between your teeth where bacteria can hide.
• Most people who get implants report better sleep at night  
• Dental implants don’t require any special care when cleaning your teeth and mouth.
• Implants are a hygienic option that will save you a lot of expense over time, both in cumulative dental expenses and enjoyment of life.
• Eat and speak well. Implants function like your natural teeth, giving you the ability to chew and eat anything you want, with no embarrassing moments when in the company of your family and friends.

Am I a candidate for dental implants?

If you want to restore the proper health and function of your mouth, get rid of ill-fitting dentures, or avoid treatments that affect the structure of healthy teeth (like bridges), dental implants are a great option. Most adults are good candidates of this treatment. But if you have already experienced too much bone loss, Dr. Andrew Sand may recommend bone-augmentation to rebuild the lost bone tissue before proceeding with the procedure.

What would disqualify me from getting implants?

There are very few medical or dental conditions that could prevent a successful dental implant placement. For patients with severe bone tissue loss, we may recommend bone grafting to ensure that you have sufficient bone tissue to integrate with the titanium implant, and subsequently provide strong support for your replacement teeth. If you have a medical condition or taking medications that may affect bone healing, we will discuss your case during the consultation.

Research shows that the health of your mouth is connected to your overall health and wellbeing. In fact, multiple studies show a link between oral disease and diabetes, heart disease, and other life-threatening systemic conditions. General dentists believe in early detection of dental problems before they worsen. If you have a toothache, sensitive tooth, bleeding gums, bad breath, or other oral issues, a timely diagnosis can help to detect the early signs of cavities, gum disease, and other problems. Your dentist will recommend the appropriate restorative treatments to repair and prevent problems as they develop.

Visiting your dentist

Whether you’re young or old, scheduling a visit with your dentist can help you enjoy a beautiful and healthy smile. Regular dental exams allow the dentist to diagnose and treat issues before they cause major damage to your teeth. This significantly reduces the risk of requiring costly and lengthy procedures in the future.

You can also receive routine dental exams and screenings, tooth cleanings, fillings, and other services that help to restore or maintain your smile. General dentists don’t just fix issues as they come up. Through regular professional cleanings and dental checkups, they can prevent most problems before they even get started. Where a problem already exists, they design your custom treatment plan so it not only addresses the symptoms, but also solves the root cause of the problem. More importantly, they will recommend lifestyle changes to help maintain your optimal oral health, and schedule follow up visits to help keep you on track.

In addition, they use the latest technology, such as digital x-rays and intra-oral cameras to carefully examine your mouth and provide a complete treatment plan that treats the root of the problem and prevents the symptoms from reoccurring.

Final Note

Dental checkups should be scheduled every six months, and oral cancer screenings once a year. Oral cancer affects about 40,000 Americans each year, which is why you should take the screenings very seriously. Visit your dentist today for professional dental care in Ocala.