5 Factors in Successful Dental Implant Surgery

When it comes to replacing one or more missing teeth and restoring your oral health, dental implants are tough to beat. In fact, they are considered by many to be the superior prosthetic tooth option available today.

Despite myths about dental implants still floating around, the demand for this restorative procedure continues to grow as their many benefits become more widely known. Millions of dental implants are placed annually and the long-term success rates remain well over 90%. You might already be aware of these advantages and that’s triggered your interest in getting dental implants to transform your smile.

If you find yourself dreaming of beautiful dental implants and a full, youthful smile, here’s what you should consider.

1. Number of Teeth That Need to Be Replaced

How many teeth do you need replaced with dental implants? Dental implants can replace teeth individually, meaning one implant post per missing tooth, or they can be used to replace consecutively missing teeth or an entire arch.

Single dental implants are a complete system made up of three parts:  the titanium implant post, an abutment, and a dental crown. They can be used for patients who only have one missing tooth or, if they have a few missing teeth, in different areas of their mouth. When a person has extensive or complete tooth loss, a better solution is to opt for an implant-supported appliance. This allows a prosthodontist to place fewer implant posts per arch while still visually replacing all missing teeth.

2. All-on-4® vs. Traditional Arch Replacement

Extensive tooth loss is a common problem, especially as we get older. Dentures have long been the go-to solution for restoring smiles, but they aren’t without their disadvantages. Prosthodontists now have a few options for helping patients in these situations permanently restore their smile without a high number of implants being needed.

Traditional arch replacement requires healthy jawbone density as anywhere from six to eight or more implant posts will be used to support the prosthetic. The prosthetic used is similar to what a dental bridge pontic resembles, meaning it replicates just the teeth and not the gum tissue.

Another alternative, and one that Dr. Bentz offers, is called All-on-4. This treatment option utilizes only four individual posts on each arch. These implants will support a denture-like prosthetic that beautifully replicates teeth and gum tissue. The advantage of this option is there’s a wider acceptance for candidacy, surgery is quicker and can be done in a single visit. During that single visit, you’ll also have the denture placed, which means you’ll have your new smile in one day.

You’ll be able to weigh the pros and cons of traditional vs. All-on-4 treatment with the help of Dr. Bentz. He’ll go over why he believes one is a better choice for you over the other and you’ll come to a decision together.

3. Picking a Prosthodontist to Work With

The single most important thing you can do to ensure your dental implant surgery is successful is to choose the best prosthodontists that you can. Every facet of your dental implant restorations rides on the skills and experience of the prosthodontist, from the initial consultation to your long-term oral health.

Look for a prosthodontist who is board-certified and has extensive positive reviews for their practice. Visit their website and see what education the prosthodontist has accomplished. For example, Dr. Bentz has had additional training in dental implant placement and many years of success in this field of restorative care. He is also an active member of renowned dentistry associations, showing that he has a passion for prosthodontics and remains up-to-date with the newest developments.

After finding a promising prosthodontist, schedule a consultation or initial new patient visit to get to know them in person. Ask questions, discuss your smile goals, and see how you get along. It’s important to choose a prosthodontist that makes you feel relaxed, comfortable, and—most importantly—heard and respected.

4. Preventing Infection While Healing

After your dental implant surgery is complete, it’s essential to do everything you can to take care of the surgery site and your overall oral health to prevent infection. Though infection and rejection of a dental implant are pretty rare, they can occur when oral hygiene is poor. This could happen if you begin smoking or drinking alcohol, eat hard foods that irritate the implant post, or don’t keep your mouth clean between meals.

Your prosthodontist will give you strict guidelines on how to care for your smile post-surgery. This includes what oral care products to use, how to clean around the implant, and what foods you can and can’t eat. Immediately after surgery, you will need to be very careful with your diet, eating only soft foods and staying hydrated.

5. Maintaining Long-Term Oral Hygiene and Health

Achieving and maintaining optimal oral health is what will help ensure your dental implant restoration will last.

Eat a nutritious, varied diet, drink plenty of water, and limit your daily sugar consumption. Brush at least twice a day for two minutes per session and floss daily. Use oral care products recommended by your dentist and be sure to continue seeing them for checkups and cleanings every six months.

Also, be aware of your gum health. Peri-implantitis—a form of periodontitis unique to dental implants—can lead to implant failure. If your gums bleed when brushing or flossing, you notice chronic bad breath, or your gums feel tender, consult your prosthodontist right away.

Best Dental Implants Near Philadelphia, PA

Dr. Bentz is a board-certified prosthodontist near Philadelphia, PA, who specializes in dental implant restorations. We also provide comprehensive dental care to meet all of our patients’ needs: from routine preventive appointments to the best in cosmetic dentistry services.

Our welcoming East Norriton, PA, office is outfitted with the latest in advanced dental technology to ensure you have as comfortable an experience as possible. If you’re interested in learning how dental implants can benefit your smile, we invite you to visit our practice for a consultation.

Schedule your consultation with Dr. Bentz today by calling our office or requesting a visit online.

Facts About Jawbone Health and Implant Surgery

Dental implants are a marvel of modern-day dentistry. They allow prosthodontists to replicate the feel and function of a natural tooth in a prosthetic form with a high success rate and minimal care requirements post-healing.

If you’re interested in dental implant surgery, you’re likely aware that dental implant surgery involves a lengthy healing period that lasts for months. You’ll eagerly anticipate the end of this recovery phase since it marks your surgery’s success. Still, some fascinating things happen during the six months post-surgery, such as osseointegration and bone remodeling.

Here are a few facts about bone health and growth after dental implant surgery.

1. Osseointegration begins immediately after an implant post is placed.

Our bodies are adept at healing themselves. From a papercut on a finger to a broken bone, our bodies begin to heal injuries immediately, even though we can’t necessarily see or feel these things happening at first. The same effect happens after dental implant surgery.

Osseointegration is the process in which your jawbone begins to integrate or fuse with the implant post. The process starts right after the implant post is placed, and in as soon as four days, bone formation is already occurring. Although bone does take longer to completely heal and reform than soft tissue, our bodies take action to trigger the process just as quickly.

2. Titanium is used because it’s uniquely capable of osseointegration.

Dental implant posts are made of medical-grade titanium. Although the posts themselves may vary in design or size, the popularity of titanium remains consistent.

Titanium is favored for dental implants and other medical use because it’s super strong and biocompatible, meaning the likelihood of your body rejecting it is very low. It is also more resistant to the harsh environment inside your body and therefore less likely to erode over time. This, plus its ability to osseointegrate with bone, are the main reasons it remains dentists’ material of choice for implants.

3. Bone grafts may be necessary before dental implants if you lack jawbone density.

Tooth loss from decay or periodontal disease doesn’t just leave a gap in your smile. It also leaves space in the jawbone where the tooth root would typically be anchored. Without the tooth present, the jawbone begins the process of resorption.

Bone resorption happens when the body breaks down bone and reabsorbs it as calcium into the bloodstream. This causes the jawbone to shrink. Unfortunately, this can leave the bone too fragile or shallow for a dental implant. When this happens, a prosthodontist can offer a bone graft before surgery.

Bone grafts use human or animal bone, and sometimes a synthetic material, to build back jaw density. Osseointegration occurs, and the remaining bone fuses with the graft. Afterward, dental implant surgery can move forward as usual.

4. The bone healing process has two distinct phases that take roughly three months.

It takes about six months for the average dental implant to integrate with the jawbone fully.

The bone is healing during the first three months but remains in an “immature” state. The bone will be actively growing and rebuilding, but the initial new bone growth is spongy. As osseointegration advances and the bone fuses with the implant, bone remodeling happens.

Bone remodeling is the process of the body reshaping and rebuilding injured bone or immature, spongy bone. The second three-month phase of bone healing is finalized with a complete remodeling, resulting in a dental implant with mature, dense bone growth.

5. Dental implants stimulate healthy bone structure and natural bone remodeling.

Your dental implant will be considered fully healed after six months, but the bone will continue to mature and strengthen over time.

Most importantly, your dental implant will stimulate your jaw bone, like natural teeth, encouraging healthy bone remodeling and preventing bone resorption. Simply put, your dental implant will keep your jawbone strong through normal oral functions, like chewing.

The benefit of jawbone stimulation also applies to the All-on-4 implant system! Compared to traditional dentures, your All-on-4 smile will be healthier and stronger, with minimized risk of bone resorption.

Lifelong dental implant success begins with choosing the right prosthodontist.

Maintaining a healthy, stable dental implant for life depends on prioritizing oral hygiene, reducing risks of oral disease, and regular dental checkups. But getting to this point is impossible without a knowledgeable prosthodontist.

Choosing a prosthodontist specializing in dental implant surgery, and who continues to expand their education in this field, is the most valuable factor in the success of your treatment.

Their skilled hands will place your implant post precisely using the latest dental technology and tools. Following surgery, they’ll guide you through every step of the healing process and provide support whenever you have questions or concerns. They’ll also have you return for follow-up appointments to monitor the healing process and ensure osseointegration is on the right track.

Dr. Bentz, a distinguished prosthodontist near Philadelphia, provides this level of superior care.

Schedule a dental implant consultation with Dr. Bentz today by calling our East Norriton, PA office or requesting a visit online.