What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small metal posts that completely replace missing teeth by acting as artificial tooth roots. In a minor surgical procedure, a dentist places the implant into your jawbone beneath the gums, precisely where the natural tooth used to be. Once in place, the implant functions like a real tooth root and is capped with a restoration—such as a dental crown—to ensure it looks and feels just like a natural tooth.
Deciding to get dental implants is a significant step. You might be considering an implant but feel unsure about what the process entails. We’re here to walk you through everything you need to know so you can make an informed decision about your dental care.
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Why You Might Need Dental Implants
Your natural teeth play a crucial role in supporting the shape and height of your smile, enabling you to eat and speak comfortably. When a tooth is lost, it creates a gap that can cause neighbouring teeth to drift out of proper alignment. This misalignment increases the risk of oral health issues and can negatively impact your facial appearance and overall quality of life.
Even if you don’t immediately experience problems from missing teeth, one unavoidable consequence is bone resorption. This natural process involves your body breaking down unused bone tissue to redistribute minerals elsewhere. Teeth stimulate the jawbone by applying pressure, which promotes the growth of new bone cells. Without this stimulation, the bone begins to deteriorate, leading to a shortened jaw and chin. This deterioration can cause wrinkles and give your cheeks and lips a sunken appearance.
Dental implants are the next best thing to natural teeth. By replacing missing teeth with implants, you can prevent or address these issues, maintaining your oral health and preserving the natural structure of your face.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Losing a tooth can be a significant setback, impacting not only your confidence but also your overall oral health. A missing tooth might make you feel self-conscious about your smile and can lead to difficulties when biting or chewing your favourite foods. Additionally, gaps left by missing teeth can cause adjacent teeth to shift out of place and may contribute to bone loss over time.
- Restore Your Natural Appearance – Dental implants are crafted to look and feel just like your natural teeth. Custom-made to seamlessly match the size, shape, and colour of your existing teeth, they become a permanent part of your smile. This personalized approach ensures that your implants blend in flawlessly, giving you a natural-looking result that enhances your appearance.
- Feel Confident in Your Comfort – One of the remarkable benefits of dental implants is the stability they provide. As the titanium post integrates with your jawbone during the healing process, it forms a solid foundation for a crown or bridge. Whether supporting a single tooth or securing implant-supported dentures, you can trust that your dental implant will remain firmly in place. This means you can laugh, speak, and enjoy your favourite foods without worrying about movement or discomfort.
- Improve Bone Strength – Missing teeth can lead to the weakening and deterioration of the underlying jawbone since the bone no longer receives the stimulation it needs. Dental implants address this issue by stimulating new bone growth around the implant site, effectively strengthening the bone structure. This not only supports the implant itself but also helps maintain the integrity of your facial structure.
Dental implants offer a long-term, natural-feeling solution that, with proper oral care, can last for decades—restoring both function and confidence to your smile.
Dental Implant Restorations
A restoration is the artificial tooth that is placed over an implant, giving you the appearance of a complete and natural smile. While the implant itself is hidden beneath your gums, it’s the restoration that makes it look and feel like you have a new tooth.
- Restore Your Natural Appearance – Dental implants are crafted to look and feel just like your natural teeth. Custom-made to seamlessly match the size, shape, and colour of your existing teeth, they become a permanent part of your smile. This personalized approach ensures that your implants blend in flawlessly, giving you a natural-looking result that enhances your appearance.
- Feel Confident in Your Comfort – One of the remarkable benefits of dental implants is the stability they provide. As the titanium post integrates with your jawbone during the healing process, it forms a solid foundation for a crown or bridge. Whether supporting a single tooth or securing implant-supported dentures, you can trust that your dental implant will remain firmly in place. This means you can laugh, speak, and enjoy your favourite foods without worrying about movement or discomfort.
- Improve Bone Strength – Missing teeth can lead to the weakening and deterioration of the underlying jawbone since the bone no longer receives the stimulation it needs. Dental implants address this issue by stimulating new bone growth around the implant site, effectively strengthening the bone structure. This not only supports the implant itself but also helps maintain the integrity of your facial structure.
A New Life with Dental Implants Awaits!
After receiving a dental implant, your smile won’t just be the same—it will be even better.
Taking care of dental implants is straightforward. By gently brushing and flossing daily and safeguarding your implant from injury during activities like sports, you can keep it in excellent condition. Regular checkups with us will help ensure your implant remains healthy.
In return for this simple care, your dental implant can reward you with many years of strong, joyful, and beautiful smiles!
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How It Feels
While the idea of having a metal implant placed into your jawbone might sound daunting, most patients find the procedure far more comfortable than they initially expect.
To ensure you experience no pain during the surgery, we thoroughly numb your mouth with a local anesthetic. Our use of advanced dental technology allows for implants to be placed quickly, precisely, and with minimal invasiveness. This means you’ll have less discomfort and a shorter recovery time afterward.
Interestingly, some patients mention feeling relaxed or even a bit sleepy during the brief, approximately 30-minute procedure. The most challenging part might simply be keeping your mouth open for short intervals.
It’s normal to notice some swelling, mild discomfort, or bruising in the hours following the procedure. However, any pain is usually minimal and easily managed. We’ll provide you with specific instructions to help reduce discomfort before the anesthetic wears off, and your implant site should start feeling better within a week.
You might find it reassuring that dental implants have a success rate of nearly 95%, making them one of the safest and most reliable procedures in dentistry.
What to Expect on Your Dental Implant Treatment Journey
You might be pleasantly surprised to find that the dental implant placement is often far more comfortable than you anticipate.
Assessment
Your journey begins with a dental implant consultation to determine if this treatment is right for you. During this visit, your dentist will take X-rays and perform a 3D cone-beam CT scan of your jaw to assess the bone tissue and plan your procedure. The dental team will also take a scan or impression of your teeth to precisely map out the angle and position of your implant.
Inserting the Implant
To ensure you’re completely comfortable, we’ll administer a local anesthetic to numb the surgical area. The dentist will then make a small opening in your gum and jawbone to place the implant post. In some cases, sutures may be used to close the gum tissue, but this isn’t always necessary.
Finalizing the Restoration
After the implant is placed, you’ll go home to allow it to heal over the next few months. Once healing is complete, you’ll return to our practice where your custom dental restoration will be ready. We’ll attach the restoration to the implant, and you’ll leave with a brand-new, fully functional tooth.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Cost of Dental Implants in Kanata
In Kanata, the cost for a single dental implant generally falls between $3,000 and $6,000 or more. For those considering full-mouth reconstructive dental implants, prices can range widely—from approximately $6,000 to upwards of $60,000. On average, a complete set of implant-supported dentures may cost around $30,000. It’s important to remember that an exact quote can’t be given over the phone, as the dental implant procedure is complex and tailored to each person’s unique needs.
So, what determines the cost of dental implant surgery? Several key factors come into play:
- The number and type of implants you require.
- The materials and supplies utilized during your treatment.
- The experience and time invested by the dental team supporting you throughout the process.
- The complexity and specific location of your surgery.
- Your recovery period—we’ll be here to support you for as long as needed.
Because each case is distinct, it’s essential to consult with a dentist and have an oral examination. This allows us to assess your individual situation and present various treatment options for you to consider. We’re happy to provide a more precise quote after evaluating your specific needs.
Are There Other Solutions for Missing Teeth?
Yes, there are alternative options for replacing missing teeth. If you’re missing one to three teeth, a dental bridge might effectively close those gaps. For those missing several teeth in the upper or lower jaw—or even throughout the entire mouth—removable dentures or dental prosthetics can serve as suitable replacements.
When evaluating the cost and benefits of dental implants versus other tooth-replacement methods, it’s essential to consider their respective pros and cons. Dental implants typically involve a higher upfront investment but offer greater security and durability compared to bridges or dentures. With proper care, a dental implant has the potential to last a lifetime.
In contrast, removable dentures require different maintenance routines and may need adjustments or replacements as you age. They necessitate specific care and might not offer the same level of comfort or functionality as implants. On the other hand, dental implants are maintained just like your natural teeth—through regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental check-ups.
By weighing these factors, you can make an informed decision about the tooth-replacement option that best suits your needs and lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s highly unlikely that anyone will notice that your dental implants aren’t your natural teeth. While the implants consist of metal posts placed beneath your gums, these are hidden and topped with lifelike restorations that seamlessly blend with your smile. They’re the closest thing to real teeth!
Dentures and dental implants serve different purposes and function in distinct ways. Dentures rest on top of your gums and may press down on the underlying bone tissue, whereas implants are anchored below the gums, strengthening your bite. Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages. To determine which treatment best suits your needs, we recommend visiting us for a personalized consultation.
Yes, alternatives like dental bridges or full and partial dentures are available for those who may not be ideal candidates for dental implants. The best way to discover the right solution for your specific situation is to schedule an appointment with us. We’re here to discuss all your options and answer any questions you might have.
To qualify for a dental implant, you must be an adult with good overall oral health. A robust jawbone is necessary to support the implant securely, and healthy gums are crucial to reduce potential complications. If you’re worried about your suitability for the procedure, don’t hesitate to reach out to us—we can assess your situation and provide clarity. Often, there are treatments available to enhance your oral health with the goal of eventually receiving a dental implant. Additionally, there are alternative tooth-replacement options we can explore with you.
Yes, indeed! Your dental implant will be completed with a custom-made crown, bridge, or implant-supported denture designed for your comfort. These artificial teeth are crafted to match the shape, size, and colour of your natural teeth and bite perfectly. Many patients find it challenging to distinguish between their natural teeth and their new implants because they blend in so seamlessly.
Thanks to significant advancements in dental implant technology, the procedure is now highly predictable and relatively comfortable. We perform the implant process with exceptional care and precision to ensure you experience as little discomfort as possible. With proper aftercare, you can expect minimal swelling and virtually no bleeding. Your physical comfort and emotional well-being are our top priorities. If you feel any anxiety about the procedure, please let us know—we’re here to make your experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible.
Typically, you can resume work the day after your implant procedure. Once we have a detailed understanding of your treatment plan, we’ll provide a more precise timeline and inform you in advance if you might need additional time off. We always go over all post-operative care instructions with you to ensure a smooth recovery.
Proper maintenance is crucial for the long-term success of your dental implants. Like natural teeth, they require regular professional cleanings and examinations. We usually recommend scheduling a check-up every six months, but depending on your individual needs, we might suggest more or fewer visits.
Caring for your dental implants is much like taking care of natural teeth. Maintain a routine of regular brushing and flossing, attend scheduled cleanings and checkups, and promptly inform your dentist if you notice any issues.
No, dental implants are designed to be a long-term solution and typically do not require routine replacement. Once placed, your implant is intended to last for many years to come.
