DENTAL IMPLANTS, EAGAN MINNESOTA, 651-687-0789

If you’re missing one or multiple teeth, then you may be afraid to share your smile with friends, family, and even strangers. Without all of your teeth, you may hold back on opportunities like job interviews, meeting new people, and more. Here at Northwood Dental, we want all our patients to have a smile they’re proud to share. That’s why, if you’re missing any number of teeth, you may want to consider dental implants.

No matter what the reason that you’re missing teeth is, whether it’s periodontitis, tooth decay, or dental injury, Northwood Dental can help completely restore your smile to something new. Our dental implants can give you teeth that have the same look and function as a natural smile. The implant itself is typically placed by our periodontist, Dr. Rajek, or one of the oral surgeons that we work with outside of our office.

There are numerous benefits to dental implants, especially for people who aren’t comfortable with other options like bridges or dentures. Sometimes these options aren’t even possible due to sore spots, gagging, or poor ridges in their mouth. If patients are missing multiple teeth in a row, they wouldn’t be able to utilize bridges since they need the support of the surrounding teeth. With the help of dental implants, you won’t need the support of your natural, adjacent teeth if they aren’t there – your full smile will be restored.

How do dental implants work?

There are several steps to receiving an implant-restored tooth.

• The implant is placed in the upper or lower jawbone where your tooth used to be. The implant is made of titanium and acts as the root of your tooth, which will hold the personally created crown.
• After the implant has been placed, the abutment is attached. This part can be made from titanium, porcelain, or gold, and is attached to the implant with a screw. The abutment connects the titanium implant to the crown.
• Finally, the restoration (the crown) is added to the abutment, which has been made to look natural with the rest of your smile. Either the crown is screwed or cemented onto the abutment; if it is screwed in, the screw hole will be covered with composite filling material to make it look just like the rest of your teeth.

Before any work has started, you’ll have a consultation with our professional in order to make sure this treatment is the best option for you. Your medical and dental history will be reviewed, you’ll have x-rays taken, and we’ll create impressions of your teeth and gums so models can be made.

How do I take exceptional care of my dental implants?

Dental implants should be cared for like the rest of your smile. Your teeth still need to be brushed and flossed on a daily basis, so don’t think you can skip your important dental routine just because of your new smile. Don’t be afraid to ask us about the best kind of toothbrush and toothpaste for your teeth. There are certain brushes and floss that can help clean hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.

We also highly suggest quitting any unhealthy habits including tobacco, especially if that was one of the major reasons to getting dental implants. Smoking will weaken your bone structure and gums, as well as your natural teeth surrounding any of your implants, which can contribute to its failure. No matter that these new teeth aren’t natural – you still need to take care of them as if they are!

While your diet can go back to normal, you still want to make sure you’re not going out of your way to damage your implants. Try and avoid chewing on any hard foods, like candies and ice, since they can still break your crown and damage the way your smile looks. Your crown still needs to be created just like your natural teeth, so be aware of anything that can seriously damage both the implant and the rest of your smile.

And, as always, make sure you’re still visiting our office for check-ups! Your dental implants, while strong, are not invulnerable, so make sure you’re still scheduling your visits with us to check on them. During these times, we can also perform your cleanings and exams so your smile is in tip-top shape!

What should I expect from my dental implants?

Everyone has a unique and different smile, so everyone’s experience will be different. During your consultation with our professional, we’ll work with you to be as specific as possible in letting you know what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. Our goal is to give you the healthiest, happiest smile possible!

If you want to know if you’re a proper candidate for dental implants, then don’t hesitate to call Northwood Dental and schedule your consultation today. Your smile deserves to shine its best and brightest, so let us help! Call our office today at (651) 687-0789 and schedule your visit.