Restore Your Smile with Dental Implants at Advanced Dental in Windham ME

Dental implants are a modern solution for replacing missing teeth. They look and work like real teeth, including both the visible part and the root under the gums. This design provides strong support for daily use. Dr. Armstrong carefully plans each implant to match the patient's existing teeth, ensuring comfort and long-term reliability.

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Understanding Dental Implants

Dental implants are titanium posts that act as artificial tooth roots. They are surgically placed into the jawbone to support a dental crown, bridge, or denture. Titanium naturally bonds with bone, making implants stable and long-lasting.

Getting dental implants involves several steps that can take months. Each step is carefully planned to ensure safety and success.

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What are dental implants?

A dental implant is a titanium post that serves as a synthetic tooth root. It is surgically inserted into the jawbone, allowing it to support a dental crown, bridge, or denture. Titanium is known for its ability to fuse effectively with bone tissue, providing excellent stability and long-lasting service through a process called osseointegration.

Unlike removable prostheses, dental implants remain stable and function very similarly to natural teeth. Patients can chew, speak, and maintain proper jaw structure without the inconvenience commonly associated with removable appliances.

At Advanced Dental, patients benefit from a personalized implant treatment program. Dr. Armstrong ensures optimal bone support and that the placement of each restoration promotes long-term durability.

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Advantages of Dental Implants.

Dental implants offer many benefits compared to traditional tooth replacements.

1. Stability and Strength

Dental implants connect directly to the jawbone, providing stability that removable dentures or bridges cannot match. This allows patients to eat and speak naturally without worrying about slippage or discomfort.

2. Maintenance of Bone Health

Tooth roots help keep jawbone density. When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone may weaken. Dental implants act like natural roots, stimulating the bone and preventing bone loss.

3. Long-lasting Solution

With proper dental care, dental implants can last for many decades. They are considered permanent restorations since they do not decay or break.

4. Functional Restoration

Patients can use their mouths normally for eating and speaking. There are no limitations associated with removable prosthetics.

5. Support for Adjacent Teeth

Unlike dental bridges that rely on nearby teeth for support, implants are independent. They help preserve the natural structure of adjacent teeth, ensuring overall dental stability.

6. Natural Appearance

The restoration can be shaped and colored to match the surrounding teeth, giving a very natural look.

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Steps In The Dental Implant Procedure

Stages of dental implant treatment usually include hundreds of steps, over a long period of months. Each step is carefully planned to ensure patient safety, precision, and long-term success.

Step 1: Consultation and Evaluation

The whole procedure initiates with a thorough examination and consultation. Dr. Armstrong will conduct a medical and dental history review, perform a clinical assessment, and recommend diagnostic imaging to evaluate bone density and structural alignment.

Step 2: Treatment Planning

Once eligibility is confirmed, a treatment plan will be made specifically for the patient; it will specify how many implants will be placed and where, as well as the type of connections that will be used for the restoration.

Step 3: Implant Placement

This involves surgically placing a titanium post in the jawbone. Local anesthesia will be used to ensure patient comfort during the procedure. The implant is placed with great precision for excellent bone integration and years of strong holding power.

Step 4: Healing and Osseointegration

After placement, bone naturally integrates with the implant in a process termed osseointegration. After several weeks to a few months of healing time, the implant can be anchored into the bone structure.

Step 5: Abutment Placement

Once it is fully healed, an extension will be coupled to the implant, known as an abutment, to serve as a probabilistic connector to the implant. This piece establishes the final restoration base.

Step 6: Restoration Placement

A customized crown, bridge, or denture will be created and placed with the abutment. The last restoration will be durable yet comfortable enough to perform all the functions demanded of a natural tooth.

Advanced Dental consults patients during the whole process by assuring comfort and accuracy throughout. Dr. Armstrong guarantees that all phases in treatment will lead to a successful, long-lasting result.

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Dental Implant Restoration Types

Dental implants offer versatile options for restoring missing teeth in various numbers and locations. Here are the primary types of dental implant restorations:

1. Single Tooth Implant

This restoration replaces a single missing tooth with a single implant and a custom crown, restoring full functionality without affecting adjacent teeth.

2. Implant-Supported Bridge

When multiple consecutive teeth are missing, an implant-supported bridge can be used. This type of restoration relies on implants for support, eliminating the need to modify adjacent teeth.

3. Implant-Supported Dentures

For patients with complete tooth loss (edentulous), implant-supported dentures are recommended. These dentures are anchored by implants, which prevent movement that can occur with traditional dentures. They can be designed as either fixed or removable, based on the patient's preferences.

4. Full-Arch Restoration

In cases of complete tooth loss, a full-arch restoration can be achieved using multiple strategically placed implants. This provides comprehensive coverage and optimal chewing function.

Once the type of restoration is determined, the dentist will assess the patient's condition and bone structure to create an effective restoration plan that aligns with the patient's long-term goals.

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Schedule a Consultation

If you are eager to have your dental implant done, you can book a consultation now with Dr. Stanley D. Armstrong at Advanced Dental. Learn how permanent, stable restorations can restore function and protect oral health for years to come.

Schedule your consultation today by calling (207) 892-8325.