What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a titanium tooth root replacement. After you lose a tooth, you also lose the crucial support structure below it, the roots. Dental implants replace that support structure so you can support a long-term tooth replacement like a crown. 

With dental implants, you can achieve a natural-looking smile. Plus, your replacement teeth are just as strong and stable as your natural teeth once were.

What are the parts of a dental implant?

The main part of a dental implant is the post, which looks like a screw. Dr. Singh installs the post in your jaw. You’ll need some healing time so your implant post can osseointegrate, or fuse with the bone. 

After osseointegration, Dr. Singh places an abutment on the post. The abutment works as a connecting piece that supports your tooth restoration. 

Your tooth restoration is the final piece. Tooth restorations can be crowns, bridges, or even whole arches like All-on-4®. In All-on-4, you have four dental implants in your upper or lower arch. Those four implants permanently support an entire arch of replacement teeth. 

Are dental implants right for me?

Three things are crucial for dental implant candidacy:

Sufficient bone density

You need a healthy jawbone for dental implant support. But some men and women lose jawbone because of tooth decay, injury, or illness. If you don’t have sufficient bone density, Dr. Singh can augment your bone with grafts to support dental implants.

Good oral health

Good oral health, which means no cavities or gum disease, is important for dental implant success. Dr. Singh treats oral health problems promptly so you’re in the optimal state of health to get dental implants. 

Whole-body health

If you have any uncontrolled whole-body health problems, such as diabetes or other chronic disease, it can negatively affect your ability to heal. This could cause problems in the dental implant process. Dr. Singh advises patients to work closely with their medical doctor to ensure these issues are under control before getting dental implants.

If one or more of these issues aren’t controllable, that doesn’t mean you can’t have dental implants. There are other possible options, such as All-on-4, which doesn’t require as much bone density as individual dental implants. Snap-on dentures or screw-retained dentures are another possibility if dental implants won’t work for you. 

Dr. Singh can give you dental implants that work, feel, and look just like your natural teeth. Call Tompkins Dental or use online booking to learn more.

All-on-4 Implants

Dentures are an excellent way to rediscover your smile, and when it comes to keeping your new smile stable and secure in your mouth, there’s no better alternative than All-on-4® implants. If you’re considering getting All-On-4 implants, schedule a visit with Raminder Singh, DDS, and the denture experts at Elite Dental & Denture PC in Cortland, New York. They can work with you to make sure your All-On-4 experience is as easy and effective as possible. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

What is All-on-4 implants?

All-On-4 implants is a revolutionary system that connects your dentures to your mouth with dental implants. With only four strategically placed implants, the All-On-4 system keeps your dentures secured to your smile more comfortably than traditional means, like suction or adhesive. It also provides a variety of benefits for your overall oral health. 

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants are tiny screws or posts that are implanted into your jaw. They’re made from a biocompatible material, typically titanium, that allows your jawbone to fuse to your implant as you heal.

Because implants effectively become a part of your jawbone, they serve as a strong and stable foundation for a restoration, like a crown, bridge, or dentures. They essentially function as artificial tooth roots, holding your teeth in place and providing healthy stimulation to your jawbone. 

What are the benefits of All-on-4 implants?

All-On-4 implants tend to feel more comfortable in your mouth than dentures that are held with suction or adhesive. Because your dental implants are actually connected to the structures of your mouth, All-On-4 implants more closely mimic the form and function of a natural smile. This makes your All-On-4 implants easier to speak and chew with, and eliminates the bulky sensation or the feeling that your dentures are slipping around in your mouth.

All-On-4 implants are actually better for your oral health, too. When you wear traditional dentures, your jawbone doesn’t get the healthy stimulation that your tooth roots normally provide. This leads to bone loss in your jaw, which can cause your facial muscles to cave in and create a sunken-in appearance. All-On-4 implants continue to provide your jawbone with that healthy stimulation, which helps to preserve the health of your bone tissue and the appearance of your face.

What’s the process for getting All-on-4 implants?

The team at Elite Dental & Denture PC first takes an X-ray or CT scan to determine the exact location where your implants will go. Then, they make an incision in your gums, drill a hole in your jawbone, and insert your implant in your bone socket. They stitch up the surgery site and send you home to heal while your implant fuses with your jawbone. 

After your implant has fused, you come back to get your abutment. Your abutment is a small post that sticks up out of your gums and connects your dentures to your implants. Once your abutment is placed, your dentist takes an impression of your mouth and sends that impression off to a lab that custom-designs your dentures. 

When your dentures come back from the lab, the team at Elite Dental & Denture PC affixes them to your implants, giving you a beautiful and healthy new smile. 

Get started with your All-On-4 implants today by calling the office or booking a visit online.