We understand the importance of healthy and beautiful teeth. At Dazzling Dentistry, we believe that everyone deserves to smile with confidence. Missing teeth can cause more than aesthetic problems. Over time, missing one or more teeth can create problems with biting, chewing, and speech. Dr. Margaret Radziszewski works with local oral surgeons to provide dental implants in Chicago and Arlington Heights, IL.
Teeth implants are key to restorative dentistry. We can restore a single missing tooth, rows of lost teeth, or all your teeth with an implant-supported restoration. Replacing missing teeth can help you eat, speak, and smile with confidence.
The Parts of a Dental Implant
A dental implant has three main parts. First, the post is a small titanium screw that is placed into the jawbone to act like the root of a natural tooth. The abutment is a piece that connects the implant to the crown. We place the abutment on top of the implant to hold the artificial tooth in place.
The restoration is the visible part of the implant, made to look like a natural tooth. It restores the appearance and function of the tooth. If you get a single implant, we’ll provide a crown. We recommend bridges and dentures for patients with multiple missing teeth or all their teeth missing.
Benefits of Dental Implants
You have many options to consider when you want to restore missing teeth. However, dental implants stand out among other restorative solutions. Dr. Radziszewski recommends implants for one or more missing teeth because they provide these benefits.
Longevity and Durability
With proper care, implants last a lifetime. The titanium implant fuses with the jawbone to create a stable foundation that mimics the strength of teeth. Traditional bridges or dentures may need to be replaced or rebased more often. Bridges often rely on neighboring teeth for support, which can impact their longevity.
Preserve Natural Teeth
Unlike traditional bridges, we don’t need to alter your adjacent teeth to place dental implants. We can preserve more of your natural teeth to help your overall oral health and stability.
If you get traditional bridges, we need to reduce the size of your adjacent teeth for the restoration. This can weaken these teeth over time and is unneeded if you get implants.
Stability and Function
Dental implants offer stability that goes beyond what options like traditional dentures can provide. Once your implant posts heal, they become a permanent part of your jaw for a secure fit. Unfortunately, dentures may sometimes shift or slip. You can feel discomfort or pain, and slipping dentures can impact your ability to chew and speak.
Looks and Natural Feel
One of the huge benefits of dental implants is that they look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The crown attached to the implant matches the color, shape, and size of your existing teeth. While bridges and dentures aim for a natural look, they may not fully replicate the feel and function of real teeth.
Bone Health and Facial Structure
Dental implants act like new roots to maintain a youthful appearance. As replacement tooth roots, implants also stimulate the jawbone to prevent bone loss and preserve your facial structure.
Traditional dentures and bridges may not provide the same level of stimulation. Unfortunately, the lack of a tooth root can lead to bone resorption over time. When dentures or bridges lay on the gums, you can continue to lose your bone tissue and can experience facial sagging. Implant posts add to your facial structure and can provide a more youthful look.
Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Choosing the right restorative option is a personal decision. However, dental implants stand out for their durability and natural appearance. During your consultation, Dr. Radziszewski will help you to make an informed decision based on your unique needs and preferences. Some factors can make you a good implant candidate.
Healthy Gums
For dental implants to work well, you need to have healthy gums. Healthy gums provide a strong foundation for the implant to bond with the bone. Gum disease or gum infections can prevent the implant from healing properly.
When you have gum disease, the gums can pull away from the teeth and weaken the area around the implant. If your gums need attention, we can provide periodontal disease treatment before you get implants.
Good Bone Density
You must also have enough bone in your jaw to support the implant. The implant needs a solid foundation, just like the roots of your natural teeth. If you’ve had missing teeth for a long time, the bone in your jaw may have weakened or shrunk, making it difficult to support an implant.
In cases like this, Dr. Radziszewski might suggest bone grafting. A bone graft adds bone to the jaw area to create enough bone density for the implant to fit securely.
Good Overall Health
You want to be in good overall health before you get dental implants. The surgery and healing process can be challenging for people with certain health conditions.
If you have uncontrolled health issues, like diabetes, heart disease, or if you’re on medications that affect your ability to heal, we’ll review your health history. For example, conditions like diabetes can slow healing and increase the risk of infection. Our dentist may request your doctor’s approval before the implant procedure.
No Smoking or Alcohol Use
Smoking and heavy drinking can make the healing process slower and increase the risk of complications with dental implants. Smoking can reduce blood flow to your gums and bones, which means the implant will have a harder time bonding with the bone.
Alcohol can affect healing and make infections more likely. If you smoke or drink heavily, our dentist might suggest quitting or reducing your habits before getting implants to help ensure a better outcome.
Dental Implant Treatment at Dazzling Dentistry
Before treatment, Dr. Radziszewski will perform a thorough exam and take X-rays to see where you’re missing teeth. She also takes digital images to see areas of bone loss, infection, or damage. After your initial exam, you can expect these steps of dental implant treatment in Arlington Heights and Chicago.
Pretreatments
We can provide treatments like tooth extractions, gum disease treatment, or bone grafting before we place implants. These pretreatments ensure you’re healthy enough to get treatment. While these treatments may add to your overall treatment time, they can prevent problems like implant failure.
Implant Surgery
Dr. Radziszewski coordinates with a local implant surgeon to place your implants. To begin treatment, the oral surgeon will place the implant post into your jawbone. They first numb your mouth with local anesthetic to ensure you don’t feel any pain.
After placing the titanium implant post, the area will need some time to heal and bond with the bone. Over 3 to 6 months, during a process called osseointegration, the implant post fuses with your healthy jaw bone.
Impressions
In the meantime, we’ll take impressions of your teeth in our office to help design your custom replacement tooth. Dental impressions help us create a restoration that fits perfectly with the rest of your smile. We’ll also order the abutment that connects the restoration to the implants.
Creating Your Custom Crown, Bridge, or Denture
We work with a specialty lab that designs the restoration. Our local dental lab will create crowns, bridges, and dentures made to look and feel natural. The lab carefully crafts the restoration to match the size, shape, and color of your existing teeth, so it blends seamlessly into your smile.
Final Restoration
Once your custom restoration is ready, you’ll return to our office. Our dentist will attach the restoration to the implants during this appointment. Dr. Radziszewski ensures your implant restoration fits comfortably.
Patient Review
Schedule an Implant Consultation
Replace tooth gaps with dental implants in Arlington Heights and Chicago, IL. Call Dazzling Dentistry today (872) 276-8546. You can also schedule an appointment with us online. We can coordinate all steps of implant treatment for the best results.