Dental Implants

From the perspective of someone who has never lost a permanent tooth, it might not seem like such a big deal. Those who have lost one or more of their adult teeth, however, know how seriously the loss can impact their ability to perform everyday tasks. Missing teeth can cause speech to become slurred and make biting and chewing certain foods difficult.

Can’t chew your food?

With dental implants you can start chewing again.

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RESTORE YOUR SMILE

Dental Implant Procedure

Because a lack of proper dentition impairs a person’s ability to chew fiber-rich foods, people with few or no remaining teeth tend to have poor nutrition and poor overall health. To address the problems caused by missing teeth, Dr. Goldberg recommends dental implants to patients in Bradenton, Palmetto, and Sarasota who qualify for the procedure.

Before recommending dental implant placement, Dr. Goldberg will first want to perform a complete examination of your mouth and take x-rays to determine the health of your jaw. You will need to discuss your medical history, since certain health conditions can affect your candidacy for dental implants. Once Dr. Goldberg determines that you are a suitable candidate for implant dentistry, you can expect the following:

  • Implant placement: Dr. Goldberg partners with a skilled oral surgeon, who will surgically insert the implant into your jaw. After the implant heals, a process that takes an average of three to six months, the oral surgeon will place a healing cap.
  • Designing and placing the restoration: As a restorative and cosmetic dentist, Dr. Goldberg handles the design and placement of your dental crown, bridge, or implant-secured dentures. He will place an implant abutment and take impressions of your teeth and produce detailed instructions regarding shape, color, and size of your dental implant restoration.  These records will be sent to a dental lab for the creation of crowns or bridges.

DENTAL IMPLANT PROCEDURE

How Dental Implants Help You

The best teeth are your own natural ones. However, if you’ve lost one or more of those teeth to gum disease, tooth decay, or injury, dental implants are the next best thing. Dental implants have three distinct parts that serve three distinct functions:

  • The implant: This screw-like device is inserted into the jaw beneath the missing tooth. The implant fuses with the bone tissue surrounding it and takes the place of a natural tooth root. It anchors the total dental implant structure.
  • The abutment: This intermediary portion firmly connects the implant beneath the gum line to the restoration above the gums.
  • The restoration: This component replaces the visible portion of the tooth. Commonly used restorations include dental crowns, bridges, and even partial or full dentures.

Together, these three components provide a tooth replacement solution that closely mimics the crown-and-root design of a natural tooth. Dental implants are strong, sturdy, and long lasting and can be cared for just like your natural teeth.

Once the dental implant procedure is complete, not only will you be able to chew food, but also vocalize words better since the flow of air out of your mouth when speaking is often affected by broken, chipped or missing teeth. Therefore, you can rest assured that you will regain both confidence in your smile and in your ability to communicate with others.

DENTAL HEALTH

Before You Have a Dental Implant Procedure

Good candidates for dental implants have good overall health and healthy bone mass in the jaw. Issues that might exclude you from receiving dental implants include:

  • Preexisting medical conditions: Problems such as arthritis, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases can increase the chances of implant failure.
  • Smoking: Cigarette use can seriously impair your body’s ability to heal properly and prompt implant failure.
  • Heart Health: While there is no conclusive direct connection, some dental conditions share risk factors with heart disease.
  • Poor oral hygiene: If you lost your teeth because you failed to undergo needed periodontal treatment or address tooth decay at an early stage, or if you have a history of poor oral hygiene at home, your case will need to be reviewed on an individual basis.

If you have any health concerns, we suggest you speak with Dr. Goldberg so that you can get additional information on how to prepare for your dental implant procedure.

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