Dental Implants – McComb, OH

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step when getting dental implants is your initial consultation. During this time, we will examine your smile to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants. Some patients require preliminary procedures before they are able to qualify. This can include gum disease treatment, bone grafting, and more. If this applies to you, we can help you get these treatments scheduled. Once your jaw and gums are in good shape, we can move on to putting together your treatment plan. During this visit, we will go over the timeline and cost of your treatment in detail.

Dental Implant Surgery

Getting dental implants requires a surgical procedure. At McComb Family Dental, we want you to be in the best possible hands, so we partner with the most experienced oral surgeons in the McComb region to achieve the greatest results. After numbing the area with a local anesthetic, an incision is made into the gum tissue. The dental implants are placed at precise locations and angles where they will have a solid, stable foundation. Then, the gums are closed and protective caps are placed over the ends of the implants to keep them safe so the area can heal effectively.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

It can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months for the area to completely heal. This is when titanium implant(s) fuse to the jawbone in a process called “osseointegration.” It is this process that makes your replacement teeth so stable and long-lasting. Once osseointegration is complete, you will need to undergo another minor procedure in which abutments are placed on the end of the implants. Impressions are taken so your final restoration(s) can be crafted at the dental laboratory.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

Once your restoration(s) is complete, you can return to our dental practice. At this time, your dentist will attach your restoration(s) to the dental implant(s) via the abutment(s). If everything looks and feels great, you can leave the office showing off your new and complete smile with pride!

Day-to-Day Benefits

Dental implants can improve your everyday life in ways such as:

• A Natural Appearance: At McComb Family Dental, we offer high-quality restorations that are made from materials that look and feel completely natural. That way, you’ll be able to confidently laugh, speak, and smile without being self-conscious about the way your teeth look.
• A Broader Diet: Dental implants are designed to provide superior stability so they can safely exert the same chewing force as real teeth. This means they can allow patients to enjoy a tastier and more diverse diet than they could with traditional restorations like dentures or bridges.
• Easy Oral Hygiene: Dental implants only require the same oral hygiene routine as real teeth to stay healthy. By sticking to a daily regimen of brushing, flossing, and antibacterial mouthwash, you can keep your breath fresh, your implants strong, and your smile gorgeous.
• A Complete Smile: Going through daily life with a smile you can be proud of can make it much easier to confidently engage with others and enjoy social events.

Health Benefits

Replacing lost teeth can provide important health benefits like:

• A Restored, Strong Bite: Traditional restorative options aren’t as secure and strong as dental implants because they rely on factors such as suction to stay in place. Dental implants are secured to your jawbone, so they won’t slip, shift, or move while you eat or talk.
• Healthier Eating Habits: Tooth loss can make it much more difficult to enjoy the nutritious and diverse diet your body needs for optimal health. Dental implants can allow you to enjoy tough wholesome foods such as raw, snappy veggies, crunchy nuts, and fibrous, marbled steaks.
• Protection from Oral Injuries: Since they are secured directly into the jawbone, dental implants will not slide about in the mouth and cause gum irritation or dental damage like a loose set of traditional dentures might.

Long-Term Benefits

Dental implants can deliver significant long-term benefits including:

• Prevent Bone Loss: Titanium is a biocompatible metal that can naturally fuse with your jawbone. Stimulation from your implants will keep your jawbone from receding, which can prevent issues like the neighboring teeth becoming misaligned and the face developing a sunken appearance.
• An Incredible Success Rate: 95% of dental implants are still working well even ten years after being placed, making them a sound investment in your oral health.
• A Long Lifespan: Dental implants can last for several decades or even a lifetime with proper care.
• Preserving Oral Health: Dental implants are easy to clean, which can help you prevent infections, and permanent, meaning that you won’t have to periodically invest in costly replacement restorations as you would with traditional bridges and dentures.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Dental implants may not be able to get cavities, but that doesn’t mean you should slack off on your oral hygiene. You’re still vulnerable to issues like gum disease, which can lead to dental implant failure. The best way to prevent harmful bacteria from attacking your soft oral tissues is by following a solid dental hygiene regimen. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing every day with an ADA-approved mouthwash is a great way to keep your smile in tip-top shape.

Kick Bad Habits to the Curb

Do you smoke? Bite your nails? Chew on pens or pencils? Use your teeth as tools? Munch on leftover ice? While these habits may seem harmless, they can destroy your enamel and implants. If you want to enjoy your newly rebuilt smile for a lifetime, you should try and break these poor habits as soon as you can. At McComb Family Dental, we can provide you with the support, resources, and guidance you need to make breaking these habits as easy as can be.

Protect Your Dental Implants

If you regularly play sports or grind your teeth at night, you should ask our dentist about a custom-made oral device. An athletic mouthguard can keep your pearly whites safe from any impact should you sustain a blow to the face. Meanwhile, a nightguard can protect your enamel from the force of grinding your teeth at night.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Aside from good oral hygiene, you should visit our dentist every six months for checkups and cleaning to ensure no issues are developing. These appointments allow us to review your prosthetics and monitor your restorations. With early intervention, we can help you avoid more costly and invasive issues down the line.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last? 

Since dental implants are built to last, they are crafted from only the best materials. As a result, they can last for 30+ years! This is significantly longer than other tooth-replacement solutions, like dentures. The key, of course, is proper care. To keep your dental implant (and your oral health) in pristine condition, it’s important to brush twice a day, floss daily, and visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

Smoking does not automatically disqualify you from getting dental implants. However, the use of tobacco has been linked to several troublesome consequences, like dry mouth and delayed healing. That’s why candidates are determined on a case-by-case basis. If you do qualify for the procedure, then our implant dentist in McComb will provide you with a list of instructions, including not smoking for at least two weeks before the procedure and at least 2-3 months afterward. As a result, many patients use this opportunity to kick this habit altogether.

What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?

Dental implants in McComb have more than a 95% success rate, which is quite impressive. Of course, it is possible for them to “fail” in the short and long-term. The two most frequent culprits? Peri-implantitis and failed osseointegration. The first is a form of gum disease that can wreak havoc on the bone and gums that support your dental implants. The latter refers to the unsuccessful fusion of the implant to your jawbone. Chronic teeth grinding, poor oral hygiene, and certain medications are also common causes.

Will People Be Able to Tell That I Have Dental Implants?

The last thing you want is to invest in a tooth-replacement solution that is bulky, obtrusive, and awkward. Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about that with dental implants. They are custom-made for each patient, ensuring the size, shape, and shade of the restoration suits your smile perfectly. For this reason, the results are natural when it comes to both look and function, and the only attention you get will be positive!