Dental implants

Dental Implants

Modern Tooth Replacement In West Palm Beach, FL

With today’s technology, losing a tooth is not the end of the world! Modern dental implants are a more comfortable and effective way than ever before to replace a missing tooth or teeth. No matter the reason for your tooth loss, whether from an accident or from gum disease, our goal with implants is to restore the function and appearance of your mouth, and ultimately, to help you feel confident about your smile again. Dr. Minch, Dr. Newton and our team are excited to help you chew, talk and show off your beautifully restored smile!

What Is A Dental Implant?

Dental implants are restorative devices that are surgically placed into the jawbone in order to replace missing teeth. They can take the place of just one tooth, multiple teeth, or replace all of your teeth. All together, an implant system consists of these main parts:

Made of titanium, these look like screws and are surgically drilled into the jawbone.

The abutment is attached with a screw to keep the tooth in place.

Made of porcelain, this is the part that you and other people will see. It will look just like your other teeth! These artificial teeth can either be a single crown, or they can be part of an implant-support bridge or denture.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Benefits Of Dental Implants

Even when just one tooth is missing, your other teeth and the overall health of your mouth, gums and jaw can be negatively affected. The existing teeth can shift and take the brunt of excessive wear and tear. Even the shape of your face can change as a result of shrinking jawbone due to bone loss. You may also find speaking and eating more and more difficult, or you might feel self-conscious about other people noticing your missing tooth or teeth. The advantages of dental implants include:

  • Restores your ability to talk and chew
  • Restores aesthetic appearance
  • Helps keep the jawbone from shrinking
  • Protects the surrounding teeth, bone and gums
  • Improves self confidence
  • Boosts quality of life

Types Of Dental Dental Implants

Dental implants are long lasting solutions to missing teeth, and making the decision to receive one is an important one. Our team will create a personalized treatment plan to help guide you in this decision, helping you pick the best solution for your extent of tooth loss, the condition of your jawbone, lifestyle, goals and more. Options include:

Also called “in the bone” implants, this is the most common type of implant, offering an alternative to traditional, removable dentures. These surgical options are made of screws that are surgically placed into the jawbone. Each implant then supports a prosthetic tooth or teeth.

Known also as an “on the bone” implant, this type of restoration is placed on top of the jaw and gums with a metal framework with posts that hold it in place. This is a great option for patients who do not have enough bone left to support a surgical option.

Placing Your Dental Implant

We believe by understanding the process behind receiving your implant, you will be more confident and comfortable in the procedure. Prior, our team will help determine if this treatment is right for you, and if so, how many teeth will need to be replaced. Following, you can expect:

Our team will examine your mouth and take digital X-rays to determine if there is enough jawbone left for a successful procedure. Sometimes a bone graft is necessary to ensure there is enough healthy bone to support the implant. The gums also need to be healthy and clean, with no evidence of periodontal disease.

Patients will be placed under anesthesia during this out-patient procedure. Our dentist will carefully cut the gum and posts are then drilled into the bone. Restorative implants, however, do not involve drilling, and will instead be placed over the bone.

Your permanent crown may be placed on the day of your procedure. In cases of full teeth replacement, you may need to wait several months before receiving them in order to give the gums time to heal with and around the post. In this case, we may offer temporary teeth or protective caps to wear during this period.

After a couple months, you will need to come in to receive your abutments. This will require another shorter healing period for the gums to heal.

If your permanent tooth or teeth are not placed the day of your initial procedure, you will need to come in a couple months later to receive them! Surgical implants will be screwed or glued with special cement to the abutments, while restorative ones will be attached to metal framework. Enjoy your new, beautiful smile!

Caring For Your Dental Implants

After your procedure, you can expect some discomfort, swelling and bleeding, which can be treated with pain medication and eating soft foods. Once healed, your implants will look and feel like your natural teeth, and, when properly cared for, should last for a long time. You should take care of them just like the others and brush and floss daily. Make sure to visit us for regular cleanings and scheduled checkups so that we can monitor your progress. If you have any questions about implant dentistry at Marc A. Minch, DMD, contact us!

Couple with healthy teeth smiling on beach

Health-Centered Dental Care

In Southeast Florida

We are proud to provide compassionate and personalized care with a gentle touch. Dr. Minch, Dr. Newton and our team use a health-centered and prevention-based approach to give you a healthy smile with an emphasis on sleep health.