Dental Implants in Louisville, KY & New Albany, IN
Dental implants are replacement artificial teeth that are secured in place with tiny titanium posts that are surgically positioned in your jawbone. The artificial crown tooth is fastened to the post with an abutment or extension. Dental implants allow you to restore your natural smile with a solution that allows you to bite, chew, and speak normally. Dental implants also help to preserve your jawbone density and save your jawbone from atrophying. This helps maintain the structure of your face. Over fifty million Americans experience tooth-loss every year. Traditional dentures have long been the best restoration solution, but there have been recent innovations using dental implants in numerous ways that are creating more options.
The Increasing Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer significant benefits for you including the following:
- Improved appearance- Dental implants both look and feel like your natural teeth. The titanium used for the post is designed to fuse with the jawbone, creating stability and security.
- Improved comfort- Because they function as a permanent replacement tooth root, dental implants eliminate the need to remove an appliance.
- Easier eating- Loose dentures can make chewing a challenge. Dental implants function like your natural teeth, allowing you to bite, chew, and eat your favorite foods with complete confidence.
- Improved speech- With ill-fitting dentures, the appliance can easily slip causing you to mumble or slur your words. With dental implants this worrisome problem is gone.
- Convenience- Dental implants eliminate the inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for any adhesives to keep the dentures in place.
- Durability- Dental implants are extremely durable and will last decades with proper care.
- Improved oral health- Patients who have received dental implants claim it helps them improve their ability to brush and floss regularly, which results in improved overall oral health.
- Structural Integrity- By filling gaps, dental implants not only preserve the original jawbone, but they also eliminate the shifting of your natural teeth into the vacant space.
- Improved self-esteem and self-confidence- Dental implants will restore your healthy smile, visually and functionally, and help you feel better about yourself.
The Dental Implant Procedure
The complete procedure of having a dental implant placed will take several visits and several months to finish. Your initial evaluation starts the process. PerioImplant Associates will take x-rays to confirm the density of your jawbone to see if it can successfully support the dental implant. If your jawbone has atrophied, a bone grafting procedure will then initiate the process.
After these preliminary steps, we can begin the actual procedure by administering a local anesthetic to the immediate area. When the tissue is adequately numb, we will make a small opening to gain access to your jawbone. At this point the titanium post is surgically placed into your jawbone.
The next stage takes patience. It will take a few months for the post to fuse and integrate with the jawbone. This is a crucial step because this what stabilizes the post. At this point we add an abutment or extension on the post to reach the surface of your gumline. Finally, your general dentist will affix the artificial crown on the abutment and your dental implant restoration is completed.
Contact Our Practice Today
Our goal is to get you back to smiling and chewing with confidence. With our qualified staff and compassionate team, we will listen to your questions and desires to find the best solution for your dental health.
Proper Care of Your Dental Implant
One of the leading factors contributing to the longevity of a dental implant is your care for the implant. A dental implant should be treated just like a natural tooth and should be properly brushed and flossed. This will also maintain the health of the gums, and your surrounding teeth as well. At PerioImplant Associates, we will monitor your implant at a yearly visit to ensure long-term health of the implant.
Your new implant will be strong, but a healing process is still suggested after the implant is surgically placed. For the first few weeks we recommend softer foods, with a slow introduction of harder foods. Your jawbone needs to acclimate to the new force and pressures that is being applied.
A dental implant is currently the best long-term option available for tooth replacement. If you are missing a tooth or need a tooth pulled, speak with PerioImplant Associates about a dental implant for you.
Implications if You Do Not Replace Your Missing Tooth or Teeth
Dental implants have a positive impact on your overall oral health, simply by allowing you to normally brush and floss. When a tooth is missing, the adjoining teeth will soon shift into the gap. This in turn changes your bite alignment and also makes it more difficult for you to care for your teeth properly. Improper care leads to increased bacteria, which in turn leads to cavities, gum disease and more. It also impacts the integrity of your jawbone with the atrophy of the bone. Neglecting to have a dental implant placed will lead to a variety of oral health issues.
Dental Implants Treatment Costs
The cost of your dental implant will depend on your individual needs and your treatment requirements. We will discuss with you the projected cost of your implant, insurance coverage, and available payment options before we begin, so that you can make an informed choice for your situation.
Our Specialists Tell Our Story Best
Ramsey Burton, DMD
Dr. Ramsey Burton is originally from Nashville, TN. He received both his undergraduate and doctorate degrees from the University of Louisville. Following dental school, he completed periodontal specialty training at the University of Kentucky.
Courtney Shearer, DMD, MS
Dr. Courtney Shearer was born and raised in Louisville, KY. She attended Washington and Lee University for her undergraduate degree. She then attended the University of Louisville School of Dentistry where she received her Doctorate in Dentistry.
Jodie Lusby, DMD, MSD
Dr. Jodie Lusby is a Board Certified Periodontist and grew up in Florence, KY. He attended the University of Kentucky where he received his biology degree and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He then attended the Louisville School of Dentistry.
A Warm and Caring Welcome to Our Practice
Our team at PerioImplant Associates has one primary focus, and that is to provide you with the best service possible. It can be completely natural for you to be anxious about visiting a general dentist, or even a dental specialist such as a periodontist. Understanding that, our entire team will always take our time in explaining the benefits of the procedure that is being proposed for your dental health. Both offices, Louisville, KY, and New Albany, IN, are extensively trained to address all oral health issues and concerns. We will share the aspects of periodontal treatment, introduce our staff, and explain any general office policies. Call us today about an evaluation for a dental implant procedure for you. We will all greet you with a smile and send you home with a healthy smile of your own that you will be eager to share.