Dental Implants Park Ridge

Have you been informed you need to have a tooth extracted? Are you already missing one, several, or even all of your teeth in the upper or bottom row? Are you interested in a permanent tooth replacement option? We are happy to offer dental implants in Park Ridge for our patients missing one or more teeth and are interested in restoring their smile and replacing their missing teeth.

Are you already wearing dentures or a bridge? Not sure if dental implants near you would be the best option? We invite you to schedule a consultation with an implant dentist at Complete Health Dentistry of Park Ridge. We would be happy to evaluate your smile, discuss your options, and decide whether you are a candidate for implant dentistry.

Although dental implants were technically invented back in 1965, it wasn’t until recently that they became one of the most popular options for missing tooth replacement. Tooth implants are made using two main parts: the implant and the prosthetic, and these are often connected with one or more other parts called an abutment. This helps dental implants function like natural teeth, which also have distinct structures, although they’re all one part.

The implant itself is a small post or screw which your implant dentist will surgically insert in the jawbone. This replaces the natural tooth root. The dental implant bonds with your bone to become secure similar to the function of the natural root.

The prosthetic can be made in different forms: dental crowns, dental bridges, or partial and even full dentures. Depending upon how many teeth you need to replace and your overall oral health, your dentist can decide the best option for your smile.

In recent years, dental implants have become very popular because they offer many benefits over other tooth replacement options.

Dental implants bond to your bone in a process called osseointegration. They are even more fully secured in the bone than your natural teeth. Dental implants don’t need you to use denture cream or other tools to secure them. You don’t have to worry about them falling out when you’re eating, talking, or laughing.

Dental implants function just like natural teeth. You can bite and chew all your favorite foods. Eat an apple, corn on the cob, or steak. You will speak clearly, and you can speak as loudly as you need to without fear of sending your prosthetic flying.

People wearing dentures know they have something in their mouth. They feel it, and it can lead to gagging, excessive salivation, or, weirdly, dry mouth. The denture will irritate your gums as it moves around. With implant prosthetics, though, your prosthetics will be so secure that it’s easy to forget you have anything but natural teeth in your mouth. Healthy implants just feel like natural teeth, and you won’t think about them as anything other than natural teeth.

Dental implant restorations can be fully fixed in your mouth so you don’t have to remove them for cleaning and soaking every day. Just brush around the implants the same as you do around your natural teeth. Flossing might be a little different, but for the most part, it’s all the same as with your natural teeth, including making regular dental checkups.

Dental implants become part of your jawbone, and they can remain there for the rest of your life if you take proper care of them. Large clinical studies show that over 90% of dental implants last 20 years or more, with no indications that they are reaching the end of their life. There are some documented cases of implants lasting more than 50 years.

The prosthetic is unlikely to last that long, though. These last 10-15 years in most cases, though some quality prosthetics last over 30 years with about one repair or adjustment every eight years or so.

First, Dr. Kuchta will make sure you are a good candidate for dental implants. If you need gum disease treatment to prepare your mouth for implants, our Park Ridge dentist may perform that.

When you’re ready for dental implants, Dr. Kuchta will refer you to a specialist for implant surgery. Although many general dentists perform implant surgery, we know that when you might have something in your mouth for the next 50 years, it’s important to make sure that it’s placed properly, so we trust the procedure to a specialist.

There are three possible outcomes of your implant surgery, depending on how secure your implant is after surgery. You might have a provisional prosthetic that same day. With All-on-4, the procedure is designed to ensure almost everyone gets this result. However, it’s also possible that you will have a healing cap. This is a small round piece that attaches the dental implant and lets the gums heal around the implant and cap, preserving space for the prosthetic. If your implant is initially unstable, your implant dentist might cover it with the gums to protect it during healing.

Next, your implant will heal for the next three to six months, integrating with your jawbone. When it’s ready, we will remove the provisional prosthetic or healing cap to place an abutment and a definitive restoration.