Dental Implants — Mayfield Heights, OH
Setting a Strong Foundation for a New Smile
Sometimes a tooth is knocked out and can’t be replanted, or it might have to be removed for the good of your oral health. The question is, what do you do once it’s gone? There are a few different tooth replacement options to explore, but only one will restore the missing tooth’s entire structure, roots and all – dental implants! Tooth replacement using dental implants in Mayfield Heights, OH is a solution that a periodontist such as Dr. Ross is extremely skilled at providing. Get in touch with Ross Periodontics today to learn more about dental implants and how they can be used to completely restore your smile.
Why Choose Ross Periodontics For Dental Implants?
- Board-Certified Periodontist with Advanced Training
- Entire Treatment Conveniently Completed Under 1 Roof
- State-of-the-Art Robot-Assisted Procedures
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is not actually a prosthetic tooth; it is the “root” for a new tooth to rest on. It will normally be made out of titanium and shaped like a screw. What’s unique about it is that unlike other forms of tooth replacement, it is placed directly into the jawbone itself. This helps the crown, bridge, or denture that is attached to it stay firmly in place and not slip. When you rebuild a missing tooth this way, it’s virtually indistinguishable from the genuine article in every way.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Dental implants offer numerous benefits that you can’t get from other tooth replacement options. This is because they replace the roots of the missing teeth, allowing for additional stability and a more lifelike restoration. To achieve this, dental implants require a multi-step process that takes several months to complete. Everyone’s treatment looks a little bit different, but here are the four main steps that you can expect.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
The very first step of the dental implant process is the consultation. You will come to our practice so we can examine your smile in person and determine whether or not dental implants are right for you. This is also when we determine how many implants you will need and whether you require preliminary procedures, like bone grafting or gum disease treatment. Once your gums and jawbone are in good shape, we can move on to planning the rest of the treatment process.
Dental Implant Surgery
Getting dental implants requires a surgical procedure to place them into the jawbone. At Ross Periodontics, we use the Yomi Robot-Assisted Guidance System, to ensure an accurate, precise placement of the dental implant posts. After numbing the area with a local anesthetic, an incision is made into the gums. Then, the dental implants are placed into the jawbone at a carefully chosen angle. Lastly, the gums are closed, and protective caps are placed over the implants to keep them protected as they heal.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Over the next three to six months, your dental implant and jawbone will meld together in a process called “osseointegration.” This is what allows the dental implants to be so stable and long-lasting. Then, you will need to get another minor procedure where the abutments are placed on the end of the implants. Impressions are also taken at this time so your restoration can be custom crafted just for you.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
Your restoration is designed at the dental lab. Once it’s ready, you will return to having your replacement teeth attached to your implants, leaving you with a complete smile. If everything looks and feels as it should, you will be free to leave the office with your beautiful, full grin and a newfound confidence!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Compared to traditional methods of replacing teeth, dental implants offer many advantages. Whether you look at them in the short term or decades after placement, they provide benefits you won’t find with any other option. Their unique structure, replicating real teeth, give them much more security and you more peace of mind now and in the long term. Find out why our patients are thrilled with their choice to get dental implants!
Day-to-Day Benefits
Getting your teeth replace doesn’t have to be weird, but even brand-new traditional dentures can feel strange in your mouth. You have to adjust how you talk and eat because the dentures could slip out of place, and it only gets worse over time. However, implants look and feel as realistic as possible. Supported by your jawbone, dental implants also have a strength and stability that is only rivaled by natural teeth. As a result, you don’t have to feel self-conscious about your smile as you chew food or talk in front of others.
Health Benefits
In addition to looking amazing, dental implants can also help your body stay healthier. They work to prevent the bone resorption that normally occurs after teeth are lost; in other words, they stop nearby bone tissue from breaking down. Also, implants improve the chewing power of your new teeth so that you can enjoy tougher foods that might be difficult to eat with traditional dentures, such as certain fruits and vegetables. When you eat a healthier diet, you can enjoy better overall well-being and higher quality of life.
Long-Term Benefits
With the proper maintenance, these replacements have great potential in terms of longevity. In fact, did you know that dental implants often last for 30 years or more? In contrast, traditional dentures and bridges must be replaced about every five to ten years. Consequently, when you add up the price of all these new restorations over time, you may find that dental implants prove to be the smarter option financially, making the upfront cost a worthwhile investment.
Are Dental Implants Right for You?
If you’re missing any number of teeth and want the best replacement that modern dentistry has to offer, you should definitely ask Dr. Ross about implants.
Missing 1 Tooth
After an implant is placed in your mouth, a process called osseointegration will take place. The bone and metal will fuse together, essentially making the implant post a part of your body. After a few months, you’ll be ready to receive a custom-made dental crown; the end result will be a brand-new artificial tooth that looks, feels, and functions like the real thing.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Dental bridges often come to mind when thinking about replacing multiple teeth in a row. A typical bridge sits on natural teeth that have been filed down slightly (meaning small amounts of enamel have been removed). However, you can save your natural tooth structure by having a bridge placed on a pair of dental implants that brings back one to three consecutive teeth.
Missing All Teeth
Even an entire arch of new teeth can be supported by dental implants. Generally speaking, it takes about 4 to 8 posts to hold full dentures in place, although the exact number depends on the size and shape of your jaw. Normally, the dentures will be fixed in place and cannot be easily removed; this means that you don’t have to worry about taking them out of your mouth to clean them.
We offer All-on-4 dental implants that can hold your denture in place with just four dental implants per arch while you eat and socialize. This allows you to enjoy an experience much closer to natural teeth than a removable prosthetic. All-on-4 dentures save you time and money as they are placed at the same time as the dental implants that secure them. This lets you enjoy your new teeth fast and worry-free.
Learn More About All-on-4 Dental Implants Learn More About Implant Dentures
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Before you agree to have dental implant surgery performed, we’ll make sure that you completely understand the costs involved. You’ll have to pay for each individual implant post, a specific kind of restoration (a crown, bridge, or denture), and each procedure related to the implant process (which may or may not include bone grafting, periodontal therapy, or extractions). At your initial consultation, we’ll also discuss how you can use your insurance and sign up for financing to make your new teeth easily affordable.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
If you need additional treatments to receive dental implants, the total cost of your treatment will be higher overall. While this can make treatment more expensive, they are performed for a good reason. In fact, they make your dental implant treatment possible if you have existing issues that must be resolved.
Additionally, implant surgery incurs its own unique cost. If you are visiting our office specifically for dental implant surgery, the costs you incur here will be separate from the cost of the restorations provided by your general dentist.
The Parts of Your Dental Implants
Further costs of your dental implant treatment will be impacted by the following:
- The number of implants needed to rebuild your smile (one implant to replace single teeth costs much less than several implants that replace a whole arch)
- The type of restoration needed (single crowns are cheaper than complex implant bridges or dentures)
- Size of the implant as well as the materials used to create them
- The manufacturer and model of the implants used
If you have questions about the types of dental implants we use and why we use them, feel free to let us know!
How Dental Implants Can Pay for Themselves
While dentures and bridges can be a tempting solution because of their lower cost, keep in mind that dental implants offer long-term cost savings that you won’t get with any other treatment. Dentures and bridges require adjustments and eventually full on replacement every 5 to 10 years or so depending on how well you take care of them. Dental implants are designed to last for 30+ years, meaning you won’t have to worry about the costs of maintenance like you will for traditional solutions.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
In most cases, dental implants do not receive coverage from dental insurance. However, there are instances where insurance may cover the cost of certain phases of your treatment at a specific percentage. This includes the restoration that covers your implant or preparatory treatments that make your tooth replacement possible. In either case, our team will be happy to help you maximize benefits to the fullest.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
If your dental insurance is not enough to cover the costs of your dental implants, then you’ll need to explore other financing options to make treatment more affordable. Many patients turn to third-party payment plans from CareCredit and Lending Club to offset the costs of their dental implant treatment. Once enrolled, you can make monthly installments on your treatment plan and even pay little to no interest in many cases!
No matter how many dental implants you need, our office will gladly meet with you one-on-one to discuss your concerns and answer questions during a virtual smile consultation!
Dental Implant Technology
High-quality surgery depends on two things: the skill of the surgeon and the technology they use to perform the procedure. Not only is Dr. Ross a board-certified periodontist with years of advanced training and experience, but he’s outfitted his office with state-of-the-art dental technology. This equipment ensures that every procedure is as precise as possible, allowing for optimal results that will last for decades. From robot-assisted implant dentistry to 3D cone-bean imaging, we’ll go above and beyond to ensure your new smile is the best it can be.
Yomi Robot-Assisted Implant Dentistry
To place implants with the most precision possible, Dr. Ross is pleased to introduce the Yomi robotic-assisted guidance system to our periodontal office. A real-time visual guideline lets him keep a careful eye on his progress throughout the procedure, and the robot’s tracking arm can move along with the patient to ensure the best possible accuracy.
Learn More About Yomi Robot-Assisted Implant Dentistry
3D Cone-Beam Imaging
Before we insert dental implants into your jaw, we need to gather as much information as possible about the structure and density of the underlying bone as well as the soft tissues and nerves in the area. A regular X-ray won’t show us all of the details we need for a successful procedure; instead, we use a 3D imaging system that allows us to make highly accurate diagnoses and place your implants exactly where they need to go.
Advanced Dental Implant Procedures
Getting dental implants is different for every patient, so some will require more steps in the process than others. There are many reasons – such as a lack of bone in your jaw – why you might not be able to get implant posts right away. If Dr. Ross notices a potential complication, he can use one of the following advanced dental implant procedures in his Mayfield Heights, OH periodontal office to address the problem and pave the way for your new, stable smile.
Tooth Extractions
An extraction might be performed for a couple of different reasons. A tooth might pose a health risk to the rest of your mouth. In other cases, such as when you’re receiving an implant-retained denture, some remaining teeth may be removed to make room for the new prosthetic.
Learn More About Tooth Extractions
Ridge Preservation
If implant surgery can’t be performed on the same day as your tooth extraction, we can make sure the bone doesn’t break down in the time leading up to the procedure. This is done through ridge preservation, which involves placing bone graft material in the socket where the tooth was removed. This ensures that once the area has healed, there will still be enough bone available to join with the implant post.
Bone Regeneration
A healthy jaw is necessary to support dental implants. However, the bone will start to break down after you’ve lost your teeth (or if you’ve suffered from severe gum disease). To reverse this type of damage, we can perform a special form of oral surgery called bone regeneration. Bone tissue taken from elsewhere in your body (or from a donor) is inserted into the jaw and is left to grow. It will eventually mesh with the surrounding bone and strengthen it so it’s viable for implant placement.
Bone Grafting
This procedure is often recommended for anyone who wants to get implants but has already suffered bone loss in their jaw. It can help build up the jaw where Dr. Ross intends to place implants to make sure the new teeth will have a reliable foundation. If your own bone tissue is used as grafting material, it will typically be taken from your hip or another part of your jaw. It’s also possible for us to use tissue taken from a human or animal donor.
Dental Implant FAQs
If you are missing one or more teeth, it is certainly worth your time to talk to Dr. Ross about rebuilding your smile with dental implants in Mayfield Heights. However, before you schedule your consultation, you might have questions about the treatment and what you can expect from it. That is why we have compiled the following brief list of FAQs. If you don’t see the information you were hoping for, please contact our team directly.
Is It Painful to Get Dental Implants?
During the implant surgery itself, you should feel little to nothing. Not only will your mouth be numb, but your periodontist in Mayfield Heights also offers various levels of sedation, including powerful IV sedation. You can expect to be totally relaxed during your procedure. After the surgery, some soreness and swelling are normal. However, as long as you follow Dr. Ross’ postoperative instructions, you can expect a recovery that is as comfortable and smooth as possible.
What Can I Expect During My Recovery?
Many patients are feeling well enough to return to work within a day or two of their surgery. You’ll need to temporarily stick to a soft diet so you do not irritate your surgical sites. Foods like soup, applesauce, and even ice cream (without any hard extras) are suitable choices. If you have any questions or concerns during your recovery, Dr. Ross and our team are always ready and willing to help.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Dental implants carry very few risks. Most implants are constructed out of a titanium alloy, which works very well within the human body and almost never causes an allergic reaction. As long as you follow instructions for preventing infections around the dental implants, you can be confident that your treatment will bring you decades of worry-free smiles.
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
Estimates regarding the success rate of dental implants vary. However, research consistently shows that for the majority of patients, the treatment is a resounding success. In fact, according to one estimate, the success rate is close to 98 percent! Of course, many factors have a share in determining whether implants are successful, two of which are the skill of the implant dentist in Mayfield Heights who inserts the implants and the technology they use.
Dr. Ross has undergone advanced training that equips him to approach even the most complex implant cases with confidence. Moreover, he is one of only a handful of periodontists who uses the advanced Yomi robot to aid in the precise placement of implants. His skill and technology combine to minimize the risks around dental implants and maximize the treatment’s chances of long-term success.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
One of the best things about dental implants in Mayfield Heights is their longevity. They have the potential to serve you well for decades — perhaps even for a lifetime. They are an outstanding value, and many dental professionals acknowledge them as the next best thing to natural teeth. However, in order for your new smile to live up to its potential, you must care well for it. On this page, we discuss three keys to successful dental implant care in Mayfield Heights.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
One of the most common causes of dental implant failure is an infection known as peri-implantitis, wherein bacteria attack the tissue surrounding an implant. Excellent oral hygiene is essential for preventing peri-implantitis. Here are some tips that will help you maintain a clean, infection-free mouth:
- Thoroughly brush all of your teeth, including your implant-supported ones, twice a day. Be sure to clean the area around the gumline.
- Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash.
- Floss at least once a day. If you have an implant-supported bridge, a floss threader or water flosser can help you clean the space beneath your artificial teeth.
- Limit your intake of sugary and starchy foods. Bacteria love to feed on simple carbohydrates and multiply accordingly.
- Drink plenty of water to rinse away food particles that might be lingering in your mouth
- Do not use tobacco, which can contribute to dry mouth and a heightened risk of infection.
Protect Your Dental Implants
Protecting your dental implants from physical trauma is also important. If you play any type of contact sport — or even a non-contact sport — consider investing in a custom mouthguard. Not only will the mouthguard reduce the risk of physical damage to your implants and their restorations, but it could even lower your risk of concussion.
Also, be alert for signs of bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching). Bruxing places a lot of pressure on your teeth and implants and may cause them to break or suffer other types of damage. If you grind your teeth at night, ask your implant dentist in Mayfield Heights about getting a custom nightguard that will protect your smile while you sleep.
A third step you can take to prevent trauma to your implants is being careful about what you put in your mouth. Chewing on ice, pen caps, or other hard objects may damage your new teeth.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Even if you replace all of your teeth with dental implants, visiting your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups remains as important as ever. Not only will your dentist check your mouth for signs of gum disease, peri-implantitis, and other problems, but they will also inspect your dental implants and their restorations. They will even remove your restorations to clean and examine your implant abutments. If there are any signs of developing problems, it may be possible to nip such issues in the bud — before they pose a serious threat to your smile.
Dental Implant Post-Op Instructions
As you may suspect, replacing the roots of a missing tooth requires a bit more time and effort than simply replacing the crowns. Thanks to the advanced training and experienced of our board-certified periodontist, we perform the minor oral surgery that places the dental implants into your jawbone. While minor oral surgery may sound somewhat daunting, there’s nothing to worry about! You’ll need a little bit of time to heal from the procedure, but most people feel almost completely back to normal within just a few days. Here are a few important post-op instructions to keep in mind after getting dental implants in Mayfield Heights.
What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery
You will likely still feel groggy from the sedation by the time your appointment ends, so you’ll need someone to drive you home. In most cases, we’ll recommend that you take your first dose of prescription pain medication before the numbing medication in your mouth fully wears off. While your mouth is numb, you should avoid chewing on anything, and only drink beverages that are lukewarm. Get plenty of rest, as this will help your body recover!
Common Side-Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement
It’s completely normal to feel somewhat tired after your dental implant placement. You’ll also likely experience slight discomfort, swelling, and intermittent bleeding. These side effects should be easy to manage at home with the help of ice packs, gauze, and over-the-counter pain relievers. If your symptoms don’t clear up in a week or so, or if they seem to be getting worse, don’t hesitate to give us a call right away.
Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery
In order to keep your dental implant and your mouth safe after your surgery, it’s essential that you follow our diet instructions carefully. You should stick to soft, nutritious foods and drinks, such as:
- Yogurt, applesauce, and smoothies
- Pudding, mashed potatoes, and baked vegetables
- Lukewarm pureed soup
- Pasta and scrambled eggs
Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene
The last thing you want is an infection around your new dental implant. If bacteria gather around the surgical site, they could infect the tissues and damage them. This can slow down your healing process, interfere with osseointegration, and even cause dental implant failure!
Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day, being very gentle around your dental implant. You should also floss regularly and rinse your mouth out with water or mouthwash. Remember not to spit out forcefully, as this could irritate the healing tissues!
What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached
You should feel fully recovered a week or two after your dental implant surgery, but your jawbone will continue to fuse and heal for several months. Once osseointegration is complete, you’ll return to our office to have your brand-new smile anchored into place. Whether you’re getting a dental crown, bridge, or denture, having your restoration attached to the dental implants should be a fast and comfortable process. You may feel a bit of gum sensitivity for a day or so as your mouth gets used to your new teeth. However, before you know it, you’ll have a smile that looks, feels, and functions just like natural!