Dental Implants Athens
No Spaces & All Smiles
Without question, all of our dental office’s tooth replacement options work well. Any of them could help your grin and strengthen your oral health. Still, dental implants have traits that the other options don’t. Such features make them the gold standard of tooth replacement. When placed by our staff, they have the same look and function as your natural teeth. You can learn more about dental implants in Athens by reading below, and for more details, book a consultation at our office!
Why Choose Athens Dental Associates for Dental Implants?
- Dental Implant Placement Done In-House
- All-on-4 Dental Implants Available
- Treatment Planned with Cone Beam Scanner
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that act as tooth roots. They’re actively set in your jaw instead of on top of your gums. This placement allows them to fuse with nearby bone tissue. The implants will then become secure parts of your jawbone. From there, they can support your final restoration – a crown, bridge, or denture—offering the same strength and stability as real teeth.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
The dental implant process mainly consists of four steps:
- Initial Dental Implant Consultation – You’ll first consult Dr. Hill Lindsey before you start a dental implant treatment. This discussion gives us a sense of your smile goals, oral health, etc. That way, our dental team can confirm if implants suit you.
- Dental Implant Surgery – With Dr. Hill Lindsey’s approval, you’ll get dental implant surgery soon after the consultation. This will take place in our office.
- Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment – Your implants will slowly fuse with your jaw after surgery. This usually takes 3-6 months and ensures your new teeth remain stable. Once it’s done, we’ll place your abutments (i.e., metal connectors set in your implants that hold the restorations).
- Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s) – After healing from the placement and abutment surgeries, you’ll visit us for your final restoration. This may be a crown, bridge, or denture. Which kind you receive will depend on your oral health needs.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer many great benefits, including:
- High Success Rate – Well-placed implants almost always work in the long run. In fact, their ten-year success rate is over 95%!
- A Lifelike Smile – Since they’re capped with porcelain or zirconia restorations, implants blend seamlessly with your smile.
- Youthful Look – By stimulating your jawbone, implants help your face look full and youthful.
- Easier Eating– Implants restore your bite force and allow you to chew tough foods.
- Long-Lasting Results – With proper care, the average dental implant can last thirty years or more.
Dental Implant FAQs
Can I Take Dental Implants Out?
No, and attempting to do so yourself could result in physical harm or discomfort. Unless you have a removable type of implant denture, your restoration will be designed to stay firmly in place in your mouth. The implant posts below your gumline will be fused with your jawbone, and the visible restoration will be securely fastened to a small connector piece.
Basically, if you need your dental implant removed or adjusted for any reason, give us a call and leave it to our team!
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
Actually, the vast majority of our patients report that they feel no more discomfort during dental implant surgery than they would for other dental procedures. It helps that the jawbone has very little nerves! We’ll also administer a local anesthetic to ensure your mouth is numb, and will likely provide sedation. Rest assured, we take your treatment experience very seriously, and will take every precaution to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Yes – in fact, dental implants have a 95% success rate! The vast majority of patients are able to enjoy their dental implants in Georgia for 10 years or more. Thanks to the biocompatible nature of the materials used, the body readily accepts dental implants. Our team will also plan out your treatment carefully to promote the success of your restoration.
What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?
Though extremely uncommon, dental implant failure can occur for one of two reasons: peri-implantitis or failed osseointegration.
Peri-implantitis is gum disease that takes hold in the tissue or bone near a dental implant. When this happens, the implant is at risk of coming loose. Poor oral hygiene can lead to an accumulation of gum disease bacteria, so it’s crucial to brush your teeth twice daily and floss at least once per day.
Failed osseointegration is when the implant post doesn’t properly fuse with the jawbone. This could happen if you fail to follow post-op instructions or begin treatment with insufficient jawbone mass (our team will thoroughly examine your mouth and jawbone before treatment so this risk is minimized).
Am I Too Young to Get Dental Implants?
While there’s no such thing as being “too old” for dental implants, there is such a thing as being “too young.” Most people don’t have a fully developed jawbone until their early-to-mid 20’s. Trying to place a dental implant before the jawbone is fully developed could result in failure or complications with future bone growth, so we don’t recommend this treatment for patients younger than 18.
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