Experienced restorative dentists in Towson, Dr. Kevin Welinsky and Dr. Jay Shires offer treatment options for replacing missing teeth. Dental implants offer a permanent, secure, and natural-looking smile. They can replace a single missing tooth, support dental bridges, or secure a denture for the upper or lower arch of teeth. Dental implants in our Towson, MD office are the most natural solution for tooth loss.
Implants give stability and strength to your smile and bite. With dental implants, you can eat all your favorite foods again and smile with confidence. They take away the fear of a slipping denture or slurred speech.
Dr. Welinsky and Dr. Shires recommend dental implants whenever possible because they provide the best smile and function. As Towson’s trusted implant experts, our dentists will create a personalized plan to restore your teeth comfortably and naturally. We also provide additional dental services to patients in our Towson, Maryland, dental office.
Why Choose Sweet Tooth Dentistry for Implants?
Dr. Welinsky has advanced training in implant placement and restorations. He completed an oral surgery clerkship at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and participated in international externships in Peru and Honduras. He has also studied at the Engel Institute, refining his skills in advanced implant and surgical techniques. When you choose Sweet Tooth Dentistry for implants, you’re working with a dentist who handles both the surgical and restorative phases of your care.
Dr. Shires helps plan implant treatment with a focus on functional harmony. He trained at The Dawson Academy, which emphasizes how your teeth, jaw joints, and muscles work together. Dr. Shires uses that training to plan implant-supported crowns and bridges that fit your bite and function comfortably for years.
What’s a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a titanium post that we place in the jawbone. It acts as a new tooth root to provide a sturdy base for an artificial tooth or teeth. Because implants use durable materials and become a part of your mouth, they can improve your long-term oral health.
The implant can support a dental crown for a single missing tooth, a dental bridge for several missing teeth, or dentures to replace all missing teeth.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are the gold standard for tooth replacement. Compared to traditional dentures or bridges, implants offer these top benefits:
- Offer an almost 100% success rate
- Prevent bone loss and gum recession as they fuse to your jawbone
- Promote a healthier diet with fresh foods
- Doesn’t require preparation for neighboring teeth
- Improve speech
- Support your natural face structure to prevent facial sagging
- Improve comfort in denture wearers
Am I a Good Implant Candidate?
Dr. Welinsky or Dr. Shires will carefully examine your mouth and discuss what you hope to achieve. Thanks to modern dental advances, most people now qualify as good candidates. Even those who’ve been told they couldn’t get implants in the past.
During your consultation, we’ll check if you have these:
- Bone Strength: You need enough jawbone to properly support the implant.
- Gum Health: Healthy gums ensure long-term success.
- Overall Oral Health: Good oral health helps prevent complications.
Even if you don’t have enough jaw bone to get implants, you can get a bone grafting to strengthen your jaw. If you have tooth decay or gum disease, we’ll recommend a root canal or periodontal therapy so you can qualify. In some cases, Dr. Welinsky and Dr. Shires will coordinate pre-treatments with a local specialist if you need extra support.
The Dental Implant Process in Towson, MD
Dr. Welinsky and Dr. Shires manage and coordinate the multifaceted procedure for consistent care and outstanding results. The process of getting an implant can take a couple of months to a year, depending on the state of your oral health.
Implant Consultation
At your initial consultation, Dr. Welinsky or Dr. Shires will evaluate your dental health to see if dental implants will work for you. We will do a full exam and x-rays, then talk to you about your goals. You should have good overall health and enough healthy jawbone to support the implanted post.
It may take time to prepare with pretreatments, but these treatments ensure your results last and prevent problems like implant failure.
Pre-surgery Preparation
For the best results, you need to have a healthy mouth, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help you get there. For patients with receding bone in their jaw, we’ll suggest a bone graft. A bone graft adds volume to your jawbone so it’s strong enough to support dental implants.
If you don’t have enough bone height below your sinus in the upper jaw, we will suggest a sinus lift. A sinus lift gently raises your sinus cavity to create room for dental implants in your upper back jaw. Without this procedure, implants might poke into the sinus cavity. The lift creates a stable “foundation.”
If you need bone grafting or a sinus lift, we’ll coordinate care and follow-up to monitor your healing. We may also recommend a tooth extraction to remove diseased or damaged teeth, and gum disease treatment to remove infected gum tissue.
Implant Surgery
Dental implant placement is a simple procedure that you’ll get under local anesthesia. During treatment, our implant surgeon will assess your bone beneath the gums. Then, he will place the implant post or posts. He’ll provide a temporary restoration or cap to cover the post so you won’t be without teeth as you heal.
Healing Phase
The mouth typically takes three to six months to heal and fully fuse with the implant. This healing process is called osseointegration. Over these months, the implant post becomes a replacement tooth root.
Our office will monitor you as you heal. After you’re fully healed, we’ll place the abutment. The abutment is a connector piece that links the implant post to your restoration. You’ll need more time for your gums to heal after abutment placement.
We also take dental impressions of your mouth to create your custom implant restoration. We work with a local dental lab to create custom restorations that match the shape and shade of your teeth.
Final Restoration
After healing, Dr. Welinsky or Dr. Shires will uncover the post and attach a custom dental crown, bridge, or denture. Our dentist will ensure your implant restoration blends in with your smile and feels comfortable. Ultimately, your restoration will look and function the same as your natural teeth.
Patient Review
Dental Implant FAQs
Still curious about dental implants? Read answers to common questions about implants at our Towson dental office.
How long does a dental implant last?
You can expect your dental implant to last a lifetime with routine dental care and good oral hygiene. One of the reasons implants are so popular is that they’re a permanent tooth restoration. You don’t have to replace or readjust them because the jawbone doesn’t continue to worsen. Implants help spur jawbone regeneration to support your natural jaw health.
What’s the success rate of dental implants?
Another benefit of an implant treatment plan is its 95-98% success rate. If you meet all the requirements and take good care of your restoration, it should last a lifetime. It’s rare for your body to reject an implant.
The risk of implant failure comes if you don’t brush or floss after you get your implants or if you use tobacco products as you heal. Otherwise, your implant treatment will be completely successful, as long as you take excellent care of your teeth.
How quickly can I replace a tooth with a dental implant?
After our surgeon places the implant post, it’ll take about 3 to 6 months to fully integrate with your jawbone. Next, our dentist will secure the permanent dental crown. The entire process can take up to seven months. But the process can take longer if you’re in poor oral health or need pre-treatments like bone grafting or a tooth extraction.
Will dental implants stop bone loss?
Yes! This is a key feature that sets dental implants apart from other options. When a tooth goes missing, the bone underneath it slowly deteriorates because it doesn’t have the support of the tooth root.
But an implant replaces the tooth root. When you chew, it provides enough force directly into the jaw to stimulate the bone. Replacing your missing tooth with an implant can help stop jawbone deterioration and also combat aesthetic problems like facial sagging.
Schedule Your Implant Consultation Today
Are you missing a tooth or several teeth? If you want to learn more about dental implants, schedule a consultation with our Towson dentists. Your dental implants need to fit harmoniously with your natural bite. We are now accepting new implant patients.
Contact us at 410-449-7656 or use our online appointment request form, and we’ll contact you shortly. Dr. Welinsky’s Baltimore, MD-area dental office is convenient for patients in Towson, West Towson, Parkville, and many Baltimore suburbs.
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