An experienced restorative dentist in Towson, Dr. Welinsky offers advanced treatment options for replacing missing teeth. Dental implants offer a permanent, secure, and natural looking smile. They can replace a single missing tooth, a dental bridge, or secure a denture for the upper or lower arch of teeth.
Dental implants offer patients the most natural and functional result after tooth loss, giving stability and strength to your smile and bite. Patients with dental implants enjoy normal chewing function and feel more confident when speaking. They take away the fear of a slipping appliance or slurred speech.
Dr. Welinsky suggests placing dental implants whenever possible because of these key benefits that can provide the best possible quality of life. If you are looking for an experienced dental implant specialist in Towson, MD, Dr. Welinsky can provide you with a plan of action and deliver a healthy smile.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a titanium post that will fuse to the jaw bone. It will act as the root of a missing tooth. This unique factor provides key benefits for your long term oral health and the appearance of your lower face. Implants prevent dramatic jaw bone loss which can occur after tooth loss.
The implant will support a dental crown (single missing tooth), bridge (several missing teeth), or a denture (replace all missing teeth).
Benefits of Dental Implants
- Almost a 100% success rate
- Prevents bone loss and gum recession as it will fuse to your jaw bone
- Promotes a healthier diet with fresh foods
- Unlike a dental bridge, it requires no preparation for neighboring teeth
- Improves speech
- Improves comfort in denture wearers
Am I a candidate for teeth implants?
Dr. Welinsky will evaluate your oral health and cosmetic goals. Then he will suggest the best treatment options for tooth replacement. Today’s patients enjoy the benefit of many recent advances in the techniques for placing implants that enable most to be qualified candidates.
Some patients mayneed to have soft tissue or bone stabilized before placing an implant. Dr. Welinsky can work with you to coordinate pre-treatments with a local specialist. This is important for the stability of the end result.
Implant Dentistry: What to Expect
The placement of teeth implants is a multi-faceted procedure that Dr. Welinsky will manage and coordinate for consistent care and a great result. If bone grafting or sinus lift is necessary to support your implant, we will coordinate care and follow up to monitor your healing. Then we will move on and plan the next phase of the process.
At the initial consult, Dr. Welinsky will complete a evaluation of your dental health to determine if dental implants will work for you. You should have good overall health and enough healthy jawbone to support the implanted post.
Dr. Welinsky will coordinate the surgical phase of the tooth implant procedure with a local oral surgeon. He will follow up post surgery to ensure a positive result. Dental implant placement is a simple procedure performed in the oral surgeon’s office under local anesthesia.
It typically takes three to six months for the implant to heal and fully fuse with the jawbone. During this time, a temporary restoration may be attached to offer natural aesthetics and function. This is often dependent upon the location of the implant placement and the stability of your remaining teeth.
After the healing process is complete, Dr. Welinsky will uncover the post and attach a custom dental crown, bridge, or denture to restore beauty and function to your smile. Your restoration will look and function the same as your natural teeth. You can brush, floss normally, and even return to regular eating habits with restored biting and chewing ability.
Dental Implant FAQs
How long does a dental implant last?
With routine dental care and good oral hygiene, you can expect your dental implant to last a lifetime and provide a secure and comfortable smile. 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 deteriorate. Implants spur jawbone regeneration.
What’s the success rate of dental implants?
Another benefit of implants is that they have a 95-98% success rate. If you meet all of the requirements and take good care of your restoration, it should last a lifetime. It’s very rare for your body to reject an implant.
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
There are some requirements you have to meet to be a successful dental implant candidate. First, you have to have enough jawbone structure to support the implant. A bone graft or other procedure will be necessary if you don’t. You also have to be in good overall and oral health. The surgical component requires you to be healthy enough to undergo surgery. If you have remaining tooth fragments or gum disease, we’ll need to treat these conditions before moving forward.
How quickly can I get a tooth replaced with a dental implant?
After your dental implant is surgically placed in the jaw bone, it will take about 3 to 6 months to fully integrate with the jaw bone. Next, the dentist will secure the permanent dental crown. The entire process can take up to seven months. However, if you are in poor oral health, the process can take longer.
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 will begin to slowly begin to deteriorate. The implant replaces the tooth root which, when you chew, provides enough force directly in to the jaw to stimulate the bone. By replacing your missing tooth with an implant, the deterioration will stop.
Schedule a Consultation and Dental Exam
Are you missing a tooth or several teeth? If you want to learn more about restoring your smile, schedule a consultation with Dr. Welinsky. We welcome new patients to join our family dental practice. Contact us at (410) 692-8453 or use our online appointment request form, and we will contact you shortly. Dr. Welinsky’s Baltimore, MD-area dentist office is convenient for patients in Towson, West Towson, Parkville, and many Baltimore suburbs.