Replace Missing or Failing Teeth with Dependable and Natural-looking Dental Implants

Losing teeth is something we associate with seniors, but even people in their prime 20s can lose teeth. Dental trauma, decay, and gum disease are some common reasons why young and old lose teeth. 

While tooth loss is a frustrating and embarrassing experience, you don’t have to face life with a “gappy” smile. Dental implant surgery at Smile Today Dental in Prospect Heights, Illinois, is an excellent solution for patients looking for a permanent solution to tooth loss. 

How a dental implant replaces missing teeth

A dental implant is a three-component dental prosthetic designed to mimic your natural tooth from looks to performance. The three parts of a dental implant include:

• The post: We use a titanium fixture to replace a natural tooth root. The titanium post integrates with the jawbone to form one biological structure, stable enough to support one or more prosthetic teeth
• An abutment: This metal component is placed above the implant post and protrudes above the gum line to link with the final restoration
• Crown: This is the part of the dental implant visible when you smile. The dental crown is attached above the abutment to restore your tooth’s appearance and function. We use dental crowns to replace a single missing tooth, but bridges or dentures are preferable if replacing multiple teeth

Like natural teeth, a dental implant is securely anchored in the bone to offer incredible stability when eating, talking, or smiling. So, when using your teeth, your implants will not move, click, or fall out.

The dental implant treatment: What to expect

Placing dental implants isn’t an overnight job. As you’d expect, restoring your smile with something closely mimicking your natural teeth requires sufficient time and planning. A dental implant procedure typically takes six to nine months, but this differs from patient to patient. 

Want to restore your smile with dental implants? This is what to expect.

• Initial consultation: Your dental implant journey starts with a consultation with our dentist. During your consultation, we’ll explain everything about the treatment, including the timeline and expected outcome. We’ll also review your dental history and examine your jawbone to ensure it’s healthy enough to support an implant
• Pre-surgery procedures: Many patients go straight to implant surgery, but if you have severe bone loss, you may need bone grafting. Similarly, you’ll need a dental extraction if you want to replace a failing tooth
• Placing your implant: Implant surgery is an in-office procedure performed after administering local anesthesia. The procedure is pain-free, but if you are nervous, you can talk to our team about sedation dental care. Once you are comfortable, the dentist makes a small incision in your gums and bone to place the titanium post. The next step is to close the surgical site with stitches to pave the way for healing
• Healing: We’ll leave your implant for four to six months to allow it to fuse with the jawbone through osseointegration. During this phase, observe diligent oral hygiene and adhere to scheduled follow-up treatments to improve success
• Abutment placement: This is a minor procedure to attach a connector (abutment) above the implant post. Abutment placement needs about two weeks to heal
• Crown placement: The final step is to top off your implant with a custom-designed dental crown. After this procedure, your implant will be virtually indistinguishable from other teeth

When you take care of your implants, expect them to last for life! Best of all, dental implants give you the confidence to eat, smile, and talk like you never lost teeth!

Dentists Who Do Implants Near Me

If you have tooth loss misery or denture distress, talk to Drs. Evelyn Kidonakis and Jinyoung “Anny” Yoo about our dental implant options. Call 847-440-3331 or schedule an online appointment for a brighter, healthier dental future.

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