What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a permanent, fixed solution if you have one or more missing teeth. The implant itself is a small titanium screw that is surgically inserted into the jaw bone to act as a base for a dental restoration such as a dental crown or bridge.
If you are missing teeth, it is important to replace them as soon as possible to preserve your overall oral health, as well as your ability to chew and speak normally.
Contact our dentists today to take the first step towards achieving a more even-looking, beautiful smile.
If it is determined that a dental implant can help you, you will be referred to a local oral surgeon. After the implant has been installed and you have healed, you will come back to us to complete the restoration process.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
If a tooth is missing, the remaining teeth may begin to shift out of place and cause misalignment issues.
The jaw bone may also begin to deteriorate, which can lead to facial collapse or negatively impact your ability to eat and talk. For all these reasons, replacing missing teeth is necessary to maintain good oral health long term.
The Dental Implant Process
Typically, the dental implant process takes two or more dental visits. After your initial consultation, if your dentist decides an implant is right for you, you will be referred to a local oral surgeon to have the implant inserted.
During the surgery, an implant is surgically placed through the gum and into the jawbone. Over the next three to six months, your mouth will heal and the implant will bond with your jaw and gum tissues.
Once you've healed, you will return to our clinic in Yorkton to complete the process. Our team will place an artificial tooth (or teeth) permanently over the dental implant. Depending on the number of implants placed, your restoration could be an individual crown, a bridge or a full denture.
When put together, the two parts of the dental implant work to help give you a restored smile, prevent surrounding teeth from shifting, resolve bite issues or jaw joint pain and prevent jaw deterioration and facial collapse.
Dental Implant FAQs
Read the answers to our most frequently asked questions about dental implants at Prairie Smiles Dental Group.
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How long does a dental implant last?
If cared for properly, a dental implant can last the rest of your life. Proper care consists of regular brushing and flossing at home, as well as attending your twice-yearly hygiene cleanings and exams at Prairie Smiles Dental Group.
The longevity of a dental implant may also depend on other factors, including nutrition, genetics, or the development of any dental diseases.
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How do I care for my dental implants?
Caring for a dental implant is the same as caring for your natural teeth!
Make sure you brush and floss your teeth twice a day, and attend regular hygiene appointments at your dental office to prevent decay or disease from developing in your remaining teeth and gums in the surrounding area.
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Does getting a dental implant hurt?
During dental implant surgery, your oral surgeon will administer anesthesia to keep you comfortable so that you feel very little during the procedure.
Most patients are able to manage any pain afterward with over-the-counter pain medication.
You will also need to eat a soft diet for the first couple of weeks after the implant procedure to avoid pain or irritation at the surgery site.
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How long does the dental implant process take?
The entire dental implant process usually takes about three to six months to complete, depending on your treatment plan.
Your dentist can provide you with a more specific timeline based on your particular case.
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Will my insurance cover dental implants?
Different insurance plans cover different things, so while dental implant procedures are covered in some cases, in others, they are not.
To determine what part, if any, of your dental implant treatment will be covered by your insurance, check with your insurance provider.
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Do you perform the dental implant surgery in your clinic?
For the actual insertion of the implant, you will be referred to an oral surgeon in Yorkton or close by. We do not perform the surgeries in-house.
Once the implant is in place, we are more than happy to continue the process by cementing your dental restoration in place on top of the implant.