DENTAL IMPLANTS
Needing a tooth removed can be a shock to many, especially if it is your first tooth lost since you had your wisdom teeth removed. Restoring the look and function of that tooth is not a painful, long, or especially costly process. Let us walk you through what to expect while you will avail of our affordable dental implants in South Carolina.
What Is A Dental Implant
Dental implants, or ‘implants’, are tooth root replacements. This is an important distinction. Many people who have heard of dental implants, or even see the photo below, may think that a dental implant is “a post with a tooth on top.” Actually, a dental implant is just the part that you don’t see. The tooth, or ‘crown’, is not part of the implant itself. More to come on these terms below.
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In this generic representation of a dental implant above, you can see the three components you can expect to receive as part of having a dental implant placed:
1) The Implant 2) The Abutment and 3) The Crown
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The Implant
The implant itself is typically made of titanium alloy, which is a great biocompatible material. In fact, most artificial joints - like knees and hips - are made of titanium alloy. There are some implants you may come across when researching your dental implant options that are made of zirconia which is a ceramic material; however, these implants are not as commonplace as titanium.
When the tooth is removed, the surgeon will prepare the site for the implant placement by changing the shape and dimension of your jaw bone. The implant is ‘screwed’ into place and bone grafting is often placed around the implant to ensure quicker osseointegration.
Once placed - and healed - the dental implant will act in the place of your original tooth root, holding your new crown in place.
The Abutment
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An abutment connects the crown to the dental implant. There are two types of abutments you need to be aware of: Healing and Final.
Healing abutments are used during the healing period, which is between 8-12 weeks for most healthy patients. These abutments are used to protect the surgical site, the interior of the implant, and encourage proper gum tissue growth. Healing abutments, or ‘HA’, come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Your surgeon will determine the most appropriate HA and screw it into the dental implant during your surgery. These HAs are only finger-tightened when placed on the day of surgery so that the dental implant does not spin in its new site. As a result, some patients may experience their HA falling out but this is not an emergency! If your HA falls out during your healing period, contact our office to schedule a follow-up to have the HA placed (and be sure to bring your HA with you).
Final abutments connect the dental implant to the crown. These are provided to you by your dentist during the restorative process, after your dental implant has been considered healed by your surgeon.
The Crown
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The crown is what you most likely think of when you think “tooth”. There are two types of crowns you need to be aware of: Temporary and Final.
Temporary Crowns can be fabricated by the oral surgeon or by the general dentist. These are just one of the temporary aesthetic options available to you while your dental implant is healing (other options would be a ‘flipper’ or an Essix retainer). Temporary crowns are discussed as an option prior to your surgery, because if you are eligible for one and you opt for one, it would be fabricated and delivered on the day of surgery. These crowns are offered to patients whose dental implants are considered “anterior and maxillary” because these crowns are not intended to last much longer than the healing period, nor will they look as aesthetically perfect as the final crown. These crowns are also not intended to function as if they were your final crown, meaning that they are not intended to have much bite force exerted on them while the implant is healing as that can sacrifice the wellbeing of the implant — that means no biting into apples or using your front teeth to chew.
The final crown is a ceramic replacement fabricated by your general dentist to match your existing smile. You will work with your dentist to determine the shade and look of the tooth. It is important to note that when you are considering the financial cost of having an implant placed, the restorative crown is a separate cost through your dentist than the amount paid to the oral surgeon. We recommend that if you would like to get a complete understanding of the cost of having a dental implant placed, to ask your dentist to provide you with a quote for the final crown prior to committing to your surgery date with our team.
TERMS DEFINED
Fabrication
the process of a specialized dental laboratory manufacturing custom dental prosthetics including single crowns, traditional or fixed dentures, mouth guards, etc.
What Can I Expect on The Day of My Surgery?
Each case is a little different based on any number of the factors we mentioned above; however, most single implant placement surgeries last between 30-45 minutes. Most patients report feeling little to no discomfort in the hours following surgery, and most are able to return to normal activity same-day or next-day with a modified diet.
Surgeries with IV Sedation
Surgeries with Localized Numbing and/or with Nitrous Oxide
Are There Any Risks with This Surgery?
Serious dental implant complications are rare, but there are some common post-operative issues to look out for :
If you had a known increased risk for dental implant failure, this would have been discussed prior to surgery; however, some patients may experience dental implant failure even without relevant medical history or behaviors.
Mandibular dental implant surgeries are associated with a risk for nerve damage due to the location of the mandibular nerve; however, if there was an anticipated risk for nerve damage...
Maxillary dental implant surgeries are associated with a risk for sinus communication, which occurs when the sinus floor is perforated, leaving the sinus open to the oral cavity.
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To lessen your risk for these complications, follow all post-operative instructions provided by your oral surgeon and their clinical team. The most common cause for these complications is non-adherence to these directions because you’re “feeling fine.” Ensure that all instructions and medications are followed throughout the time period they are prescribed.
Why Should I Choose Charleston Oral and Facial Surgery to Place My Dental Implant?
Searching something like “tooth replacement near me” is going to bring up far too many results for you to fairly consider. Consider, though, that dental implant placement is one of the procedures that oral surgeons are specifically trained to complete. That isn’t to say that general dentists aren’t capable of placing dental implants – they can be. Oral surgeons, though, are often more experienced in recognizing important anatomical features that lead to long-term success, as well as, the fact that oral surgeons typically complete many many more dental implant surgeries in a given year than a general dentist.
Our team offers a lifetime guarantee on our dental implants, and of the thousands we have placed, our patients have a 99% long-term success rate.
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Implants Placed
As of November 2023, Charleston Oral and Facial Surgery is proud to have been named the first Straumann Digital Excellence Center in North America. If you’d like to learn more about the Straumann dental implant system or our digital workflow, visit our “Implant System and Workflow” page.
Charleston Oral and Facial Surgery has 7 board-certified oral surgeons on staff offering the most advanced surgical techniques and integrative medical procedures, providing the ultimate patient experience. Outside of the surgical suite, the COAFS team focuses on the following pillars of care:
The Ultimate Patient Experience
Our mission at COAFS is to provide our clients with state-of-the-art oral and maxillofacial treatment through the use of cutting-edge technology, integrative medical practices, ongoing education and compassionate care.
Our team of highly trained, board-certified providers offers the most advanced surgical techniques and integrative medical procedures, providing the ultimate patient experience-every single time.