Dental Implants — Newington, CT

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

During your free dental implant consultation, we will determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants. We will do so by performing a thorough exam of your mouth and using imaging equipment to take a look beneath your gumline. Feel free to bring a list of any questions you have about how dental implants work in Newington — we are ready to share our knowledge!

Once we understand your oral health, we will let you know what you can expect during your treatment journey. Some patients need a bone graft, gum disease treatment, or tooth extraction before they are ready to receive dental implants.

Dental Implant Surgery

Next is your dental implant surgery. Thanks to the specialized oral and maxillofacial surgical training that Dr. Ian Gibbs has completed, he can personally complete this step of your treatment right here in our office. During your appointment, your mouth will be numbed, and we may use sedation to help you feel as comfortable as possible. We will create incisions in the gums and carefully insert the implants at precise, pre-planned locations before we close the incisions. We will provide you with postoperative instructions to help your recovery go as smoothly as possible. Most patients are feeling well enough to return to work within a day or two of their surgery.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

As you heal from your placement surgery over the next few months, the dental implants will fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. This natural process, known as osseointegration, provides the strongest, most comfortable, and healthiest base possible for your new teeth.

Following osseointegration, you may have to undergo a second minor surgery. We will expose the implants and attach healing caps. Then, after your gums have healed, you will receive abutments. Abutments are small connector pieces that will serve to keep your restorations in place. (Some patients receive abutments and a temporary restoration on the same day as their implant placement surgery.)

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

The final step in the process is when your implant dentist in Newington designs and places your final restoration. Whether you will receive a crown, bridge, or denture, our team will carefully design your new teeth so they are both highly functional and aesthetically pleasing. Once we attach your restoration to your implants, you can go and begin to fully experience the many benefits of implant-supported tooth replacement! Thereafter, you will just need to visit us periodically for routine checkups and cleanings.

The implant treatment process may take a while, but the end result is well worth it!

Day-to-Day Benefits

Roughly one-third of denture wearers believe their denture limits their ability to live life to the fullest. If you can relate to them, dental implants in Newington may be perfect for you. Some of their lifestyle benefits include:

• The freedom to eat what you want. Thanks to the unique placement of dental implants, you can expect to easily and comfortably enjoy all of your favorite foods, including crunchy vegetables, juicy steaks, and anything else on your plate.
• A beautiful smile. Because of the artistry that goes into crafting the restorations that go on top of dental implants, your smile should be as beautiful as it is functional.
• Outstanding comfort. Some experts have called dental implants “nature’s rival” because they so closely mimic the function of natural teeth. After your mouth heals from the placement surgery and your prosthesis is in place, you might even forget that your implants are there because they will feel so comfortable.
• Clear speech. You will not have to worry about your new teeth slipping out of place when you are chatting with friends or striving to impress clients at work.

Health Benefits

The benefits of dental implants in Newington can also benefit your health. They may help to lower the risk of some problems that are frequently associated with tooth loss, including heart disease and shortened longevity.

They also have remarkable benefits for oral health:

• Jawbone preservation. After tooth loss, the jawbone begins to deteriorate, which can lead to your face having a sunken look. Because implants bond with the bone, they are able to prevent much of that deterioration. Therefore, you will be able to retain your face’s natural shape for much longer than if you chose a different tooth replacement option.
• Protection for natural teeth. Sadly, tooth loss often leads to further tooth loss. This is because when a tooth goes missing, the ones around it may begin to drift out of place and eventually fall out altogether. Implants help to keep your remaining natural teeth right where they belong, reducing the risk that your smile will suffer from new gaps later on.

Long-Term Benefits

With proper daily maintenance and regular visits to your implant dentist in Newington, it is possible that your implants will stay with you for the rest of your life. This is in contrast to other tooth replacement options, such as traditional dentures, which typically need to be replaced every 5 – 8 years. Although dental implants tend to come with a significant price tag, their longevity makes them a smart investment, both for your pocketbook and your oral health.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

It is likely that you qualify for dental implants in Newington, or that you can become a candidate for them with our assistance. Typically, people who receive them must meet a few important criteria:

• Fair overall health. You should be free of any conditions that could interfere with your ability to heal well after minor surgery. If you have diabetes or another chronic illness, it should be well-managed.
• Good oral health. It is important that you do not have active gum disease or other oral health problems that might compromise your implants’ success.
• Adequate jawbone density. Your jawbone must be strong enough and thick enough to support dental implants. If it is not currently, it may become so after a bone graft.
• Good habits. Candidates for dental implants should have good oral hygiene habits. Ideally, you should also be a non-smoker.

Missing 1 Tooth

If you are missing just one tooth, your dentist will likely recommend that you get a single dental implant. A custom crown will go on top of the implant to complete your smile. This type of tooth replacement is better than a traditional bridge in numerous ways. For example, a traditional bridge requires that the teeth adjacent to the gap (the abutment teeth) be significantly modified to fit beneath their crowns. Because an implant is self-supporting, it will probably allow all of your natural teeth to remain intact. Implants also last longer than traditional bridges.

Missing Multiple Teeth

If you are missing a few teeth in a row, an implant bridge might be right for you. This type of restoration is supported by an implant on each end, each of which has a crown on top. One or more artificial teeth are suspended between the crowns to effectively “bridge” the gap.

Alternatively, if your missing teeth are not all adjacent to one another, you might qualify for an implant-supported partial denture. This type of prosthetic can replace several teeth at different places throughout a dental arch, sort of like a puzzle piece that fits in exactly where it is needed.

Missing All Teeth

For individuals who have suffered extensive tooth loss, an implant denture could be the ideal solution. These restorations are supported by just a few implants (2 – 6, depending on circumstances) inserted at strategic locations throughout the mouth. Implant dentures are much more secure and comfortable than their traditional counterparts.

There are a few different types of implant dentures, including ones that are permanently fixed in place and those that are easy to remove. Your dental implant dentist in Newington will recommend the type that they believe is best for your unique situation.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

A blood clot should form at your surgical sites. It is important that you do not disturb it. Here are some tips to help you keep it in place:

• Do not spit. Instead, use tissues or swallow excess saliva.
• Avoid the use of drinking straws.
• Do not smoke.
• Try not to touch the surgical sites with either your tongue or fingers.

These restrictions will only last a few days. After that, it should be fine to use drinking straws and spit. However, you should still be gentle with your surgical sites and attempt to avoid smoking for as long as possible.

Common Side Effects

During the first few days of your recovery, you may experience:

• Intermittent bleeding. Gauze and light pressure can help to keep this to a minimum. It may last for at least a few days.
• This is common for 3 – 7 days or longer. Cold compresses can provide comfort and keep the swelling to a minimum.
• General discomfort. Remember, you just had something inserted into your bone! Mild pain is normal. You can take medication to keep yourself as comfortable as possible.

Call your implant dentist in Newington if any of these symptoms are severe or last longer than expected.

Diet

At first, you should stick to a “no chew” diet, which can include things like mashed potatoes, yogurt, pudding, and brothy soups. After the soft tissue in your mouth has adequately healed, you might progress to eating fork-tender foods, like meatloaf and soft breads. Eventually, you may be able to eat fairly normally. Just be sure to be careful when you are chewing around your surgical sites.

Oral Hygiene

To keep your mouth clean after your surgery, you should:

• Continue brushing your teeth. Just be very careful around your surgical sites.
• Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater 2 – 3 times a day. This can help to control swelling and reduce the risk of infection.
• Use a prescription mouthwash if you have it. If you use a nonprescription mouthwash, avoid brands that contain a high level of alcohol.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Months after your initial surgery, we will attach a crown, bridge, or denture to your dental implants in Newington. You might experience some sensitivity in the gum tissue at first, but this is usually mild and easy to control with pain relievers. You can begin to use your beautiful new teeth right away! 

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Oral hygiene is essential for preventing infections that could cause dental implant failure. To maintain a clean mouth, you should:

• Thoroughly brush your teeth at least twice a day.
• Floss once a day.
• If your implant restorations are removable, be sure to remove them daily and give them a thorough cleaning.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Use an antibacterial mouth rinse if recommended by your implant dentist in Newington.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Dental implants can stand up to virtually any food. However, just like with natural teeth, some foods are better for them than others. It would be wise to avoid overindulging in sugary, sticky, or hard foods. Instead, try to eat a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients that support oral health. For example, vitamins C and D can play an important role in keeping your immune system strong and guarding against infections. Calcium is important for keeping your natural teeth strong.

Break Bad Habits

A few bad habits that could damage your dental implants in Newington or their restorations include:

• Tobacco use. Smoking and chewing tobacco greatly increase the risk of dental implant failure. They adversely affect the immune system, contribute to dry mouth, and make you more vulnerable to gum disease. It is worth every effort to quit!
• Chewing on hard objects. Using your restorations to bite your fingernails, open packages, or chew on ice could cause them to break.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Do you like to play sports? Wearing a mouthguard can protect your dental implants and oral tissues from damage. Over the counter mouthguards provide a level of protection, but custom ones from a dentist offer superior comfort and effectiveness.

Additionally, if you frequently wake up with a sore jaw, you might be grinding your teeth at night. Wearing a nightguard can prevent your restorations from damaging one another.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

You should visit us twice a year for a cleaning and checkup, even if all of your natural teeth have been replaced by dental implants. During your appointments, we may remove your restorations, thoroughly clean around your implant abutments, examine your oral tissues, and give you tips on how to care for your dental implants at home. If we notice any causes for concern, we will recommend a treatment to get your oral health back on track.

3D Cone Beam Imaging/ 3D CT Scanning

Almost all dental practices have a digital X-Ray machine. While digital X-Rays are necessary and incredibly useful, they only give us a two-dimensional view of your oral structures. They may not provide the level of detail that is necessary when planning dental implant placement. Therefore, we often use a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scanner, sometimes called a cone beam scanner, to capture three-dimensional images of our patients’ mouths.

A CBCT scanner uses the same type of radiation as a digital X-Ray. However, the radiation is emitted in a cone-shaped beam, which enables the machine to give us an in-depth look at your oral anatomy. It allows us to get an understanding of your teeth, nerves, and connective tissues. The scanning process is quick, painless, and noninvasive.

Many dentists must refer patients to another practice for CBCT scans. However, because we have one of these machines right here in our office, you can enjoy a convenient and streamlined treatment experience.

Guided Dental Implant Surgery

There are multiple different techniques for dental implant placement surgery. Our dentists and specialists have studied such techniques extensively and use the ones that they believe are best for patients. For example, they often perform guided implant surgery rather than freehand surgery.

Freehand dental implant placement is common in dentistry. In fairly straightforward cases, such as if a patient is receiving only one dental implant, it is usually successful. In more complex cases, though, guided implant surgery is desirable. As your implant dentist in Newington, we use advanced technology to precisely plan where to insert your implants, how deep to insert them, and at what angle to insert them. We also create highly detailed surgical guides. Although this process is more time-consuming than freehand placement, it is worth it because it may decrease the risk of complications and dental implant failure.

Antibacterial Coating

Although dental implant failure is rare, it can happen. When it does, it is usually due to an infection in the tissue around an implant. We want to do everything in our power to spare our patients from this problem, so we use implants that have a special antibacterial coating. This type of coating has been shown to significantly reduce infection rates and minimize the risk of implant failure. The coating may also enhance osseointegration and help dental implants in Newington to successfully bond with the surrounding tissue.

Would you like to learn more about the technology we use to help our patients regain healthy, complete smiles? Give us a call, and we will be happy to answer all of your questions!

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

It is common for patients to require one or more preliminary treatments before they receive dental implants. For example, your implant dentist in Newington might determine that gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, or a bone graft is necessary. Each preliminary service has its own price.

The dental implant surgery incurs a separate fee. Its price depends on how many implants we are placing, the type of sedation we use, and other factors. Since we are able to perform the implant placement surgery in-house, you will not have to worry about learning the financial policies of an unfamiliar dental practice.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Not all dental implants in Newington are the same. Most are made out of two pieces, but some feature one-piece construction. A titanium alloy is the most common material used for implants, but they can also be made out of other materials, such as zirconia. The type of implant that we use for you will have a bearing on the overall price of your treatment. If more than one type of implant might work for you, we will help you to understand the pros and cons of each option.

Final Dental Implant Restoration

A dental implant restoration is the prosthetic teeth that get attached to the tops of dental implants. If you require a crown to replace a single tooth, that will logically cost less than a bridge that replaces multiple teeth. If you require full-arch replacement, you may have a few different implant denture options. We might even be able to help you save a bit of money by retrofitting your conventional denture to work with dental implants.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

It is fairly common for dental insurance policies to cover dental implants. However, nothing is for certain; you will need to check your specific plan to see how it applies. If it does not cover the implants themselves, it might help you with other portions of your treatment plan, such as your preliminary treatment or your final restoration. Our practice welcomes insurance, and we will do everything we can to help you take full advantage of your benefits.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

In addition to helping you navigate your insurance coverage, our practice offers a few provisions that may make dental implants more affordable for you:

• The Essential Dental Plan: This membership plan is designed to assist patients without insurance. You pay a reasonable annual fee, and in return you get to enjoy a number of free services, as well as a significant discount on dental implants and other major procedures.
• Financing Options Through CareCredit: We are pleased to accept financing through CareCredit. This third-party company offers low- to no-interest payment plans that can help break up the cost of your treatment. The majority of patients qualify for CareCredit.
• Free Consultation.If you are not sure if dental implants are a fit for you, you will not have to spend any money to talk to us and find out more about this treatment and what you can expect from it.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Research has shown that even 10 years after placement, the vast majority of dental implants are still doing well. In fact, with proper care, your implants could last for the rest of your life! As long as you stick to a good oral hygiene routine, regularly visit your implant dentist in Newington for maintenance, and avoid potentially damaging habits, the chances are small that your new tooth roots will encounter any problems. The restorations on top of the implants also have a long life expectancy.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

Candidacy for dental implants is determined on a case-by-case basis. Some individuals who smoke may qualify for them. However, keep in mind that smoking is a major risk factor for dental implant failure. At the very least, you should avoid tobacco usage during the time period immediately before and after your implant placement surgery. If you would like help to quit smoking, your general care practitioner may be able to provide practical suggestions. Every effort you make to kick the habit will be well worth it!

Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

We use local anesthesia to numb the mouth, and many patients opt for sedation as well. You can expect to feel little to nothing while we are inserting the implants into your jawbone. After your surgery, some soreness and swelling are normal, but you can manage them with medication and by carefully complying with your postoperative instructions. Most patients are feeling well enough to return to work within a day or two of their surgery. If you have any questions or concerns during your recovery, call us so we can help you manage the problem. After you heal from your procedure and your new teeth are in place, you can expect your implants to feel completely natural in your mouth.

Do Dental Implants Decay?

No, dental implants do not decay. They are usually made out of a titanium alloy, which is impervious to typical tooth decay. Their restorations are also not vulnerable to cavities. With that being said, you still need to be careful to prevent infection in the tissue around your dental implants. Without careful oral hygiene, bacteria may invade the gums and bone near your implants and compromise their base of support. Our team will be happy to coach you on how to care for your restored smile so it stands the test of time.