Dental Implants in Mission, KS

Dental implants have become many dentists’ go-to procedure for replacing missing teeth. Dental implant surgery replaces tooth roots with metal, screwlike posts and replaces damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and function much like real ones. Keith + Associates Dentistry in Mission, KS offers implants as a great alternative to dentures when a lack of natural teeth roots don’t allow building denture or bridgework tooth replacements.

Risks of Dental Implants

Like any type of surgery, there are a few risks to getting dental implants. However, the problems that come with dental implant surgery are rare and typically minor and very treatable. Risks include: 

• Sinus problems, when dental implants placed in the upper jaw protrude into one of your sinus cavities
• Injury or damage to surrounding structures, such as other teeth or blood vessels
• Nerve damage, which can cause pain, numbness or tingling in your natural teeth, gums, lips or chin
• Infection at the implant site

Advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of the most reliable dental procedures with a 95% success. They also offer advantages that other missing teeth solutions do not, such as:

• Appearance – Implants look and feel like your natural teeth.
• Speech – No need to worry about slipping dentures or loose bridges that can cause slurred speech.
• Comfort – Implants are permanent and stable, so no chaffing or discomfort will happen like with dentures.
• Oral health – Implant placement does not require modifying surrounding teeth as a bridge does. Also, implants stop bone deterioration and stimulate healthy bone tissue growth.

Dental Implant Process

When considering having a dental implant procedure, a patient will typically go through the following steps: 

1. First, the patient will go through a thorough exam and consultation with the dentist. The dentist will then make an individualized treatment plan. 
2. At the next appointment, the team will place your implant, which acts as a substitute tooth root. 
3. Then, the tooth is given time (about 2-3 months) to heal and integrate with the bone tissue. 
4. Once the implant has bonded to the bone tissue, a small connector called an abutment is attached to the implant.
5. Impressions are taken of your teeth to create either a custom crown to replace one tooth or an implant-supported bridge or denture for multiple missing teeth. Crown restorations are custom tinted, so they blend in beautifully with your natural teeth.
6. The finished crown, bridge, or denture is attached to the implant(s).

Once you get the finished implant, your new teeth are ready to use! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our Mission, KS office at (913) 384-0044. We want your implants to look and feel like real teeth and you smile looking its best!

Full mouth dental implants radically improve the appearance and function of your smile. However, you must take proper care of your implants to keep your new smile bright. If you take excellent care of your dental implants, they will last a lifetime. While caring for your implants is very similar to caring for your natural teeth, there are some differences that you need to be aware of. That’s why at Keith & Associates Dental Implant Center, we put together this list of tips to help you keep your dental implants in tip-top shape.

Use Super Floss at least once a day

It’s best to use super floss to clean under the bridge, clearing away any food debris. Using floss will help prevent bacteria buildup on the underside of the bridge and bad breath. Ideally, you should floss under the bridge after each meal to keep your gums as healthy as possible. At the very least, you should floss before bed so that there is no bacteria or food debris hanging out overnight. You can also use a waterpik to clean under the bridge. Some patients find using waterpiks to be more effective and efficient for them.

Use an electric toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes can help you more effectively clean your implants every day. Even though your full mouth dental implants are not real teeth, you still need to brush them twice a day. You should use a nonabrasive toothpaste so that you don’t cause any damage to the surface of the bridges. Investing in an electric toothbrush can be worth it, since they can be up to 5 times as effective at cleaning than regular toothbrushes.

Use a mouthwash

Using a mouthwash is a great way to freshen breath and can help keep your mouth free from unwanted bacteria and germs. Additionally, using a mouthwash can help preserve the color of your dental implants. If you have any questions about which mouthwash is the best to use, contact our office and we will be glad to share our favorites with you.

Attend regular dental cleanings

Maintaining routine oral hygiene appointments is key to ensuring that your dental implants stay in great shape. At your dental appointments, our expert staff will complete a deep cleaning of your implants and will check to make sure that everything looks good with your implants and your gums. If you notice that your gums are red or swollen around your implants, or are having any pain or bleeding, please call us right away so we can ensure that your oral health is okay.

There is no one correct routine for cleaning your dental implants. It’s important to find a routine that fits in your life and that you can stick to. We hope that this helped you understand what you should be doing to take the best care of your dental implants. If you have any additional questions about full mouth dental implant care, please contact us and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.

Dental implants are changing the way we think about dental care. More and more people are discovering the great benefits that come with owning one. But, what are they exactly? Every dentist has a different approach to the procedure of tooth replacement, but they all work in a similar way: by supporting a new tooth or crown. Here is a brief list explaining the most common types of dental implants.

Types of Implants

Each dental implant is different in terms of coating, connector and size options. However, while there are several methods to placing implants, the different types typically fall into one of two categories.

Endosteal (Endosseous) Implants: This is the most common type of dental implant. They are sometimes used as an alternative to a bridge or removable denture. Endosteal implants include screw types (threaded), cylinder types (smooth) or bladed types. Your dentist can help determine which type of dental implant will work best for you, but endosteal implants are safe, effective and the most popular choice used today.

For this type of implant, the dentist begins by drilling into the jawbone to insert a titanium screw, which acts as an artificial root. Before you can finish the treatment, you have to wait for the soft tissue and bone to heal around the root, which can take a couple of months. Endosteal implants are known for looking and feeling like natural teeth. 

Subperiosteal Implants: Subperiosteal are hardly used today. They were once primarily used to hold dentures in place in patients with insufficient bone height. When subperiosteal implants are used, they are placed on the jawbone within the gum tissue, with the metal implant post exposed through the gums to hold the denture.

With subperiosteal implants, the overall treatment process is done in two appointments and is often a far shorter treatment plan than with an endosteal implant. However, subperiosteal implants don’t have the same level of stability since the implant doesn’t go into the jawbone but rather rests on top of the bone and is held in place by only soft tissue. This still gives more support than dentures without implants but is still less stable than a full endosteal implant system.

Dental implants are a great solution for people who suffer from tooth loss. Give us a call today to talk about which type of dental implant is best for you. We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have!

Having a healthy smile that you’re proud of has a major positive impact on your self-confidence. On the flip side, poor dental health can have a major impact on your physical health, but also on your emotional health as well. When you don’t feel confident in your smile, it can be difficult to feel sure of yourself at all. Losing a singular tooth or multiple teeth makes you confront the physical and emotional issues that ensue. Thankfully, there is hope to have a full smile once more!

There are numerous kinds of implants that are available in the dental world today. Some implants cover a single tooth, while dental bridges cover multiple teeth. For some people, there are no viable teeth left in the mouth. Previous implant surgeries would require many appointments and numerous painful surgeries in order to restore a dental arch (all of the teeth on either the upper or lower jaw). In the early 1990s, a new technique revolutionized the dental world: the All-On-Four implant procedure was created. 

What is the All-On-Four and why is it special?

Like the name implies, the All-On-Four technique implants all of one of your dental arches (all of the teeth on either the upper or lower jaw) and it only requires four points of implants. This significantly reduces the amount of implant points needed to restore your smile. By strategically placing the implants in a very specific manner, it significantly reduces the amount of post-implant pain, recovery time, and risk of complications. For people who have been told they don’t have enough bone for implants, the All-On-4 technique requires no sinus bone grafting in order to place the implants in most cases. For just 4 points of contact, you can have an entire arch of teeth put into place. If the arch allows your doctor may place additional implants for additional stability, but only 4 are needed to leave with a beautiful new smile. While this still may be a bit uncomfortable, IV sedation is available to help with the discomfort that may be experienced. 

What are the limitations of All-On-Four?

As with any type of dental implant, there are limitations that apply to All-On-Four as well. One of the main disadvantages with the All-On-Four technique is the cost involved. In order to do the procedure, doing just one dental arch can cost upwards of 25-35 thousands of dollars, varying widely by what kind of material is used. Another disadvantage is that depending on the material used, new dental restorations may be necessary later down the road. Most likely the implants (the most expensive part) are healthy and do not need to be replaced. This could be a potential financial burden. However, most dental All-On-Four implants last well over 20 years with a potential to last a lifetime if they are well cared for.

What maintenance is needed?

Just like normal teeth, you’ll need to keep your new smile clean. Brushing is an absolute must, as is using a Waterpik™ on your gums. Your dentist will ask that you still come in for regular cleanings to both examine the health of your implants, but also clean below the gumline. If you do this your new smile is likely to last for decades to come!

If you are ready to have a full smile and learn more about the All-On-Four technique, call our Mission, KS office at (913) 384-0044.