Dental Implants in Orono

Dental implants offer a range of advantages that make them an excellent choice for tooth replacement. They provide a natural look and feel, allowing you to eat, speak, and smile with confidence. Unlike other options, implants are designed to last a lifetime with proper care, making them a wise long-term investment in your oral health.

One of the key benefits of implants is their ability to preserve your facial structure. By replacing the tooth root, implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing bone loss that can lead to a sunken appearance. They also protect the health of surrounding teeth, as they don't require alterations to adjacent teeth for support, unlike traditional bridges.

Implants are remarkably convenient in daily life. They're permanently fixed in your mouth, eliminating concerns about slippage or removal for cleaning. This stability allows you to enjoy your favorite foods without restrictions and maintain your normal oral hygiene routine. For many patients, the improved quality of life and restored self-confidence make dental implants an ideal solution for missing teeth.

Dental implants are a revolutionary solution for replacing missing teeth. These small titanium posts are surgically placed into your jawbone, acting as artificial tooth roots. Over time, they fuse with your bone, providing a strong foundation for custom-made replacement teeth.

Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, dental implants look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth. They're a long-lasting solution that can restore your smile and confidence while preserving your oral health.

The dental implant process typically takes several months from start to finish. After the initial consultation and planning, the implant placement surgery usually takes 1-2 hours per implant. Following surgery, there's a healing period of 3-6 months as the implant fuses with your jawbone. Once healing is complete, we'll place your custom-made crown, bridge, or denture. While the process requires patience, the long-lasting results are well worth the wait for most patients.

There's no specific "best age" for dental implants. The ideal candidate is someone whose jaw has finished growing (usually by their late teens or early 20s) and who has good overall health. Implants can be an excellent option for adults of any age who have lost teeth due to injury, decay, or gum disease. The most important factors are the quality and quantity of your jawbone, as well as your overall health, rather than your age.

Most patients are surprised to find that dental implant surgery is less uncomfortable than they expected. The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia, so you won't feel pain during the surgery. After the anesthesia wears off, you may experience some discomfort and swelling, but this can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain medications. Many patients report that the process is no more uncomfortable than a tooth extraction.

The dental implant process is a combination of precise planning and technology. Initially, a detailed assessment is done, often involving CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) scans, which offer a 3D view of the oral structures. This detailed imagery helps our doctors determine the best implant placement locations. With 3D printing, surgical guides are then crafted to ensure the utmost accuracy during the implant surgery. Once the implants are placed and given time to integrate with the jawbone, the final prosthesis, whether a crown, bridge, or denture, is fixed atop the implant. The use of advanced technology like CBCT and 3D printing ensures the procedure is precise, safe, and tailored to the patient's unique anatomy.

Suitable candidates for dental implants typically have good oral health, with sufficient jawbone to support the implant and healthy gums free from periodontal disease. Additionally, candidates should be committed to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Factors like heavy smoking, certain chronic diseases, or a history of radiation therapy in the neck/head area might need evaluation. It's essential to consult with your dentist for a comprehensive assessment.

Dental implants are titanium posts surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath the gum line. Titanium, being biocompatible, fuses with the bone, providing a stable base for replacement teeth or bridges. Once in place, they don't come loose like dentures can, and they help maintain bone health by providing the necessary stimulation that was previously offered by the natural tooth root.