Welcome To Dahlgren Dental
Oral Surgery
Dental Implants
Thanks to modern dentistry, natural teeth can last longer than ever before. However, even with regular brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings, our teeth can still decay. If you are experiencing tooth decay or have lost teeth, our team at Dahlgren Dental is here to help! Dental implants are a great way to restore both the function and aesthetics of your smile.
Missing teeth are not just an aesthetic concern. If you are missing teeth, it can be difficult to bite, chew and speak properly. Furthermore, missing teeth can cause uneven pressure on the remaining teeth when biting and chewing, leading to further tooth damage and an asymmetrical face shape. Dental implants are long-term solutions to these issues!
Dental implants have become a popular option for individuals looking to replace missing teeth because they can provide a permanent restoration that looks natural and functions just as a tooth would. Dental implants are effective because they make it possible to replace missing teeth with healthy teeth that look natural and function normally again.
The standard material used for dental implants is titanium alloy because it’s highly biocompatible and has the ideal properties to last in the hard bone of the jaw. Implants are surgically placed in the jawbone and act as an anchor for replacement teeth or help secure dentures in place. The second part of an implant is the tooth-colored crown that is cemented on top of the implant.
For patients with removable partial dentures, implants can replace the missing teeth and the bridge so you have a more natural-looking smile.
Advantages Over Dentures Or Bridges
Unlike dental implants, traditional bridges and dentures are not cemented. This can make it difficult to eat or smile with confidence, as they are unstable. Implants not only look more natural but feel and act more like normal teeth, with a stronger biting force. Additionally, traditional bridges and dentures rely on the remaining teeth for support, which can lead to tooth damage and in the future, root canals. In contrast, dental implants do not need this support, restoring missing teeth without harming existing teeth.
Types Of Dental Implant Services At Dahlgren Dental
Sinus Lift Augmentation
A sinus lift augmentation/graft is a surgical procedure that restores the sinus cavity to its original size and replaces the bone that has been lost as a result of the lost tooth and enlarged sinus.
Autogenous Bone Grafting:
If the ideal areas for dental implants do not have sufficient bone quantity to support the implants, we take bone from another area of your mouth and graft it into the deficient area.
Implant Site Development:
When a tooth needs to be removed due to infection, it is possible there has been some bone loss in the same area. To develop the site for the implant, bone grafting can be done to facilitate the placement of a dental implant.
Computer-Enhanced Treatment Planning:
We have advanced technology to evaluate your bone quality, bone quantity, and bone location, enabling the best possible placement of your dental implants.
Implant Maintenance
For best results, dental implants will need to be thoroughly cleaned and cared for. Just like natural teeth, plaque and tartar can build up on implants. It is important to regularly see your dentist at Dahlgren Dental for cleanings. How frequently you come in for a dental cleaning will depend on your specific needs.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are located in the back of the mouth and typically appear when patients are teenagers or in their early 20s. When these teeth do not erupt on their own because there is not enough room in the mouth or for another issue, they are known as impacted teeth. If teeth are impacted or have begun shifting existing teeth in the mouth, they may need to be surgically removed. You may notice some swelling, discomfort, and soreness if your wisdom teeth are beginning to erupt.
Wisdom teeth extractions are a common oral surgery procedure. Wisdom teeth are typically removed before the roots have fully formed and the bone surrounding the teeth is less dense, allowing for an easy recovery.
Extraction of a wisdom tooth requires anesthesia. Since the impacted tooth may still be under the gums and embedded in the jawbone, your dentist will need to remove a portion of the covering bone to extract the tooth. Your dentist may “section” the tooth, removing it one piece at a time, to reduce the risk of bone damage. Once your wisdom teeth have been extracted, the healing process begins.