Single Tooth
Our smiles are one of the first features that others notice about us. At Alpha Dental Practice, our goal is to make patients feel confident in their everyday lives—eating, drinking, and socializing.
If you’re one of the 120 million Americans that suffer from tooth loss, Dr. Assi can help. Dental implants are the industry-leading solution for people with severely damaged, decayed, or missing teeth. For example, we can use a single dental implant to restore a gap in your smile. This process requires two office visits.
First, Dr. Assi will surgically place the implant fixture in your jawbone. Since it’s a minimally-invasive procedure, we will complete it in our office. The fixture will bond with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration.
After a brief adjustment period, you’ll return to our office, and we will secure the permanent crown. At Alpha Dental Practice, we use crowns crafted from porcelain, a durable tooth-colored material. This portion of the implant is the only part people will see.
Multiple Tooth
Some of our patients are missing more than one tooth. In these situations, Dr. Assi has a few options depending on the location of the gaps.
In instances where the missing teeth are adjacent to one another, he might recommend using an implant-supported bridge. This varies from traditional bridges because it anchors to your jawbone using dental implants instead of your natural teeth. If the missing teeth aren’t next to each other, Dr. Assi will use various single dental implants to restore your smile.
Full Arch
Dentures are an excellent quick-fix solution for anyone who’s missing an entire arch of teeth, but they aren’t comfortable and will move around in your mouth as you go about your daily activities. At Alpha Dental Practice, we can restore a full arch of teeth with an implant-supported denture.
Implant-supported dentures will reverse jawbone depletion, allowing your smile to stay healthy. Furthermore, we offer two types of implant-supported dentures: fixed or removable.
The fixed option provides constant stability, while the removable version makes for easy cleaning. Either way, both options will significantly improve your quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any side effects of getting a dental implant?
Because dental implants require surgery, there are certain side effects you may experience. Possible side effects include:
- Swelling of the gums
- Pain at the implant site
- Bleeding
- Swelling of the face
These side effects are often mild and improve quickly – in fact, most patients report little to no discomfort. If necessary, Dr. Assi may prescribe pain medications to provide relief.
Can a dental implant be placed the same day as extraction?
This will depend on the condition of your jawbone, the extraction site, and your overall health. Many patients are healthy enough to have a tooth extracted and a dental implant placed during the same appointment. For others, bone loss may be an issue, requiring a supplemental procedure before undergoing dental implant surgery.
Why is an implant better than a bridge for replacing a single tooth?
A dental bridge is an artificial tooth that’s held in place by dental crowns on the adjacent teeth. This process can usually be completed in two visits and is initially less expensive than dental implants.
However, dental implants are superior when it comes to long-term solutions. Here are a few advantages of dental implants compared to dental bridges:
- Dental implants are permanent and can last a lifetime, while dental bridges need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years. Over time, the cost of replacing bridges can exceed the cost of dental implants.
- Because dental implants are permanent, patients never have to worry about the inconvenience of having them replaced.
- Dental implants are the only form of tooth restoration that actively prevents jaw bone loss.