Edentulism, or missing teeth, is a common dental issue affecting millions of adults in the world. Patients may have partial or complete edentulism. Dental implants and implant-supported prosthetics are the go-to solutions for tooth replacement. Dr. Byron Scott at Springhill Dental Center is proud to offer dental implants as an option for patients who are missing teeth in Mobile, AL.

Dental implants are designed to be a permanent solution for missing teeth. The procedure is split into several steps spread out over several months to a year or more, depending on how quickly you heal between steps. Implants should last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance and are considered safe for most patients.

That being said, there are a few reasons you may not be a candidate for dental implants, as well as some things that increase implant failure. This means you may want to consider seeking alternative treatment.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants have a 90% to 95% success rate, making it one of the most reliable dental procedures. Plus, implants offer several advantages over other tooth replacement solutions, including:

• Appearance: dental implants are designed to look and feel like your natural teeth
• Speech: implants are secured in your jawbone, so you don’t have to worry about them sliding around in your mouth, causing you to slur when you speak
• Comfort: also, since implants are secured in your jawbone, you don’t have to be concerned about them rubbing on your gums, causing chafing or discomfort
• Oral health: implants do not require modification of surrounding natural teeth and, since the implant acts as an artificial tooth root, it stimulates the jawbone, promoting healthy tissue growth

 Who Can Use Dental Implants?

While dental implants do have a high success rate, there are some patients who qualify and others that do not.

For more than 50 years, dental implants have been safe and successful for patients in good oral and overall health.

Some conditions that may prevent the immediate placement of implants include:

• Active gum disease
• Lack of adequate jawbone tissue to support the implant
• Chronic disorders such as heart disease and uncontrolled diabetes

These conditions do not completely disqualify you for dental implants. In some cases, we can take steps to mitigate the problem. For example,

• If you have gum disease, we can use periodontal treatment to improve your gum tissue health
• Inadequate bone density can be addressed with a bone graft to allow for implant placement
• If you have a chronic medical condition, Dr. Scott will evaluate your situation and determine if you can undergo surgery.

There are some situations in which dental implants are not appropriate:

• If you have a sensitivity to nickel, copper, lead, or zinc, you should not get titanium implants. While these are mostly titanium, a small percentage of other metals is used as well. In this case, we may recommend zirconia instead. This can be a bit pricier, so many patients prefer to explore other options.
• If you have metal fillings, they may interact with the titanium in the implant. Dr. Scott will determine if this is a possibility.
• Finally, if you are a smoker and you are not willing to stop- at least for a while during the process- you may want to consider a different tooth replacement option.

Is the Procedure Safe?

The procedure for placing implants has been proven safe for most patients, provided you are healthy enough to undergo surgery. It is important to know that this is major surgery and should only be performed by a dentist trained in implantology.

Dr. Scott is the best in the field in Mobile, AL when it comes to dental implants. In fact, he is a pioneer in the field. He has more training and experience than any other dentist in the area. Therefore, you can trust that he will do it right the first time.

Here’s what you can expect during the procedure:

• Consultation: At Springhill Dental Center, the consultation visit is always part of any dental procedure. We want to make sure that we are all in agreement for what to expect from treatment.
• Additional procedures: If any additional procedures are necessary, such as extractions or bone grafting, those will be done at this time.
• Implant placement: If no additional procedures are required, we will place the implant, which will act as an artificial root. We will use local anesthesia to keep you comfortable. If you mentioned during your consultation that you have dental anxiety, we do have sedation options. After the implant is successfully placed, you’ll be given a few weeks or more to heal and for osseointegration to occur.
• Abutment placement: Once osseointegration is complete, we will place the abutment- the connector piece that holds the crown on the implant. At this time, we will take impressions of your mouth so that the lab can fabricate your crown or other dental prosthetic.
• Prosthetic placement: when your dental prosthetic is sent back to the office, we will schedule you for placement. Once it is securely in place, you can go on enjoying your new smile.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

If you are missing one or more teeth, it’s important to have them replaced. Missing teeth can impact your smile in many ways, aesthetically and functionally. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Byron Scott at Springhill Dental Center to determine your eligibility for dental implants.