Dental Implants – Owings Mills, MD
A Long-Lasting Tooth Replacement Solution
Having a full set of healthy and strong teeth is essential to many
aspects of everyday life, including eating, speaking, and feeling self-confident. When one or more of your
pearly whites is lost, we strongly recommend visiting Dolfield Dental of Owings Mills and working with Dr. Jacob Milner towards a replacement as
soon as possible.
Dental implants are our top recommended service because of their countless valuable benefits. Once they’re in place within your smile, they’ll be virtually indistinguishable when compared to your natural teeth! Contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Milner if you have any questions about dental implants in Owings Mills.
Why Choose Dolfield Dental of Owings Mills for Dental Implants?
- Dental Implants Placed & Restored in One Location
- Fellow of the Prestigious Implant Pathway
- Insurance Welcomed & In-House Financing Offered
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a small titanium cylinder that is surgically placed under your gumline to recreate the root structure of a missing tooth. Due to titanium’s biocompatible properties, the implant post naturally merges with your jawbone in a months-long process called osseointegration. After osseointegration has occurred, Dr. Milner attaches a metal abutment on top of the implant. This connector piece can then be used to secure a customized dental crown, bridge, or denture, depending on the number of teeth you’re missing. In the end, teeth that have been replaced with dental implants are virtually impossible to differentiate from real teeth in look, feel, and function.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
While other practices may need to refer patients to specialists for the surgical aspect of dental implant treatment, Dr. Milner strives to streamline and enhance this process. With his extensive training and expertise, he can seamlessly handle every aspect of treatment, from the initial consultation to the surgical implant placement. Throughout the entire journey, you can stay under the care of a dental team you're familiar with and trust.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
At your consultation, you’ll meet with Dr. Milner to thoroughly discuss the dental implant process. During this appointment, he’ll examine your oral condition and review X-rays to assess any concerns and evaluate the strength of your jawbone for implant support.
If it’s determined that you’re a suitable candidate for dental implant treatment, our team will develop a personalized treatment plan and provide a comprehensive cost estimate. Any necessary pre-implant dental work, such as addressing gum disease or reinforcing a weakened jawbone, will be accounted for in the overall cost.
Dental Implant Surgery
Dolfield Dental takes pride in being able to handle the entire dental implant procedure in-house, from beginning to end. With no need for referrals, the process becomes more comfortable and convenient. Plus, Dr. Milner will be able to oversee every step with precision.
First, he’ll administer anesthesia before making an incision in your gumline. This exposes the bone area, which will serve as the foundation for your dental implants. The implants are then carefully positioned and placed, after which the surgical site is stitched, and you'll be sent home to heal.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement
While at home, you'll dedicate 3-6 months to allow the implants to integrate with your jawbone and surrounding tissues via a critical process called osseointegration. This phase is essential for ensuring the functionality and success of your implant placement.
After complete healing, you'll revisit our office to have a small appliance called an abutment attached to the top of your implant. This component serves as the connection point between the implant and the custom restoration.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
Whether you're getting a dental crown, implant bridge, or implant denture, the placement of your custom restoration marks the final stage of the process. Skilled dental lab technicians craft your prosthetic using digital scans provided by our dental team. This ensures precise color, size, and shape matching, resulting in a seamlessly beautiful smile.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Implants are getting more and more popular; every year, dentists across the country place 5 million new dental implant posts. We highly recommend them to replace any number of teeth; we find that they provide our patients with many benefits that they simply wouldn’t receive with other restorations. Below are some of the most outstanding benefits of dental implants; keep them in mind when you’re deciding what kind of replacement option you want to make an investment in.
Day-to-Day Benefits
Many denture wearers feel that the limitations of their prosthetics get in the way of fully enjoying their day to day lives. In comparison, dental implants – which look and feel like natural teeth – can offer the following advantages and conveniences:
- You’ll be able to eat most foods comfortably. The dental implant posts replace the entire tooth structure from the roots up, which gives them better stability and bite force than standard tooth replacements. They enjoy up to 70% of the chewing power of natural teeth – more than enough to enjoy your favorite foods.
- Your teeth will stay in place at all times and will be designed to look as natural as possible in your mouth. Many patients find that this improves their confidence in their appearance.
- Implant restorations do not slip, so they rarely provide an obstacle for speaking clearly. Traditional denture-wearers might periodically slur their words, but dental implants make it easier to speak.
- Dental implants are generally easier to clean than dentures since they can be brushed and flossed normally. You won’t have to change your oral care routine, and your oral health may improve thanks to being able to give your mouth more thorough care.
Health Benefits
Dental implants improve every day living, but they also tend to have a positive effect on your health as well, with the following advantages being particularly notable:
- They give your jawbone the internal support that previously came from the roots of your teeth. Doing so helps stop the bone loss that usually occurs when teeth are missing.
- Simply filling in the gap left by a missing tooth is an important health benefit. Teeth tend to drift towards any open space in your mouth, and if they shift too much, they can throw off the balance of your bite and lead to permanent damage.
- Dental implants allow for easier maintenance, which makes it easier to avoid the oral health problems that can contribute to systemic problems.
Long-Term Benefits
One of the most easily noticeable benefits of dental implants is how long they last compared to regular dental restorations. A standard denture might have to be replaced after about 10 years. A well-cared for dental implant can last 30 years. Many patients never need to have their implant posts replace and simply keep their new teeth for the rest of their lives – a fact that can end up saving you money in the long run and balancing out the initial cost of dental implants.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Whether you have a noticeable dental gap from a single missing tooth or want to restore an entire arch of teeth, dental implants in Owings Mills could be the right solution for you. The majority of generally healthy adults qualify for this procedure. Dr. Milner can outline a treatment plan for you based on the extent of your tooth loss.
Missing One Tooth
A single implant post paired with an all-ceramic crown is all it takes to effectively restore a missing single tooth. The implant and crown together replace both the visible portion of the tooth as well as the missing root structure.
Missing Multiple Teeth
By placing two implants on either side of a multi-tooth gap, we can replace the entire row of missing teeth with a sturdy dental bridge. Unlike traditional bridges, an implant-supported bridge does not rely on nearby healthy teeth to remain in place.
Missing All Teeth
If you’ve lost a significant number of teeth, dental implants can still be used to great effect for tooth replacement. Our team will likely recommend a custom denture, which can attach over multiple implants at once for durable coverage that’s also more cost-effective than restoring each implant individually. These dentures come in two potential forms.
- Hybrid dentures are designed to permanently fix in place over implants. They will feel and look just like natural teeth, and only our doctors can remove them from the mouth.
- Overdentures are a good choice for patients who have become used to the convenient, removable nature of traditional dentures. The patient will be able to remove their prosthetic whenever they want while also still being able to reap the health and stability-based benefits of placed implants.
Missing All Teeth with Low Jawbone Density
Traditional dental implants require that patients have a certain amount of healthy jawbone structure so that they can be placed successfully. If you’ve been turned away because you don’t meet these guidelines, consider investing in mini dental implants as a worthwhile alternative! This style of implant is extremely small and thin, and it can fit into very narrow spaces. The surgical process is also much quicker and less invasive, with virtually no recovery period required. Dr. Milner, an experienced implant dentist in Owings Mills, looks forward to helping you discover many more valuable benefits with this transformative tooth replacement solution.
Learn More About Mini Dental Implants
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Since every smile is unique, the cost of dental implant treatment varies from patient to patient. Generally speaking, procedures that require multiple implants usually cost more than replacing a single missing tooth. Preliminary procedures such as gum disease treatment or bone grafting can also contribute to the overall cost of getting dental implants. However, it’s important to remember that dental implants can last for decades with proper care. Their durability, along with the range of other benefits mentioned above, make dental implants in Owings Mills a worthwhile tooth replacement solution.
Dental Implant FAQs
Am I Too Old to Get Dental Implants?
The truth is that candidacy for dental implants is determined by factors like jawbone density and good oral hygiene, not age. As a result, patients in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s can still qualify for dental implants! So, don’t let your age stop you from scheduling an appointment with us to find out if you’re a candidate.
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
The good news is that your mouth will be thoroughly numbed before the procedure, which means that you won’t feel any pain in the process. That combined with the fact that the jawbone doesn’t have any nerve endings means that the only soreness you’ll feel is during the recovery process. Even then, there are several things you can do to remain comfortable, including taking OTC pain medication as directed, using cold compresses, and sticking to soft foods.
What Should I Do if My Implant Feels Loose?
Remember, your dental implant should feel completely secure. If it doesn’t (or you’re experiencing other abnormal symptoms, like gum inflammation), then you should contact our Owing Mills dental team ASAP to let us know. From there, we can schedule an appointment, conduct an oral exam, and determine the root of the problem.
Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?
Patients are encouraged to take a few days off following dental implant surgery. The exact length of time we recommend will depend largely on your job. For example, if you have a desk job, then you may only need to take a day or two off. If you have a physically demanding job, on the other hand, then three or four days may be more realistic.
Tip: Schedule your dental implant surgery on a Thursday or Friday so you have Saturday and Sunday to recover!
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants have a reputation for lasting 30+ years. Of course, the longevity of yours depends largely on how well you care for them. In other words, to ensure yours last as long as possible, adopt good oral care habits, like brushing twice a day, keeping your consumption of added sugar to a minimum, and coming in twice a year for a checkup and cleaning.
Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?
Smoking doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but it is something we need to seriously consider since it can lead to several consequences, including dry mouth and delayed healing. At the very least, you will need to refrain from using tobacco products for two weeks before the procedure and three months afterward.