Dental Implants

Dental implants provide a long-lasting and durable replacement option for missing permanent teeth. At Whole Body Dental in Bellevue, Washington, general, cosmetic, and implant dentist Anthony Nguyen, DDS, AFAAID, and his team specialize in placing and restoring both traditional metal and non-metal dental implants. To see if you qualify for treatment with dental implants, call the office or book online today. 

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small posts of metal (or ceramic) that your Whole Body Dental provider inserts into the empty spaces where your permanent teeth used to be. 

After placement, the dental implants integrate with your bone, providing a base for crowns or All-On-4 implants (an entire arch of false teeth).

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants offer various benefits, including:

• Durability
• Convenience
• Easier biting and chewing
• Clearer speech
• Confidence

Dental implants even encourage optimal oral health. By replacing extracted or decaying teeth with implants, you can reduce the risk of other problems, like gum recession and tooth loss.

Who is a candidate for dental implants?

You need to have enough healthy bone in your jaw and/or the roof of your mouth to get dental implants. If there isn’t substantial bone for implant placement, the team performs a bone graft first. 

During a bone graft, your provider inserts a piece of natural or synthetic bone material into a small incision in your lower jaw or the roof of your mouth. The graft encourages the growth of new and healthy bone tissue, providing a base for your dental implants.

What does getting dental implants involve?

At Whole Body Dental, getting dental implants takes three visits spaced over a year.

If you qualify for implants, the team administers a local anesthetic and places a series of dental implants into your empty tooth sockets. After placement, the team prescribes antibiotics to prevent infection and provides recovery instructions.

When the implants finish integrating with your bone, several months later, you return to Whole Body Dental. The team takes molds of your mouth and sends them to a dental lab. The lab then creates custom crowns or a set of All-On-4 implants.

After the dental lab finishes your crowns or All-On-4 implants, you visit Whole Body Dental for the last time. The team numbs your mouth, attaches your restorations to the dental implants, and polishes your teeth.

How long do dental implants last?

Dental implants often last a lifetime, but it’s crucial to practice good oral hygiene. The team at Whole Body Dental recommends brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing regularly, and visiting the practice twice a year for preventive teeth cleaning.

To explore the benefits of dental implants, call Whole Body Dental or book online today.