Dental Implants

Losing teeth can be devastating, whether you lose a single tooth or you need to wear full dentures. You may feel embarrassed about your teeth, and you may worry about how well you will be able to eat and speak. Fortunately, dental implants can replace missing teeth in a way that is virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. 

At Designing Smiles in Roseville, MN, Dr. Deborah Fung performs all aspects of implant placement, including planning, surgery, and restoration. With her clinical precision and eye for design, you will enjoy a quick recovery and a beautiful smile that you can feel great about.

Planning, Placing, and Restoring Implants

Dr. Fung will begin your treatment with a thorough consultation and planning session. After determining your candidacy for implants, she will evaluate your jawbone structure and look at the best positions for implant posts. The number of implants you need will depend on the size of your prosthetic. You could receive a single implant for a crown or multiple implants to support a full denture. 

Before implant surgery, Dr. Fung will numb your mouth. You can also receive oral conscious sedation or nitrous oxide. Then she will insert the implant posts in your jaw. Over the next several months, osseointegration will occur. During this process, your bone tissue will heal around the posts so that they become secure and fixed in your mouth.

While you are waiting for the implants to integrate, Dr. Fung will design your final prosthetic. She will consider the natural shape and color of your teeth to provide a lifelike match. After your jaw has healed, she will attach the prosthetic to the tops of the implants.

Candidates for Dental Implants

Since implants sit in the jawbone, it is essential that they have enough tissue for support. If you have sustained jaw recession as a result of your tooth loss, you may not be eligible for implants. In many cases, however, a bone graft can rebuild the lost structure and reinstate your candidacy for treatment. 

Advanced gum disease may also compromise your ability to receive implants. If you suffer from severe periodontitis, Dr. Fung can recommend an alternative tooth replacement option, such as a bridge or denture.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

There are many reasons that dental implants are considered the ultimate tooth replacement option:

• By replacing your tooth roots, implants prevent jawbone degeneration, an inevitable effect of missing teeth. In this way, implants can preserve the natural contours of your face and reduce your risk for future tooth loss.
• Implant-supported restorations are very stable. Unlike dentures, they do not require adhesive.
• Thanks to their great stability, when you have implants, you do not need to worry about dietary restrictions. Even difficult-to-chew foods like whole fruits and steaks are options!
• Dental implants are durable. When you care for them properly - with routine hygiene and dental visits - they can last for decades.

Schedule a Consultation 

To find out if you are a candidate for dental implants, contact Designing Smiles today. Reach us online or call (651) 636-2143.

Dr. Fung offers implant dentistry to patients in Roseville, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Arden Hills, Shoreview, and New Brighton.