Dental Implants – Clarendon Hills, IL
Restoring Your Smile & Boosting Your Quality of Life
Do you have one or more gaps in your smile? Research has indicated that people who have lost teeth are generally not as healthy as those with full smiles. Dental implants offer solid, natural-looking replacements for missing teeth. Not only do they last several times longer than dentures and dental bridges, but they help you eat with ease and smile with confidence. Dr. Jason Hong would love to secure your smile's future with dental implants at our Clarendon Hills, IL dental office.
Why Choose Clarendon Hills Dental for Dental Implants?
- Dental Implants Placed & Restored in One Location
- Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists
- In-Network with Multiple Dental Insurance Plans
What Are Dental Implants?
Made from titanium, dental implants are small, screw-shaped posts that are permanently positioned into the jawbone to replace both the visible portion of the tooth (the crown) and the hidden root structure. Because titanium is biocompatible, the implant promotes the growth of new bone tissue in the areas where it is placed. The jawbone then grows around the post until it is as firmly embedded in the bone like the roots of your natural teeth. When this process is finished, we place a metal connector called an abutment on top of it. The abutment allows us to secure a dental crown, bridge, or denture to complete your smile. Ultimately, you end up with replacement teeth that look and feel just like your real ones!
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Often, general dentists have to refer their patients to a specialist for the surgical placement of dental implants. That’s not the case at our dental office. Dr. Jason Hong is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, meaning he can conveniently perform every step of the treatment right here in our dental office!
Getting dental implants requires a greater number of appointments than other tooth replacements do, but their long-term benefits are worth waiting for. Every patient’s treatment is slightly different, but here are the four basic steps you can expect in the dental implant process.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
Every case begins with a consultation with our team. This appointment is important, not only so we can learn more about your goals and needs but also so we can thoroughly examine your mouth. If we find any problems that could interfere with your implants, such as gum disease, we’ll resolve those issues first so that you’re set up for success. During this meeting, we can also give you a tentative schedule and quote for your treatment, giving you a clear idea of your expected costs.
Dental Implant Surgery
Once you’ve decided to move forward with dental implants, we’ll give you a local anesthetic so that you’ll be completely comfortable throughout the entire procedure. When you’re ready, we’ll make a small incision in the gums. Then, we’ll surgically place the titanium implant post, which usually looks a bit like a screw, into the jawbone. Finally, we’ll close the gums again with sutures.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
For several months following the placement procedure, while you go about your normal life, a critical process called osseointegration occurs. Basically, the post stimulates new growth in the jawbone, which surrounds the post until it is firmly in place. At this point, we can place the abutment, or piece that connects the post to the restoration, by reopening the gum tissue and putting the small piece in. The gum tissue then heals around the abutment over the next few weeks.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
Soon after we put the abutment in position, we can work on creating your custom restoration, which is designed to resemble natural tooth enamel. On the day we place your restoration, we may need to make some final touches to ensure a perfect, comfortable fit. Then, using dental cement, we’ll attach the restoration to the abutment, meaning you’ll walk out of our dental office with a fully functional, natural-looking smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are often referred to as the “gold standard” in tooth replacement. Once you learn all of the benefits that they offer, you’ll quickly see why that is! With this in mind, this next section is dedicated to covering a few of the many reasons that they are widely loved by patients and dentists alike.
Day-to-Day Benefits
Here are a few noteworthy benefits that you’ll notice almost immediately:
- Improved Self-Esteem – Dental implants are customized to each patient’s unique dental needs and, unlike other tooth-replacement solutions, they are inserted directly into the jawbone. As a result, they are extremely lifelike in both look and feel.
- Restored Bite Force – Crafted from only the best dental materials, dental implants are extremely durable and stable. So, after you’ve healed from the procedure, you’ll have a strong bite that allows you to eat all of your favorite foods again.
- Clearer Communication – If you’re struggling with tooth loss, then you know just how difficult it can be to enunciate clearly. Fortunately, dental implants can fill the gaps in your smile effortlessly, restoring your confidence and your speaking patterns in the process.
Health Benefits
Of course, the benefits of dental implants in Clarendon Hills extend beyond your day-to-day life. They can also have a positive impact on your oral and overall health by:
- Stimulating Your Jawbone – While other tooth-replacement solutions rest against the gums or surrounding teeth, dental implants are inserted into the jawbone. This not only makes them extremely stable, but it also helps prevent bone loss.
- Keep Neighboring Teeth Stable – Have you heard of dental drift? If not, it’s when the remaining teeth begin to move out of place following tooth loss. Fortunately, dental implants can fill the open spaces, so that you don’t have to worry about a shifting smile.
- Allowing You to Eat Nutrient-Dense Foods – As we mentioned above, dental implants can restore some of the strength of your bite. Not only does this prevent you from eating the same foods on repeat, but it also ensures you can eat a nutrient-dense, well-balanced diet.
Long-Term Benefits
Last, but definitely not least, dental implants can:
- Help Maintain a Youthful Appearance – Since dental implants can replace any number of missing teeth while also stimulating your jawbone, they help prevent facial sagging and premature aging.
- Last For Decades – While traditional dental bridges and dentures typically last between 5 and 15 years, dental implants can last for three decades or longer with proper care.
- Are Easy to Maintain – Speaking of proper care, dental implants can be maintained with the same best practices you use to care for your natural teeth, like brushing twice a day, every day, and coming to our office every six months for regular checkups.
Who Dental Implants Can Help?
Dental implants are not just for replacing a single missing tooth. From one noticeable gap in your smile to the entire arch replacement, you can talk to Dr. Hong about how dental implants can help.
Missing One Tooth
Single tooth implants provide outstanding support to an artificial crown, restoring both the appearance and natural dental function of the missing tooth. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement solution that restores a tooth from the roots up.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Traditional bridges attach to nearby healthy teeth with small clasps. Implant bridges, on the other hand, attach to one or more implants to remain firmly in place in the mouth. This modern dental prosthetic offers superior support and reduces pressure placed on artificial teeth by spreading it across the bridge.
Missing All of Your Teeth
With implant dentures, a full arch of prosthetic teeth is secured directly to the jawbone by attaching to a few strategically placed dental implants. This creates a fit and security that traditional dentures simply can’t match. You will never have to worry about your dentures slipping again!
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of dental implants in Clarendon Hills varies because every smile is unique. Various factors affect the amount you’ll pay, like the number of implants and any additional procedures. No matter the final price tag, dental implants are an excellent investment due to their long-lasting nature. Unlike traditional tooth replacement options, your new smile can thrive for decades. We will help you find the affordable solutions you need to complete your smile without straining your finances.