Are you missing one or more teeth? Dr. Greg Reece provides dental implants in Charlotte, NC to replace missing teeth!
Replace the gaps in your smile with a dental implants specialist in Charlotte today. Dr. Greg Reece is a highly-trained restorative dentist in Charlotte, NC. He places all types of dental implants as a restorative dentistry option for patients with a single tooth missing, or many lost teeth.
Affordable dental implants can repair tooth loss, replace old bad-fitting dentures, replace dental bridges that don’t look right, and more. You can get a brand new natural-looking tooth that seamlessly fits into your smile with this tooth replacement procedure.
If you’ve lost one or more teeth, then dental implants would be the seemingly-obvious choice for replacing them. Implants bear the closest resemblance to your natural teeth roots. Best of all, they’re ideal for a large percentage of semi- and completely edentulous patients. But you should not rush to any dental treatment before getting to know it. Before you get dental implants, you should ask your dentist questions regarding your candidacy and what you may have to undergo first.
Dental Implants May Be the Best Option
The reason implants are so popular isn’t because they’re relatively new. It’s because they do something that no other dental prosthetic can – replace the roots of your lost teeth, which rested in your jawbone. After you lose a tooth, that area of your jawbone receives fewer nutrients since there is nothing there to stimulate it. With an implant post in place, your replacement tooth or teeth will be able to once again stimulate your jawbone. Thus helping to preserve your smile’s health, beauty, and integrity for years to come.
The Ideal Candidate for Dental Implants
If you are missing one tooth, several teeth, a whole arch of teeth, or even all of your teeth, then you may be an ideal candidate for dental implants. Implants can treat tooth loss that is a result of injury, decay, neglect, or other causes.
Dr. Reece will first check to see if you are in good oral health (although he can help you if you are not). This includes having enough healthy bone to place the implants. It also involves being free of any dental diseases such as gum disease or tooth decay.
It’s very important that you’re in good overall health too. Dental implant treatment involves surgical procedures that can put you at risk if you are not healthy enough to undergo them.
Once you complete your dental implant treatment, it is vital that you remain in good oral health forever. You must be committed to caring for your teeth and gums daily and visiting your dentist as advised.
Having realistic expectations is also very important. While advances in dental technology have made dental implant supported restorations very realistic, they are still not natural teeth. They may feel different and it may take time for you get accustom to them. Also, please understand the process takes longer than other tooth replacement options. Healing time alone take 3 to 6 months.
Is your Jawbone Healthy Enough?
Before our dentist can place an implant and preserve your jawbone, the bone must be strong and dense enough to accept the implant and heal around it. If it’s been several years since you’ve lost a tooth, your jawbone may have lost a significant amount of density already. This is mainly the case if your tooth loss is due to severe gum disease.
You Might Need Gum Disease Treatment First
Speaking of gum disease, a dental implant (and any tooth replacement option, for that matter) is likely to fail again if you exhibit gum disease. Also known as periodontitis, severe gum disease erodes the tissues and jawbone structure that support your teeth. This makes gum disease the leading cause of adult tooth loss. It can also cause your dental prosthetic to fail if you allow it to continue affecting your mouths’ support system.
Dental Implants at Dentistry of the Queen City
Replacing missing teeth with dental implants provides many benefits for your long-term dental health. Our dental implants specialist has the dental care expertise you need for a successful procedure. Implant dentistry can:
- Improve speech
- Provide no risk of slippage
- Prevent facial sagging
- Protect natural teeth
- Improve your quality of life
- Reduce the risk of gum disease
- Provide durability
- Improve chewing ability
In addition, replacing your missing teeth can prevent dental problems down the road. A missing tooth can cause more issues to surrounding teeth with time. When patients visit us for a dental exam, we see many issues from the minor to the more complex, such as:
- Tooth decay
- Overcrowding
- Shifting teeth
- Misaligned bite
- Receding gums
- Periodontal disease
- Bone loss in your jaw
Treatment with Dental Implants
We can replace one or more teeth with dental implants in Charlotte for a long-lasting, permanent, and secure result. Dr. Reece will check your teeth and gums prior to treatment. After a thorough exam, he will answer any treatment questions you may have and will review your budget and goals with you.
He may also recommend other restorative treatment plans depending on your individual needs. For example, dental implants can secure dental bridges and dentures; which are for patients who are missing multiple consecutive teeth or whole arches of teeth. We may enlist an oral surgeon if you require more extensive dental work, such as a jaw bone graft.
Dental implants consist of a titanium post, abutment, and dental crown that are custom-fit to each patient. The process spans several months. Dr. Reece will begin by surgically inserting the titanium post into the space that your lost tooth left behind. We will need to let the post fuse to your bone tissue over a healing period of three-to-six months.
The healing process is necessary after dental implant surgeries. However, it can take a shorter amount of time if you are in good health. After this period of healing, we will attach the abutment and custom dental crown to the post. The crown is custom to your smile, meaning that it will look like your existing teeth. Patients report beautiful results after implant placement.
Now you will have an improved bite pattern, and an even smile. Whether you need one or multiple affordable dental implants, we will work with you each step of the way.
All on Four Dental Implants
All-on-Four is a dental implant technique that allows Dr. Reece to replace a whole arch of teeth using only four dental implants. He can apply this method to the top or bottom arch of teeth. Unlike a conventional implant treatment, the All on Four technique does not require as much bone density. This allows dentists to use less implants, two in the front of the mouth and two positioned towards the back, while a conventional implant treatment still requires 6 to 8.
How Do All on Four Dental Implants Work?
With only four implants, placement is key. Dr. Reece will place two dental implants vertically in the jaw bone towards the front of the mouth. Then, he will place two implants towards the back of the mouth on each side of the arch. However, he will insert them in the bone at about a 45 degree angle. This allows the implants to miss less dense areas of bone in the jaw and enter into the anterior maxilla. This area of the jaw has higher bone density. By utilizing the areas of the jaw with greater bone density, Dr. Reece can use less dental implants.
What are the Benefits of All on Four Dental Implants?
There are several benefits to using this method to replace an whole arch of missing teeth. Patients with bone loss can still have their teeth replaced with dental implants. Since your dentist will use less dental implants, the cost of treatment is lower than conventional dental implant treatment. Also, healing time and overall treatment time is faster. In the end, you will still enjoy all the benefits that come with dental implants.
Dental Implant FAQs
How long before dental implants begin to feel normal?
Dental implants typically take a couple of weeks to feel completely normal. They may be painful and swollen for up to 2 weeks post surgery. After the pain and swelling goes away you can begin to transition into a normal diet, and your implants should begin to feel normal.
Do gums grow around implants?
Yes, they will grow during the healing process after implant surgery. However, gums can recede around dental implants. Recession with dental implants can look strange sometimes, but most of the time implants do not have extreme recession issues to the point where it changes the aesthetic.
Does food get under dental implants?
Yes, dental implants can trap food but it doesn’t happen often. We will instruct patients to avoid eating some specific foods and drinks. Extremely chewy foods, or foods that are hard to bite have a greater chance of getting stuck underneath implants.
Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation Today
Fill the gaps left by missing teeth as soon as possible with dental implant procedures. Get treatment for your missing teeth with our Charlotte dental implant options today. Call Dentistry of the Queen City in Mallard Creek at 704-486-8911 or request an appointment online. Dr. Greg Reece and the rest of the team in our Charlotte, NC dentist office will be happy to help you receive the smile of your dreams.