Tooth Replacement Solutions
Dental implants can be the best, most convenient solution for replacing missing teeth. Dental implants also provide a fixed solution for removable dental partials or complete dentures. Implant dentistry provides excellent stability and support for dental appliances. Even the best denture adhesives can’t compare to the stability achieved with dental implants.
Benefits of Dental Implants Include:
- Restore your confident smile.
- Replace one or more missing teeth without affecting adjacent teeth.
- Resolve joint pain or bite problems caused by teeth shifting into a missing tooth space.
- Restore speech, chewing, and digestion.
- Restore or enhance facial tissues.
- Support a bridge or denture, making them more secure and comfortable.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial roots and teeth usually made out of titanium cylinders. They are placed in the upper or lower jaw. Bone grows around the tooth implant to make it as secure as your natural teeth. Dental bridges are used to replace multiple missing teeth. Today’s dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
Tooth implants are very durable, strong, and stable and they will last many years. But occasionally they will have to be re-tightened or replaced due to normal wear.
Permanent dentures look wonderful and feel so natural.
What Are Permanent Dentures?
Traditional false teeth, or dentures, are held in place by any remaining teeth in the mouth or by the ridges of gum where teeth have been lost. These kinds of dentures are removed easily from the mouth and held in place using suction, clips, or messy adhesive. They are prone to slip, slide, and even pop out during eating or talking.
Removable dentures are a flawed solution for tooth loss at best. Fortunately with the development of denture implants, today’s denture wearers can say goodbye to the messy denture cream and embarrassing slipping removable dentures.
For an even more secure fit, a dental bar is fixed to your jawbone with two or more implants, providing stronger support for your removable dentures.
Permanent dentures are held in place in the mouth by permanently implanted titanium screws that are surgically placed into the jawbone to replace missing teeth. Denture implants can be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or even all missing teeth if needed. Crowns or bridges are then attached to the titanium implants.
Permanent denture implants are much more stable than traditional removable dentures. People who wear permanent dentures are more confident knowing that their dentures will not slip during eating or speaking. Permanent dentures are also more convenient and require less maintenance than traditional dentures.
Bottom removable dentures can be especially unstable, making permanent bottom denture implants preferable. Patients with very worn down jaw ridges or extensive bone loss may find removable dentures almost impossible to wear. Denture implants for these patients can tremendously improve their lives.
Removable over dentures are secured to a fixed bridge
Permanent dentures are a fantastic solution for tooth loss. They look wonderful and feel so natural that no one will ever suspect they are not real teeth. They are much more convenient and stable than traditional removable dentures and are a viable option no matter how many teeth are missing.
Note that no dentures can really be described as “permanent.” Even denture implants may need to be replaced periodically due to wearing on the teeth. However the titanium screw implants will last for many years, even decades. With proper care, your titanium implants can easily last a lifetime.
We also offer dental bridges as an alternative to dentures here at Koch Park Dental in Florissant. Like permanent dentures, dental bridges are a great solution for missing teeth that can give long lasting, beautiful results.
Implants vs. Dentures or Dental Bridges
Removable dentures, also called false teeth, have long been the solution for people with missing teeth. Many of us may remember our grandparents’ scary false teeth sitting in a glass of water next to their bed. Certainly many a grandfather entertained their grandchildren in the past by slipping out their dentures to reveal a gummy grin! But beyond giving grandchildren a few laughs, there are very little good things to say about removable dentures.
False teeth have come a long way since the earliest versions of dentures made out of ivory or bone. But they are still not an ideal answer for tooth loss, and they often cause as many problems as solutions.
Removable dentures are usually held in place with gooey adhesive paste or wafers which are messy, uncomfortable, and often taste bad. Dentures bonded with adhesive are not always secure and sometimes slip and move. This can lead to an embarrassing and sometimes painful problem which may impair speech, chewing, and the ability to taste.
Denture slippage and discomfort is especially bad on the lower teeth and can cause gum irritation and sores. Dentures require a great deal of maintenance, must be regularly removed for cleaning, and eventually will need to be replaced. Wearing removable dentures can also lead to bad oral health when the bone and gums around the empty root sockets collapse and deteriorate.
Removable implant overdentures provide stability where new teeth are attached to two or more dental implants, making this a cost-effective option.
By the way, that new hygienist you hired has an awesome gentle touch with a needle. She was very aware of my discomfort and went above and beyond to make it as easy as possible on me. Thanks!—Sarah W.
An implant-supported dental bridge is a far superior modern-day solution for tooth loss, and we are proud to offer them at both our Florissant and Chesterfield offices. Unlike dentures which provide only the facade of teeth, dental bridge implants are actual replacements for your natural teeth and tooth roots.
Dental implants are secured into the jawbone using titanium screws that act as anchors for dental bridges and crowns. The implants’ hold on the crowns is extremely strong—allowing up to 70% more pressure than removable dentures.
With dental implants, you’ll be able to eat, chew your food, and speak confidently without worries that your implants will slip or move. Dental implants require much less maintenance and can be cared for just as you would care for your natural teeth—with regular brushing and flossing. They also promote a healthier jawbone and gums because the titanium screws fill in the empty root cavities and prevent bone recession and facial collapse.
Implant-supported dental bridges look and function just like natural teeth; no one will ever know that they aren’t your original teeth. You might even forget that they are implants! So there really is a very obvious answer to the question of dentures or implants: implants are so much better! An implanted dental bridge is as close to your natural teeth as you can possibly get, and it will serve you for the rest of your life.
The Tooth Implant Process
Getting dental implants requires a number of visits to our office over several months. The process works more or less like this:
- X-rays and impressions are first taken of your jaw and teeth to determine bone, gum tissue, and spacing available for your tooth implant.
- During a later visit, your mouth will be numbed and the implant will be surgically placed into the bone. Implant dentistry requires a healing period of up to six months to allow the tooth implant to anchor itself into the bone and heal. The bone tissue will need time to build up and firmly anchor to the implant device. Some types of dental implants will require a second surgery to place the post that will hold the artificial tooth in place. Other types of dental implants allow the post and anchor to be placed at the same time.
- After several weeks of healing, your artificial teeth will be custom made and fitted to the post portion of the anchor. This step may take one to two months to complete because several fittings may be required.
- After a final healing period, your artificial teeth will be securely attached to the implants, and you will be able to enjoy the excellent stability and comfort of your new dental implant.
You will receive care instructions when your tooth implant treatment is complete. Good oral hygiene, eathing habits, and regular visits to our office will lengthen the life of your new implant.
Am I a Candidate for Implant Dentistry?
The ideal candidate for implant tooth replacement practices good oral hygiene and has good general and oral health.
According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), 69% of adults aged 35–44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to gum disease, a failed root canal, tooth decay, or an accident. By the age of 74, 26% of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth. In the United States, about 3 million people receive 5.5 million teeth implants each year, and that number is increasing by an additional 500,000 more patients every year (American Academy of Implant Dentistry)!
Although tooth loss is obviously a very common problem, it is not only an embarrassing condition, but can lead to serious health problems. Fortunately today there are many effective treatment options for tooth replacements. And the preferred treatment for tooth loss is often teeth implants.
Fixed implant-supported bridges are a more durable solution with natural-looking replacement teeth, secured on four or more dental implants.
While tooth replacement procedures are very safe and effective solutions for tooth loss, there are many things to consider before undergoing teeth implants treatment. Dr. Buchheit and our implant dentistry staff at Koch Park Dental in Florissant will study your specific needs and situation to carefully determine the best treatment plan for you. We’ll need to focus on your general health condition and examine the local health condition of your jaws, gums, mouth, and remaining teeth.
There are a few health conditions that would deter the use of implant dentistry solutions. Age isn’t necessarily an issue so much as health. Heavy smokers, diabetics, osteoporosis sufferers, steroid users, and patients with poor oral hygiene or weakened immune systems are at greater risk of resulting gum disease and increased long-term failure of the teeth implants. Also, children aren’t generally considered candidates for implant dentistry because their jawbones have not yet matured.
The ideal candidate for teeth implants practices good oral hygiene and has good general and oral health. We’ll also need to make sure that you have adequate bone in your jaw to support the tooth replacement, and that your gum tissues are healthy and free from periodontal disease.
Overall implant dentistry is an extremely safe and preferred tooth replacement treatment.
Implant dentistry has a very high success rate—generally over 95%—as well as over 50 years of clinical research and history. However, as with any medical treatment requiring surgery, there will always be some risk of complications. Some of the possible complications of teeth implants include damage to remaining teeth, blood vessels, or nerves, or infection at the implant site. Upper tooth replacement may result in sinus problems. Occasionally the jawbone does not successfully fuse with the titanium teeth implants which requires removal, cleanup, tooth replacement, and a longer healing time. But these sorts of complications are extremely rare.
Overall, implant dentistry is an extremely safe and preferred tooth replacement treatment!
How to Choose a Dental Implant Dentist
Dental implant surgery should not be regarded lightly. If you are considering implant dentistry, you’ll want to be certain you have chosen an experienced dental implant dentist who will give you the best dental care possible. At Koch Park Dental in Florissant, we are committed to ensuring that our patients receive the most compassionate gentle treatment while utilizing the most up-to-date dental technology equipment, research, and knowledge.
Dr. Martin L. Buchheit, D.D.S., Dental Implant Dentist
Dr. Buchheit has both placed and restored thousands of dental implants and has the experience to ensure that your dental implants are healthy, functional, beautiful and will serve you successfully for the rest of your life. At Koch Park Dental, we use the most recent state-of-the-art dental technology and dental procedures including an intraoral camera, digital x-rays, and Perio Protect. We are prepared to give you the most up-to-date implant dentistry treatment available today in the St. Louis area.
Often different dental specialists perform the various stages of the implant dentistry process. A patient will have to consult with different dentists and travel to different locations in order to complete their dental implant treatment. This can be inconvenient and possibly result in communication breakdowns between dentists.
Koch Park Dental places both the dental implants and the attached restorations so that all treatment is done in our office—from diagnosis to placement to restoration. Not only is this very convenient for our patients, it also provides continuity of care since you’ll be working with Dr. Buchheit for all phases of your dental implant treatment.
Rest assured that we use state-of-the-art dental technology at Koch Park Dental.
Dental implant dentist Dr. Buchheit and his skilled team are preferred in the St. Louis area because they offer the latest in dental services and use some of the most advanced dental technology in the industry today. Dr. Buchheit is a member of the St. Louis Advanced Orthodontic Study Club, the St. Louis Dental Research Club, and the Crown Council—an elite group of dentists all over the country who pursue continuing education and mastery of the dental profession.
You’ll love working with us! Our patients feel comfortable when they come here. Our atmosphere is comfortable, friendly, upbeat, and positive. A patient once told us that we can’t ever retire. He told us, “I’ll bring you a cane!” And don’t forget about our littlest dental assistant, Charlie. He’ll be waiting to greet you at the door when you get here!
Implant Dentistry FAQs
Schedule an Implant Dentistry Consultation in Florissant Today!
Koch Park Dental can both place and restore dental implants. We also offer the All-on-4® Treatment Concept (teeth in a day) and other implant-supported dentures. Contact us via phone, text, or email to find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants if you are in the St. Louis–Hazelwood area.
