Sarasota Dental Implants
Contact us for more information about implants and the date of Dr. Bakke's next complimentary seminar or schedule an evaluation for more detailed information about what might be possible for you.
What is an implant?
Implants are changing the way people live! With them, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life. Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth. A patient who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. The implants are small titanium posts which are placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. In addition, implants can help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration which occurs when teeth are missing.
Is implant placement painful?
Nearly all implant procedures are performed with a simple novocaine injection in a comfortable dental chair. Patients feeling especially nervous may also choose to take an anxiety-relieving pill. Following the implant placement, most patients experience mild soreness a day or so after the appointment which is relieved by taking over-the-counter pain relievers. Implants give patients the freedom to chew and smile painlessly again.
Why does Dr. Bakke utilize a CT Scan?
Dr. Bakke believes in utilitzing the most high-tech equipment available to assure his patients have a comfortable and successful outcome. In particular for implants, he has found a CT dental scan (also known as a CAT scan) one of the most valuable tools that has become available for implant cases. The scan shows a 3-dimensial view of the bone and nerve as opposed to traditional x-rays which only show one view. This technology allows Dr. Bakke to view potential implant sites clearly prior to surgery allowing for better treatment planning and shorter surgeries for the patient. The CT dental scan is performed in Dr. Bakke‘s office while the patient is seated in a chair. It only takes a minute and is painless.
How much time do implants take?
Dr. Bakke is at the leading edge of dental advancements including the "Teeth In A Day“ process which allows patients who are candidates to have implants and the replacement teeth all in one day. For denture patients this means they can have their implants placed and their new denture all on the same day. For patients who are replacing single teeth or just a few, this procedure allows them to have their temporary dentistry placed the same day as implants. Patients then return 4 months later for their permanent dentistry all the while eating, chewing and smiling naturally with improved comfort and aesthetics. No matter if you are a candidate for this procedure or not, as a patient of Dr. Bakke’s you will always have teeth during your restorative process. To find out if you are a candidate for "Teeth In A Day“ call Dr. Bakke’s office for an evaluation.
Can implants look natural?
Dr. Bakke has extensive training in cosmetic dentistry allowing him to create not only highly functional dentistry but also beautiful smiles. He considers a wide variety of factors when designing smiles with patients including their skin tones and facial/lip shapes. He is a clinical instructor at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies where dentists from around the world travel to learn the latest dental advances with an emphasis on the bite and the smile.
How can I find out more about implants?
Dr. Bakke offers complimentary seminars about implants and the various types of restorative dentistry that can be placed upon them. He personally will answer all of your questions. If you are interested in learning about the various options for your particular situation and needs, please call to schedule an appointment for an evaluation.
Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture.
Dental implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone. Integration of the implants into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural and some people also find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes.
Candidates for dental implants need to have health gums and adequate bone to support the implant. A thorough evaluation by your dentist will help determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants.
Despite improvements in dental care, millions of Americans suffer tooth loss - mostly due to tooth decay, gingivitis (gum disease), or injury. For many years, the only treatment options available for people with missing teeth were bridges and dentures. But, today, dental implants are available.
What Are Sarasota Dental Implants?
Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Dental Implants?
There are many advantages to dental implants, including:
- Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.
- Improved speech. With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your teeth might slip.
- Improved comfort. Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
- Easier eating. Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
- Improved self-esteem. Dental implants can give you back your smile, and help you feel better about yourself.
- Improved oral health. Dental implants don't require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving your long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
- Durability. Implants are very durable and will last many years. They require the same care as real teeth, including brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
- Convenience. Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing your dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep your dentures in place.
Infection is uncommon with dental implant surgery.
How Successful Are Dental Implants Sarasota?
Success rates vary, depending on where in the jaw the implants are placed but, in general, dental implants have a success rate of up to 97%. With proper care, implants can last a lifetime.
Can Anyone Get Sarasota Dental Implants?
There are no relative health contraindications to dental implants. Patients should have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. They also must be committed to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for an implant procedure. Heavy smokers, people suffering from uncontrolled chronic disorders - such as diabetes or heart disease - or patients who have had radiation therapy to the head/neck area need to be evaluated on an individual basis. If you are considering implants, talk to your dentist to see if they are right for you.
Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Dental Implants?
In general, implants are not covered by dental insurance at this time. Coverage under your medical plan may be possible, depending on the insurance plan and/or cause of tooth loss. Detailed questions about your individual needs and how they relate to insurance should be discussed with your dentist and your insurance provider.
What Is Involved in Getting a Dental Implant?
The first step in the process is the development of an individualized treatment plan. The plan addresses your specific needs and is prepared by a team of professionals who are specially trained and experienced in oral surgery and restorative dentistry. This team approach provides coordinated care based on the implant option that is best for you.
Next, the tooth root implant, which is a small post made of titanium, is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post, anchoring it securely in the jaw. The healing process can take from 6 to 12 weeks.
Once the implant has bonded to the jawbone, a small connector post - called an abutment - is attached to the post to securely hold the new tooth. To make your new tooth or teeth, your dentist makes impressions of your teeth, and creates a model of your bite (which captures all of your teeth, their type, and arrangement). Your new tooth or teeth are based on this model. A replacement tooth, called a crown, is then attached to the abutment.
Instead of one or more individual crowns, some patients may have attachments placed on the implant that retain and support a removable denture.
Your dentist also will match the color of your new teeth to your natural teeth. Because the implant is secured within the jawbone, the replacement teeth look, feel, and function just like your own natural teeth.
Jill M Morris DMD and Burr Bakke DDS: Non Surgical Face Lifts and Restorative Dentistry - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and implant dentistry to the area of Sarasota, Florida.
Sarasota Restorative Dentistry
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