About Dental Implants

When a tooth is missing, a dental implant can be surgically placed in the jawbone, where it functions as an artificial tooth root. A natural-looking replacement tooth, dental bridge, or denture can then be attached securely to the implant, restoring the appearance of your smile and the function of your mouth. Dental implants also prevent additional oral bone loss that typically occurs when teeth are missing. A dental implant is made of high-quality titanium, a biocompatible material, ensuring that a dental implant can last for a lifetime with proper care.

About Dental Implant Surgery

During dental implant surgery, Dr. Collier makes a small incision in the gum so that a titanium dental implant rod can be precisely inserted into the existing structures of the mouth. Once the implant is in place, the gum is stitched shut for healing, and a temporary dental restoration, usually a bridge or denture, will be used to cover the newly treated area. To ensure your comfort during the procedure, we offer both IV and oral conscious sedation. No matter which type of conscious sedation you choose, you’ll feel relaxed and secure during your treatment, but you’ll remain fully awake.

About Dental Implant Recovery

Following surgery, most of our Memphis dental implants patients require only minor pain relief, achieved with common medications like ibuprofen. Patients should be able to return to normal activities within a day of surgery. As your mouth heals, the jawbone and tissues fuse with the dental implant through a process called osseointegration; this usually takes three to six months. When osseointegration is complete, your dental implant will be extremely strong and durable. After your dental implant procedure, Dr. Collier will give you detailed instructions on how to care for your mouth as you recover. Here are some tips that can aid in the healing process:

• Maintain good oral hygiene. Keeping your mouth clean and free of bacteria is the best way to prevent infection.
• Choose soft foods whenever possible.
• Avoid excessive pressure on the jaw and teeth.

Same Day Teeth™ (Immediate Dental Implants)

In some cases, we can restore your missing teeth and bypass the traditional months of healing required for dental implants. With Same Day Teeth™, patients can receive their implant post and a stable, aesthetically pleasing replacement tooth on the same day.

Learn More about Southern Dental Implant Center

If you’d like to schedule a consultation and learn more about our award-winning implant dentists, please contact our Memphis implant dentistry practice. Dr. Collier and our caring staff are looking forward to helping you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile.

When a patient requires multiple procedures to address problems throughout the mouth, a full mouth reconstruction may be the best treatment plan. A full mouth reconstruction can rejuvenate the appearance of your smile, and correct the various dental problems that affect the health of your teeth, gums, and bone. When you meet with a skilled Memphis cosmetic dentistry professional at Southern Dental Implant Center, we can determine if a full mouth reconstruction is right for you, and tailor a comprehensive dental plan to meet your needs.

Am I a Candidate for Full Mouth Reconstruction?

A full mouth reconstruction treatment plan is typically recommended to patients that have poor dental health or who have suffered a serious accident. Patients that are good candidates for a full mouth reconstruction may suffer from the following ailments:

• Advanced gum disease: Lax or improper oral hygiene can lead to gum disease, which is a leading cause of tooth loss.
• TMJ/TMD: Temporomandibular jaw disorder and other neurological disorders can cause you to grind or clench your teeth, and contribute to mouth and jaw strain.
• Injury: Including sports injury, vehicular accidents, and trauma, many injuries can greatly impact the appearance and health of a patient’s smile.
• Severe tooth decay: Resulting from poor dental hygiene, cavities, or gum disease, tooth decay can affect a patient’s teeth.
• Tooth erosion: Commonly caused by acidic food and drink, GERD (or Acid-Reflux Disease), and certain prescription medications.

Common Restorative and Cosmetic Treatments

If your dentist determines that a full mouth restoration is right for you, the procedures recommended in order to correct your smile and improve the health of your mouth may include:

• Dental implants: The best option available for replacing missing teeth, a dental implant is a long- lasting and aesthetically pleasing. Patients seeking dental implants in Memphis will be pleased with the resulting comfort and functionality the procedure offers. Dental implants are fixed securely into the patient’s jawbone, and can reduce or eliminate the need for removable dental devices such as dentures. Dental implants also prevent neighboring teeth from shifting position, and feel just like a natural tooth
• Dental bridges: If a patient has several missing teeth, a dental bridge can be used to fill in the empty space and maintain the structural integrity of the mouth. Dental bridges work by anchoring a replacement tooth to the two teeth surrounding the gap. This tooth replacement option is ideal for patients that have some existing teeth or those that are getting dental implants.
• Porcelain crowns: When a tooth is chipped, broken, or cracked, a porcelain crown is an attractive option for restoring the tooth. A porcelain crown is made of high quality materials that are custom-fit and colored for the patient’s tooth. Once the custom crown is fixed in place, it will blend in with the surrounding teeth, giving you a naturally beautiful smile.

Contact Our Dental Care Center

If you’d like more information on any of the high-quality dental treatments offered at Southern Dental Implant Center, please contact our Memphis cosmetic dentistry practice.  Our high-trained staff is looking forward to assisting you in restoring your smile and dental health.

Dental implants are an excellent treatment option for patients that are missing their teeth. Depending on the number of teeth that are missing, a single dental implant may be used, or a combination of implants and dental bridges can be used to fill in the gaps. At our Memphis cosmetic dentistry practice, we offer dental implants and other tooth replacement options. In this blog post, we review the dental implants treatment process timeline so our patients can decide if this treatment is right for them.

Dental Exam

To begin the dental implant treatment process, you will need to come into our office for a dental exam. During your exam, one of our experienced implant dentists will listen to your concerns and examine your teeth and gums to determine the best course of treatment. We will want to replace the missing tooth or teeth as soon as possible to avoid additional dental problems, including:

• Shifting of the teeth
• Tooth crowding
• Large gaps between the teeth
• Misalignment of the bite
• Gum recession
• Bone loss
• Problems chewing food
• Loss of facial integrity

Patients that are interested in tooth replacement have the following options available to them:

• Dentures: Dentures are often the least costly option. However, many patients feel they do not offer the stability of dental implants and bridges.
• Dental bridges: Dental bridges consist of one or two artificial teeth that are attached to dental crowns or implants.
• Dental implants: Dental implants require a more involved treatment process, but these restorations look and act the most like natural teeth.

Patients that are interested in replacing their missing teeth with dental implants must have sufficient gum tissue and bone in the jaw to support the implant. If we determine that you are a good candidate for dental implants, we will schedule your first dental implant treatment, the oral surgery appointment, at your earliest convenience.

Oral Surgery

The first step in the dental implant treatment process is oral surgery; during surgery, an incision is made and the dental implant anchor, or post, is placed in the jaw. You may be put under local or general anesthesia for surgery. Once the post has been properly positioned, the incision is closed, and you will be sent home with healing instructions.

Healing and Osseointegration

Once the implant post has been placed in the jaw, the surrounding bone and gum tissue needs time to grow around it. This will anchor the post into place. This process, which is called osseointegration, takes four to six months to complete. During this time you may be fit with temporary dentures.

Placement of the Restoration

Once the implant post is secured in place, the permanent tooth restoration, or tooth crown, can be placed. You will return to our office for a simple appointment in which we will attach your custom artificial tooth to the implant post.

Our Memphis dental implant patients are thrilled with the results of their treatment. To find out if implant dentistry is right for you, contact Southern Dental Implant Center today. We will be happy to schedule your personal consultation with a member of our team.