Dental Implants – Eugene, OR
The Healthiest, Most Lifelike Tooth Replacement
Losing your teeth is a serious event that causes several different issues. One of the most obvious impacts of missing teeth is the deterioration of your smile. Empty spaces between your teeth can significantly affect the quality of your smile, as well as your confidence. Eating becomes more challenging, and you may soon find that you can no longer enjoy your favorite foods. Additionally, with difficulty chewing, you cannot effectively break down what you eat, which can then affect your digestion. Your speech also suffers. Without teeth, you can develop a lisp or have trouble speaking properly. Along with these more obvious effects of tooth loss, missing teeth also affect the health of your jawbone. At College Hill Dental, we can restore the functions of your teeth, and your quality of life, with dental implants in Eugene, OR.
Why Choose College Hill Dental for Dental Implants?
- Dental Implants Placed & Restored in One Location
- In-House Dental Savings Plan Available
- Multiple Sedation Dentistry Options to Soothe Nerves
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a treatment designed to replace missing teeth. They are a revolutionary alternative to dentures and dental bridges, using small titanium posts that are surgically implanted into your jawbone. As you heal from surgery, the bone fuses to the posts, stabilizing the implants in your jaw. The posts are then used to support ceramic dental crowns, which are used to replace the visible portions of your missing teeth.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Dental implants are one of the most comprehensive and effective methods for addressing tooth loss, and they involve a multistep process to do this. In general, the entire procedure can take several months or even a year to complete, but the results can typically last a lifetime with proper care and regular visits to the dentist. During your consultation, our team can provide you with an estimate of the timeline so that you know what to expect. Until then, here are the four major steps of dental implant treatment.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
First, Dr. Paskalev performs an exam, determines your candidacy for dental implants, and walks you through what to expect throughout treatment. He’ll want to know how many teeth need to be replaced, as this can influence the type of restoration that’ll be best for you. He’ll also need to ensure that you’re free of any underlying issues that can cause problems or even failure, such as gum disease and insufficient jawbone density. If he does find anything, he’ll provide the necessary treatment to get you back to oral health. Once he’s confirmed that you’re ready for dental implants, we can review the details of your procedure, such as the timeframe and cost.
Dental Implant Surgery
After your initial consultation, we’ll pencil you in for surgery at a later time. Fortunately, our practice can perform the entire process in-house, so you can receive care with a team you already know and trust. Once you’ve arrived for your treatment, we’ll make incisions in your gums, exposing the jawbone. Next, tiny holes are drilled into the bone, and the titanium posts are inserted inside. Finally, your gums are stitched closed around the posts. We’ll also cover the implant with a protective cap so that it remains safe as you recover.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Your healing period is essential for your dental implants as they’ll need to undergo a process called osseointegration. This is when the metal post will bond with the surrounding bone tissue to become the solid, stable foundation needed to support your restoration(s). The process of osseointegration can take about four to six months. Once you’ve fully healed, you’ll return to our office so we can place abutments (metal connectors) onto your implants. These will be the pieces that link your new teeth to your posts. We’ll take impressions of your smile to use for fabricating your restorations while your gums recover over several weeks.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
Once you’ve healed properly, you’ll come to us for the final stage of your treatment. This appointment will involve anchoring your new crown, bridge, or partial/full denture atop your dental implants. We’ll also take the time to ensure your bite is correct and comfortable, that you’re satisfied with the results, and to respond to any questions you might have for us. If all is well, you’ll be free to go out and enjoy your fully rebuilt smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental Implants offer several benefits, including:
- They function just like your natural teeth.
- They look and feel completely natural.
- Greater comfort than traditional treatments.
- Ease of care.
- Permanent.
- Preservation of your jawbone.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
As long as you’re a generally healthy adult, dental implants can most likely rebuild your smile no matter how many teeth you’ve lost. The main prerequisites for the treatment are good oral health and a strong jawbone, but Dr. Paskalev can often help you meet these criteria with the right preparatory procedures. Dental implant treatment can be personalized to meet virtually any patient’s needs.
Missing One Tooth
Dr. Paskalev can vertically position a single implant post into the empty space and use it to support a dental crown, which will have been tailored to match the teeth around it. Unlike a dental bridge, an implant doesn’t need to modify the structure of the adjacent teeth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
For several missing teeth along an arch, we can secure a partial denture onto a small number of strategically placed implants. We can even bring back multiple missing teeth in a row by placing one implant at each end of the gap and anchoring a custom dental bridge onto them. Implant bridges are much more stable, realistic, and conservative than traditional ones.
Missing All of Your Teeth
With as few as four to eight implants, we can support a full denture that restores an entire row of teeth. Whether we create a brand-new prosthetic or retrofit your current one to attach to implants, rest assured that your implant denture will provide greater biting strength and stay more firmly in place than a regular denture could ever hope to.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Before getting dental implants, you should know that they tend to cost more in the beginning than dentures and bridges do. The treatment is more complex, after all, and includes oral surgery. That being said, dental implants can provide long-term savings, as they’re able to last for many times longer than traditional treatments. To help you afford dental implants, our team is happy to help you navigate your financing options.
Dental Implant FAQs
Are you struggling with tooth loss and want an effective way to restore your smile? One of the best solutions for this is dental implants. While they provide numerous benefits for preserving your oral health, you may still want to know as much as possible about the treatment before committing to it. For this reason, our team at College Hill Dental has collected several commonly asked questions we get from our patients about dental implants in Eugene to make it easier for you. Feel free to reach out to us if you don’t see the specific answers you’re looking for!
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
Dr. Paskalev will make sure to numb your mouth with a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable and pain-free before starting your dental implant procedure. Though you may not feel much or any discomfort during the surgery itself, you might feel mild soreness for the following few days. This can be easily managed by applying a cold compress to the outside of your mouth and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. However, if any discomfort worsens or persists for too long, you should visit us as soon as possible.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
While the exact lifespan of your dental implants can vary, you can typically expect them to last you for three decades or more with proper care. Several factors that can influence their longevity include maintaining good oral hygiene, avoiding bad habits (like smoking, chewing on ice, and using teeth as tools), and visiting our team for routine checkups and cleanings. By practicing preventive care, you can make the most of your new pearly whites for a lifetime!
Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?
Many patients generally need to take only a day or two off from work to undergo their dental implant procedure. This can vary from patient to patient, as the amount of time you’ll need for your treatment will depend on your specific circumstances. You might especially need three to four days off work if your job is physically demanding. This is because strenuous exercise can divert blood away from the implant site, disturbing the blood clot forming and interfering with your recovery process.
What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?
Two of the most common reasons for dental implant failure are failed osseointegration and peri-implantitis. Osseointegration is the process where the metal post bonds with the jawbone tissue. This will allow the implant to act as the new permanent root, directly anchoring your restorations for many years to come. If unsuccessful, it can lead the implant to loosen or be unstable. Peri-implantitis is a kind of gum infection that happens from poor dental hygiene, damaging the soft tissue and jawbone. Dental implant failure can also be due to taking certain medications, chronic teeth grinding, diabetes, and even cancer.
I Need a Checkup & Cleaning I Need a Dentist for My Child I am Worried About Bleeding Gums I Have a Cavity or Broken Tooth I am Missing One or More Teeth I Want to Enhance My Smile I Want a Straighter Smile I am Scared of the Dentist I am in Pain & Need Help I am Concerned about Sleep Apnea View Our Services
