If you’ve been contemplating what to do about missing teeth but just can’t decide if you’re ready to take that leap, please consider some exciting options now available. Having a full set of beautiful teeth that look and feel natural will not only improve your quality of life but may also improve your overall health by improving your oral health.
If you’re looking for a permanent solution to missing teeth in Columbia, South Carolina, look no further. Dental implants are a life-changing means of restoring full function to your teeth and providing you the quality of life you deserve but may have been missing out on due to your dental situation.
A restorative dentist in Columbia will evaluate the current state of your teeth, gums, and jaw using advanced technology, including digital scans and x-rays. Whether you are missing a few teeth, a row of teeth, or an entire set of teeth, your Columbia restorative dentist can place dental implants in just a few visits. Then, in approximately 4-6 months, and assuming everything goes well during the healing process, you will have a beautiful full mouth of pearly whites that will stay in place for a very long time—hopefully, the rest of your life.
Dental Implants Improve Your Oral Health
In addition to boosting your confidence and quality of life, dental implants improve oral health in the following ways:
- Prevent further tooth loss
- Prevent facial sagging that comes with age
- Keep you free of gum disease
- Improve nutrition (you can eat ALL the foods you love!)
- Prevent jaw deterioration
- Retain more of your teeth
With better oral health and increased confidence, your quality of life will surely improve. If you avoid certain foods or are reluctant to smile or laugh due to missing teeth, it’s time to consider the many options restorative dentists now utilize to provide natural-looking teeth to people of all ages. If you’ve lost teeth in an accident, because of a medical condition, due to a blow to the head, or from periodontal disease, you may be an excellent candidate for dental implants, sometimes referred to as “implant dentures” or “denture implants.”
All-On-4 Dental Implants vs. Traditional Dental Implants
The name “All-on-4” gives you a good idea of how many titanium screws will be used to place your implants: four. Traditional implants often require six or even eight implants to secure teeth. However, the revolutionary All-On-4 dental implants are strategically placed and serve as the support mechanism for the placement of a full set of teeth with just four titanium implants.
The jawbone density required to place All-On-4 dental implants is much less than traditional implants, so if you’ve never been a good candidate for conventional dental implants, you may be a good candidate for the All-On-4 dental implant procedure in Columbia, SC.
The All-On-4 technique involves tilting the posterior implants 45 degrees toward the back of your mouth. The posterior implants are put in the anterior maxilla (upper jaw), which has greater bone density than other parts of the jaw. Traditional implants (when doing a full-mouth rehabilitation) require six to eight implants. With All-On-4, just two implants are placed in the front, and two angled implants are placed in the back of the mouth. With this technique, a full arch of teeth is supported in much less time, with much less comfort, and with much less bone density being required.
Advantages of Dental Implants
The All-On-4 dental implant procedure in Columbia, South Carolina, is less invasive than traditional implants, which means the healing process is shorter.
In the past, people with osteoporosis were unable to get dental implants due to their poor bone quality. Since All-On-4 dental implants eliminate the need for bone grafting, even those patients with osteoporosis can enjoy the new life that innovative dental implants provide.
Another advantage of dental implants is that they counteract the look of having a sunken-in face that occurs with tooth loss. Also, you will never have to take your teeth out to eat or sleep. You will never have to deal with messy denture adhesives, and you will certainly not have to worry about slippage. Many denture-wearers feel their dentures look obvious and are embarrassed to let anyone know they even have them. With dental implants, the only person who will know you once had missing teeth is you.
If you have a medical condition that prevents you from undergoing any invasive oral surgery, your Columbia dental implant dentist will discuss other options with you at the time of your evaluation. Even if you don’t have a medical condition, you may just not want to undergo an invasive procedure. In that case, your restorative dentist in Columbia may discuss dentures with you, either partial or full sets. The Denture Fountain of Youth®, known as FOY®, is an exciting option for tooth replacement that is also available at your Columbia restorative dentist’s office.
Get Dental Implants in Columbia, South Carolina
If you’re ready to improve your smile and your life, please call Smile Columbia Dentistry at (803) 781-9090 or fill out our online appointment request. Cosmetic dentist and Columbia restorative dentist, Dr. Adam Hahn, will discuss options to replace missing teeth and will devise a treatment plan custom-made for you.
