Lifelong Tooth Restoration with Dental Implants

Enjoy A Lifetime of Natural Smiles

Tooth loss does more than just make you feel self-conscious about your smile. It can also make it harder to speak clearly and eat your favorite foods. And if left untreated, tooth loss also leads to other oral health issues like teeth shifting, jaw bone loss, and more. But with dental implants in La Jolla from Dr. Bethany Englund, you can restore your smile, bite, and oral health for a lifetime.

Understanding Dental Implants

Dental implants are small, screw-shaped pieces of titanium that are surgically implanted into your gum and jaw bone tissue, right over the spot where you’ve lost a tooth. Over time, they heal and bond with your mouth. They're very strong and stable, and function as an artificial tooth root.

Once the implant heals, it can support a dental crown to restore one tooth. Multiple implants can also be used to support a bridge to replace a row of several missing teeth, or even to replace all of your teeth with a full set of implant-supported dentures.

The Benefits of Choosing Dental Implants

Strong and stable

Dental implants bond to your jaw bone. This means that, unlike with traditional dentures, your implant-supported restorations will never move or shift. This makes it easier to eat your favorite foods, speak clearly, and smile with confidence.

Lasts for a lifetime

Compared to alternative tooth replacements like dentures and bridges, dental implants have a much longer lifespan. With proper care, your dental implants can easily last 30+ years, and many patients are able to keep dental implants for the rest of their lives.

Simple dental care

Single-tooth dental implants require minimal special care. Just brush and floss normally! Implant-supported bridges and dentures require a little bit more maintenance, but still are simple to care for.

Protects your oral health

Unlike bridges or dentures, implants help stimulate the bone tissue in your jaw and protect it from deterioration. Your implant will put pressure on your jaw bone when you bite and chew, which strengthens it and protects it from deterioration.

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Implant-Supported Dentures

Enhanced Stability and Convenience

If you’ve lost most or all of your teeth and you’d like a better alternative to traditional dentures, implant-supported dentures may be right for you. This treatment uses a series of 4-6 dental implants to replace the upper, lower, or both rows of your teeth. Since they attach directly to dental implants, implant-supported dentures offer enhanced strength, stability, and convenience.

The Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures

• No more teeth shifting – Implants serve as a strong anchor for your dentures, so they will not shift or move. You’ll be able to speak more clearly, smile with confidence, and eat your favorite foods more easily.
• Enhanced comfort – Unlike traditional dentures, implant-supported dentures won’t cause sore “hot spots” on your gums. This also means they do not need to be relined regularly, which makes implant-supported dentures more convenient.
• Protect your facial structure – Dental implants stimulate the jaw bone tissue when you bite and chew. This prevents your jaw bone from weakening, which can cause a sunken or sagging appearance over time.

FAQs About Dental Implants

Am I too old for dental implants?

No! Even if you’re older, you may still be a good candidate for dental implants as long as your mouth is healthy and your jaw bone is strong enough to accommodate them. And even if your jaw bone has weakened somewhat, treatments like bone grafts can be used to rebuild the bone and prepare for dental implants.

How long does it take to get dental implants?

It usually takes at least 6-9 months to get dental implants. This is because it can take between 3-6 months for the implants to bond (osseointegrate) with your jaw bone. However, you can usually get back to your normal routine within a day or two after surgery, and it only takes a couple of weeks to recover from the initial surgical procedure.

Does insurance cover dental implants?

Most dental insurance policies will not cover the cost of dental implants, but may still cover the cost of preparatory treatments like tooth extractions However, this depends on your insurance provider and the specifics of your insurance policy. At Englund Dental, our team can help you make the most of your insurance benefits.