Dental Implants – Vienna, VA
Replace Your Entire Tooth With Dental Implants
When a tooth is lost, many people don’t realize that the tooth root comes out with the crown as well. The implications behind this are quite extensive, as your biting force, oral health, and overall appearance are dramatically affected as a result. However, if you want to ensure your next tooth replacement lasts as long as possible, feels natural from top to bottom, and actually gives you the freedom to eat the foods you want, dental implants in Vienna, VA are likely for you. To learn more about the treatment process, call Dr. Saad’s dental office today!
Why Choose Pace Dental of Vienna for Dental Implants?
- Works with Fairfax’s Top Dental Implant Specialists
- Get Restorations Customized & Made In-House
- Detailed Planning Phase to Ensure Successful Treatment
What Is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a complex tooth replacement that is broken down into three components. This includes the implant post that acts as the replacement root, the porcelain restoration that’s affixed to the implant, and the abutment that connects the two components together and provides long-term stabilization. Dental implants can be used to replace single teeth, but they can also be placed throughout the mouth to hold a larger implant-retained denture.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants continue to gain popularity as an ideal way to replace missing teeth because of their unique advantages. They’re the only restoration embedded directly into and eventually fuses with your jawbone. As a result, they’re stronger, more reliable, and have a longer lifespan than alternative options like dental bridges and dentures.
But that’s not all they do! Getting dental implants can increase your daily quality of life and contribute to your health for years to come. Continue reading to learn more about the many benefits of this one-of-a-kind solution, and feel free to contact us if you have additional questions.
Day-to-Day Benefits
Tooth loss can greatly detract from your usual standard of living because tasks that once felt like second nature, like smiling, eating, and speaking, are much more difficult. Thankfully, these prosthetics can help by:
- Restore your ability to grind food. Once your prosthetics are placed, you can enjoy anywhere from 70% up to 100% of your original chewing power.
- Boost your confidence. Your artificial teeth are made from lifelike materials that can be customized to match your natural grin to enhance your appearance.
- Maintain dental hygiene. Because they’re a permanent fixture, keeping them clean is as simple as brushing and flossing twice daily.
Health Benefits
Tooth loss can also impact your health in several different ways. Not only can you develop gastrointestinal issues or malnutrition because it’s harder to chew, but you could also develop sunken cheeks and saggy skin as your jawbone thins.
Thankfully, dental implants also offer many perks that are less immediately obvious to improve both your dental and general well-being, such as:
- Prevent dental drifting. Your natural teeth will likely shift out of place to fill in any gaps, which can wear down their enamel and cause damage or decay. Refurbishing your grin in this way helps keep them in their proper positions.
- Preserve your jawbone. Without a root in place to stimulate new bone growth when you bite down, your jaw starts to erode. The titanium rod of your restoration fulfills this purpose to keep it active and healthy.
- Fewer dental concerns. Because they’re easy to clean, you’re less likely to develop oral issues like cavities or gum disease.
Long-Term Benefits
Many patients who restore their smile with implants enjoy the benefits for the remainder of their natural lives. These prosthetics are known to last 20+ years, which means you can continue to enjoy many long-term advantages like:
- They have an incredibly high success rate of 95%, even up to 10 years after being placed, which can provide some well-deserved peace of mind.
- These tend to be stronger than options like dentures or dental bridges, and require fewer repairs over the years.
- Save money. Though they tend to be more costly initially, you might spend less in the long run because you’re less likely to need to fix or replace them.
Are Dental Implants Right For Me?
People who are missing one tooth, multiple teeth or even all the teeth in their smile can benefit from dental implants. To find out which option might work best for you, consider reading about the different treatments below!
Missing One Tooth
A single implant is placed into the jaw, which is given time to heal and integrate with your bone tissue. After a few months have passed, we can place the abutment and allow for a few more weeks of healing before finally placing the permanent porcelain crown on top.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Instead of modifying existing tooth enamel to hold a traditional dental bridge, a pair of dental implants can be used to hold a larger three- or four-crown bridge. Not only does this fill the gap in your smile, but it offers a more conservative approach to dentistry.
Missing All of Your Teeth
A series of dental implants can be placed throughout the mouth to provide a foundation for a full or partial denture. Dentures held in place via dental implants are more stable overall, provide an incredibly natural esthetic, and ensure longevity. You can even customize them to be fixed or removable depending on your preference!
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
When you visit Dr. Saad for dental implants, you’ll be happy to learn that he partners with the best of the best to complete the procedure. This ensures that your treatment will be a complete and total success and should give you the confidence that your tooth replacement will last as long as possible. Once you complete the surgical portion of your implant treatment with a specialist in Fairfax County, you’ll come back to our dental office to have your permanent restoration placed. To learn more about what the process will look like, click on the button below.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
First things first, you’ll attend a consultation with Dr. Saad. He’ll take high-definition X-rays and images of your mouth and jaw, giving him a clear view of your jawbone density and allowing him to map out the pathways of nerves in the area. This information helps him plan the precise angle and placement of your dental implants.
If you have any questions about dental implants, Dr. Saad will take the time to address them during your initial appointment. He’ll guide you through the entire process step-by-step, ensuring you know what to expect. If he determines that you need preliminary procedures (i.e., gum disease treatment or bone grafting) he’ll discuss those with you as well.
Dental Implant Surgery
We partner with trusted local specialists for dental implant surgery, ensuring you receive expert care. This approach allows us to focus on providing personalized restorative care while the surgical procedure is handled by experienced professionals.
During the surgery, the implant specialist in Fairfax County will numb the area and may offer sedation for your comfort. They’ll then make a small incision in the gums, place the implant posts into the jawbone, close the gums, and position a protective cap over the posts.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement
Once the implants are placed in your jaw, they start the process of osseointegration, where they gradually fuse with the surrounding bone and tissue. This typically takes three to six months and is crucial for creating a stable foundation for your new teeth, ensuring they remain secure without slipping or falling out.
After confirming that osseointegration is complete, Dr. Saad will attach abutments to the implants. These small metal connectors are essential for securing your restorations in place, providing a strong and reliable connection for your new teeth.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
When we receive your permanent crown, bridge, or denture from the dental lab, you'll come back to our office for the final installation onto your abutments. Once in place, you can fully enjoy your new smile. Most patients find that the process of getting dental implants is well worth it, appreciating the significant benefits and improved confidence that come with their new teeth.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
It’s important to keep in mind that the cost of your dental implant treatment will likely be unique. This means that your costs will vary from any other patient’s. With that said, the number of implants you need to have placed will be the most influential factor when determining your final costs.
Even though dental implants can have a high upfront price tag, it’s important to note that they are still considered to be the most cost-effective tooth replacement option because of their longevity and functionality. In fact, dental bridges and dentures can cost more in the long-term because they often need to be replaced every few years, while dental implants do not.