Dental Implants

Have you experienced tooth loss? Millions of Americans lose their teeth, primarily because of injury, tooth decay and periodontal disease.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 percent of people in the United States have lost at least one permanent tooth because of decay by age 17.

Sixty-nine percent of adults between 35 and 44 years old have lost at least one permanent tooth, and by age 50, many Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth (including wisdom teeth).

Twenty-six percent of adults age 65 to 74 have lost all their teeth.

If you’re one of those people who are missing one or more teeth due to tooth decay, injury or disease, you may be a candidate for dental implants. Miami Designer Smiles can help determine if dental implants will are a viable tooth-replacement option for you.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a cosmetic tooth-replacement option that is surgically placed into the jaw. They consist of a metal post that acts as a root and a tooth-like porcelain crown, which is the tooth’s visible portion.

After it’s placed into the jaw, the artificial post begins to integrate into the jawbone during a process known as osseointegration. Once fully fused, the crown is mounted atop the implant, restoring your smile.

Many patients and dentists prefer dental implants for replacing missing teeth because they look, feel and function like natural teeth. Dental implants also help preserve your jawbone tissue, keeping your mouth healthy and preventing complications down the road.

Dental implants are an excellent option because they can help replace a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth and help individuals who are missing all their teeth, too, for a complete smile restoration.

Dental implants are growing significantly in popularity, so much so that the American Academy of Implant Dentistry reports that more than 3 million people currently have dental implants. Still, the demand for implants increases each year.

Why Are Dental Implants So Popular?

Many individuals report loving their dental implants because they look, feel and function just like regular teeth, which means you can eat, drink, smile and socialize with confidence.

Who Can Benefit from Dental Implants in Miami, Florida?

At Miami Designer Smiles, we recommend dental implants to individuals in these situations:

You’re tired of dentures. Have you worn dentures for years and you’re no longer happy with how they fit or feel? If you are not satisfied with your removable dentures, Dr. Garcia and Dr. Sanchez-Garcia can help you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile with a dental implant.

You want to replace a single missing tooth. Are you missing just one tooth? You can replace a single tooth with a beautiful porcelain dental implant.

You’re missing multiple teeth. Are you missing several teeth in a row? We can use just one dental implant to anchor up to four missing teeth with an implant-supported denture.

You’ve lost all your teeth. If you have lost all your teeth in either your upper or lower jaw, we can help with All-on-4™ dental implants, a revolutionary way to replace missing teeth that uses just four implant posts. Unlike conventional dentures, All-on-4™ dental implants offer improved chewing efficiency, better speech, improved appearance and a beautiful smile.

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What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

Dental implants offer you several benefits over traditional tooth-replacement options like dentures and bridges, including:

Better Aesthetics. Dental implants look better than other tooth-replacement options. Since they are made of porcelain that can be matched to your natural teeth, dental implants allow you to restore your smile and self-confidence.

Strength and Durability. Dental implants are strong and durable, and with proper care, they can last for many years.

Bone-Loss Prevention. Did you know that if removable dentures are worn for many years, they exert direct pressure on your jaw’s underlying bone tissue and cause bone loss? While dentures can help replace missing teeth, they should not be considered a long-term tooth-replacement option. Dental implants do not cause bone tissue loss, but instead, bone tissue growth.

Normal Eating. Since dental implants look, feel and function like natural teeth, there are very few dietary restrictions, unlike other tooth-replacement options such as dentures or fixed bridges. With dental implants, you can enjoy all your favorite foods!

No Changes to Speech. Many traditional or economy denture wearers complain that wearing their dentures can make it difficult to pronounce words clearly because dentures are not fixed in the mouth. Dental implants are fixed and do not affect speech.

Retain Teeth. Other tooth-replacement options, such as dental bridges, require removing some of the healthy tooth structure on either side of the gap left by the missing tooth. Unlike other artificial teeth options, dental implants do not require enamel to be removed.

Safety. Dental implants are one of the safest tooth-replacement options on the market and have a very high success rate.

These benefits are just some of the reasons people love dental implants! If you’re interested in learning more about how dental implants can give you a long-lasting and beautiful smile, call Miami Designer Smiles today.

Types of Dental Implants in Miami

Miami Designer Smiles offers patients several options for dental implants, including:

Single-Tooth Implants. Individuals missing a tooth or having a tooth removed may want to consider a single-tooth dental implant to restore their smiles. Single-tooth implants are a permanent, comfortable and worry-free tooth-replacement solution. Want to learn more about single-tooth implant surgery? Call us now.

Implant-Supported Dentures. If you are missing several teeth, you may want to consider implant-supported dentures. Unlike traditional dentures that sit on top of your gums, implant-supported dentures are surgically implanted into your jawbone with an implant post on either end of the space in your teeth. The crown portion of the implant fits over these posts. Implant-supported dentures can be removable or fixed. Many of our patients switch from conventional dentures to implant-supported dentures and enjoy being able to eat, talk and smile with confidence.

Teeth in a Day. All-on-4™ dental implants are a way for individuals who are missing all their teeth to restore their smiles in just one day! Advances in dental-implant technology provide a less invasive dental implant procedure that does not involve bone grafting, making the process faster and more comfortable for you.

With All-on-4™, your dental implants rest on only four posts — for your entire mouth! By choosing this option, you can avoid these hassles, downtime and wait for your smile. Instead, you can leave the office with a beautiful new smile right away. At your initial appointment, ask Dr. Garcia if All-on-4™ is a good option for you.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Generally, most people with missing teeth are candidates for dental implants. However, you must have:

• Enough jawbone material to support the implant (sometimes a bone graft can be performed if you lack sufficient bone structure)
• Healthy gums
• Good oral health

Factors that increase your risk of complications after a dental implant placement include:

• Certain health conditions that affect your body’s wound-healing abilities, such as diabetes
• The use of certain medications including bisphosphonates and steroids
• Smoking

Sinus Lift

When bone tissue is inadequate for dental implant placement in the upper molars, bone can be grafted to allow implant placement. In most cases, a special bone matrix designed to facilitate bone growth is added to the sinuses. You can learn more about our sinus lift procedure here. After six to nine months, the treated area is healed, and an implant can be placed.

Bone Graft

If you’re lacking bone tissue to place your dental implant, you may still be a candidate for an implant after bone grafting. Bone grafting can help fill out an area that lacks enough tissue to support an implant. Any area of the mouth can be treated with bone grafting, but results may vary based on how much bone is needed.

At your initial appointment, Dr. Garcia and Dr. Sanchez-Garcia will determine whether you are a suitable candidate for dental implants. If not, they may recommend a dental bridge instead. Please contact our Miami implant dentists today to schedule your initial appointment. Miami Designer Smiles serves patients in Miami and Coral Gables, Florida.