Long-Term Treatment for Missing Teeth
A dental implant is a healthy tooth replacement solution that replaces the entire tooth, including the root. Implants can restore your smile by providing a secure foundation for one tooth replacement, many teeth, or even an entire arch of teeth through full-arch restoration.If you have one or more missing teeth, even if you’ve been missing them for a long time, we encourage you to contact one of our offices in Avon, Glastonbury, or Enfield to schedule a consultation. Our highly skilled oral surgeons, Dr. Fletcher, Dr. Gill, Dr. Hayek, and Dr. Ambrogio, will review your tooth replacement options and create a treatment plan tailored just for you.
Types of Dental Implants
The type of implant you receive will be determined by your oral surgeon, who evaluates your smile and designs treatment that will benefit your oral and overall health. Learn more about the Benefits of Dental Implants. There are several types of treatments, including:
- Single Tooth Replacement. One implant can restore one missing tooth. This can be repeated as needed throughout the mouth.
- Implant-Supported Bridge. Your teeth must be grinded down to fit traditional bridges, while dental implants can support the bridge instead to protect your teeth.
- Immediate Implant. Our surgeons can place an implant the same day as extracting a tooth, reducing your total number of appointments.
- Full-Arch Restoration. Several dental implant posts can support a fixed denture in one or both dental arches, resulting in a secure and complete new smile.
Types of Anesthesia
Our surgeons offer a variety of anesthesia and sedation options so that patients remain as comfortable as possible.
Dental Implant Procedure
The entire dental implant process at Avon Oral, Facial and Dental Implant Surgery will generally involve two or three visits to the office over a few weeks or months. At your consultation, your oral surgeon will evaluate your oral health, take 3D scans of your mouth, and discuss your options for anesthesia. Local anesthesia numbs only the surgical area and is common for this surgery, although we offer many types of anesthesia for any procedure.
Your oral surgeon will place the implant post into the jaw bone during surgery. If you’ve had a tooth extracted, we can often place the post at the same appointment. After your dental implant placement, you will go home to begin healing. Over the next few months, the post will integrate with the jaw bone. Most patients are back to their regular routines after a couple of weeks. Your dentist may make a temporary crown for you to wear during the healing period.
Once your implant site has healed and the implant post has fused with your jaw bone, your oral surgeon will place the abutment and your restorative dentist will place the final crown.
Our office proudly offers EXPAREL®, the safe and long-lasting pain management option. It provides comfort following surgery and reduces or eliminates the need for narcotic medication. Learn more about EXPAREL.
Dental Implant Cost & Value
For your convenience and to make payment as accessible as possible for our patients, Avon Oral, Facial and Dental Implant Surgery accepts many payment methods and insurance plans, as well as financing options. The cost of your dental implant depends on how many you need, if you require additional procedures, your choice of anesthesia, and your insurance. We discuss all of these during the consultation and provide you with a cost estimate. Visit our Dental Implant Cost page to learn more.
Dental implants have a high success rate and remain in your mouth during eating and cleaning, unlike removable bridges and dentures. These must be replaced every few years, while a dental implant can last a lifetime with proper care. Most patients find dentures to be embarrassing, and ill-fitting dentures cause sores. Dental implants feel just like real teeth and there are no moving pieces, so they do not cause discomfort.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Traditional dentures and bridges must be replaced every few years, whereas dental implants fuse to the jaw bone for long-term results. With proper care, dental implants can be a lifelong tooth replacement option.
These implants are embedded in the bone beneath the gums, stimulating the jaw bone like natural tooth roots. This helps to prevent bone loss and other oral health problems that can be costly and painful to address.
Dental implants allow patients to eat the foods they love and smile confidently, which is a vital advantage for overall health and well-being.
Whether you’re missing one tooth or all of your teeth, your treatment is tailored to your needs to address your unique smile. Visit our Dental Implant Benefits page to learn more.
Hear From Dental Implant Patients
These patients can tell you about the firsthand experience undergoing dental implant treatment at our office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
Most patients are candidates for dental implants if they are healthy enough for a minor dental procedure such as a tooth extraction. Sometimes, when there is some bone loss in the jaw, some additional work is required for the implants to be successful. If this is the case, you may have a bone grafting procedure before receiving dental implants.
How do I care for my dental implants?
Brush and floss your implant twice per day to maintain good oral hygiene. Keeping the gum tissue clean around your implant, and throughout your mouth, prevents infection and lowers the risk of periodontal disease.
How long is the recovery period after dental implants?
The time for a full recovery from dental implant surgery may take between 3 and 6 months because the implant must fuse with the bone in your jaw. Bone takes longer to heal than other tissues, which is why healing takes a bit longer. You can get back to your normal routine within a few days of surgery, but be mindful of chewing hard foods around the implant site until you’ve fully recovered.
Are dental implants painful?
The oral surgeons at Avon Oral, Facial and Dental Implant Surgery will administer a local anesthetic or IV sedation for your surgery. Your surgeon will likely prescribe a pain medication to control any discomfort after the surgery, but many patients get back to their daily routine without requiring medication. Any post-surgical pain can be managed with rest, ice packs, and over-the-counter pain medication.
Central Connecticut's Oral Health Specialists
Our team of oral surgeons are the experts you can trust to deliver outstanding results.