Dental Implants – Virginia Beach, VA

If you lose one or more teeth today, you have many options for tooth replacement. There are dentures and dental bridges that rest on top of your gums and restore the function of your mouth, but they aren’t able to provide your jawbone with stimulation that the roots of your teeth once did. Dental implants, on the other hand, offer a replacement method that mimics nature’s perfect design with a comfortable and beautiful replacement tooth. They can restore anywhere from a single tooth to your entire smile, depending on your separate needs. For questions or to learn whether dental implants are the right solution for you, contact our office today to schedule an appointment with your dentist in Virginia Beach, Dr. Morgan.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that’s inserted directly into the jawbone. The biocompatible titanium post fuses with the surrounding bone tissue via a natural process called osseointegration. Once it has successfully integrated, it’s used to support a new crown, bridge, or denture. Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement because they’re designed to look, feel, and function just like real teeth!

The Dental Implant Process

We partner with a team of professionals who are specially trained and know how to precisely place your implants in your jawbone to take advantage of the greatest bone density. This way, you are able to enjoy greater stability from your implants. As the implant heals, your bone naturally fuses with the post creating a solid foundation. Once this process is complete, you’ll come into our office, and we’ll place the abutment, which is a small metal connector piece, on top of the implant to secure your dental crown, bridge, or denture.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants come highly recommended by professionals and patients alike because they offer a variety of unique benefits. Some of these include:

• Prevent jawbone deterioration
• Preserve your facial structure
• Enhance chewing and speaking ability
• Lifespan of 35+ years
• Easy maintenance
• No embarrassing slipping or shifting restorations
• Natural looking and feeling
• Prevents surrounding teeth from becoming misaligned

Who Dental Implants Can Help

The best way to learn whether you’re the right candidate for dental implants is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Morgan. During your visit, our team will examine your mouth and draw up a customized treatment plan for your needs. From there, we’ll discuss what type of restoration you require, pricing, and other details you’ll want to know.

 

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

During your initial appointment, there are three important factors Dr. Morgan will look for:

• Good overall health (well enough for minor oral surgery)
• Excellent oral health (no underlying issues like cavities, decay, or gum disease)
• Sufficient jawbone density to support dental implants

If you don’t meet these requirements, that’s okay! You can undergo one or more preliminary treatments to get your smile ready for dental implants. Some common preparatory services include gum disease therapy, extractions, and bone grafting.

Missing 1 Tooth

To replace a single tooth, we’ll place one dental implant below the gumline that will fuse with your jawbone. Once the healing process is complete, we’ll place the abutment on it and secure your custom-crafted dental crown.

Missing Multiple Teeth

For one or more consecutive missing teeth, we can place two dental implants on either side of the gap in your smile. Instead of securing the dental bridge to your healthy teeth on either side, we’ll attach them directly to the implants.

Missing All Teeth

If you’re missing an entire arch of teeth, we can secure a denture to anywhere from four to eight implants, depending on your jawbone density. Because they’ll be attached to a stable foundation, you won’t need to worry about using denture adhesive or having them slip or shift in your mouth.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

During your initial consultation, our team will develop a treatment plan for you that will include the cost of your individualized procedure. Unfortunately, many dental insurance plans don’t cover the cost of this treatment because they still consider it to be “cosmetic”; however, it’s always a good idea to call and ask directly. We also offer additional financing through CareCredit and Lending Club as well.