Dental Implants

Consider dental implants if you’ve lost some or all of your permanent teeth to extractions, trauma, or the natural aging process. At Redmond Dentists in Redmond, Washington, Ellen Vyas, DDS, and the team have years of experience placing and creating restorations for dental implants. Dr. Vyas’ knowledge and expertise ensure positive treatment outcomes and improved oral health. Call Redmond Dentists to schedule a dental implant consultation, or book your appointment online today.

How are dental implants different from dentures?

Dental implants and dentures both replace your natural teeth, but there are differences:

Dentures

Dentures are removable tooth replacements that sit on top of your gums. You use an adhesive to hold them in place and take them out before bed so they can soak in a cleaning solution.

Dental implants

Dental implants are titanium posts that your provider inserts into your empty tooth sockets. The implant fuses with your upper or lower jaw after placement and provides a base for crowns, bridges, or implant-retained dentures.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants offer several benefits:

• Clearer speech
• Like-normal biting and chewing
• Confidence
• Convenience
• Durability

Implants reduce your risk of more serious oral health problems. Filling your empty tooth sockets with dental implants prevents gum recession and bone loss. 

Is getting dental implants a long and drawn-out process?

Getting dental implants takes several months, but most people find the investment worth it. 

If your provider determines that you’re a candidate for dental implants, they numb your mouth with a local anesthetic and insert the dental implants into your empty tooth sockets. Some people only need a single implant, but others need several.

After placement, your provider may give you a set of temporary dentures that allow you to bite and chew while your mouth heals. 

When the implant (or implants) finish fusing with your upper or lower jaw, you return to Redmond Dentists. Your provider digitally scans your mouth and sends the scans to a dental lab. Then, the lab uses your impressions to design a custom implant restoration, like a crown, bridge, or implant-retained dentures. 

It takes a few weeks for the lab to finish your implant restoration. Once ready, you return to Redmond Dentists. Your provider connects the restorations to your dental implants (or single implant) and checks your bite. They also explain how to keep your implants (or implant) in top condition.

How many dental implants will I need?

The number of dental implants you need depends on how many of your natural teeth are missing. If you’ve lost only one permanent tooth, you need only one implant. But if you’re missing an entire row of teeth, you might need six or more. 

Call Redmond Dentists to schedule a dental implant consultation, or book your appointment online today.