Dental Implants & Implant Dentures

Permanent Replacements For Missing Teeth

Tooth loss can make it harder to eat your favorite foods, smile confidently, speak clearly, and live your normal day-to-day life. But at Opal Dental Studio, we’re here to help. Whether you’ve lost just a few teeth or all of your teeth, Dr. Abigail Gonzales is here to help you replace them with dental implants and implant-supported dentures in Huntersville, NC. 

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small, screw-shaped metal rods made of titanium. They are designed to be surgically implanted into the area where you’ve lost a tooth. Then, over time, your natural jawbone tissue begins to heal and bond to the titanium in a process known as “osseointegration.” The result? The implant is tightly locked in place and essentially becomes a natural part of your mouth. 

This allows the implant to function as an artificial tooth root and hold an implant restoration. Single-tooth implants using one dental crown are the most common type of implant restoration, but multiple implants can be used to hold an implant-supported bridge or even a full set of implant-supported dentures.

The benefits of dental implants

• 30+ year lifespan – Dental implants have an unbeatable lifespan. If you take good care of your implant, it’s likely to last 30+ years. Many patients are able to keep their implants for the rest of their lives.\
  
• Completely natural look and feel – Because it becomes a natural part of your mouth, your implant will look and feel completely natural. Eventually, you’ll forget that you even have a false tooth!
• Minimal care requirements – For the most part, you can treat your dental implants just like natural teeth. Brush and floss, see Dr. Gonzales for a checkup every six months, and eat a tooth-healthy diet that’s low in sugar. That’s it!
  
• No need to trim healthy teeth – Unlike dental bridges, which require the trimming of two healthy teeth to support a false tooth, dental implants allow you to preserve your healthy tooth structure.
• Protects oral health – Dental implants stimulate your jawbone when you bite and chew, just like natural teeth. This means that the bone tissue will not become weak or deteriorate, which is a common issue with alternative treatments like dentures and dental bridges.

What Are Implant-Supported Dentures?

Implant-supported dentures use a series of 4-6 dental implants to support an entire upper, lower, or both arches of missing teeth. If you are suffering from extensive tooth loss, they are a great alternative to traditional dentures. 

At Opal Dental Studio, we offer both removable implant-supported dentures and fixed All-On-4 implant-supported dentures. Whether you already have traditional dentures or are exploring your options for restoring your smile, Dr. Gonzales can help you choose the right treatment for your needs.

The benefits of implant-supported dentures

• Much better stability – Implant-supported dentures are attached tightly to a series of multiple dental implants in your mouth. This means that they're much more stable and secure than traditional dentures, which are only held in place by friction.
  
• Improved lifespan – Implant-supported dentures usually last 10+ years, and the implants they attach to have a lifespan of 30+ years. This makes them much more durable than traditional dentures, which usually last 5-7 years.
• Prevents changes to your appearance – Unlike traditional dentures, implant dentures stimulate your jawbone to prevent bone loss. This helps prevent the “sunken” appearance that’s common in people who have lost most or all of their teeth.
• Enhanced comfort – Since they don’t sit right on your gums, implant-supported dentures are less likely to cause sores and “hot spots” when you wear them. Along with their unbeatable stability, this makes them a much more comfortable option.

Explore Your Options For Tooth Replacement At Our Office

If you’re interested in dental implants or implant-supported dentures in Huntersville, NC, Dr. Abigail Gonzales is here to help. At Opal Dental Studio, we are here to help you restore your missing teeth, get back to your daily routine, and love your smile once again.

So don’t wait. Learn more about your options for permanently replacing your teeth by booking a consultation with Dr. Gonzales today. At your visit, she can determine if you’re a candidate for treatment, answer your questions about dental implants, and help you decide if implants are right for you. Book your visit online now.