Why Might You Need Dental Implants?

As more and more people face tooth loss each year, people just like you are seeking effective, affordable tooth replacement options in Wilmington, NC, that will restore their smile, allow them to eat and drink the foods they love, and provide a permanent solution to an often-embarrassing problem.

Dr. Michael Kuzma and the implant dentistry team at Kuzma Advanced Dentistry have been providing dental implants to people who have lost teeth for any number of reasons, including:

  • Tooth decay
  • Gum disease
  • Advanced age
  • Health conditions
  • Accidents

Regardless of the reason for tooth loss, we want you to know you need not suffer with this problem for the rest of your life. With so many advances in dental technology and techniques for replacing missing teeth and restoring smiles, you can get your smile and life back in a few short months if you’re a good candidate for dental implants. Dr. Michael Kuzma, Wilmington, NC implant dentist, has the experience, training, education, and compassion to change your life forever with dental implants.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Implants

Let’s get the most difficult-to-answer question out of the way first. It’s impossible to give a hard and fast answer because every patient who gets dental implants requires a different treatment plan. The work involved in placing one dental implant will be much less than the patient who requires both upper and lower implants.

However, we encourage you to talk with your insurance company about what they’ll cover, and we’ll be sure to discuss all out-of-pocket expenses before beginning any treatment.

Contrary to popular belief, dental implants are not fake teeth. Instead, a dental implant is a small titanium post that resembles a screw; the screw is surgically implanted into your jawbone. After you have fully healed from the dental implant placement, you will have what’s called a “dental implant restoration,” which can be a dental crown, a dental bridge, The Denture Fountain of Youth®, traditional dentures, or some combination of those procedures that Dr. Kuzma feels is right for you.

The second stage of the dental implant process involves placing a connector called an “abutment.” After the implants have fused into your jawbone in a process known as osseointegration, the abutment serves to connect the implants to the implant restoration, which is usually a dental crown or a dental bridge.

  1. Dental implants prevent bone loss. When you lose teeth, jaw bone mass is also lost. Your jawbone needs the stimulation it gets when your teeth naturally connect to stay healthy; this is how the jawbone maintains its mass. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that provides the necessary stimulation for the jawbone to be healthy. 
  2. Dental implants restore the strength of bite. Dental implants are secured into your jaw with strong titanium posts to replace the tooth root; the titanium posts allow you to bite down with the same force you did with your natural teeth. Traditional dentures and other tooth replacement options don’t achieve the same bite force as your natural teeth. Bite force is important so you can enjoy your favorite foods.
  3. Dental implants do not present the challenges that traditional dentures do. One of the most exciting benefits of dental implants is that you can enjoy all the foods you enjoy, you can speak clearly, and there’s no worry about slippage. 
  4. Also, traditional dentures can be somewhat obvious, but no one will ever know you have dental implants. The enhanced confidence that dental implants provide is a very important benefit. Unless you tell people, no one will know you have implants.
  5. Dental implants do not require special maintenance. Once your dental implants are fully integrated into your jaw, you will care for them just like you would natural teeth.
  6. Dental implants can’t get cavities. You will have to practice excellent oral hygiene at home and come in for twice-yearly visits (unless otherwise directed), but your implants cannot get cavities as your natural teeth can.

Before

A patient before dental implants

After

Dr. Kuzma

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Still Have Questions About Dental Implants in Wilmington, NC?

We understand that this is no simple undertaking, but we can promise it will change your life. Dental implants placed by Dr. Kuzma and his team will last a lifetime, and you’ll have your smile back, your confidence restored, and your quality of life improved exponentially. Please call today (910) 392-6060, or fill out our online contact form to schedule an appointment.