Would you like to regain a complete and functional smile that looks natural, too? You may be a candidate for dental implants from Lincoln, NE dentist Dr. Louis Olberding. Fully trained at the prestigious Misch International Implant Institute, Dr. Olberding qualifies patients through oral exam and x-rays. Find out more about this innovative tooth replacement option.
Dentists have been replacing missing teeth for generations. Tooth decay, gum disease, and oral injury cause people to lose one or more of their primary oral health assets. After all, teeth allow you to smile broadly, eat, and speak properly and without embarrassment.
Tooth loss, however, hurts self image, nutrition, speech and the very integrity and size of gum tissue and jawbone. Plus, missing teeth make your face sag and wrinkle, leaving you with a prematurely aged appearance.
How a Dental Implant Can Help
Unlike traditional bridgework and partial and full dentures which have problems with fit, and often require enamel removal on supporting teeth, dental implants look, feel and function like natural teeth. Thanks to a natural process called osseointegration, the titanium metal implant screw bonds to human bone. So, implant patients enjoy exceptional appearance and stable oral function.
Made up of 3 parts–the implant screw, a metal extension post and a lifelike porcelain crown, the dental implant resides right in the jaw. After surgery at Olberding Dental, the implant site heals, strengthens and allows for placement of the post and crown at a later date. Dr. Olberding even uses multiple implants to support bridgework and full fixed and removable dentures.
The American Academy of Implant Dentistry reports that dental implants are probably the last tooth replacement an individual would need. Unlike bridges and dentures which last 7 to 10 years, implants last for decades with good at home hygiene and in-office dental care. Yes, they are more costly at the outset, but in the long run, they avoid replacement costs and the harmful consequences of missing teeth.
Could You Receive a Dental Implant?
The answer is most likely yes, if you:
- Are a healthy older teen or adult
- Have good oral health
- Have sufficiently dense and sizable jaw bone
- Don’t smoke or chew tobacco
- Have good control of your diabetes
- Brush twice daily and floss daily to remove plaque
- Visit Olberding Dental twice a year for check-ups and hygienic cleanings
The final judge of who can and cannot receive a dental implant is the restorative dentist. Problems such as tooth decay, gum disease and thin bone may be corrected so the patient can receive an implant. Dr. Olberding is expert in several bone augmentation procedures which prepare implant sites.
Regarding tobacco use, your physician and Lincoln dentist would urge to stop smoking. However, dentists will place implants if patients exhibit healthy teeth and gums and refrain from smoking 72 hours before and after the surgical procedure.
Smoking contributes to an infection called peri-implantitis. While other factors, such as poor diet and neglected brushing and flossing cause peri-implantitis, tobacco is a major culprit. Toxins in smoke infect gum tissue, undermine bone and threaten implant retention.
Find out More
If you wish to complete and strengthen your smile, find out if you are a candidate for modern dental implants. Contact Olberding Dental for a consultation on this outstanding tooth replacement option.