Dental Implant Restoration in Allentown, PA

Serving the Allentown, PA community

Are missing teeth causing you to hide your smile and avoid your favorite foods? Dental implant restoration offered at Evolve Dental Care is a highly effective tooth replacement option that restores your ability to speak, eat, and smile with confidence.

Dental implants in Allentown may seem like a recent innovation, but they have been in use for over 40 years. In that time they’ve proven to be the most effective option for replacing missing teeth. In fact, as many as three million Americans now have dental implants according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dental implants are versatile and can be used to replace one or more missing teeth with crowns, bridges, or dentures.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of implants, please call our Allentown, PA dental office to arrange a consultation.

• What are dental implants?
• How long does it take to get a dental implant?
• How many teeth can you replace with implants?
• What makes dental implants unique?
• What are my options for restoring a dental implant?
• What does dental implant restoration entail?
• What are implant-assisted dentures?
• How long do dental implants last?
• What’s the best way to care for my dental implant?

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are a type of tooth replacement that looks, acts, and feels the most like a natural tooth. The secret to the success of dental implants in Allentown is a small titanium post that is placed surgically in your jaw. The titanium used for implants is the same medical-grade material that has been used successfully for years in replacement joints.

Titanium is readily accepted by the body, which allows the post to integrate with the bone and tissue in your jaw. Once healing is complete, the implant becomes part of the structure of your jaw and provides the stability you can't find with other tooth replacement options. When the implant has fully integrated, our dentists in Allentown, PA, complete the process by creating a dental crown and attaching it to the implant. The result is a durable artificial tooth that looks and functions just like a natural tooth.

How long does it take to get a dental implant?

Good things are worth waiting for, and dental implants in Allentown are no exception. Before you commit to implants, you need to be aware that the entire process—from placement to restoration—can take as long as six to eight months to complete. The good news is that patients with dental implants report that the results were well worth the wait!

Placing the dental implant post in your jaw is not complicated, but the part that tests your patience is the wait for the implant to heal in your jaw, and the length of time that takes is different for everyone.

Proper healing is critical to the long-term success of your implant because it is during this period that the implant gains its strength and stability. The result is an artificial tooth root that supports a restoration such as a crown, bridge, or denture.

How many teeth can you replace with implants in Allentown, PA?

• Replace a single tooth — If just one tooth is missing, we recommend that a single implant replace the root part of that tooth. We attach a dental crown to the implant to replicate the appearance of an actual tooth.
• Replace multiple teeth — We can replace several missing teeth with an implant-supported dental bridge or partial denture.
• Replace all teeth permanently —If you're missing all the teeth in your upper or lower arch, we can use dental implants to support a complete arch of upper or lower dentures that are permanently fixed in your mouth. In some cases, we can support the denture with as few as four implants.

What makes dental implants unique?

A dental implant is different from other replacement options like bridges or dentures because it acts as a replacement root for the missing tooth. A small titanium screw is surgically placed in your jawbone and allowed to heal. This process is known as osseointegration where the implant is absorbed by surrounding tissue, ensuring a secure, stable bond.

Once the post has healed in place, we’ll attach a connector piece to the implant called an abutment. Finally, we’ll take an impression of the tooth and send it to a custom dental lab where skilled technicians fabricate your new restoration. The restoration is the part of the implant that is visible when you smile and restores chewing function.

What are my options for restoring a dental implant?

Dental implant restorations are the part of the replacement tooth that’s attached to the implant after it heals. They’re also the part that you use to chew, and that’s visible when you smile.

Before we place your implant, Dr. Amir and Dr. Sunny will talk to you about the type of restoration that best fits your needs. If we are replacing one tooth, we would recommend a dental crown; if you have multiple missing teeth, we would suggest a dental bridge or full or partial dentures.

We create beautiful dental implant restorations in Allentown, PA, and our patients are always thrilled with the results. Whether you get a crown, bridge, or denture, you can be confident that we will design a natural-looking restoration that allows you to eat, speak, and smile again with confidence.

What does dental implant restoration entail?

First, we’ll talk to you about the type of restoration that best fits your needs. We would recommend a crown to replace a single tooth, a bridge to replace two or more teeth, or a full or partial denture if you are missing several teeth.

Next, we will work together to design your restoration so that the color, shade, and shape will look natural once we place it in your mouth. This step is especially critical with dentures, and we will take the time to make sure that the result meets your expectations.

After the implant crown is fabricated at a trusted dental lab, you will return to our dental office where we will make final adjustments as necessary and then place your restoration in your mouth.

What are implant-assisted dentures?

Implant-assisted dentures in Allentown, PA solve the well-known problem of unstable dentures that slip, shift, and even fall out unexpectedly. They take the best features of full and partial removable dentures – restored appearance and functionality – and combine them with the stability of dental implants that are rooted in your jaw bone.

During the first step, one or more implants are placed surgically in your jaw bone and left to heal for several months so they can fuse securely with surrounding bone and tissue.

While your implants heal, we’ll work with you to create a full or partial denture that complements and enhances your appearance. We’ll also design your dentures with attachments that snap onto the implants that have healed in your jaw.

The result is a full or partial denture that fits and functions every bit as well as natural teeth. The denture remains stable and won’t shift or fall out even when you laugh, speak, and enjoy your favorite foods.

How long do dental implants last?

The foundation of a dental implant is the post that an oral surgeon places in your jawbone. As it heals, it fuses with surrounding bone and tissue. The implant becomes part of your dental anatomy and, with proper care and attention to gum health, the implant post should remain in place for a lifetime.

The dental implant restoration that we place on your implant after healing could be a crown, bridge, or denture. We use only the finest, most durable materials for your prosthetic, but they will eventually need to be replaced at some point in the future.

There are a couple of variables that affect the success of implant placement:

• Conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis, or a compromised immune system, slow down healing, and the implant may not integrate fully with the jawbone.
• Untreated gum disease leads to a condition called peri-implantitis which weakens the structure that holds the implant in place and can lead to implant failure.
• Smoking compromises your implant, and studies indicate that the failure rate for smokers is 15 percent or higher, compared to non-smokers where the failure rate was only one percent. If you are a heavy smoker, we would most likely not recommend dental implants.

If you are considering replacing missing teeth in Allentown, please call Evolve Dental Care to make an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Amir or Dr. Sunny.

What’s the best way to care for my dental implant in Allentown, PA?

Protecting your dental implant is a priority and must include a commitment on your part to excellent oral hygiene and preventive visits as recommended by our dentists in Allentown, PA. The longevity of your implant depends on healthy gums, so you must commit to keeping them disease-free. If you do, your implant could last a lifetime.

You also need to keep your restoration in good condition. A dental crown, for example, will need to be replaced at some point but can last ten years or longer if you care for it properly. Routine visits with our doctors allow them to check your restoration to make sure it’s in good shape and make sure you get the most longevity out of it. Contact Evolve Dental Care to book a consultation.