Dental Implants in Summerville SC
Trying to enjoy the little things in life is a challenge when you have missing teeth. It’s not just that you can’t eat all your favorite foods, either. Missing teeth can also cause pain and discomfort, and make you feel so self-conscious you want to hide your smile. Dentures are one solution but come with their challenges like slipping, messy adhesives, difficulty cleaning, and sometimes pain.
Dr. Thomas Riley and the team at Azalea Dental are pleased to offer dental implants in Summerville, SC. Dental implants help patients transition from a life of discomfort and lowered self-esteem to a life filled with the freedom to eat and do what they want with a functional, beautiful smile.
Schedule an Appointment in Summerville, SC
Are you tired of sacrificing your quality of life because of the problems created by missing teeth? Call our Summerville, SC dentist office to schedule an appointment to talk to us about tooth replacement using dental implants.
- Why You Need to Replace Missing Teeth
- Dental Implants: A Healthy Tooth Replacement
- Dental Implants Prevent Jaw Bone Deterioration
- Three Steps for Placing a Dental Implant
- How Dental Implants Work with Dentures
- Enjoy Our Personalized Patient Care
Why You Need to Replace Missing Teeth
When you lose a permanent tooth, it's best to replace it as soon as possible. Open spaces in your smile cause neighboring teeth to move out of alignment and can impact your facial contours if left untreated. Dental bridges and removable dentures are both time-tested methods to replace missing teeth, but today, dental implants are proving to be the preferred solution.
Dental implants can be used to replace one or several missing teeth. Unlike a bridge or denture, a dental implant is designed to replace both the lost tooth and the lost root. Working together, they restore chewing function to a healthy state, and bone loss in the jaw isn’t a concern because the implant stimulates bone regeneration.
Once we complete the dental implant process at our Summerville, SC dentist office, it blends naturally with your smile and functions as a natural tooth does.
Dental Implants: A Healthy Tooth Replacement
The secret to the success of dental implants is that it is a biocompatible replacement root that a specialist places surgically in your jaw. As it heals in place, the implant fuses securely with surrounding bone and tissue and becomes a permanent part of your dental structure. Because it is rooted in your jaw, the dental implant is used to stabilize a crown, bridge, or denture that we attach to it.
Dental implants have been used for decades now, and they have an impressive 98 percent success rate. Whether we’re replacing a tooth that’s visible when you smile or a molar that requires a lot of chewing force, dental implants provide the comfortable results you need.
If you need to replace a missing tooth in Summerville, SC please call Azalea Dental to learn more about how dental implants can help you. We are also happy to discuss combination therapies such as implant-retained bridges and implant-retained dentures.
Dental Implants Prevent Jaw Bone Deterioration
While bridges, partials, and dentures can provide prosthetic teeth that fill in the gaps, implants have benefits that these services simply can't offer.
A process of renewal and regeneration is continually taking place in your gums and jaw bone. Stimulated by the roots of your teeth, your jawbone regenerates and restores itself. But when you lose a tooth, there’s no longer a root present, and this process stops. Over time, your jawbone deteriorates, becomes thinner, and loses density. This leads to a sunken appearance, loose teeth, and, eventually, further tooth loss.
Dental implants are designed to stop the breakdown of bone in your jaw. Since the titanium post of the implant functions as a natural tooth root, it stimulates bone and tissue to resume the process of self-restoration.
Additionally, the crowns that are used to restore dental implants are carefully created to look realistic. Once they are placed, even you might have a tough time determining which teeth are natural and which are implants!
Three Steps for Placing a Dental Implant
Placing a dental implant is a process that occurs over several months and requires two to three appointments to complete.
Placing the Dental Implant Post
During the first, a highly trained oral surgeon in our area surgically positions an artificial titanium root into your jaw bone. This part of the implant mimics a natural tooth root in function and stability. We then allow time for the implant to heal for several months before moving on to the next step of the implant process.
Adding the Abutment
The healing process can take anywhere from three to six months, and during that time, Dr. Riley will monitor your progress. When the implant post has integrated successfully with bone and tissue in your jaw, Dr. Riley adds a connector piece to the implant called an abutment. The abutment is the part of the dental implant to which we attach the restoration that becomes the visible portion of your implant.
Restoring Function to Your Implant
In preparation for the third and final step, Summerville dentist, Dr. Riley will explain your options for replacing the part of the tooth that you see and chew with. Once the decision has been made, we’ll proceed to the third step - creating your customized dental prosthetic.
We carefully custom-craft your dental crown bridge or denture so that it looks lifelike and blends with your smile. Dr. Riley secures the restoration in place by attaching it to the implant abutment. Once it's in place, even you might have a tough time determining which teeth are natural and which are implants!
How Dental Implants Work with Dentures
If you wear removable dentures, you know the inconvenience that comes with a device that sits on top of your gums. Over the years, the demand for a better solution has increased as patients look for an alternative to replace missing teeth that doesn't involve a denture that shifts or moves unpredictably.
Dental implants offer the best possible solution to the problems that are so common with removable dentures. Implants can be used to support a specially designed denture, called an overdenture.
Instead of placing an individual dental implant for every missing tooth, only a few implants are placed along your jaw to anchor the denture. Implant dentures offer security and stability so that you can eat the food you love, and feel confident when speaking, laughing, or smiling.
Do you have removable dentures that shift and move? We may be able to retrofit your existing dentures to add dental implants. Call our Summerville, SC dental office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Riley to discuss your needs.
Enjoy Our Personalized Patient Care
We value the fact that each of our patients is unique. At Azalea Dental, you can expect the same comfortable, individualized care whether we’re placing a simple filling or a dental implant. Dr. Riley will explain the dental implant process in detail and talk to you about your wants, needs, and expectations. Getting a dental implant is a big step, and we'll provide all the information you need to make a confident, informed decision about your oral care.
Please call our Summerville, SC dentist office today to learn how we use dental implants to transform your smile, boost your confidence, and improve your overall quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cost of cosmetic dentistry treatments can vary a great deal – as do people’s budgets! Dr. Riley is happy to help you by examining your teeth and discussing your dental goals and your current budget. While most procedures done purely for cosmetic reasons are not covered under insurance, certain procedures may be covered in some circumstances, so we are also happy to check your insurance coverage and help you maximize your benefits.
Is Cosmetic Dentistry in 29483 Right For Me?
What type of improvements are you looking to make? If you want to whiten and brighten your smile, then an inexpensive professional take-home whitening kit may be all you need to look your best. Many improvements that are often done with dental veneers, such as repairing chips, discolorations, or enamel imperfections, can also be done with dental bonding, which costs less and can be completed in a single day. You might be surprised by the affordability of some cosmetic dentistry procedures!
We understand the importance of having teeth that are both healthy and attractive, and our dental office offers solutions that can help you fit your dental care into your budget more easily. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, and we also accept Care Credit, a line of credit that is available specifically for health-care needs.
Dental Implant vs. Bridge
A bridge, also known as a fixed partial denture, is a dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth by joining permanently to adjacent teeth or dental implants. A bridge is fabricated by reducing the teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth by a preparation pattern determined by the location of the teeth and by the material from which the bridge is fabricated. In other words, the abutment teeth are reduced in size to accommodate the material to be used to restore the size and shape of the original teeth in correct alignment and contact with the opposing teeth. The dimensions of the bridge are defined by Ante's Law: "The root surface area of the abutment teeth has to equal or surpass that of the teeth being replaced with pontics."
What Does An Implant Consist of?
The materials used for the bridges include gold, porcelain fused to metal, or in the correct situation porcelain alone. A Dental Implant is a "root" device, usually made of titanium, used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth to replace missing teeth. Virtually all dental implants placed today are root-form endosseous implants, i.e., they appear similar to an actual tooth root (and thus possess a "root-form") and are placed within the bone. The bone of the jaw accepts and osseointegrates with the titanium post. Dental implants will fuse with the bone and can be used to support a number of dental prostheses, including crowns, implant-supported bridges or dentures.
Contact our Summerville, SC Dental Clinic
Are you looking for a dependable tooth replacement option? Contact our Summerville, SC dental office to find out if bridges or dental implants are the right treatment for you.
Individual insurance policies determine the amount of coverage for dental implant treatment, although dental benefits usually have an annual maximum of $1,000 to $1,500 per year. Since the amount of coverage is determined strictly by what is spent on the policy, there are many limitations on most plans.
How Do Dental Insurance Companies Calculate Insurance?
Dental insurance companies design plans to cover routine maintenance, emergencies, and basic care. Statistical data is used to determine the most commonly used procedures. The insurance companies determine their own “usual and customary fee” schedule for procedures, based on the cost of the plan. This also dictates the specific restrictions and limitations of each plan. Since most plans are only intended to cover basic care, the annual maximum benefit for most plans is $1,000-$1,500 per year.
Many companies exclude dental implants as a covered benefit, although they will pay for the lowest cost alternative treatment option (partials and dentures) and some of the tooth extractions and diagnostic records. Even if an insurance plan includes dental implants as a covered benefit, it is still limited to the policy’s annual maximum.
Call Our Summerville Dental Office For More Information
Contact Azalea Dental today to learn more about the dental insurance options available at our Summerville, SC dental office. Our entire dental team is thrilled to meet you and the entire family. Let's get your smile journey started!
Losing just one tooth can lead to a series of events that can seriously compromise your overall oral health. The empty space left by a missing tooth gives the surrounding teeth room to move into the void and surrounding bone can start to deteriorate.
Replace Missing Teeth With Dental Implants
It is important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible, and dental implants are a popular and effective solution. A dental implant is surgically placed in your jawbone and serves as a replacement root for the missing tooth.
First, we will refer you to a trusted local oral surgeon who places a titanium replacement root into your jaw. This is the underlying piece of the implant. Once the implant has been secured in the jaw bone, healing usually takes several months. When we’re familiar with your case, we’ll be able to give you a better estimate. After the bone heals, we anchor a replacement tooth like a crown, bridge, or denture to the implant.
Call Our Summerville, SC Office To Book Your Dental Appointment
Secure, durable dental implants have changed the way we look at tooth replacement, and there’s a lot to consider when thinking about having a dental implant placed. We encourage you to contact our Summerville dental office, and we’ll be happy to arrange a convenient consultation with Dr. Riley.
It used to be that choices for replacing a missing tooth were limited. But today we offer a variety of tooth replacement solutions to fit every need.
Tooth Replacement in Summerville, SC
Without a doubt, dental implants are at the top of the list of options. There are many reasons for this. Dental implants are the replacement that acts, works, and looks most like a natural tooth.
Unlike other replacement options that rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants are completely freestanding. This is possible because they are secured directly into your jaw with a small titanium replacement root. Implants are durable and have been used for decades so you know they’re safe.
A dental bridge is another option to consider if you’re just missing one or two teeth. A bridge is an artificial tooth that’s attached to the natural teeth adjacent to the empty space. Bridges solve the cosmetic problem of the missing space and can also be secured in place with a dental implant.
Partial dentures have been and continue to be an excellent option for tooth replacement. Partials are appropriate when several teeth are missing. They’re similar to full dentures but have the added advantage of clipping securely onto your natural teeth for support.
If you’re wondering which of these tooth replacement options may be appropriate for you, please contact our Summerville office. We will be happy to arrange a consultation with Dr. Riley to discuss your needs.
Meet Our Doctor:
Thomas P. Riley, DMD
Dr. Thomas Riley, a prominent Summerville dentist, considers himself a homegrown ‘Summervillian’ through and through. His exposure to the community extends far back, as he attended Summerville High School, played soccer for the Summerville Soccer Club, and went to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church while growing up. He then went on to attend Auburn University and the College of Charleston, where he finished with a degree in Chemistry.
Prior to becoming an active member of the Summerville dentistry community, Dr. Riley graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina.
In 2007, Dr. Riley ...
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