Restore the Beauty and Function of Your Teeth
Missing or severely damaged teeth can be uncomfortable and affect your ability to speak, eat, and smile with confidence. Fortunately, dental implants offer a highly effective solution to restore the function and beauty of your teeth. Dr. Paul E. Brown and Dr. Christopher S. Baran specialize in dental implant restorations at their Wilmington and Seaford, DE locations.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts surgically placed in the jawbone to serve as the root of a missing tooth. The biocompatible material fuses with the jawbone, creating a stable foundation for prosthetic teeth like crowns, bridges, or dentures. Implant-supported restorations are highly durable and long-lasting, offering patients a reliable option to replace missing teeth.
Immediate-Load Implant Dentistry
At Brown & Baran Family Dentistry, we understand that waiting for your restoration after implant surgery can be inconvenient. That’s why we offer immediate-load implant dentistry, which allows you to leave our office with your new restoration already attached to your implant on the same day as your implant placement surgery.
We use the Same Day Teeth® technique, where we strategically place four implants per arch to hold a denture in place. We may also secure your denture with a titanium milled bar, which will stretch across your gums to hold a removable overdenture in place. This innovative approach to implant dentistry ensures that our patients can regain their confidence and quality of life as soon as possible.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are known to be the gold standard in restorative dentistry. When you decide on dental implants, you’re getting numerous benefits, including:
- Improved Oral Health: Dental implants help prevent bone loss and gum recession, which can occur when teeth are missing.
- Enhanced Aesthetics: Implant-supported restorations look and feel like natural teeth, improving the appearance of your smile.
- Improved Function: Implant-supported restorations allow patients to speak, eat, and chew with ease and confidence.
- Durability: Dental implants are highly durable and can last a lifetime with proper care.
Ideal Candidates for Dental Implants
To be a good candidate for dental implants, you should:
- Have a fully developed jawbone
- Have a strong and dense enough jawbone to hold the implants in place.
- Have healthy gums free from periodontal disease.
- Not smoke.
- Not suffer from hemophilia, uncontrolled diabetes, AIDS, or any other conditions that might suppress your immune system and prevent you from healing properly.
- Not take steroids or any other medications that would interfere with your recovery.
- Not suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding).
- Not be pregnant.
- Not drink alcohol to excess.
- Commit to properly caring for your dental implants and restorations
Dental Implant Treatment Process
If you’re considering dental implants, it’s essential to understand the treatment process. At Brown & Baran Family Dentistry, we use guided implant dentistry, which involves the use of our advanced cone beam 3-D imaging system to create a detailed map of your mouth. This allows us to create a surgical guide, which we use to accurately place the titanium post into your jawbone.
1. Initial Consultation
During your initial consultation, Dr. Brown or Dr. Baran will examine your teeth and gums, review your medical history, and take digital X-rays and impressions of your mouth. This information will help them determine if you’re a good candidate for dental implants and develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
2. Implant Placement
If you’re a good candidate for dental implants, the next step is implant placement. This involves the surgical placement of the titanium post into your jawbone. At Brown & Baran Family Dentistry, we use the guided implant dentistry technique to ensure accurate placement of the implant.
After implant placement, you will need to allow time for the implant to fuse with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. This typically takes three to six months, during which time you may wear a temporary restoration.
3. Completing Your Restorations
Once osseointegration is complete, you will return to our office to have your permanent restoration attached to your dental implant. Our trusted implant specialist lab will create your restoration, whether it’s a single zirconia crown, a dental bridge, or a denture. In general, we provide less than two weeks of turnaround time for implant-supported restorations.
Caring for Your Implants
After your dental implant procedure, it’s important to properly care for your implants and restorations to ensure their longevity. This includes brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and scheduling regular dental appointments for assessment and cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all! Most patients report little to no discomfort during or after their dental implant procedure. We use local anesthesia to numb the area during surgery, and you may receive medication to manage any discomfort after the procedure.
Dental implants are a long-term solution for missing teeth. With proper care, they can last a lifetime, making them a cost-effective investment in your oral health. The success of dental implants largely depends on maintaining good oral hygiene and regularly visiting your dentist for check-ups and cleanings.
While the cost of dental implants varies depending on your specific needs, they are generally more expensive than other restorative options. However, they’re often a worthwhile investment in your oral health and overall well-being.
The length of the dental implant procedure depends on your specific needs and the complexity of your case. In general, implant placement takes one to two hours, and the entire treatment process can take several months to a year.
Visit Us for a New Smile!
If you’re interested in learning more about dental implants or scheduling a consultation with Dr. Brown or Dr. Baran, call our Wilmington, DE office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford, DE office at (302) 536-7589. You can also fill out our contact form, and our team will get back to you shortly.
We proudly provide dental implant services to Pike Creek, Marshallton, and Stanton, DE patients. We’re committed to helping you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile.
