Dental Implants Clearwater
Providing Smiles That Can Last a Lifetime
Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement. Their stability, natural-looking appearance, and longevity make them a popular and preferred choice among those suffering from tooth loss. Their root-to-crown restoration and ability to deliver continuous jawbone stimulation make them stand out among other traditional tooth replacements, and it’s why we invite you to contact our team at Suncoast Dental Arts if you’re ready to enjoy a renewed smile that can last a lifetime with dental implants in Clearwater.
Why Choose Suncoast Dental Arts for Dental Implants?
- We Place & Restore Dental Implants In-House
- Get An Implant Denture in a Single Appointment
- Trusted By Clearwater Residents for More Than Three Decades
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are similar to natural tooth roots because they are placed within the jawbone and mimic their function. As small, titanium posts, they offer maximum support to any kind of custom restoration, including a dental crown, dental bridge, or denture. Stimulating the bone and creating a stronger bite force allows you to enjoy a more supple and youthful appearance while also being able to enjoy the foods you love.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
If you’re wondering how dental implants work in Clearwater, the process is easier than you might think. At Suncoast Dental Arts, we follow a proven four-step system to ensure long-lasting results and a comfortable experience. Each phase is carefully planned and personalized to match your unique needs.
From your initial consultation to your final restoration, your implant dentist in Clearwater, Dr. Cannady, will guide you every step of the way. This methodical approach will allow your dental implants to look, function, and feel just like natural teeth. Read more below to see the details of this exciting process.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
The first step is your consultation with our team. During this visit, we’ll examine your oral health, review your medical history, and take detailed X-rays and 3D scans. This information helps us decide if you’re a good candidate for implants and how to best plan your procedure.
We’ll also discuss any necessary preparatory treatments, like bone grafting or extractions. At our Clearwater practice, we believe in open, transparent communication, so this is a great time to ask questions and explore your options.
Dental Implant Surgery
Once your treatment plan is ready, we’ll schedule your dental implant surgery. This is a minor procedure where Dr. Cannady will place small titanium posts into your jawbone. These screw-like fixtures act as artificial tooth roots and provide an anchor point for your future restorations.
The surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia, and we’ll ensure you’re relaxed and comfortable the entire time. Afterward, most patients experience some mild soreness around their implant sites, but this typically fades after a few days.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement
After surgery, the healing period begins. This critical phase is called osseointegration, where the implant post fuses naturally with your jawbone. It usually takes a few months, but it’s worth the wait. This process will make your dental implants incredibly stable and long-lasting.
Once healing is complete, we’ll place small connector pieces called abutments on top of the implants. These will eventually hold your final restorations, which will be crafted by a trusted dental lab while you heal for the next few weeks.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
The final step is attaching your custom-made restorations—like crowns, bridges, or dentures—to the abutments. These restorations are carefully designed to match your natural teeth in color, shape, and size. Once in place, you’ll be able to eat, speak, and smile with confidence again!
At Suncoast Dental Arts, we make sure your new teeth not only look great but also feel natural and secure. Our goal is for your dental implants to blend seamlessly with your smile—and last for many years to come!
Benefits of Dental Implants
There are many unique day-to-day and long-term benefits associated with dental implants:
- Teeth that can last 30+ years or even a lifetime with the proper commitment to care
- Greater confidence that shows in your personal and professional life
- A more youthful smile and facial appearance because of the continuous stimulation provided to your jawbone
- All-on-4 dental implants can often avoid the need for a bone graft
- A high success rate of 95%
- The ability to restore nearly 100% of your chewing power so you can eat all your favorite foods
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
Are you curious how to prevent dental implant failure and keep yours in pristine condition for 30+ years? It boils down to proper care and maintenance! If you’re not sure what that entails, this next section is for you. In it, you’ll find helpful information on everything from foods to avoid to the importance of biannual dental checkups and cleanings.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Whether you have a few dental implants or your smile is comprised entirely of this state-of-the-art tooth-replacement solution, you need to make oral hygiene a priority. Otherwise, you could run into several issues – from plaque buildup to inflammation in your gums. That’s why it’s so important to do your best to commit to good habits each and every day, like brushing your teeth in the morning and rinsing with mouthwash before bed at night.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet doesn’t just benefit your overall health; it benefits your oral health too. So, if you haven’t already, start eating meals that have seasonal vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, delicious fruits, and satiating carbs. Not only will this help keep you full, but it will also ensure your body has the nutrients it needs to keep your gums infection-free.
Tip: Avoid crunchy and sticky foods that could chip your restoration or pull it out of place, like hard pretzels and raw almonds.
Break Bad Habits
Keeping your dental implants in pristine condition isn’t just about what you do. It’s about what you don’t do too. For example, you shouldn’t bite your nails, chew on ice cubes, use tobacco products, drink alcohol excessively, or use your teeth as tools to open things. As we mentioned above, it’s also crucial not to eat extremely crunchy and sticky foods since they can shorten the lifespan of your restoration as well.
Protect Your Dental Implants
Do you like to stay active by running, riding your bike, lifting weights, or rollerblading? If so, you should ask your dentist to make you a custom mouthguard! This small dental device will play a big role in preventing dental damage from clenching, grinding, and even accidentally falling.
We also recommend having a nightguard made if you have Bruxism!
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Whether you still have the majority of your natural teeth or you’ve lost every single one over the years, you need to come to our office every six months. That way, our implant dentist in Clearwater, Dr. Cannady, can conduct an oral cancer screening as well as a comprehensive oral exam. He will also carefully examine the condition of your restoration to ensure that it’s in good condition and, if it isn’t, that it gets fixed ASAP.
Dental Implant FAQs
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants have an impressive success rate of over 95%. So, if you are in the process of researching which tooth-replacement solution is best for you, it’s definitely worth considering dental implants! After all, failure is rare, they can stimulate your jawbone (which helps prevent bone loss), they are unmatched in stability, and – with proper care – they can last for 30 years or more.
How Can I Tell If My Dental Implant Is Failing?
Your dental implant should feel secure, look great, and help you enjoy a varied, well-balanced diet. If that’s not the case, then you should contact us ASAP so we can take a look. The sooner you get an appointment on the calendar, the higher the chances are of us being able to prevent implant failure.
Am I Too Old to Get Dental Implants?
Sometimes, patients assume if they are no longer in their 40s, 50s, or 60s, it’s too late for them to get dental implants. The reality is that candidacy isn’t determined by age! Instead, factors like the density of your jawbone, your oral health, and your commitment to breaking bad dental habits are used to determine if this state-of-the-art tooth-replacement solution is right for you. Simply put, you shouldn’t let your age stop you from scheduling a consultation.
Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?
We typically recommend taking one or two days off of work following dental implant surgery. Of course, there are some exceptions. For example, if you are getting three or more dental implants, or your job is physically demanding, we may ask you to take three or four days off so you have plenty of time to rest and recover.
Tip: If you don’t have a lot of PTO days left, consider scheduling your appointment on a Thursday or Friday so you have the weekend to heal as well.
Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Eat with Dental Implants?
Immediately after your procedure, you will need to stick to extremely soft foods, like plain yogurt. Once you heal, you’ll be given the green light to resume your usual diet. Just do your best to fill up on well-balanced, nutrient-dense meals that benefit your oral health. Simultaneously, limit your intake of starchy and sugary foods, like potato chips and ice cream, which have the opposite effect.
Do I Need a Bone Graft Before Getting Dental Implants?
Whether or not you need any preliminary procedures, like a bone graft, will be determined at your initial consultation. Once our implant dentist in Clearwater reviews your X-rays, learns about your dental history, and assesses the density of your jawbone, they can determine if that’s necessary. If the answer is “yes,” then they will create your custom treatment plan, review the details with you, and answer any questions you have before scheduling the necessary follow-up appointments.