Dental Implants Colorado Springs
Experience the Gold Standard of Tooth Replacement
If you’ve heard of dental implants, you may have heard that these nifty little posts are one of the best options for replacing missing teeth, as they come with all sorts of life-changing benefits. Better yet, Dr. Waite can complete the whole dental implant process right here in our Colorado Springs office! To learn more about dental implants, or to schedule a consultation to see if they’re a good option for rebuilding your smile, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
Why Choose Aspen Ridge Dental Care for Dental Implants?
- Skilled Dentist with 20+ Years of Experience
- Full Dental Implant Service Under One Roof
- PRF Treatments Ensure Optimal Outcomes
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants refer to small titanium posts that can be surgically placed beneath a patient’s gum line to assist with tooth restoration. The posts function as replacement tooth roots and are capable of fusing with the bone tissue to provide sturdy foundational support for a custom-made dental restoration. Dental implants are unique in the sense that they’re the only option capable of replacing teeth from root to crown, not to mention, they also have the potential to last for decades.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Compared to dentures or dental bridges, dental implants have a longer and more complex treatment process. Getting them can take patients an average of four to six months or so. Even so, please rest easy; the posts are worth all this time and effort! Dr. Waite performs the entire placement at our office, so your results will benefit from his expertise and skill. He oversees the entire implant process, which covers the consultation, implant surgery, osseointegration, and the final restoration’s placement.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
Each patient starts the implant process by consulting Dr. Waite in person. Through this discussion, he’ll confirm your specific treatment goals, the state of your oral health, and other key factors. Our team uses those details to confirm whether dental implants suit you, thus ensuring we draft a good treatment plan.
If we conclude you don’t (initially) qualify for implants, don’t worry. You can become a good treatment candidate later through preliminary services – tooth extractions, gum disease therapy, etc. These procedures can strengthen a mouth (and jaw) enough to support implant posts.
Dental Implant Surgery
If Dr. Waite approves, your consultation will be followed by dental implant surgery. We handle this later phase of treatment at our office; we won’t refer you to outside specialists. By taking this approach, our team ensures you benefit from Dr. Waite’s extensive implant experience.
Every implant surgery involves the following elements:
- Anesthesia – Dr. Waite will numb your mouth (with anesthesia) before the surgery starts. That way, you won’t feel pain from the treatment process; you’ll be free of aches.
- Incision(s) – Once the anesthesia “kicks in,” we’ll make an incision in your gums. This cut makes room in your mouth for the actual implant post.
- Implant Placement – Our team will use advanced tools and methods to place your implant. To that extent, your new tooth will look (and feel) amazing!
- Gum Closure – After placing the implant(s), Dr. Waite will close your gum incisions. He’ll then set a cap over the post(s).
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Your placed implant will slowly begin to fuse with your jawbone. Through this 4–6-month process of “osseointegration,” the post will take root and become very stable and secure. Your new “tooth” will have become a permanent part of your mouth once it’s over.
After your implant fuses, you’ll undergo a follow-up surgery. This later procedure places an abutment – a small metal connector – on your base post. While you recover from that placement, a dental lab will craft your final restoration.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
You’ll get your final restoration at the end of treatment. As for its specific nature, the device can vary; what you receive will depend on how many teeth you lost. Your final restoration could thus be a dental crown, an implant bridge, or even an advanced implant denture.
All that said, fitting your final appliance won’t take long. We’ll only need to apply some dental cement to your abutment, set your device, and make some final adjustments. From there, you can enjoy your restored smile!
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants can help almost anyone tired of living with unsightly tooth gaps or uncomfortable, wiggly prosthetics. Whether you’re missing one tooth or many, implants provide stable, lifelike replacements that look and feel just like natural teeth. At Aspen Ridge Dental Care, we use dental implants in Colorado Springs to restore your ability to chew, speak, and smile with confidence. If you’re ready for a more secure, long-term solution than traditional dentures or partials, implants may be the right choice for you.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most healthy adults with one or more missing teeth are potential candidates for dental implants. However, ideal candidates have good overall health, healthy gums, and enough jawbone density to support the fixtures. Candidates should also be committed to good oral hygiene and regular checkups long after their restorations are placed.
If you’ve been without teeth for years, you may be worried about your eligibility, but you can rest easy. Modern preparatory procedures, like bone grafting, may still make implants possible!
During your consultation, Dr. Waite will review your medical history, examine your mouth, and take detailed diagnostics to design a safe, personalized treatment plan just for you.
Missing One Tooth
If you’re missing just one tooth, a single dental implant topped with a custom crown is often the best solution. The titanium post replaces your missing tooth’s root, helping preserve your jawbone while keeping surrounding teeth from shifting.
These implants also don’t require the shaping of adjacent teeth as a traditional bridge would, preserving more of your enamel and tooth structure. With proper care, your implant can last for many years. Our team will show you how to care for it properly at home and during regular visits.
Missing Multiple Teeth
For patients missing several teeth in a row, an implant bridge can provide a secure, natural-looking replacement. Instead of using healthy teeth as anchors, we place one or more dental implants in the gap and attach a customized bridge on top. This option is more stable and longer-lasting than a traditional bridge.
If you have a partial denture to replace several teeth throughout your mouth, dental implants can also be used to secure the prosthetic in place. This eliminates the need for metal clasps or ball-sockets, creating a more permanent prosthetic.
Missing All Teeth
Even if you are missing all your teeth, dental implants can give you back a strong, complete smile. Using strategically placed implants, we can secure a full denture in your upper arch, lower arch, or both.
Implant dentures are far more stable than traditional ones, so you can have spirited conversations and enjoy meals without worrying about slippage. These dentures also stimulate your jawbone, helping prevent the sunken facial look that often comes with long-term tooth loss.
Many patients say implant dentures feel much closer to having their natural teeth again, restoring both comfort and confidence.