Dental Implants in Brentwood, TN
Do you need to replace missing teeth but don’t want full or partial removable dentures? With dental implants, Dr. Haley E. Schmitt restores smiles without involving other healthy teeth and without removable prosthetics.
How Does a Dental Implant Work?
A dental implant is a small titanium post that a trusted specialist places surgically into the jawbone. Implant placement is followed by osseointegration, where the implant post integrates with surrounding bone and tissue over several months.
When fully healed, Dr. Schmitt attaches a single crown to the implant or an entire arch of prosthetic teeth to replace multiple teeth.
Benefits of Dental Implants
There are three key benefits to choosing dental implants:
1. Implants Are a Long-Term Tooth Replacement
Dental implants are a highly successful, long-term tooth replacement. Since they have been in use, they have established an impressive success rate of 95 percent!
A dental implant that has been placed properly and cared for with excellent oral hygiene and routine checkups and cleanings has the potential to last a lifetime.
2. Implants Restore Full Chewing Function
Because they lack stability, removable dentures restore only about 30 percent of chewing function, meaning you still can't chew certain foods. An implant tooth has the same stability as a healthy natural tooth, so you can chew comfortably and eat your favorite foods.
3. Implants Maintain a Healthy Jaw
An intact tooth root stimulates jawbone regeneration; however when the root is gone, the bone that held it in place starts to shrink.
Over time, this loss of support allows surrounding teeth to drift and even cause further tooth loss. Jawbone loss also contributes to a sunken or aged facial appearance.
A dental implant acts as a replacement root, allowing the jawbone remains strong and healthy.
What’s Involved with Getting an Implant?
The first step is a comprehensive exam with Dr. Schmitt, so she can evaluate your situation and determine if an implant is right for you. If she agrees you’re a good candidate, she will refer you to a specialist in our network who performs implant placement comfortably under local anesthesia.
Dr. Schmitt will coordinate with the specialist throughout the process and monitor healing to ensure the implant post is fully integrated with the jawbone.
Next, we restore the implant with a beautiful, durable CEREC dental crown. You’ve waited months to finalize the healing process, but with CEREC same-day crowns, we can have you on your way with your beautiful new smile in about two hours!
Implant-Supported Dentures vs. Removable Dentures
If you currently wear removable dentures or are considering getting them in the future, you might consider implant-supported dentures as an alternative. Implant dentures restore your smile in the same way as removable dentures but are considerably more stable.
Implant-supported dentures eliminate the typical problems of removable denture wearers, such as slipping, shifting, and irritation. Dentures secured with implants restore chewing function similar to a complete set of healthy, natural teeth.
If you wear older dentures that no longer fit properly, or you prefer a tooth replacement that’s the closest thing dentistry offers to natural teeth, implant dentures are a great option.
Schedule a Dental Implant Appointment to Get Started!
At Haley E. Schmitt Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, we offer custom tooth replacement with dental implants. If you would like to see if you’re a good candidate, please call our Brentwood, TN, dental office to schedule an appointment.
Our comfortable dental office is located in Brentwood in the Maryland Farms neighborhood. We serve patients in the greater Nashville metro area, including Franklin, Oak Hill, Forest Hills, Belle Meade, Nolensville, and surrounding communities.
