Dental Implants in Bloomington

Dental implant therapy refers to the process of replacing teeth with dental implants. Teeth that are severely decayed, damaged, or missing can be replaced with fully functional dental implants and implant-supported prosthetics.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is surgically placed in the jaw. It fuses with the bone to form a solid bond that can support a dental prosthetic. A single dental implant can replace one tooth and multiple dental implants can support a bridge or dentures.

Dental implants are considered to be the highest quality tooth replacement option available in dentistry due to the following benefits:

• Natural function. Dental implants work like your natural teeth, withstanding the same amount of chewing force.
• Natural appearance. Dental implants offer the most natural appearance of any dental prosthetic because they are anchored securely in the jaw like your natural teeth.
• Prevents bone loss. Implants preserve the bone structure in your jaw, preventing it from weakening and thinning as it would typically do in the absence of a tooth root.
• Improves oral health. Replacing missing or severely decayed teeth with dental implants improves your oral health and gives you a full set of functioning teeth.
• No damage to your healthy teeth. When you replace a single tooth with a dental implant, it won’t affect the healthy teeth negatively, as opposed to a bridge that requires permanent alteration of the adjacent teeth.

• Single Tooth Replacement. When one tooth needs to be replaced, a single dental implant can be placed in the socket where the tooth is missing or removed.
• Multiple Teeth Replacement. When multiple teeth need to be replaced, anywhere from 2-6 dental implants may be placed in the jaw. For example:
  • Full Arch Reconstruction (All-on-Four). All of the teeth can be replaced at once, often in a single day, with 4 dental implants to support a full arch denture.
  • Implant Supported Dentures. A full arch denture may also be supported by 6 dental implants, providing the utmost security.
  • Implant Supported Bridge. When a few adjacent teeth are missing, 2 dental implants can be placed on either side of the gap to support a bridge.
• Computer-guided implant placement. We use computer-aided dental implant placement to ensure accuracy and precision.
  • X-Nav Technology. The latest technology in guided implant placement is X-Nav, which creates 3D images of the teeth and jaw to ensure that dental implants are placed at the correct angle and depth.
• Site Preparation for Future Implants. Some preparation may be needed before dental implants can be placed. Preparatory procedures include:
  • Gum & Bone Grafting. A grafting procedure can replace and regenerate lost bone and gum tissue to prepare the site for dental implants.
  • Ridge Augmentation. When the jaw bone has been damaged, due to chronic gum disease or bone loss from missing teeth, ridge augmentation reshapes the bone to prepare the socket for dental implant placement.
  • Ridge Preservation. After a tooth is extracted, ridge preservation is a procedure that preserves the bone structure, giving you time to heal before getting a dental implant without risk of bone loss.
  • Sinus Lift. If the bone in the upper jaw is too thin, a sinus lift procedure adds volume to the bone so that a dental implant can be placed without puncturing the sinus cavity.

If you have one or more teeth that are missing or too damaged to be saved, you are a potential candidate for dental implants. To be immediately eligible, an evaluation of your oral health and bone structure will be required to determine if any preparation is needed before the placement of dental implants.