Dental Implant FAQs Arlington Heights, IL

Can anyone get dental implants?

Most people will qualify for dental implants, yet there are certain criteria that must be met. Since getting implants involves surgical procedures, you must be in good overall health. You must also have enough bone to support the implants. If you suffer from a dental issues such as gum disease or tooth decay those issues much be treated first. It is important that the implant posts have a healthy environment to heal in. To see if you qualify, schedule a dental exam with Dr. Brent Engelberg at his Arlington Heights, IL dentist office.

How are dental implants better for your oral health?

Dental implant retained restorations are fixed in the mouth allowing the patient’s biting, chewing and speaking ability to return to almost normal. This means you can enjoy a larger variety of healthy foods that will support an overall healthy lifestyle. They will also prevent surrounding teeth from shifting which could possibly lead to bite issues. Teeth implants will also provide stimulation for the jaw bone that will prevent gradual bone loss.

How many dental implants will I need?

This will depend on how many teeth are missing and their location. A single dental implant will be used to support a dental crown for patients only missing one tooth. If you are missing more than one tooth, two or more implants will be used to support a dental bridge, partial denture or full denture. At your implant consultation, Dr. Engelberg will examine your teeth to determine how many dental implants will be needed to anchor the restoration that will best support your oral health needs.

In what way are dental implants better than dental bridges?

Dental bridges will require the adjacent, anchor teeth on both sides of the gap to be reduced. In essence, you are damaging two natural teeth that are healthy to replace one or two teeth. Dental implants are placed in the void where the missing teeth were located and do not involve harming any natural teeth. Instead, one missing tooth is replaced with an implant-supported crown and multiple consecutive teeth are replaced with implant-supported dental bridge. The bridge will be anchored to two implants that will be surgically placed on both side of the gap. A dental bridge will not replace the missing teeth roots whereas a dental implant restoration will, preventing bone loss.

How are dental implants better than traditional, removable dentures?

Removable, traditional dentures have a bad reputation for being uncomfortable and difficult to get used to. They are also known to slip around in the mouth causing slurred speech and issues with chewing food. You must avoid certain foods because you lose biting force when wearing dentures. Dental implant retained dentures, on the other hand, are more secure and durable. They are more like natural teeth making them the most comfortable full arch replacement option. They will not slip around in your mouth and you will be able to enjoy a variety of food because they are surgically secured in place. Implant dentures will also prevent bone loss which leads to that sunken-in look on the face.

How do I take care of my dental implants and dental restoration?

Caring for your implant-supported restoration is similar to caring for your natural teeth. You must brush your teeth multiple times a day and floss at least once a day. Dr. Engelberg will show you how to care for your restoration if it requires specific cleaning instructions. If cared for properly, your dental implant restoration should last a lifetime.

How do I learn more about my dental implant options?

To keep researching your options for dental implants, visit the links below.