Comprehensive Tooth Replacement With Dental Implants in Chicago, IL
The advantages of choosing dental implants to replace teeth are numerous, and with so many dental implant options available, one of these comprehensive tooth replacement methods will likely work for you.
Dental implants are by far the best solution for missing teeth, whether you need to replace one, many, or all of your teeth.
Chicago Dental Arts offers a range of tooth replacement services in Chicago, Illinois. Our highly skilled dentist, Dr. Vlad Fedin, has extensive experience evaluating patients with missing teeth and creating custom treatment plans that include dental implants.
Dr. Fedin has performed thousands of dental implant procedures over his 25+ year career. Unlike many other cosmetic dentists, your implant surgery will be performed by Dr. Fedin, and he will remain with you throughout the process.
Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Almost anyone with missing teeth can qualify for treatment with dental implants. However, if you have advanced periodontal disease, your options are more limited, and supporting treatments may be necessary before implants can be placed.
Since dental implants involve a surgical procedure, you should not smoke or use any tobacco products, as this can lead to complications and interfere with your recovery.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Dental implants are considered the most complete and healthy way to replace loose, badly damaged, and missing teeth. Dental implants provide the following benefits:
- Dental implants replace both the root and visible portions of teeth
- Dental implants can prevent or slow down jawbone resorption
- Dental implants provide a stable bite
- Dental implants look and feel like your natural teeth
- Dental implants are not vulnerable to decay
- Dental implants are the only permanent tooth-replacement solution
- Dental implants can be used to support bridges and dentures
- Dental implants can be brushed and flossed just like your natural teeth
- Dental implants are the healthiest tooth replacement option
- Dental implants can restore your smile
Jawbone Resorption
Resorption is a term that describes the loss of bone mass and density caused by the absence of stimulation provided by your tooth roots.
One of the most crucial benefits of dental implants is that the post, which is inserted into the jawbone, acts as an artificial tooth root to restore stimulation in the jaw.
Cosmetic Benefits
Dental implants from Chicago Dental Arts include natural-looking porcelain crowns and can be part of a complete smile makeover when received in conjunction with cosmetic dental treatments like the following:
- Invisalign® or ClearCorrect™ dental aligners – If you have crooked or misaligned teeth, along with one or more missing teeth, ClearCorrect™ or Invisalign® can be added to your dental implant treatment plan for a straighter, healthier, and complete smile.
- Professional teeth whitening – If you have extrinsic staining on your existing teeth, whitening them before crowns are placed over your dental implants allows you to choose a lighter shade to achieve bright and healthy teeth.
Want to learn more about how dental implants can save your smile? Reach out to the team at Chicago Dental Arts today by calling (312) 642-6631.
Your Chicago Dental Implant Options
Chicago Dental Arts offers the most comprehensive dental implant options in Chicago, Illinois. One of these implant techniques is sure to meet your tooth-replacement needs:
Single-Tooth Dental Implants
Single-tooth implants are the best choice to replace one missing tooth, often after extensive decay or an injury has severely damaged it.
[Learn More About Single Tooth Dental Implants]
Multiple Dental Implants
Multiple dental implants comprehensively replace two or more teeth that are missing due to trauma or gum disease.
[Learn More About Multiple Dental Implants]
Full Mouth Dental Implants
Individual implants can replace all of your teeth for the most natural function and appearance.
[Learn More About Full Mouth Dental Implants]
Implant-Supported Bridges
When healthy teeth are not available to secure a fixed dental bridge, they can be secured with two dental implants.
All-On-Four Dental Implants
An alternative to individual implants when all or most of your teeth are missing, this method uses four implants to provide better stability for dentures than removable options.
[Learn More About All-On-Four Implants]
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants consist of a titanium implant post, abutment, and crown.
Placement involves three to five steps, depending on the oral health of the patient:
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1. Gum and Jawbone Augmentation (Grafting)
When gum disease has progressed to the point that the gums and underlying bone have degraded, they must be treated with regenerative procedures.
This supportive treatment includes gum and bone grafting and is necessary to provide a strong foundation for dental implants.
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2. Inserting the Dental Implant Post(s)
The titanium implant posts can be inserted if the gums and jawbone are healthy. Implant placement is a surgical procedure, and depending on your treatment plan, may involve the following sedation or anesthesia options:
- Minimal sedation: You will be awake but very relaxed.
- Twilight sedation: You will be awake but will not likely remember most of the procedure.
- Deep sedation: You may waver between consciousness and unconsciousness.
- General anesthesia: You will be completely unconscious.
Chicago Dental Arts offers sedation dentistry and anesthesia to meet the differing needs of Chicago’s diverse population.
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3. Dental Implant Fusion – Osseointegration
Osseointegration is the most critical step in the placement of dental implants, as this is when the post fuses with the jawbone to provide a strong and secure anchor for the crown.
It is also responsible for the ongoing preservation of the jawbone and helps stop or greatly hinder the process of resorption.
The time it takes to complete this step ranges from a couple of weeks to a few months and will be longer for patients who require bone grafts than those with healthy underlying bone and gum tissue.
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4. Placing the Dental Implant Abutment
Typically, when receiving a crown, your natural tooth would be modified and used as an abutment (a secured base for a restoration to fit over and connect to).
When no tooth is available, as in dental implant placement, an abutment is added to the top of the implant post.
This small piece of titanium or zirconia is screwed onto the implant post before a dental impression is obtained and sent to the lab where your customized porcelain crown is fabricated.
Biolase® Waterlase®
Dr. Fedin uses Waterlase®, an advanced dental technology that offers comfortable, drill and needle-free treatments which significantly reduce healing time.
What Is Recovery Like After Dental Implant Placement?
The placement of dental implant posts typically involves some swelling, bleeding, tenderness, and discomfort during the first 24 hours. Dr. Fedin will prescribe medication to help. You can also use ice packs to reduce pain and swelling.
Over the following few days, as oral tissues heal, you will begin to feel much better. Recovery time will vary depending on the number of implants placed.
Your dental implant(s) continue fusing with the jawbone after placement, and your gums will be more vulnerable at this time. Practice a more stringent oral hygiene routine to keep your mouth clean and prevent bacteria from developing, which may cause an infection and complications that can impact the success of your procedure.
Taking Care of Your Dental Implant
Your dental implant(s) function like natural teeth and should be cared for similarly. While they are impervious to tooth decay and resistant to discoloration, they can become stained.
In the first few weeks after receiving the final restoration(s), protect your crown(s) by avoiding foods and drinks that can stain them.
Dr. Fedin recommends dental implant patients avoid the following:
- Red wine, grape juice, coffee, and tea
- Alcohol
- Tobacco products
- Hard or tough-to-chew foods (until fully healed)
Consider drinking alcohol or highly pigmented beverages through a straw when you consume these beverages.
After two weeks of vigilant care, continue with a proper oral hygiene routine by brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes and flossing every morning or evening.
Be sure to thoroughly clean the gum line, as debris can get stuck in this area and cause bacterial growth, which leads to tartar, plaque, decay, and gum disease.
Always attend your scheduled twice-yearly dental cleanings and check-ups.
What Results Can I Expect After Receiving Dental Implants?
You can expect excellent results when using dental implants to replace missing teeth. These comprehensive tooth restorations are designed to look, feel, and function like your own healthy teeth.
You can also look forward to a uniformly bright and beautiful smile if you whiten your teeth before receiving implants, your natural teeth were already white, or you had all your teeth replaced with dental implants.
Choosing Dental Implants to Replace Missing Teeth in Chicago
Chicago Dental Arts is equipped with Cone Beam 3D technology for lifelike imaging and the precise placement of dental implants and Waterlase® for a more comfortable experience.
Call our Chicago, Illinois, top dental implant provider today at (312) 642-6631 to learn more about dental implants. We look forward to answering your questions!
Check out more of Chicago Dental Arts’ before and after photos here.
Case Study
Dental Implants and Placement of Zirconia Crowns
Patient presented for implant placement of lower molar and premolar teeth to replace missing teeth after extraction. The teeth were extracted due to severe decay which made them unrestorable. Utilizing a minimally invasive approach, the molar and premolar were atraumatically extracted to preserve the surrounding soft and hard tissues.
Following extractions, a bone grafting material was placed in the extraction sockets to promote bone regeneration. This step was crucial for providing a stable foundation for future implant placement.
Two Hiossen implants were precisely placed in the healed sockets after an appropriate healing period following bone grafting. The strategic positioning of the implants aimed at achieving optimal support for the future crowns.
Healing abutments were attached to the implants to guide tissue formation and create an ideal emergence profile for the final restorations. This allowed for the proper shaping of the soft tissues surrounding the implant sites.
Custom abutments were designed and milled to exact specifications. The use of an iTero scanner ensured precise digital impressions of the custom abutments, allowing for a seamless transition to the next phase of the treatment.
The digitally scanned custom abutments served as the foundation for the creation of customized zirconia crowns. The crowns were meticulously designed to replicate the natural appearance of the adjacent teeth, providing both esthetic and functional harmony.
Post-treatment follow-up demonstrated excellent tissue healing around the implants, successful integration of the implants with the bone, and a harmonious emergence profile. The placement of customized zirconia crowns not only restored the patient’s ability to chew comfortably but also enhanced the overall esthetics of her smile.
