Enjoy the confidence of a healthy, natural-looking smile with dental implants from Chapel Hill Oral Surgery. Serving Durham, NC, our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon specializes in dental implant procedures, providing a permanent solution for missing teeth. At Chapel Hill Oral Surgery, we prioritize patient safety and comfort, making every effort to minimize stress and anxiety. We provide personalized care and use cutting-edge technology to achieve optimal results for your new smile. Losing teeth can affect your confidence and quality of life, which is why we are dedicated to helping you regain a healthy, natural-looking smile with the comfort and security of dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a tooth replacement option offered by Chapel Hill Oral Surgery. A dental implant is a small, biocompatible titanium post surgically placed into the jawbone. Titanium is used because it is incredibly strong and has the unique ability to fuse with your jawbone.
The implant becomes firmly anchored in your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This creates a durable base for your replacement tooth and ensures its long-term stability. Osseointegration usually takes several months to complete.
Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, dental implants replace both the root and crown of a missing tooth. This provides a level of stability and functionality that is not possible with other treatments. Once the implant has integrated with the jaw, a small connector called an abutment is attached. This abutment serves as the base for your new tooth or restoration, which can be a crown, bridge, or denture, depending on your needs.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Dental implants offer many benefits over traditional tooth replacement options. Because they replace the tooth root, dental implants provide stability and strength. This lets you eat your favorite foods with confidence and speak clearly without worry.
In addition to stability, dental implants also stimulate your jawbone, just like natural teeth do. This helps prevent bone loss, which can happen when you lose teeth. It also helps you keep your natural face shape and avoid a sunken-in look.
Another advantage of dental implants is that, unlike dentures and bridges, which can require altering healthy teeth, they go directly into your jawbone. This leaves your healthy teeth untouched.
At Chapel Hill Oral Surgery near Durham, NC, we are committed to providing our patients with high-quality care and positive outcomes. We use Nobel Biocare™ implants, known for their exceptional quality and reliability. These implants, together with our advanced Dynamic X-Guide® technology, help us make your procedure as precise, comfortable, and effective as possible.
Dental Implants Types
At Chapel Hill Oral Surgery, we offer several dental implant solutions for Durham to replace a single missing tooth or restore an entire arch.
Traditional Dental Implants
Traditional dental implants are the most common type and can replace a single tooth, several teeth, or an entire arch. Each implant is surgically placed into the jawbone and, after a healing period, restored with a custom-made crown, bridge, or denture. This versatile option can be tailored to address a wide range of tooth replacement needs.
All-on-4® Dental Implants
The All-on-4 treatment concept allows full-arch restoration with only four to six implants. This minimally invasive method is ideal for patients who have lost most or all of their teeth and desire a fixed, full-mouth option. By strategically placing the implants, we can maximize their support and provide a stable foundation for a full set of teeth.
Zygomatic Dental Implants
Zygomatic implants are a specialized type of dental implant used for patients with significant bone loss in the upper jaw. These longer implants are anchored in the cheekbone (zygomatic bone) rather than the jawbone, providing a stable foundation for a full-arch restoration without the need for extensive bone grafting. This alternative method offers a solution for patients who were previously told they were not candidates for traditional implants.
Are You a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a highly successful tooth replacement option for Durham, NC, and many patients find them to be an ideal solution for restoring their smiles. However, it is important to determine if they are the right fit for your individual needs. The only way to know for sure is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hill, our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Chapel Hill Oral Surgery.
During your consultation, Dr. Hill will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your oral health to determine if dental implants are the right choice for you.
Ideal candidates for dental implants generally meet the following criteria:
- Have one or more missing teeth.
- Are in good overall health and able to undergo minor oral surgery.
- Have healthy gums and sufficient jawbone density to support the implants. If bone loss has occurred, bone grafting may be an option.
- Are non-smokers, as smoking can significantly hinder the healing process and increase the risk of implant failure.
- Have realistic expectations about the dental implant process, procedure, recovery period, and long-term results.
Schedule Your Dental Implants Consultation
Restore your smile with dental implants at Chapel Hill Oral Surgery. Our skilled team serving Durham, NC will provide you with personalized care, answer all your questions, and guide you through the entire implant experience. We believe in providing you with all the information you need to make confident decisions about your oral health.
To schedule your consultation and learn how dental implants can help you speak, smile, and eat with renewed confidence, contact Chapel Hill Oral Surgery today by calling (919) 238-9961 or visiting our contact page.