How Long Until a Dental Implant Can Be Placed?

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I’m trying to make some big decisions about a tooth. I had a dental crown done months ago which my dentist now thinks probably should have had a root canal treatment done, but now that there’s a crown it can’t be. He’s suggesting pulling the tooth and doing a dental bridge. I’m getting a second opinion to see if there is another option. I think if I do have to lose the tooth, I’d rather get a dental implant. However, I’ve just now gotten dental insurance and all procedures require a one year waiting period. Will my teeth start to shift in that long of a time period?

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

An image of a dental implant crown being placed in three stages

I’m a little concerned about the dentist you’re seeing. If you need a root canal treatment, you need one. It doesn’t matter if you have a crown. Saving the tooth is the priority. I’m glad you’re getting a second opinion. If at all possible, a tooth should be saved.

I also agree that a dental implant is a better option than a dental bridge, especially for a single tooth. To get a bridge would require both adjacent teeth be ground down for dental crowns. This is a waste of healthy tooth structure.

I’m not sure your dentist is looking out for your best interest as much as what is most convenient for him.

Getting a Dental Implant

Worst case scenario, your tooth has to be extracted. With a waiting period, my suggestion is you get a temporary replacement, like a dental flipper, until the waiting period passes. Even if you were to get the dental implant surgery right away, there is still a waiting period while the surgical site heals and the bone has time to integrate around the dental implant.

Once the healing is done, your dentist will place a dental crown on the implant. It’s like having a healthy, natural tooth again.

Dentists will place something there to hold the space open, just like you can do while you wait on your insurance.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Do You Have to Quit Smoking for Dental Implants?

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I want to get dental implants to replace some missing teeth. My dentist said he won’t place them unless I quit smoking. Is this really necessary or is he trying to force his own agenda on me?

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

An image of a dental implant crown being placed in three stages

I don’t think your dentist is trying to force an agenda on you. Instead, he’s trying to give your dental implants procedure the best chance at success.

The Risks of Nicotine with Dental Implants

  • The Reduction of Blood Flow

Any form of tobacco, including cigarettes, vaping, smokeless tobacco, or dipping restricts your blood vessels. In some cases, it cuts off the blood flow completely.

  • Poor Osseointegration


    • One of the keys to a successful dental implant procedure is when the implants fully integrate with the bone. With reduced blood flow, this hinders healing which slows down the integration. This will lead to a loose implant which will fall out.

    • Increased Risk of Infection

    Because your reduced blood flow hinders healing, it increases your risk for infection at the implant location. The leading cause of dental implant failure is an infection.

    Options for Dental Implants When You Smoke

    Obviously, you can accept the risk and move forward. You will be able to find a dentist willing to provide the procedure even while you smoke.

    On the other end of that spectrum is to quit smoking. You can talk to your doctor about options to aid you in that process. There are options to help with the withdrawal symptoms.

    Another possibility is to meet somewhere in the middle. You can quite for several weeks before the surgery and during the healing time. Then, when everything is secure, you can smoke again. However, you may find during that time period that you don’t really need that tobacco as much as you thought you did.

    A Cosmetic Consideration with Dental Implants

    Smoking causes serious tooth stains. Often, patients want to get a whiter smile when they’re replacing their teeth. You may want to consider getting your teeth whitened before having your implant crowns made. This way they can match the porcelain crowns to your new, whiter tooth color. Giving you a youthful, healthy looking smile.

    This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Is Peri-Implantitis Causing Swelling around Your Dental Implant?

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Peri-implantitis is rare. It is even more unsual for it to occur around a dental implant that you’ve had for years, but it can happen. Usually, an infection around an implant occurs within the first few months of placement, but not every infection is caused by peri-implantitis. What should you do if you think your implant is in danger of failing?

What Is Peri-Implantitis?

Peri-implantitis is a rare infectious disease that causes bone loss and infection around a dental implant. Many specialists agree that dental implant complications are often prematurely diagnosed—or misdiagnosed—as peri-implantitis.

Signs and Symptoms of Peri-Implantitis

Some of the signs and symptoms of peri-implantitis are listed below. If you are experiencing some of them, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have peri-implantitis; the disease is rare. Most often, swelling and infection around a dental implant are caused, not by an infectious disease, but by poor planning, improper placement, cheap fixtures, or implant mistakes.

  • Bleeding gums
  • Red or swollen gum tissue
  • Bone loss around the implant
  • Pus around the implant
  • Loose implant fixture
  • Pain

Risk Factors

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, there are several risk factors:

  • Smoking
  • Plaque accumulation
  • Diabetes
  • A history of periodontal (gum disease)

Why Get Prompt Treatment?

It’s important to have a highly skilled implant dentist take a look at the implant site. You’ll need an examination for accurate diagnosis and treatment. If the disease is left unchecked, there are several risks:

  • The infection can worsen.
  • Your jawbone can become infected or begin to dissolve.
  • The implant can completely loosen and need to be replaced.

We recommend that you promptly schedule an appointment with an experienced dentist or periodontist (specialist in gum disease and dental implants). The sooner you act, the less time and money it will cost to correct the issue.

This post is sponsored by East Cobb dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Dental Implants after Dentures

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I’ve had dentures for quite a few years. I’m getting sick of them. They keep slipping. The last straw was when they fell out as I tried to blow out my birthday candles. Not only was it humiliating but they fell on the cake so there went dessert. Am I too old to switch to dental implants?

Tricia

Dear Tricia,

dentures side by side with a dental implant

I’m sorry for that experience. That must have been very hard for you. The good news is the people who were at your party are people who love you. They likely felt nothing but compassion for you.

Age has nothing to do with whether or not you’re a good candidate for dental implants. If you’re in good health, you should be okay. However, that being said, you’ve had dentures for many years.

The reason they’re sliding and falling out is because your jawbone has shrunken. It will continue to shrink as well. This is known as facial collapse.

You Can Still Get Dental Implants

What you’ll have to do is have an additional procedure done known as bone grafting. This will build back up your jawbone so that you can have implants placed. The bone is imperative because it is what secures the implants.

It will be too expensive for you to get a dental implant for each tooth. Instead, I’m going to recommend you get implant supported dentures. Implant overdentures use about four to six implants that anchor to your denture.

They’ll completely secure them and you’ll not have to worry about any loss of jawbone. The implants are what help preserve them.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.


Dental Implant When Teeth are Falling Out

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I have a problem with my teeth falling out. I want to replace them and am determined to do better with my teeth. I hear dental implants are the best. Can I get those or do I need something else in my situation?

Dan

Dear Dan,

dentures side by side with a dental implant

A lot of what you do next depends on why you are losing your teeth. If it is gum disease, then you won’t be a good candidate for dental implants. Thinking about it logically, if your gums are unable to retain your teeth, they are not going to be able to retain your dental implants.

This means your first goal is getting your gum disease treated. It will require some extra appointments for a while. The good thing this is, once your gums are healthy you’ll then be a candidate for the implants.

Until then, you can get removable partial dentures to help fill in the gaps in your smile. You can do you periodontal treatments at the same time.

Advantages of Dental Implants

  • You will have completely secure teeth again. They’ll never slip or slide around.
  • You’ll be able to eat, drink, brush, and floss anything you want, just as you would with healthy natural teeth.
  • It protects your jaw from facial collapse.

The Danger of Facial Collapse

Before and after facial collapse

When your teeth came out your body recognized that. Usually, the roots of your teeth signal to your body the jawbone is important. When those are no longer there, your body reabsorbs the minerals in your jawbone thinking they would be more useful elsewhere.

As those minerals are put to use in other parts of your body, your jaw begins to shrink. Eventually, you don’t have enough jawbone left to support your dentures.

Fortunately, once you are able to get dental implants, your body recognizes the implants as teeth roots and keeps your jawbone firmly intact.

First priority is to get those gums healthy. It’s great that you are willing to work so diligently on your oral health.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Dental Implant Won’t Whiten

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I had an empty spot because of a lost tooth for some time. I came into some money and finally replaced it with a dental implant. It made my smile look much more attractive. I was inspired and decided to go one further and whiten my teeth. I’ve been doing the bleach with trays my dentist made for me. My teeth are whitening, but not the dental implant. Does that take longer or does it need a different formula?

Lorraine

Dear Lorraine,

An image of a dental implant crown being placed in three stages

I’m thrilled you are enjoying having your smile back. You’ve chosen a fantastic tooth replacement as well. In fact, a dental implant is the top-of-the-line in tooth replacement options. It’s like having a healthy natural tooth back.

The dental crown, which goes on top, can be made to any color you want. Unfortunately, once it’s color is baked on, it is permanent. The color doesn’t change. Your dentist should have warned you about that when you told him (or her) that you wanted to whiten your teeth.

It’s not just dental implants. When you bleach your teeth, the bleaching gel will only work on natural tooth structure. In order to get it to match the new white color of your teeth, it will have to be redone. Fortunately, it’s only the crown which will need to be redone, not the implant itself. That means it won’t cost you nearly as much.

What Type of Crown Should You Get?

I don’t know what type of crown your dentist provided for you. I hope it was an all-porcelain crown. If not, this is the perfect opportunity to get the “right” one. If it’s visible when you smile, the all-porcelain crowns look completely natural and reflect light the same way your natural teeth do.

If he gave you a metal-based crown, then you’ll end up with something much more opaque then you’d want. Plus, they always end up with a gray line showing up at your gumline, which will be very unattractive. The all-porcelain crowns never do that.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.