Dental Implants – Franklin, TN
Seamlessly Recomplete Your Smile
Traditional tooth replacement solutions like fixed bridges and dentures only replace those parts of missing teeth that are visible above the gumline. What’s unique about dental implants is that they’re strategically inserted into the jawbone, replacing everything from the roots up to the chewing surface. You’ll be happy to know that Dr. Paige Prather has completed advanced training to safely and seamlessly recomplete your smile with biocompatible zirconia dental implants. She and our team can be with you through every part of the treatment process. If you’re interested in finding out more about this procedure, continue reading or call our Franklin dental team to schedule a consultation today!
Why Choose Paige Prather Smiles for Dental Implants?
- Start-to-Finish Convenience
- Advanced Dental Technology
- Flexible Financing Available
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are cylinders, or posts, that are inserted below the gums, allowing our team to replace the lost root structure as well as providing natural-feeling support for the replacement tooth or teeth.
The implants that Dr. Prather uses are constructed out of zirconia, a special ceramic material. They feature a high level of biocompatibility; they’re able to naturally fuse with the surrounding bone tissue via a process called osseointegration. Once complete, this process will allow your new smile to function almost exactly how a natural one does.
The 4 Step Dental Implant Process
To replace missing teeth with dental implants, patients will need to undergo a four-step treatment process:
- We get started with a Because dental implants require a surgical procedure, we’ll need to complete a thorough health history prior to recommending this treatment option.
- After we determine that zirconia dental implants are right for you, we can begin the surgical implant placement process. The procedure itself is relatively straightforward. We’ll need to place a small incision in the gum tissue where we’ll insert the dental implant post.
- As long as there is adequate jawbone density to support the implant, the implant will begin fusing with the bone and gum tissue, mimicking the natural root structure of a tooth. This process is known as osseointegration. It can take several months to complete.
- When the osseointegration process is complete, you will come back to our Franklin dental office, where we’ll attach your restoration, which may be in the form of a crown, bridge, or denture. In many cases, we can create a same-day dental crown using our CEREC system to complete your dental implants.
Benefits of Zirconia Dental Implants
Dental implants offer many outstanding benefits, including:
- They stimulate the jawbone, helping to preserve its strength and density.
- They help the face to maintain its structure and youthful appearance.
- They can enable you to eat virtually any food with ease.
- Caring for dental implants is easy.
- Dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime.
Zirconia implants even offer some unique benefits that are not available with their traditional titanium counterparts. For example, they feature a more natural appearance, have one-piece construction that reduces the risk of infections, and will not cause galvanic toxicity (a dangerous interaction between different metals in the mouth).
Who Can Dental Implants Help?
Our tooth replacement prosthetics include crowns, fixed bridges, partial dentures, and full dentures. These options are able to help people with varying degrees of tooth loss. No matter how many teeth you’re missing, Dr. Prather will ensure you achieve your desired results.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
During your consultation, Dr. Prather will look for three important factors:
- Good overall health (you need to be well enough to undergo minor surgery)
- Good oral health (you can’t have issues like cavities or gum disease)
- Sufficient jawbone mass to support dental implants
If you don’t meet these guidelines, you can undergo certain preliminary treatments to prepare for your mouth for dental implants.
Missing 1 Tooth
Replacing one tooth with a dental implant is a straightforward process. We simply insert the implant, and after it bonds with the surrounding jawbone, we top it with a beautiful, custom-made crown. This option is sturdier and more natural-feeling than a fixed bridge, which is the traditional method used for single-tooth replacement.
Missing Multiple Teeth
A traditional fixed bridge combines two dental crowns with one or more replacement teeth. The two crowns are attached to either side of the replacement tooth or teeth and attached to healthy teeth to provide support. Implant bridges are crafted in the same way, but are supported by dental implant posts at each end rather than being attached to healthy teeth.
A partial denture is often referred to simply as a partial and it replaces a number of consecutive or nonconsecutive teeth along an arch. Traditionally, partials were held firmly in position by metal clasps attached to surrounding healthy teeth. Implant dentures are typically anchored into position using four to six implant posts. The number of necessary implant posts depends largely on the location and amount of missing teeth. We’ll use the fewest dental implant posts possible while still providing adequate support for the partial denture.
Missing All Teeth
An entire row of replacement teeth can be replaced with a full denture. While traditional dentures are held in place with suction between the prosthetic and the gum line, dental implants offer a more stable solution. Additionally, the denture itself is much lighter and more natural- looking and feeling. We typically use four to six implant posts to support a full denture.
Biocompatible Zirconia
Dr. Prather primarily uses biocompatible, metal-free zirconia for dental implant procedures. Unlike traditional options, such as titanium alloy, zirconia does not have reactions with other metals and prompt unwanted bodily reactions, which makes it perfect for individuals who struggle with sensitivities or allergies to metals that are often used in dental care. Additionally, its hard ceramic nature is extremely lifelike, which means you can smile with full confidence once your new "tooth" or "teeth" are complete. No one will be able to tell the difference!