Dental Implants — Sarasota, FL

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

You will first meet with your implant dentist in Sarasota to discuss your eligibility and any preliminary treatments you may need. If signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or jawbone deterioration are present, Dr. Tindal will likely recommend you for periodontal therapy, bone grafting, a sinus lift, or even tooth extraction. These preliminary services are often necessary to ensure that your dental implants have the greatest chances of success when placed.

Dental Implant Surgery

Your dental implant surgery will consist of receiving local anesthesia to numb your mouth before small incisions are made in your gums. Dr. Tindal will carefully place and position each dental implant into its corresponding location. Advanced dental technology is used during the planning phase to minimize the potential for complications during your procedure, as he will ensure proper placement for maximum support. Once all your dental implants are put into place within your jawbone, he will close the gum tissue and place protective healing caps on top of each implant.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

You will be required to return home and spend the next 3-6 months recovering. This timeframe is necessary to ensure osseointegration occurs and is successful. Your bone must fuse with the implant to create a firm foundation for your new prosthetic. During this time, you’ll be expected to follow various guidelines to avoid any complications during the healing process.

Once you’re fully healed and osseointegration is complete, you will return for another small procedure, which includes placing your metal abutments on top of your implants. These will serve to connect your implants with your customized restoration.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

The final step in your dental implant placement process is to receive your new teeth. Dental implants in Sarasota are highly versatile, which means you can have a crown, bridge, or denture created to replace your missing teeth. Made from high-quality materials, you can trust that your new smile will look and feel natural. And the best part is that it is designed to last 30+ years as long as you commit to taking proper care of it throughout your lifetime.

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Eating is Easy: Dense textures are not a problem for dental implants. Unlike dentures that can pop out of place, slip, or simply fall out, eating your favorite foods will allow you to maintain a nutrient-rich, healthy diet that benefits your waistline and your smile.
• Natural Look and Feel: Dental implants not only mimic the tooth root but also the visible crown. By replacing the entire structure, you can enjoy a more natural look and feel that makes it virtually impossible for others to tell a difference between your real and artificial teeth.
• Improved Oral Health: Brushing and flossing with dental implants in Sarasota is a breeze. Because they act just like regular teeth, you can easily maneuver while cleaning, allowing you to easily lower your risk of tooth decay (for your natural teeth) and gum disease.
• Embracing a Better Quality of Life: It is believed that 34% of denture-wearers admit their prosthetics hinder their ability to live a full life. Another 10% say they avoid social situations. You can embrace a better quality of life by choosing dental implants. Instead of hiding from friends and family, you can enjoy going out to eat, attending events, and having fun at family gatherings once again.

Health Benefits

• Natural Teeth Won’t Shift: Instead of worrying about your natural, healthy teeth moving out of alignment, dental implants help to keep them firmly in place, so dental drift is not a concern.
• Improved Jawbone Stimulation: With the surgical placement of your implant posts, you will notice your jawbone remaining stronger as it continues to be stimulated. This will prevent jawbone shrinkage and potential facial collapse, which can often happen while wearing dentures or dental bridges.
• Natural Teeth Remain Untouched: There is no need to alter your healthy teeth like you would with a dental bridge. Instead of relying on your adjacent teeth to serve as anchors, your implant dentist in Sarasota simply inserts a titanium post into the vacated socket, leaving your natural teeth alone.
• Better Overall Health: According to DentalHealth.org, those 70 years of age or older who have 20 or more teeth are likely to live longer than those with less than 20. Many systemic issues can develop as a result of tooth loss, which is why with dental implants, you can minimize your risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes while keeping more money in your pocket and living longer.

Long-Term Benefits

• High Success Rate: Dental implants are known to have a success rate of 90-95% after 10 years!
• Longer-Lasting Smile: Dental implants are known for their longevity. When properly cared for and maintained, they can last 30 years or even a lifetime!
• Saving Money in the Long Run: The upfront cost of dental implants is costly; however, over time, you will save big because you won’t need frequent adjustments or replacements, dental adhesives, or special cleaning supplies.

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

You may not think you are an eligible candidate for dental implants in Sarasota; however, only Dr. Tindal can examine your smile and determine if you require preliminary treatment or are free to move on to dental implant surgery. During this appointment, he will examine your smile to determine the following:

• What is the status of your oral health? If you show signs of tooth decay or gum disease, it will be necessary to have those treated before moving forward with dental implants.
• What is the status of your overall health? The placement of your implants requires minor oral surgery. You will need to have good general overall health to avoid any serious complications or implant failure in the future.
• What is the density of your jawbone? Because your jaw serves as the foundation for your dental implants, you will need to have enough jawbone to adequately support your new smile. If you do not, a bone graft will be required.

Missing One Tooth

To help patients who are missing a single tooth, your implant dentist in Sarasota can attach an all-porcelain crown directly to an implant root. For this, he will use something called an abutment, which not only binds the two elements together, but it also provides additional internal support for the crown. The crown itself can be color-match to blend with a person’s smile, and because it will have the same two-part structure as the natural teeth that surround it, only you and Dr. Tindal will know that it is not real.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Fortunately, dental implants can do much more than simply replace single teeth! By placing two implant crowns on either side of consecutive missing teeth, Dr. Tindal can create a bridge that is more stable and natural-looking than its traditional counterpart. Better yet, implant bridges don’t require healthy teeth to be cut down to hold supporting crowns like regular ones. And, a few strategically placed implants can also be used to secure a partial denture, one that doesn’t rely on the surrounding teeth and gums to stay in place.

Missing All Teeth

Do you have a denture that never seems to stay in place? If so, dental implants can easily give you a set of teeth you can finally rely on. With implant dentures, the prosthetic teeth are anchored directly to the jawbone using multiple implant posts inserted into the jaw. This not only gives the denture a hold and security a traditional denture can’t match, but the implants also stimulate the jawbone to help preserve the overall shape of a patient’s face. Plus, implant dentures have also been shown to restore much more of a patient’s bite compared to regular ones, enabling them to enjoy a much more varied (and likely healthier) diet.

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Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants recreate a tooth from the root up, which requires a multi-step treatment process. Each phase in your plan has separate costs, which can make it easier to pay for your new smile because you don’t need to cover the entire amount upfront. This gives you more time to pay to keep your treatment affordable. Although everyone’s plan is unique, you can expect it to include:

• Initial Consultation: You’ll need a CT scan and a thorough consultation to ensure you’re a candidate for dental implants.
• Additional Procedures: Many patients need additional procedures, like tooth extractions, bone grafting, or periodontal therapy.
• Implant Placement: You’ll need oral surgery to insert titanium posts into your jawbone to serve as new tooth roots. Sedation or anesthesia is recommended to ensure your comfort.
• Abutments: Each post needs a special fixture called an abutment, which is a connector piece between the implant and the restoration.
• Restoration: Made of all-ceramic material to look and feel like a real tooth.

The Parts & Type of Your Dental Implant

There isn’t a set fee for dental implants because the cost is based on various factors, like the number of teeth you’re treating. Replacing several teeth requires more implant posts, abutments, and restorations, so you can expect the cost to be higher than for a person who’s only missing one tooth.

How Can Dental Implants Pay for Themselves?

You’ll initially pay more for dental implants; however, they are more affordable long-term because they offer reliable results. They have over a 95% success rate and are proven to last for decades with the right aftercare, like maintaining your oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly. As a result, you’ll never need to worry about paying to have them replaced, saving you money down the road.

Dental implants also improve your oral health overall because they preserve your jawbone. This prevents dental drift to lower your risk of cavities, gum disease, and additional tooth loss. As a result, you can reduce your long-term dental expenses by preventing costly treatments in the future.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Every policy differs, but many dental insurances offer some coverage for the treatment after reaching your annual deductible. We’ll work on your behalf to file the necessary claims to lower your out-of-pocket expense. A member of our team will take the time to explain your payment options to keep your new smile affordable.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Besides using your dental insurance, our office provides various payment methods to keep dental implants in Sarasota within your budget, including:

• Traditional Payments: Our office accepts all forms of traditional payments, including cash, checks, and credit cards.
• Third-Party Financing: Third-party financing can be used for any out-of-pocket expenses. You can pay for the services using monthly installments after your credit approval.

A member of our team will review all your options during your consultation for a complete smile. If you have any questions before then, don’t hesitate to contact our office.

Bone Grafting

One of the most popular procedures for advanced dental implants is a bone graft. The reason for this particular surgery is because your prosthodontist believes that in order for implants to successfully live and function within your mouth, you need additional bone support. Your jawbone plays a crucial role in living with dental implants, as it serves as the foundation for your tooth replacement.

If Dr. Tindal suggests a bone graft, he will place bone minerals into the specific area to encourage your body to rebuild the bone. The healing time can vary, but the average time is 3-6 months.

Sinus Lift

If it’s not the lower portion of your jaw, but instead, your upper jaw that needs additional support for dental implants, we will suggest a sinus lift. Your maxillary sinuses are located behind your cheeks and above your upper teeth. When these teeth are removed, there is very little bone left, making it impossible for implant placement. A sinus lift helps the bone to grow into the floor of your sinuses. Dr. Tindal will fill the area with bone material before closing the incision and allowing the healing process to begin. It can take anywhere from 3-6 months to heal.

Ridge Augmentation

If you’ve recently had a tooth removed, it may be necessary to have your gums and jaw recontoured to create a natural look. An empty tooth socket results in a ridge in the alveolar bone, which is the area that surrounds the roots of your teeth. If this bone breaks, it will continue to deteriorate. By performing a ridge augmentation, we can rebuild the alveolar bone, so it adequately accommodates the implant.

Dr. Tindal will place bone material in the socket before placing gum tissue over it, then suture the area closed. You will then need to return home to heal.

3D Cone Beam Imaging/3D CT Scanning

When using our Planmeca Romexis CT Scanner, your implant dentist in Sarasota can examine a full 3D digital image of your mouth. Everything from your teeth, jaws, gums, tissues, nerves, and other surrounding facial structures is evident. Unlike traditional two-dimensional images that were low-quality and took much time to process, this new device makes it easier for Dr. Tindal to precisely plan your treatment and prepare for the complex procedure that will follow.

Guided Dental Implant Surgery

With the help of the CBCT Scanner, we can also prepare your dental implants in Sarasota with a guided template. This unique model allows us to perform surgery ahead of time in preparation for the official placement of your dental implants. A computer-generated guide is created so we can easily prep for surgery. On the day of the event, our team will put this guide inside the mouth, which pinpoints the exact location for each implant. Not only does it make it easier for us to maneuver throughout the surgery by making small incisions, but it also minimizes the potential for complications.

Antibacterial Coating

It is possible for bacteria to enter into the surgical sites if you’re not careful, which is why we will apply an antibacterial coating. Preventing erosion and oral bacteria accumulation will protect your dental implants from any food or beverages you consume as well as safeguard your posts against serious damage and stains, allowing them to last much longer and minimize the risk of potential dental implant failure.

CEREC Digital Impression System

Instead of relying on cold, messy dental putty that can often be less accurate, our team uses the CEREC Digital Impression System. Using a handheld device, we will scan your teeth and gums while it captures images of your oral cavity and puts them together to create a single 3D image. No more gross or cold impressions. Instead, we take up less of your time with these high-quality images that are designed to make the planning process much easier over time.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

You should plan on resting for one or two days after the initial implant surgery. After that, most people can return to their normal daily routines. As you take steps to make yourself comfortable, you should make a conscious effort to keep the blood clot on your surgery site in place so that your gums can heal properly. Avoid using tissues or swallowing your saliva, and don’t drink through any straws for the time being. If the blood clot does become dislodged and causes dry socket (which is a painful condition that disrupts the healing process), call our office right away.

Common Side Effects

Some general pain is perfectly normal after implant surgery. You can take prescription or recommended over the counter medications to keep yourself as comfortable as possible while you’re healing. If you notice any bleeding, place a small amount of pressure on the area with a piece of gauze. You can get any swelling to go down by holding a cold compress on your cheek or jaw. All of these symptoms should fade on their own after a certain period of time; call us if they seem to be getting worse.

Diet

You’ll need to eat soft foods for a few days after surgery. We recommend mashed potatoes, yogurt, soup (as long as it’s not too hot), scrambled eggs, pasta, and other foods that require little to no chewing. As your mouth recovers, you can work your way back to eating heartier foods as you feel comfortable, and you should return to a normal diet in just a few days. However, you should continue to avoid chewing with your implant until it has received a final restoration.

Health & Oral Hygiene

You can brush your teeth normally the day after your surgery, but be very gentle not to disrupt the implant site. If you want to minimize your risk for infection, rinse your mouth with salt water two to three times every day. Alcohol can irritate surgical wounds, so avoid alcoholic beverages and alcohol-based mouthwash until your mouth has healed.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Once the mouth is all healed up and the implants are fully integrated with the jawbone, we can complete the process by attaching the final prosthetic. You may experience some minor sensitivity afterwards, but it won’t be anything that stops you from going about your day as normal. There shouldn’t be symptoms like swelling or bleeding at this point, so let us know if you notice such problems.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

While implants can’t get cavities, you should still practice great oral hygiene. Your treatment won’t work as well if you don’t.

You see, plaque and bacteria often cause implant failure. By triggering tooth infections and gum disease, they may loosen your prosthetic and keep it from fusing correctly. The result would be having to replace the implant with a new one.

Given these facts, remember to keep your mouth clean. More specifically, brush twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse with mouthwash as needed.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Implants generally let you eat what you want. After all, they restore your bite enough to chew tough foods. Still, sticking to a “mouth-friendly” diet is a good idea.

For starters, some items can put implants at risk. Hard candies and nuts, for instance, may chip or crack your restorations. On the other hand, sticky or sugary foods might lodge between teeth and lead to oral health issues.

Furthermore, some meals would benefit your implants. Dairy products have calcium that keeps your jawbone strong. Meanwhile, certain fruits and veggies have vitamins that make gum tissues healthy and resilient.

Break Bad Habits

You must avoid bad oral habits if you want your implants to last. Such practices will shorten your treatment lifespan.

Take smoking, for example. Not only do tobacco products stain teeth, but they also interfere with implant fusion. In doing the latter, they can make your prosthetic teeth fail.

Chewing the wrong things is also a bad move. The habit can damage implants, whether biting your fingernails or using your teeth as tools.

Protect Your Dental Implants

True enough, implants are strong and sturdy. However, they aren’t indestructible – they can (and will) break from excessive force. You’ll thus want to protect them from harm.

One good way to keep implants safe is to wear a custom mouthguard. In sports, the appliance will prevent dental injuries. A specialized nightguard, too, could protect your implants from tooth grinding’s wear and tear.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

More than anything else, good implant care involves seeing your dentist often. As such, you should attend regular checkups and cleanings every six months.

You see, these visits are a form of preventive care. They let your dentist monitor your oral health and spot issues early. That way, a dental team can assess your implant and prevent problems from threatening it.

Are dental implants right for me?

There are several factors that can determine if you are an eligible candidate for dental implants. When meeting with Dr. Tindal, he will evaluate your smile to get a better look at your bone and tissue health. Some of the factors he’ll consider include:

• Bone health – Is your jawbone strong enough to support an implant?
• Oral health – Are your teeth and gums in a healthy state? Will you need pre-dental implant dental work (i.e. periodontal therapy or bone grafting)

Will dental implants hurt?

Just like any other type of surgical procedure, you will receive anesthesia or sedation to ensure you are comfortable and feeling no pain throughout the process. Once Dr. Tindal is finished, you can expect some soreness in the days after your surgery. However, if you take any prescribed medication or over-the-counter pain reliever, it will help to relieve discomfort.

If I have dentures, can I switch to dental implants?

This is dependent on the state of your bone and oral health. Traditional dentures sit on top of the gum line, offering no stimulation to your jawbone. Over time, your bone will begin to deteriorate and can cause facial collapse. The good news is that if you are ready to make the switch to dental implants, your dentist can determine if you would benefit from a bone grafting procedure to encourage additional bone support. This would then make you eligible for dental implant placement.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?  

Dental implants in Sarasota are the most reliable method to replace lost teeth. They have over a 95% success rate to last for decades longer than traditional bridges and dentures. It’s not unusual for dental implants to thrive for 30 years or more with the right aftercare. Various factors affect their lifespans, such as your oral hygiene and lifestyle habits. Brushing, flossing, and using a daily mouthrinse will help protect your investment. Visit your dentist at least every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup to keep your new smile healthy.

How Successful Are Dental Implants?

Over 500,000 people annually are choosing dental implants because of their unmatched success rate. When placed on the ideal candidate by a quailed implant dentist in Sarasota, they can last for a lifetime. Your dentist will examine your mouth and a CT scan to ensure there aren’t any concerns regarding the success of the procedure. Some patients may require additional procedures to create a healthy foundation for their new smiles, like bone grafting or periodontal therapy. Your medical history and any medications you’re taking will also be reviewed. Based on the information, your dentist will create a personalized plan to safely replace your missing teeth. The overall long-term success of your dental implants will largely rely on your aftercare, like keeping your smile clean. You’ll also want to avoid anything that may damage them, like using your teeth as tools or chewing on inedible objects.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Dental Implant Surgery?

Most patients can resume their regular activities the day after their placement surgery to allow the effects of any sedatives or numbing agents to dissipate. However, you’ll be advised to skip strenuous exercise for a week or so to prevent delays in your healing. You can expect any bleeding to stop in about 24 hours, but swelling can continue for a couple of days. You can manage it by applying a cold compress to the outside of your face, which will help also help reduce bruising. An OTC or prescribed pain reliever will keep you comfortable while you recover. Your gum tissue will be healed in about 2 weeks, but it can take your jawbone several months to integrate with the posts. Your implant dentist will monitor your healing to determine the best time to move forward with the next step in your treatment.

Will People Be Able to Tell That I Have Dental Implants?

Dental implants not only feel like your real teeth, but they also look like them. The implant posts will be hidden in your jaw, just like your tooth roots. No one will be able to see them, and you won’t have to hold your mouth in an uncomfortable position to hold them in place. Your custom-made restorations are carefully crafted from impressions of your mouth to match your natural teeth. No one will know which teeth are real and which aren’t, so you never have to worry when laughing, smiling, or speaking.