Our Services / Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small, screw-like posts inserted into your jaw. Over time, they integrate with your natural bone, replacing your natural tooth roots, and providing a base for restorations like crowns, a bridge, or fixed dentures.

Dental implants are made from titanium, a long-lasting and durable material. If you take good care of your implants and visit Fair Lakes Family Dentistry for routine checkups, they can last a lifetime*. 

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants provide various benefits, including:

• Durability
• Convenience
• Easier biting and chewing
• Clearer speech
• A more defined jaw

Dental implants can even improve your oral health. They reduce the risk of potentially serious issues, like gum recession and bone decay.

What does getting dental implants involve?

At Fair Lakes Family Dentistry, getting dental implants takes three visits.

First dental implant visit

First, your provider performs an oral exam and takes oral X-rays to assess the health of your jawbone. If you have enough bone to support the implants, your provider administers a local anesthetic and inserts a series of titanium screws into your jaw.  

Following the implant placement, your provider writes a prescription for pain medicine and provides care instructions.

Second dental implant visit

Three months later, when the implants finish integrating with your bone, you return to Fair Lakes Family Dentistry. Your provider takes impressions of your mouth and sends them to a laboratory that creates a custom restoration, like crowns, a bridge, or fixed dentures.

Third dental implant visit

When the laboratory completes your implant restorations, you return to Fair Lakes Family Dentistry for the last time. Your provider bonds the restorations to your dental implants, polishes your teeth, and tells you how to keep your implants in optimal condition. You leave the office with a beautiful, healthy, and fully restored smile.

How long do dental implants last?

Dental implants are as long-lasting as your natural teeth, but only if you take good care of them. To ensure your implants stay in optimal condition, the team at Fair Lakes Family Dentistry recommends:

• Brushing your teeth twice daily
• Avoiding bad habits like opening plastic packaging with your teeth
• Wearing a mouthguard when playing sports or doing other strenuous activities
• Visiting Fair Lakes Family Dentistry every six months for professional teeth cleaning

It’s also good to wear a night guard if you grind your teeth or clench your jaw while sleeping.

Want to see if you’re a candidate for dental implants? Schedule an appointment at Fair Lakes Family Dentistry by calling the office today and speaking to a member of the friendly administrative staff or click the online scheduling feature.

*Individual results may vary.