Ready to rebuild your smile? Missing teeth can affect your confidence, speech, appearance of your smile, and even the health and function of your jaw. At Precious Smiles Family Dentistry in Tampa, we believe everyone deserves a complete smile, and dental implants are the ideal solution for achieving it. Dental implants have revolutionized modern restorative dentistry, offering a dependable and long-lasting solution that closely replicates the look, feel, and function of natural teeth.
Dr. Farahat has invested in the latest techniques and technologies for dental implants, backed by ongoing education and a mastership in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. You can trust our skilled team to provide advanced implant dentistry that meets your needs!
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant acts as a replacement for a natural tooth root. It is a small post, typically made of a biocompatible material, that is surgically placed into the jawbone where a tooth is missing. Over time, this post fuses with the bone in a process called osseointegration, creating an incredibly strong and stable foundation for a prosthetic tooth.
A complete dental implant typically consists of three main parts:
- The Implant Post: This is the screw-like component placed into your jawbone, acting as the new tooth root.
- The Abutment: A connector piece that attaches to the implant post and extends above the gum line.
- The Restoration: This is the visible part of your new tooth – often a custom dental crown, bridge, or denture – that sits on top of the abutment.
Unlike traditional tooth replacement options, dental implants stimulate the jawbone, helping to prevent the bone deterioration that often follows tooth loss. They offer unmatched durability and blend seamlessly with your existing smile.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
Dental implants are widely considered the gold standard for tooth replacement due to their many benefits:
- Their natural look and feel, designed to replicate natural teeth and allow you to speak, chew, and smile with confidence
- Permanent, long-lasting treatments designed to last decades with proper care
- Healthy jawbone preservation, preventing the bone loss and facial changes associated with missing teeth
- Full restoration of biting and chewing power
- Enhanced speech without the slipping of removable dentures
Advanced Technology for Precise Implant Placement
At Precious Smiles Family Dentistry, we utilize cutting-edge technology to ensure the best possible outcomes for your implant treatment, including CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography). This critical tool provides a 3D view of your jawbone and surrounding structures. CBCT helps Dr. Farahat precisely plan implant placement, minimizing risks and significantly improving the success of your treatment.
Our Dental Implant Solutions
Dental implant treatment is highly personalized. Our implant solutions at Precious Smiles Family Dentistry include:
Single Dental Implants
A single tooth implant is an excellent option when only one tooth is missing. Restored with a custom-shaded dental crown, a single implant looks, feels and functions just like a natural tooth. Unlike a traditional dental bridge, choosing a single dental implant avoids the need to alter adjacent healthy teeth. The result: smooth, seamless smile restoration.
Implant-Supported Fixed Bridges
For patients who need to replace two or more missing teeth, an implant-supported bridge provides a durable and bone-friendly solution. Instead of relying on neighboring teeth for support, the bridge is anchored by strategically placed dental implants. This approach restores multiple teeth while preserving surrounding natural teeth, supporting jawbone health, and maintaining facial structure, resulting in stable, long-lasting smile restoration.
Fixed Hybrid Dentures
Fixed hybrid dentures offer a permanent alternative to traditional removable dentures. Anchored by several dental implants, they provide a stable, non-removable set of natural-looking teeth for a full upper or lower arch. Unlike removable dentures, these restorations eliminate the need for adhesives or daily removal, giving patients greater confidence and stability when eating, speaking, and smiling. Temporary teeth can often be placed immediately after implant surgery, followed by a permanent set once the implants have fully integrated with the jawbone.
Implant-Retained Overdentures
An implant-retained overdenture attaches to a few strategically placed implants in the upper or lower jaw. These implants anchor the denture, adding stability and improving retention compared with traditional removable dentures. This enhanced support allows for easier chewing, speaking, and smiling, giving patients a more secure and comfortable fit. Unlike fixed hybrid dentures, these dentures are removable by the patient for thorough cleaning and maintenance.
Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most patients who are in good general and oral health can be candidates for dental implants. Ideal candidates typically have sufficient bone density in the jaw to support the implant and are free from uncontrolled chronic conditions like severe gum disease that could affect healing. If you've experienced bone loss, bone grafting procedures can often help create the necessary foundation for successful implant placement. During your free consultation, Dr. Farahat will evaluate your specific situation and determine the best course of action.
Care and Maintenance for Your Dental Implants
Maintaining your dental implants is as simple as caring for your natural teeth! Keeping up with regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental check-ups is essential to ensure the health of your gums and surrounding bone, keeping your implants in top condition. While implants are resistant to decay, preserving the health of the supporting tissues is crucial for their longevity.
At Precious Smiles Family Dentistry, we monitor your implants at each visit to our Tampa dental office to ensure their stability and address any concerns. Our team is always here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and provide cleaning techniques. With consistent care, your dental implants are designed to last a lifetime.
The Precious Smiles Difference
At Precious Smiles, we offer expert implant dentistry. Our Tampa dental team prioritizes comfort, durability, and long-term health to make your journey to a strong new smile as smooth as possible! From initial consultation to your final restoration, we combine the latest technologies with the best techniques to deliver the best results. With our dental implant systems, you can enjoy a secure, confident smile that looks and feels just like your natural teeth.
Begin Your Journey to a Complete Smile
If you're ready to reclaim your smile with confidence and enjoy the long-term benefits of implant dentistry, we invite you to schedule a free implant consultation at our Tampa location. There's no risk to finding out if dental implants are right for you! Let us help you restore the function, beauty, and comfort of a natural smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental implants are considered the gold standard for tooth replacement, and for good reason: implants come closest to the look, feel and function of natural teeth. They're also the longest-lasting tooth replacement system, and offer the added benefit of supporting healthy jawbone growth. For patients who have lost a single tooth, a full arch of teeth, or even their full set, our team recommends strong dental implants for tooth replacement that lasts.
The dental implant placement procedure, which involves surgically implanting strong titanium posts into the jawbone, is typically performed under sedation to promote the patient's optimal comfort. Patients who receive sedation dentistry typically have little to no memory of their dental implant placement procedure.
Generally, dental implants are made out of a biocompatible metal such as titanium. Biocompatible metals are also used for other common bone implants (such as shoulder, hip, and knee replacements). The visible portion of the implant is usually made out of porcelain and is custom-made to match your existing teeth.
Dental implants are known as a permanent tooth loss solution, as they are allowed to fuse to the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. The dental implant procedure has a success rate of nearly 100%. If the implant happens to fail to adequately fuse to the jawbone, the procedure can be attempted again.
Your total dental implant costs will primarily be determined by your treatment plan and the amount of implants required. While implants are not typically covered by dental insurance, they may be covered my medical insurance. Our team at Precious Smiles Family Dentistry will help you navigate your treatment costs and the best ways to finance your dental implants.
With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime! Follow your dentist's instructions on post-operative care immediately after dental implant placement, then care for them just as you would care for your natural teeth – with excellent oral hygiene, including gentle brushing and flossing, and maintaining your regular preventive checkup appointments.
Yes, even if you’ve experienced bone loss, you may still be a candidate for dental implants. A healthy amount of jawbone is important for long-term success, but in many cases, a bone graft can be performed to create the support your implants need. With the help of our advanced diagnostic technology, your dentist will carefully evaluate your jawbone and recommend whether grafting or other preparatory treatments are needed before moving forward with implants.
The dental implant process is usually completed over the course of several months. It begins with your initial consultation and implant placement, followed by a healing period that allows the implant to fuse securely with your jawbone. Once healing is complete, the final crown or restoration is attached. In certain situations, temporary teeth may be provided right away so you can maintain your functional smile while you heal.
Dental implants are one of the most reliable tooth replacement options, with success rates typically 95% or higher when placed by skilled professionals and properly cared for. Long-term outcomes can be influenced by factors such as your overall health, the strength of your jawbone, and lifestyle habits like smoking. Our dentist recommends caring for your dental implants just like you would care for your natural teeth – with optimal oral hygiene habits and regular checkups, implants can last for many years.
While smokers can still receive dental implants, smoking may slow healing and raise the risk of implant complications. To support the best possible outcome and long-lasting results, patients are encouraged to cut back or quit smoking before and after the procedure. Your dentist will review any potential risks and provide guidance throughout the implant process to help ensure long-term success.
Absolutely! Precious Smiles Family Dentistry understands how busy life can be, so we make it simple for patients in Tampa to fit dental implant appointments into their schedules. Our practice offers flexible times and a convenient location for both Tampa residents and local professionals. Whether you prefer an early morning consultation or an after-work follow-up, we work to make each dental implant visit smooth and stress-free.
