Dental Implants West Jordan
Building Stronger Smiles from the Roots Up
Replacing missing teeth with permanent prosthetics was once only a dream. More traditional solutions were and are still used today to rebuild incomplete smiles. However, thanks to advancements in the field of dentistry and dental technology, you can enjoy life with a longer-lasting set of teeth. At Salt Lake Smiles, Dr. Osterhoudt is pleased to provide dental implants in West Jordan to anyone who desires a more permanent approach to tooth loss. Keep reading or call our office to learn whether you’re a candidate for this type of restorative dentistry treatment.
Why Choose Salt Lake Smiles for Dental Implants?
- Professionally Placed by Our In-House Oral Surgeon
- We Welcome Your Dental Insurance Plan
- Long-Standing Dental Team by Your Side
What Are Dental Implants?
Although dental implants are commonly viewed as tooth replacements, they are actually one of three parts that make up an artificial tooth. As the titanium post mimics a natural root, it creates the foundation that supports a customized crown, bridge, or denture. Its placement in the jawbone allows for permanence and increased longevity – something many patients find most beneficial.
The 4 Step Dental Implant Process
If you’ve received a dental restoration in the past, like a crown or bridge, you might think dental implants are the same commitment. However, because they’re designed to be permanent fixtures in your mouth, they require a deeper level of planning and even more precise execution. To achieve this depth of care, dental implants require a multi-step process, with each phase of treatment building off the last. Read more below to see how this process works and how our team at Salt Lake Smiles makes it easy from start to finish.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
Every dental implant at our practice begins with a thorough consultation. This stage is arguably the most important because it sets the foundation through investigation and planning. Dr. Osterhoudt will examine your teeth and gums, take X-rays, and discuss your goals and health with you. This helps our team determine whether you’re a good candidate and if other preparatory treatments are necessary.
If you need fillings, crowns, gum disease treatment, or bone grafts before moving forward, we’ll create a treatment plan to address these issues first. Once you have the green light from Dr. Osterhoudt, your treatment continues to the next step.
Dental Implant Surgery
Once your smile is ready, the next phase is implant placement. In many cases, Dr. Osterhoudt performs the procedure himself. However, for more complex cases, our highly experienced in-house oral surgeon steps in to ensure the best possible outcome.
During the surgery, specialized instruments are used to open your gums and create a pilot hole for the implant to fit into. Then, a small titanium post is gently placed into your jawbone where the missing tooth once was.
Since your jawbone has few to no nerves running through it, you’ll likely only feel pressure—not pain. That said, we always begin your surgery by numbing the implant site to ensure you’re comfortable.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement
After surgery, the implant begins a natural bonding process called osseointegration. Over the next several months, your jawbone fuses to the titanium post, creating a sturdy, artificial tooth root. During this time, it’s important to follow all aftercare instructions and keep your mouth as clean and healthy as possible to avoid infection or implant failure.
Once Dr. Osterhoudt confirms that healing is complete, an abutment is attached to the implant. This small connector piece sits above your gumline and will eventually support your crown, bridge, or denture. Abutment placement is simple, typically requiring only a minor visit with very little downtime.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
The final step is the part patients look forward to most—receiving their custom restoration! Whether you’re getting a single crown, an implant bridge, or implant dentures, your new teeth will be designed to match your smile in both appearance and function.
We use high-quality, lifelike materials to ensure your restoration blends seamlessly with your natural grin. Once your new tooth or teeth are secured to the abutment, you’ll leave our West Jordan office with a complete smile that feels strong, stable, and beautiful.
From here, you’ll simply take care of it like a regular tooth and see us for checkups twice a year. However, if you have any questions or concerns, you’re welcome to contact our team to get some peace of mind.
Benefits of Dental Implants
From day-to-day and overall health benefits to long-term results that stand the test of time, you’ll find there are endless advantages to choosing dental implants. As opposed to more traditional solutions like dentures and dental bridges, these permanent prosthetics offer a:
- Stronger bite force, so there are fewer food restrictions
- More natural-looking appearance that helps you feel younger than before
- Improved jawbone stimulation that reduces your risk of bone loss
- Greater confidence that allows you to embrace opportunities of all kinds
Who Dental Implants Can Help
If you are struggling with tooth loss, you might be wondering if dental implants are an option. Since this is an incredibly versatile tooth-replacement solution, there’s a good chance that the answer is “yes!” The easiest way to find out if you’re a good candidate is by scheduling a consultation with us, but you can also read on if you’re interested in learning more on the topic.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
During your consultation with our dental implant dentist in West Jordan, Dr. Darrell Osterhoudt (“Dr. O”), he will review your medical history, take a look at your teeth and gums, and ask you a few questions about your day-to-day routine. The goal is to determine:
- If your jawbone is strong enough to support dental implants
- If your gums and any remaining teeth you have are healthy
- If you’re committed to taking good care of your smile
- If you’re willing to break any bad habits, like smoking
Important reminder: You shouldn’t get discouraged if you aren’t a good candidate for dental implants at your initial appointment. After all, gum disease treatment, tooth extractions, and other preliminary care can usually be provided. So, having a complete, healthy, and confident smile won’t be out of reach for long.
Missing One Tooth
If you are missing only one tooth, you might assume that traditional dental bridges are your only option. That’s not the case! If you’re a good candidate for dental implants, then we can place the post into your jawbone. Then, after the implant and your jawbone have fused together, we can secure a custom dental crown in place with an abutment. That way, both the root and crown of your tooth are restored without compromising the surrounding teeth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
What if you are missing multiple teeth in a row? If that’s the case, we may recommend an implant bridge. If we decide together that this is the best tooth-replacement solution for you, then we will secure one dental implant on each side of the gap. Then, we will place the custom dental bridge on top so you have a strong bite and complete smile again. Since every aspect of the restoration is customized with your unique dental needs and smile goals in mind, you can have peace of mind knowing that it will look and feel extremely natural.
Missing All Teeth
For decades, patients who were missing all of their teeth had one choice: traditional dentures. Although this is still a tried and true solution, it isn’t the most stable. Don’t worry, that’s where implant dentures come in! With a few strategically placed dental implants, we can secure your denture in place so it doesn’t slip or slide unexpectedly. As a result, you’ll be able to chew, smile, and talk with complete confidence.