Dental Implants West Jordan

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.

Day-to-Day Benefits

Shortly after you’ve healed from the procedure, you’ll enjoy the day-to-day benefits that come with dental implants, including:

• Greater Confidence – Many patients find it difficult to feel their best with noticeable gaps in their smile. Fortunately, dental implants can replace any number of missing teeth. Plus, the size, shape, and shade of each tooth is custom-made with your unique dental needs, face shape, and aesthetic goals in mind, ensuring they are lifelike in every way.
• Stronger Bite Force – Following tooth loss, has your diet changed significantly? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, many patients are stuck eating the same bland, soft foods on repeat. The good news is that there are far fewer food restrictions with dental implants in West Jordan because they get their strength from your jawbone and are crafted from only the best materials.
• Clearer Communication – If you’re missing one tooth, several teeth in a row, or an entire arch, you’ve likely experienced changes to your speaking patterns. With dental implants, we can fill the gaps in your smile or give you an entirely new row of teeth, restoring your confidence and your ability to enunciate clearly in the process.

Health Benefits

Another reason dental implants are widely loved by patients and dentists alike is that they can benefit your oral and overall health in the following ways:

• The Ability to Eat a Varied Diet – As we mentioned above, dental implants help restore the strength of your bite. Not only does this mean that you’ll be able to enjoy more satisfying meals, but it also means that you’ll be able to eat more nutrient-dense foods, which helps your immune system and reduces your risk of infection.
• They Help Dental Drift – If you haven’t heard of dental drift, it’s when the teeth surrounding the gap begin to move out of position. While this may not seem like much of an issue, it can actually lead to everything from trouble chewing properly to premature wear on the remaining teeth you do have. Fortunately, dental implants can help prevent that from happening.
• They Can Help Prevent Bone Loss – Unlike other tooth-replacement solutions, dental implants are inserted directly into your jawbone. As a result, the bone is stimulated when you chew, which, in turn, reduces your risk of bone loss and helps you maintain a more youthful appearance.

Long-Term Benefits

Dental implants also have a reputation for standing the test of time. More specifically, they:

• Result in a Youthful Appearance – We mentioned above that one of the many benefits of dental implants in West Jordan is that they help you maintain a more youthful appearance by preserving your jawbone. That’s true! They also help you look and feel your best by giving you a complete arch of teeth.
• Are Easy to Maintain – Another noteworthy perk: you don’t need to adopt a cumbersome oral hygiene regimen or buy a bunch of expensive dental care products to maintain your beautiful smile. Just take good care of your smile at home and, every six months, come to our office for a checkup and cleaning.
• Are Long-Lasting – Last, but certainly not least, dental implants can last for several decades with proper care. The key is brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently, as well as scheduling a dental visit every six months at our office so we can periodically monitor the condition of your teeth, your gums, and your dental implants.

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.