Permanent Smile Restoration With Dental Implants

Explore Single-Tooth Implants, Bridges, And Implant Dentures

Tooth loss can make it harder to speak clearly, smile proudly, and eat your favorite foods. And if it’s left untreated, tooth loss can lead to further complications like tooth shifting, bone resorption in the jaw, and more.

At Dental Studio of Pine Lake, Dr. Shane Harmon and Dr. Vivienne Zhang are here to help. Both Dr. Harmon and Dr. Zhang have extensive training in implant dentistry. Whether you need to replace one tooth with a single-tooth implant or you’re interested in treating multiple missing teeth with implant-supported bridges, implant dentures, or All-On-X, we’re here to help.

What Are Dental Implants, And How Do They Work?

Dental implants are made from a small piece of titanium metal. These screw-shaped implants are designed to be surgically implanted into the jawbone and gum tissue to replace missing teeth. Over time, the metal implant heals and permanently bonds with the jawbone in a process called “osseointegration.”

This allows the dental implant to function as an artificial tooth root. Once it has fully healed, Dr. Harmon or Dr. Zhang can attach a variety of different implant restorations to restore your smile. One implant can be used to replace a single tooth, or multiple implants may be used to support a dental bridge or even a full mouth of dentures.

To qualify for dental implants, your mouth must be healthy, and your jaw must be strong enough to accommodate an implant. If there is not enough bone tissue in your jaw or it’s weak, a bone graft may be necessary to rebuild it before you can qualify for a dental implant.

What Are My Options For Dental Implant Restorations?

At Dental Studio of Pine Lake, we offer a full suite of dental implant restorations. Dr. Shane Harmon is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and a member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dr. Vivienne Zhang has undergone extensive training at both the Misch Implant Institute and the Kois Center of Dentistry. 

Whether you’re missing one tooth, several teeth, or a full mouth of missing teeth, Dr. Harmon and Dr. Zhang can help you restore your smile with single-tooth implants, implant-supported bridges, removable implant dentures, and fixed All-On-X implant dentures.

Single-tooth implants 

Single-tooth implants are the most common type of dental implant restoration. In this procedure, your dentist will place a single dental implant, then attach a dental crown (false tooth) to the implant once it heals. This restores your tooth permanently. And unlike with a dental bridge, there’s no need to trim any healthy tooth structure.

Implant-supported bridges

Implant-supported bridges are a good option if you are missing a row of 3, 4, or even 5 adjacent teeth. They use two dental implants to support a porcelain bridge that replaces the entire row of missing teeth. Compared to traditional bridges, they're more stable, easier to clean, and can be used to replace more teeth at once.

Implant dentures

If you have lost most or all of your teeth in La Porte, IN, implant dentures may be a good option for you. This treatment uses a series of 4-6 dental implants that are placed in the upper, lower, or both rows of your mouth.

Once they heal, Dr. Harmon or Dr. Zhang will create a set of removable dentures that snap onto your implants. Compared to traditional dentures, implant dentures are much more stable and comfortable. They also have a longer lifespan, so it’s not necessary to reline or replace them as often.

All-On-X

Also called “All-On-4” or “All-On-6”, this treatment uses a series of 4-6 specially designed implants that are placed into your jawbone at an angle. This provides unbeatable stability, and allows you to get a new set of temporary teeth right after you get your dental implants.

All-On-X also uses a fixed, non-removable set of dentures. Once they're in place, there’s no need to remove them, which makes All-On-X more convenient than both traditional dentures and removable implant dentures.

Understanding The Benefits Of Implant Dentistry

Natural results – Once your implant is in place, Dr. Harmon or Dr. Zhang will design a beautiful implant restoration out of porcelain. From single teeth to bridges and dentures, your new smile will look and feel completely natural.

Unbeatable stability – Implants are anchored tightly to your jawbone. This means that your new smile will never move or shift. With dental implants, it’s much easier to enjoy your favorite foods, speak clearly, and smile without worrying about your teeth moving around.

Long lifespan – Dental implants usually last 30+ years, and it’s quite possible to keep your implants for the rest of your life if you take good care of them. This makes them the best long-term investment in your oral health.

Simple care – For the most part, dental implants are very easy to clean and care for. Single-tooth implants, for example, can be treated just like natural teeth! Restorations like implant bridges and implant dentures take a little bit more special care, but it’s still easy to get used to caring for your new smile.

Protects oral health – Dental implants help prevent your remaining teeth from shifting toward empty spaces in your mouth. They also prevent jawbone deterioration. This is a common problem after tooth loss, and can result in changes to your facial structure. But with dental implants, you’ll stimulate your jawbone when you bite and chew, which keeps your jawbone strong.

Explore Your Options For Dental Implants In La Porte, IN

Dental implants are the best long-term option for replacing your missing teeth and protecting your oral health. But if you’re not sure whether or not you’re a good candidate for dental implants in La Porte, IN, the team at Dental Studio of Pine Lake is here to help.

During your implant consultation with Dr. Harmon or Dr. Zhang, you can learn more about your options for replacing your missing teeth, find out if you’re a good candidate for treatment, explore the cost of dental implants, and get answers to any other questions you may have. Give us a call at (219) 380-0029 or book your consultation online to get started today!