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A Lifetime Solution for Missing Teeth
Replace missing teeth permanently with dental implants that look, feel, and function like natural teeth.
Living with missing teeth affects every aspect of your daily life, from the foods you can enjoy to the confidence you feel when smiling. Gaps in your smile may cause remaining teeth to shift, leading to bite problems and increased risk of tooth loss. The bone in your jaw begins deteriorating without tooth roots to stimulate it, potentially changing your facial structure over time. If you’ve been adapting your lifestyle around missing teeth, dental implants offer a permanent solution that restores full function and confidence.
South Hills Dental Arts’ Ingram / Crafton location provides comprehensive implant dentistry under one roof, eliminating the need for referrals to outside specialists. With 35 years of experience in restorative dentistry and advanced technology, including 3D imaging and digital implant planning, we ensure precise, predictable results. Our convenient location at 2725 Center St makes it easy for Pittsburgh area residents to access life-changing implant treatment.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone to replace missing tooth roots. Through a process called osseointegration, the bone actually fuses with the implant surface, creating a foundation stronger than natural tooth roots. Once integrated, the implant can support a crown, bridge, or denture that looks and functions exactly like natural teeth.
The three components of an implant system work together seamlessly. The implant post serves as the artificial root, anchored securely in your jawbone. The abutment connects the implant to the restoration, transferring chewing forces to the bone just like a natural tooth. The crown, bridge, or denture provides the visible tooth replacement, custom-crafted to match your natural teeth perfectly.
Unlike other tooth replacement options, implants preserve and stimulate the jawbone, preventing the bone loss that occurs with missing teeth. This preservation maintains facial structure and prevents the aged, sunken appearance that often accompanies tooth loss. With proper care, implants can last a lifetime, making them the most cost-effective long-term solution for missing teeth.
Benefits of Implants Over Traditional Options
Dental implants offer significant advantages over bridges and dentures. Unlike bridges, implants don’t require grinding down adjacent healthy teeth for support. Preserving natural tooth structure is invaluable for long-term oral health. Implants also don’t decay, eliminating the risk of cavities that can compromise bridge abutments.
Compared to dentures, implants provide superior stability and chewing power. You can bite into an apple, enjoy corn on the cob, and eat steak without worry. There’s no need for adhesives, no slipping during speech, and no covering of the palate that affects taste. Implants feel so natural that most patients forget they’re not their original teeth.
The psychological benefits are equally important. Implants eliminate the embarrassment and inconvenience of removable teeth. You can laugh, speak, and smile with complete confidence, knowing your teeth are secure. This restoration of normal function and appearance often leads to improved social interactions and quality of life.
Single Tooth Replacement With Dental Implants
Replacing a single missing tooth with an implant provides the most conservative and effective solution for restoring dental function. The procedure begins with careful evaluation using our 3D imaging technology to assess bone volume and quality. If adequate bone exists, we can often place the implant immediately after tooth extraction, reducing treatment time and preserving bone and gum architecture.
During implant placement, we create a precise opening in the bone using surgical guides for accuracy. The implant is carefully positioned to ensure optimal support for the future crown and harmony with surrounding teeth. Thanks to our virtually painless anesthesia system and gentle techniques, most patients report the procedure is more comfortable than having a tooth extracted.
After placement, the implant requires time to integrate with your bone, typically three to six months. During this healing period, we can provide a temporary tooth replacement to ensure you never go without a complete smile. Once integrated, we utilize our CEREC technology to create a custom crown that perfectly matches your natural teeth in terms of shape, color, and function.
Multiple Teeth and Full Arch Solutions
When multiple adjacent teeth are missing, implant-supported bridges provide an excellent solution. Rather than placing an implant for every missing tooth, strategically positioned implants can support a bridge spanning the gap. This approach reduces cost and treatment time while providing the stability and function of natural teeth.
For patients missing all teeth in an arch, implant-supported dentures offer life-changing benefits. Traditional dentures rest on gums and rely on suction or adhesives for retention. Implant dentures snap onto or are permanently fixed to implants, eliminating movement and dramatically improving chewing ability. As few as four implants can support a full arch of teeth using the All-on-4 technique.
Our comprehensive planning ensures optimal implant positioning for maximum support with minimum surgery. Using digital implant planning software, we determine the ideal number, size, and angle of implants based on your specific anatomy and restoration needs. This precision planning leads to predictable results and long-term success.
What to Expect if You Need Bone Grafting Before Getting Implants
Adequate bone volume is essential for successful implant placement. When teeth have been missing for extended periods, the jawbone often lacks sufficient height or width to support implants. Modern bone grafting techniques can rebuild lost bone, making implants possible even in challenging cases.
We offer a range of grafting procedures tailored to your specific needs. Socket preservation at the time of extraction maintains bone volume for future implant placement. Ridge augmentation rebuilds width and height where significant bone loss has occurred. Sinus lifts create space in the upper jaw when the sinus cavity has expanded into areas where tooth roots once existed.
Our use of plasma-rich growth factors accelerates healing and improves grafting success. By concentrating healing proteins from your own blood and mixing them with graft material, we stimulate faster bone formation and reduce post-operative discomfort. Most patients are surprised by how comfortable modern grafting procedures are, thanks to these advanced techniques.
The Dental Implant Treatment Timeline
The implant process timeline varies based on individual circumstances. Straightforward single implants in adequate bone may be completed in three to four months. Complex cases requiring grafting or multiple implants may take six to 12 months to resolve. While this may seem lengthy, remember that implants are a permanent solution designed to last a lifetime.
Your journey begins with comprehensive evaluation and treatment planning. If extractions or grafting are needed, these are completed first, with appropriate healing time. Implant placement follows, requiring three to six months for integration. Finally, the restoration phase creates your new teeth. Throughout the process, we ensure that you have both functional and aesthetically pleasing temporary solutions.
Some cases qualify for immediate loading, where temporary teeth are attached to implants the same day as placement. This approach works well for certain All-on-4 cases or when replacing front teeth in ideal bone conditions. We’ll discuss whether you’re a candidate for accelerated protocols during your consultation.
Before
After
To restore this patient’s smile back to its true form, Dr. Yousef placed several implants. Dr. Yousef then completed mounted models as well as provisional crowns and final crowns.
How to Care for Your Dental Implants
One of the best features of dental implants is how easy they are to maintain. Care for them exactly as you would natural teeth: brush twice daily, floss daily, and visit us regularly for professional cleanings and checkups. No special tools or products are required, though we may recommend specific techniques for cleaning around implant restorations.
While implants can’t develop cavities, the surrounding gum and bone tissues require protection from bacterial infection. Peri-implantitis, similar to gum disease around natural teeth, can compromise implant success if oral hygiene is neglected. Our hygienists are specially trained in implant maintenance to help ensure your implants remain healthy for life.
Regular monitoring allows us to detect and address any issues early. We’ll check implant stability, assess surrounding tissues, and ensure restorations remain properly fitted. With proper care and maintenance, studies show implant success rates exceed 95% over 10 years, with many lasting a lifetime.
Your Path to Permanent Tooth Replacement
Missing teeth don’t have to limit your life any longer. Dental implants restore full function and confidence, allowing you to eat, speak, and smile without compromise. At South Hills Dental Arts’ Ingram/Crafton location, we offer comprehensive implant treatment, from initial consultation through final restoration, all under one roof.
Our free virtual consultation lets you explore implant options from home. Send us photos and information about your missing teeth, and our treatment coordinators will provide personalized recommendations via video response. Contact us today at 412-922-9292 or fill out our contact form to learn more about how we’re transforming smiles throughout Pittsburgh with advanced implant dentistry.
