Dental Implants An Overview
Charlotte dentist Dr. Richard Van Gurp offers patients the option of dental implants to restore missing teeth. We are able to offer complete treatment, working with an oral surgeon in our building for the surgical placement of the implant and restoration in our Charlotte dentist office. Dr. Van Gurp can replace one missing tooth with a dental implant for the most natural looking solution, or secure a hybrid denture with implants for a stable new smile.
Dental implants are a strong and long lasting option for people who have lost teeth due to gum disease, an accident or other difficulties. An implant consists of a metal post, placed beneath your gums, which acts as a replacement for the tooth’s original root structure. The replacement teeth – singularly or grouped on a bridge or denture – are then mounted by Dr. Van Gurp to the implant.
Whether you have lost one tooth or several, your dental implants offer you the opportunity to virtually go back to a time when you smiled with ease and confidence. By replacing the entire tooth, including the root, it is possible to recreate the look, feel and function of the natural tooth you once had. Once Dr. Van Gurp has completed the process, your smile will look as though you never lost any teeth at all.
Dental Implants What to Expect
Charlotte dentist Dr. Van Gurp will create a personalized treatment plan and coordinate with a surgeon. The oral surgeon we use is conveniently located on the lower level of our Charlotte dental office. This allows for extremely convenient treatment and for Dr. Van Gurp to be available for the entire treatment.
Implantation: The placement of the dental implant is a simple procedure performed in the dentist office under local anesthesia. It typically takes three to six months for the implant to heal and fully integrate with the jawbone. In some cases, Dr. Van Gurp can place a temporary crown immediately after implant placement. Once the implant site heals, Dr. Van Gurp would replace the temporary crown with a permanent crown.”
Implant Restoration: After the healing process is complete, Dr. Van Gurp will uncover the implant and attach the dental crown, bridge or denture. Your restoration will look and function the same as your natural teeth. You can brush and floss normally. Routine visits to the dentist will ensure long term health and function of the dental implant.
Implant Supported Dentures
If you are missing many or perhaps all of your teeth, you may be a candidate for implant supported dentures. As few as four dental implants can be used to provide a foundation to support and secure your dentures, vastly enhancing the stability of your smile and the quality of your life.
With implant dentures, you can look forward to eating, chewing and speaking with confidence and without fear of your dentures slipping and sliding out of place. In some cases, an existing denture can be modified and used as an implant denture. For patients who have suffered from a poorly fitting denture that slips, an implant secured denture can often be life changing.