Our office will be closed from December 24th until Wednesday, January 6th. Happy Holidays!
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Our office will be closed from December 24th until Wednesday, January 6th. Happy Holidays!
If you suffer from tooth loss and you’d like to restore your smile permanently in Lenoir City, Loudon, or Tellico Village dental implants from Dr. Blalock at Lakeside Dental are a great choice. Implants look and feel just like natural teeth, and last 30+ years with proper care. Call today to schedule a consultation for dental implants.
A dental implant is a small, screw-shaped piece of titanium that is surgically implanted into your mouth to act as an artificial tooth root and replace a missing tooth. Implants permanently bond to your jaw and gum, essentially becoming a natural part of your mouth. We offer both single-tooth implants and full-arch implants at Lakeside Dental.
After you’ve been approved for a dental implant, you’ll come in for your placement appointment. Dr. Blalock will start by cleaning and numbing the treatment area. Then, he will make a small incision in the gum and jaw, where your implant will be inserted. Next, your implant will be placed precisely based on your treatment plan, and the treatment area will be cleaned and sutured shut. You will then be given time to heal for 3-6 months. Once your mouth has healed, your dental implant restoration can be permanently attached.
A dental implant restoration is the dental prosthetic that is attached to your implant to replace a missing tooth. Implants look completely natural and will feel like a seamless part of your smile. Single-tooth implants are typically combined with a dental crown to restore the function and aesthetics of your smile. Full-arch implants are completed with implant-supported dentures that snap onto a row of implants to restore your entire smile.
To maintain your dental implant after it has been placed, follow Dr. Blalock’s instructions. Just like natural teeth, single-tooth implants require regular brushing and flossing to stay healthy. Full-arch dentures require more specialized care, so consult with Dr. Blalock to ensure that you’re maintaining your new smile properly.
Single-tooth implants are the most common type of implant. As the name indicates, they use a single dental crown and implant to restore one missing tooth. They are low maintenance and provide a completely natural look and feel, and a long lifespan of 30+ years.
Full-arch implants use a series of 4-6 dental implants to restore the upper, lower, or both arches of your teeth with a removable or fixed denture. They are a great alternative to traditional dentures. Unlike dentures, full-arch implants provide a study hold, a more natural look and feel, and jaw support that prevents bone loss.
The initial healing and recovery process will take about 2 weeks. Dr. Blalock will give you instructions to help you care for your implant and ensure it heals properly during this time. After your implant has healed, it must continue to bond (osseointegrate) with your jaw bone for 3-6 months before it can be completed with a restoration.
As long as you have a healthy jaw and are missing one or more permanent teeth, you are likely a good candidate for dental implants. Schedule a consultation at Lakeside Dental today to learn more.
More than 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Dental implants can help!
Because the implant will bond with your jaw and gums, your implants will look and feel totally natural and will never move or shift.
With proper care, most dental implants will last 30+ years. Many patients are able to keep their implants for the rest of their lives.
Implants cost more up-front than alternatives like dental bridges or partial dentures, but their long lifespan means they are more cost-effective in the long-term.
