Dental Implants – Sycamore, IL

Day-to-Day Benefits

• The ability to eat all types of foods – Instead of worrying about slippage or prosthetic teeth falling out, dental implants are held firmly in place through osseointegration. This ensures a stronger bite force and chewing power, making it easy to chew through foods of all kinds.
• Improved oral health – Instead of relying on additional products to keep teeth clean, patients with dental implants in Sycamore need only a toothbrush, non-abrasive toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash to eliminate the possibilities of decay and gum disease.
• Better quality of life – Unlike denture-wearers that frequently complain about feeling insecure about their smiles, those with dental implants can embrace a more confident appearance when speaking, eating, and smiling.

Health Benefits

• No need to alter existing tooth structures – Instead of altering existing tooth structures to place a dental bridge, an implant dentist in Sycamore can place each implant in the appropriate socket, keeping healthy teeth untouched.
• Increased jawbone stimulation – Tooth loss may cause the jawbone to deteriorate over time; however, by placing dental implants, the bone can remain stimulated each time a person chews or bites down.
• Teeth remain in place – With one or more gaps in a person’s smile, natural teeth can begin to drift out of alignment. Fortunately, with dental implants, that will not happen, and it’s unlikely that an individual will require orthodontic treatment to address dental drift.

Long-Term Benefits

• The success rate of placement is high – When entrusting smiles to licensed, experienced dental professionals, dental implant surgery has a success rate of 95% upon initial placement. After 10 years, the rate may only drop to 90% depending on how well a person maintains their smile.
• Dental implants last decades – Unlike dentures and dental bridges that may only last up to 10 years, dental implants are known to last 30 years or even a lifetime!
• They cost less in the long run – Yes, dental implants are expensive when initially starting treatment; however, when patients look ahead 10, 20, or even 30 years, they will discover these prosthetics are cost-effective. Not only do they not require frequent replacement and adjustments, but they don’t need denture adhesives or special products for cleaning purposes.

Making Oral Hygiene a Priority

When you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed at night, you’ll want to make sure that you’re adopting good oral hygiene. Apart from brushing twice a day for two minutes, you might consider adding additional cleaning times after every meal. The same can be said for flossing, which is crucial if you want to avoid peri-implantitis, which is similar to gum disease. Adding an ADA-approved mouthwash to your routine will also help to eliminate any bacteria and plaque that may be left behind after brushing and flossing.

Eating a Healthy Diet

Sweets and starches are often enjoyable to eat, but their contents can lead real and artificial teeth to suffer from decay and disease. Adopting healthier eating habits that incorporate essential vitamins and nutrients, not only will your body benefit but your mouth will as well. Leafy green, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean meats, and more offer your teeth and gums the protection they need so that you can avoid the emergency dentist’s office.

Breaking Bad Habits

Whether you’ve tried quitting or giving up unhealthy habits, the moment you receive dental implants is the time to give it all up. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, eating ice, biting your fingernails, chewing on pens and pencils, and using your teeth to open items that require regular tools are all ways you can damage your dental implants in Sycamore. As a result, your new smile might fail, leading to thousands of wasted dollars and time. By breaking these bad habits early on, you allow for a more positive dental future.

Protecting Your Dental Implants

Tooth enamel may be strong but it’s not indestructible. This means that it must be protected whether you’re on the field or lying asleep at night. Bruxism and sports-related injuries are reasons to inquire about a customized mouthguard from your implant dentist in Sycamore. This type of oral appliance will not only safeguard your teeth and gums during an upcoming game but will also shield your teeth from grinding and clenching against each other throughout the night.

Scheduling Regular Dental Checkups

Once dental implants are in place, you cannot give up seeing your dentist every six months. Instead, you’ll want to keep these appointments so that your dentist can review your smile and check for any damaged areas. We’ll also look for any signs of peri-implantitis or abnormalities that could cause implant failure. We’ll always do our best to make sure that your dental implants are in the best possible shape.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

With proper care and maintenance, you can expect your dental implants in Sycamore to last for 30 years or more. This is significantly longer than other tooth replacement options like bridges and dentures, which typically must be replaced every 5 to 15 years. The lifespan of your implants will depend largely on your oral health and habits. Be sure to brush thoroughly twice a day, floss daily, and visit a dentist every six months for a dental exam and cleaning. If you grind your teeth at night or play contact sports, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth. In addition, you should avoid chewing on anything too hard or sticky and never open packaging with your teeth.

Am I Too Young to Get Dental Implants?

In general, our team does not place dental implants in patients who are under the age of 18. The reason is that most young people’s jawbones are not yet fully developed. If dental implants are placed before the jaw is finished growing, it could interfere with further bone development and potentially result in complications. A person’s jaw is usually fully developed by their mid-20s, with men’s jaws taking longer to develop than women’s jaws. Young people experiencing tooth loss can ask our team about alternative tooth replacement solutions to restore their smile.

How Successful Are Dental Implants?

When placed by an experienced, qualified implant dentist in Sycamore, the average success rate for initial implant placement is a whopping 95%. After 10 years, the success rate only drops to around 90%. If you are considering replacing missing teeth with implants, be sure to research the background of your dentist or oral surgeon if you want optimal results. Aftercare and personal oral hygiene also influence the success rate of implant treatment.

Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?

Yes, you will likely need to take one or two days off work to get dental implants. How much time you need for the initial recovery period will depend a lot on how many dental implants are placed. If you are replacing one missing tooth with a single implant, you may only need to take one day off of work. However, if you are replacing an entire row of teeth with implants, you may need a few extra days of rest. In that case, we often recommend scheduling the implant placement procedure later in the week, so you can take advantage of the weekend and be ready to return to work on Monday.