Dental Implants in Herndon
Traditional tooth replacements only replace those parts of patients’ smiles visible above the gum line, but without the restoration of the underlying root structures, oral health is not fully renewed. That’s why Dr. Nazila Ganji and the Cosmetic & Family Dentistry team frequently recommend dental implant supported tooth replacements. Dental implants are titanium posts surgically inserted below the gum line that mimic the supportive root system anchoring a restoration in position. We partner with local oral surgeons or periodontists in order to ensure the safest, most predictable results. Once the dental implants are in place, patients return to our office where we attach a custom crafted restoration. To find out more, contact our Herndon, VA dental team to schedule a dental implant consultation.
Dental Implant Restorations
Following the surgical placement of dental implant posts, patients undergo a process known as osseointegration. This is the fusing together of dental implants with gum tissue and supportive alveolar bone. The process can take anywhere from three to six months depending on the extent of tooth loss, patient’s overall health, and a number of other factors. Once the process is complete, the dental implant will closely mimic the lost root structure and support one or more replacement teeth. Patients with one to four consecutive missing teeth will need restoration with a dental crown or fixed bridge. Single teeth are replaced by attaching a crown to an implant post. Two consecutive teeth can typically be restored by attaching two replacement crowns together, and fixing them to a single implant. Patients with three to four consecutive missing teeth will need two implants to support either end of a fixed bridge restoration.
Implant-Retained Dentures
Patients with extensive tooth loss have traditionally relied on partial and full dentures. The removable partial dentures utilize remaining healthy teeth to anchor the restoration, and full dentures are held in place through suction between the denture and gum tissue or denture adhesive. While these restorative solutions significantly improve patients’ oral health, self-confidence, and overall wellbeing, they often shift while patients eat or speak, rub against gums, and can limit diet. Dental implant supported partials and dentures offer patients complete restoration with superior comfort and stability. The number of implant posts needed to support a partial denture depends on the size of patients’ jawbones, extent of tooth loss, and location of missing teeth. Full dentures are typically attached to between four and six implant posts. We offer both fixed and removable implant supported prosthetics in order to meet any patient preference.