Dental implants

Dental Implants

Restoring Your Beautiful Smile

Missing teeth can impact your ability to chew, talk and feel good about your smile. They can also cause serious dental problems, such as an increased risk of gum disease, bone loss, gum recession and more. At Stewart Dental Group, we help patients who have missing and damaged teeth regain confidence and quality of life with dental implants.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants consist of a titanium post, abutment and dental prosthesis. The posts replace the tooth roots and the prosthesis consists of artificial teeth that look and function like real ones. Over time, the implant fuses to your jawbone, offering a stable solution for tooth loss. There are different types of implants including bridges, crowns and dentures. Patients missing just one or multiple teeth or who have diseased teeth may consider dental implants to restore the appearance and function of their smile.

Benefits of Dental Implants

The prospect of receiving dental implants may seem scary, but modern prosthetic dental technology has made the process seamless, routine and—for the vast majority of patients—entirely worth the investment. If you have missing teeth or damaged teeth, here are some reasons you should consider restorative devices:

  • Improve the appearance of your smile

  • Avoid the sliding associated with temporary devices

  • Prevent bone loss and gum recession

  • Improve your ability to speak and chew

  • Prevent facial sagging

  • Reduce the risk of gum disease

Types of Dental Implants at Stewart Dental

No patient is the same, and there are different kinds of restorative dentistry to custom-fit for your smile. We offer various types of implants to fit your unique needs, including:

Implant overdentures

A more modern alternative to traditional dentures that sit on the gums. Implanted dentures are more comfortable, durable and will not slide.

A span of artificial teeth that are held in place by implanted crowns. These bridges are more resilient and can be more comfortable than regular bridges.

Screws embedded into the jawbone provide stability for crowns, bridges and dentures.

A full-arch replacement achieved with just four strategically placed implants. This is a good option for patients whose jawbones are not strong enough for other implants and does not require grafting.

A full-arch replacement achieved with just four strategically placed implants. This is a good option for patients whose jawbones are not strong enough for other implants and does not require grafting.

Dental Implant Treatment in Charlotte, NC

Receiving your implants is a multi-step process that requires several rounds of surgical procedures. Though this may seem intimidating at first, our patient-first team will guide you through every step, from the initial consultation to years after your procedure. We provide patients with long-lasting solutions that will carry them through for years and years. Treatment proceeds as follows:

Doctors Melissa and Randall begin preparing for your implants by evaluating your smile, specifically the condition of your jawbone, gums and remaining teeth. From there, our dentists will build a treatment plan for your missing or decayed teeth.

If your implant will replace damaged but existing teeth, those teeth will need to be surgically extracted to prepare for treatment.

Titanium posts act as tooth roots, anchoring the implant to the jawbone. In order to ensure a stable base for the prosthetic, there needs to be plenty of bone around the missing tooth. Some patients will need extra bone to be surgically added to the area. This bone is taken from either another part of the body or from synthetic bone-substitute material. After the bone grafting procedure, patients must wait a couple of months for the bone to heal before receiving the implant.

Once the jawbone has healed, it’s time to put in your implant! Our dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic before creating an incision, into which the post is inserted with a small drill.

An abutment is the piece that attaches to the crown on your artificial teeth. This quick procedure is sometimes performed at the same time as the surgical implant procedure.

A few weeks later, the prosthetic teeth are attached to the implant in a final procedure. Your prosthetic is created from a digital impression of your remaining teeth, ensuring a perfect fit.

Recovering From The Implant Procedure

After each stage of treatment, you may experience some bleeding, pain, numbness and swelling that can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. While healing, eat soft foods and avoid touching your dissolving stitches. If the pain gets worse or if you notice signs of infection, call us immediately at (704) 376-2404.

Dental Implants FAQs

The placement involves a surgical procedure. During the procedure, Dr. Melissa Stewart will make an incision in the gum, drill a small hole into the jawbone, insert the implant and then allow the area to heal before attaching a crown or other restoration.

The surgery is usually done under local anesthesia, and patients typically experience minimal discomfort during the procedure. Some pain and swelling after the procedure are likely but can be managed with pain medications.

The entire process of getting a dental implant can take several months. This includes the healing period after implant placement, which allows the implant to fuse with the jawbone. This timing can vary based on the fact that some people heal more quickly or slowly than others.

They are a permanent solution for tooth replacement, and with the right care and maintenance, they can last a lifetime.

Alternative dental restorations include dental bridges and removable dentures. However, these options may not offer the same level of stability, longevity and natural feel as dental implants.