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Dental Implants – Enterprise, OR

The Gold Standard of Tooth Replacement

Without a doubt, you can trust all of our practice’s replacement teeth to work well. You’ll see great results whether you opt for dentures, dental bridges, or any type of restoration. That said, our dental implants in Enterprise are a cut above the other prosthetic tooth options. Dr. Schaffeld can use them to replace lost teeth with lifelike substitutes, making your smile whole and beautiful. Just keep reading to learn about these posts in detail, or book your consultation soon.

Why Choose Tyler Schaffeld Dental for Dental Implants?

  • Partnered with Local Implant Specialists
  • Highly Experienced Dentist
  • Third-Party Financing Available

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental patient holding an enlarged dental implant model

Dental implants are basically small, tooth-sized posts made of titanium. Given their design, dentists use them to replace the roots of a patient’s missing teeth.

Compared to dentures and dental bridges, dental implants have a unique placement method. A surgeon sets them directly in your jaw’s empty sockets, not simply over the gums. That means each implant fuses with (and stimulates) your jaw’s bone tissue, becoming a permanent part of your mouth. This prosthetic can then support its abutment (i.e., metal connectors) and final restoration (i.e., dental crowns, dental bridges, etc.).

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

A male dentist showing a dental implant to his female patient

Every dental implant treatment has a complex and multi-step process. While their specifics can vary, each one involves the following four steps:

  • Initial Dental Implant Consultation – You’ll consult Dr. Schaffeld at the start of your treatment. That way, he can confirm your oral health, smile goals, etc.
  • Dental Implant Surgery – With Dr. Schaaffeld’s approval, a local specialist will perform your implant surgery to ensure quality results.
  • Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment – Your dental implants will fuse with your jaw after the surgery. Once that process wraps up, we’ll place your posts’ abutments.
  • Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s) – You’ll receive your final restoration after you’ve healed from the abutment work. Depending on your case, this item will be a dental crown, bridge, or denture.

Benefits of Dental Implants

An older man admiring his new dental implant with a hand mirror

Dental implants continue to gain popularity with more than 500,000 placed annually, and many experts near Enterprise consider them the ideal way to replace missing teeth. Unlike dentures and dental bridges, they’re surgically embedded into your jawbone, which provides many unique advantages over the alternatives.

Continue reading to learn more about how getting dental implants can potentially benefit you, and please don’t hesitate to contact us for additional information.

Day-to-Day Benefits

Woman in reddish shirt admiring her reflection in mirror

Spaces in your smile left behind by missing teeth can detract from your daily quality of life in several ways. After all, one of the first things others notice about you is your grin, and you might develop anxiety or depression if you’re overly concerned about being judged for your appearance. You might even struggle to chew thoroughly or speak clearly.

Getting dental implants can help improve your day-to-day experience by:

  • Restoring biting power. Once your jawbone fuses with the biocompatible rod of your new tooth, you can enjoy up to 80% or 90% of your original chewing power to enjoy your favorite foods.
  • Improving enunciation. This treatment allows you to overcome any speech impediments, like a lisp or slur, that you might have developed.
  • Boosting confidence. Closing the gaps in your grin with a lifelike replacement enhances your appearance so you feel like your most beautiful self.

Health Benefits

Woman in dental chair about to undergo dental exam

There are additional health advantages to having dental implants, too, such as:

  • Easy maintenance. These sturdy, stand-alone structures are easier to brush and floss than dentures and bridges, to reduce the likelihood of cavities, gum disease, and other concerns.
  • Preserve your jawbone. Your jawbone starts to thin without roots in place to stimulate new jawbone growth, but dental implants fulfill this function to maintain a strong foundation for your teeth.
  • Prevent dental drifting. This treatment helps keep any remaining natural teeth from drifting out of alignment to fill in gaps left behind, which can result in worn-down enamel or injuries.

Long-Term Benefits

Dentist looking over shoulder of man admiring results of treatment in mirror

Fortunately, this treatment is known to potentially last for decades, so that patients enjoy the following long-term benefits:

  • Reliable outcome. The surgical procedure has an incredibly high success rate of more than 90%, meaning your restoration is unlikely to fail if you follow the post-op orders carefully.
  • Resilient materials. The durable titanium rod and ceramic restoration can last for 15 to 25 or more years if cared for correctly, and is less likely than dentures or bridges to require repairs down the road.
  • Fewer accessories. There’s no need to invest in special adhesives, soaking solutions, or other additional supplies to help keep your new in good condition, which can potentially save you money over time.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

A glove-wearing dentist holding an enlarged dental implant model

You’d almost certainly benefit from dental implants, whether you’ve lost one tooth or many. The posts can just as easily fill large smile gaps as small ones. However, only patients with healthy gums and a dense jaw qualify for them; treatment won’t work without those traits. Your implant posts would come loose and fail if your mouth’s tissues were too weak.

Missing One Tooth

If you’ve only lost a single tooth, a dental implant and crown are enough to help. This pair of prosthetics should restore your smile longer than a dental bridge could, greatly improving your oral health. Even better is that a solitary implant wouldn’t alter your nearby teeth. On the contrary, this post only needs to fuse with your jaw to stay secure.

Missing Multiple Teeth

An implant bridge is the best option when you’ve lost several adjacent teeth. As a fixed restoration, this device uses dental implants instead of crowns and fills large smile gaps. A dentist wouldn’t have to alter your nearby natural teeth (i.e., abutments) to place it. In other words, your smile’s remaining enamel will stay safe.

If the missing teeth aren’t adjacent, a partial implant denture may suit you better.

Missing All Teeth

When you’ve lost (or will soon lose) all your teeth, a full implant denture is ideal. This appliance can restore an entire arch by setting a few dental implants in your mouth. To that extent, it won’t slip or fall like a regular denture; the device will remain secure for many years. This denture also uses a small number of posts to ensure a less invasive treatment.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

A 3D illustration of gold coins and an enlarged tooth on a balance beam

While you may need dental implants, you should learn their price before you commit. You may get a treatment you can’t afford otherwise, resulting in a harsh situation. Just note that you must consult Dr. Schaffeld for an estimate; the cost of dental implants varies. Once you have, our team will walk you through various ways to make your care more affordable. We can also outline your treatment’s pricing factors, dental insurance, payment options, and more.