Request Request Appointment Like Us Like us on Facebook Reviews Read Our Reviews Call Give us a Call Map View our Map

Dental Implants – Summerfield, NC

Advanced Tooth
Replacement Solutions

After losing any number of permanent teeth, you’ll likely find that chewing certain foods and pronouncing words clearly have become much more difficult tasks. Eventually, you may notice that the rest of your teeth have started to shift out of place, and your jawbone will start to break down from the lack of stimulation. Replacing your teeth as soon as possible is essential for your oral health – and dental implants are often the best way to do just that. Call Magnolia Shores Family Dental today to set up a consultation to discuss replacing missing teeth with dental implants in Summerfield, NC with Dr. Parry.

Why Choose Magnolia Shores Family Dental for Dental Implants?

What Is a Dental Implant?

Animated dental implant supported dental crown

Dental implants are small metal posts that can support artificial teeth. While other forms of tooth replacement rest on the gums or on natural teeth, implants are inserted directly into the jawbone itself; this gives them the unique ability to act as artificial roots that stimulate the bone and prevent it from shrinking. Most dental implants are made from titanium, which is a highly biocompatible metal that can join with the bone through the natural process of osseointegration.

The 4 Step Dental Implant Process

woman smiling while standing outside

Dental implant placement is a comprehensive process that typically takes several months to complete. Unlike many other practices that have to refer patients elsewhere for implant placement, Dr. Parry is fully equipped with advanced training and expertise to handle the entire procedure in-house. This not only saves you valuable time and money, but also ensures continuity of care with the familiar dental team you rely on. If you’d like to learn more about the dental implant process in Summerfield, take a moment to review the following details and feel free to reach out to us with any inquiries.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

dentist explaining dental implants during consultation

Your first step is to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Parry. During this visit, he’ll conduct a thorough visual examination and use a CBCT Scanner to capture detailed digital images of your oral and facial structures. These images will then be projected onto a nearby screen, creating a 3D image for Dr. Parry to carefully assess your teeth, gums, jawbone, nerves, and tissues.

Based on this evaluation, he’ll determine your eligibility for dental implants. You’ll discuss preliminary treatments, such as bone grafting, sinus lift, periodontal treatment, or tooth extraction, if they’re necessary before proceeding with dental implant surgery. This comprehensive assessment ensures that you receive personalized care tailored to your specific needs and sets the stage for a successful dental implant procedure.

Dental Implant Surgery

dentist holding implant during surgery

Once you've had your consultation with Dr. Parry, we'll proceed with scheduling your implant surgery. Dr. Parry will begin by administering local anesthesia to ensure your comfort. Then, he will make one or more small incisions in your gums to access the underlying jawbone. Carefully positioning the implant to maximize bone density, he will then cover it with a protective cap to aid in the healing process. This cap not only shields the implant but also helps maintain the shape of your gum tissue.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

woman smiling with dental implant in mouth

After your oral surgery, your gums will typically heal within a few weeks. However, the process of osseointegration, where the dental implant merges with the surrounding bone tissue, requires more time. This strengthens the foundation for your future tooth restoration as the bond between implant and bone develops.

Depending on the number of dental implants you receive, the complete healing process will take three to six months. Once osseointegration is complete, you'll receive metal abutments that connect your implant to your personalized restoration, marking the final step in your dental implant journey.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

woman smiling with dental implant in mouth

After you finish healing, you'll come back to our office for the placement of your custom-made crown, bridge, or denture. Crafted from top-notch materials, these personalized restorations seamlessly blend with your natural smile. With these enhancements, you'll experience enhanced confidence, a more attractive appearance, and improved functionality and stability. Plus, your dental implants are designed to last for 30 years or more with proper care and maintenance.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Flawless smile after dental implant tooth replacement

You may not be aware, but dental implants are pretty popular as tooth replacements. Dentists place about 500,000 of them yearly! As for why they’re so well-liked, the reason is that they fuse with the patient’s jawbone. This feature grants implants several perks that dentures and dental bridges can’t match. As such, you can trust them to improve your quality of life. To learn more about the benefits of dental implants in Summerfield, keep reading or call us for details.

Day-to-Day Benefits

An older man admiring his new dental implant

As you’d expect, the most apparent implant benefits are the day-to-day ones. These typically include the following:

  • Lifelike Results – Thanks to their porcelain surfaces, implants both look pretty and blend seamlessly with their surroundings. That means others won’t even notice you have them!
  • A Confidence Boost – Implants fill the gaps in your smile, so they’ll naturally help you feel less self-conscious about your looks. From there, you’ll have a better time with friends or family in social situations.
  • Effective Eating – Because implants fuse with your jaw, they restore much of your bite force. That means they’ll let you eat your favorite foods again!
  • Easy Maintenance – Implants don’t need much upkeep compared to dentures or bridges. You just need to clean them as you would natural teeth. In other words, brush them twice daily and floss between them once daily.

Health Benefits

A smiling elderly couple cooking in the kitchen

Aside from the everyday upsides, implants also offer health-related advantages. The most common of these are:

  • A Stronger Jaw – When tooth loss goes untreated, your jaw slowly loses bone tissue. That process can then lead to facial collapse. However, implants stimulate your jaw and thus prevent such bone loss.
  • Better Teeth Cleaning  – Left alone, tooth gaps become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria. Thankfully, implants get rid of these gaps to make teeth cleaning easier. The result is that your risk of oral health problems decreases.
  • No Sensitivity – Implants don’t sit on your gums or connect to other teeth. As such, they don’t irritate your mouth tissues like other restorations might.

Long-term Benefits

A smiling mother and daughter hugging outdoors

With dental implants, you’ll even get to enjoy long-term benefits. Here’s what you can expect:

  • High Success Rate – So long as the placement goes well, implants hardly ever fail. Their ten-year success rate even sits at over 95%!
  • Enduring Results – A typical dental implant lasts 15-20 years, making it longer-lasting than dentures or bridges. Better yet, a well-maintained one can have a lifespan of 30 years or more.
  • Cost-Effectiveness – Compared to the alternatives, implants save you more money overall. Their longevity means they don’t require many replacement or repair visits. You’d thus spend less money on various upkeep fees!

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

Woman sharing flawless smile after dental implant tooth replacement

While not everyone is a candidate for dental implants, some steps can be taken to make the procedure more viable. For example, if your jaw currently lacks the density to support implant posts, we might recommend having a bone graft performed. Also, periodontal therapy and other treatments might be necessary to ensure that your mouth is completely free of infection before the surgery. It’s important to know that the implant process will be different depending on how many teeth you’ve lost.

Animated smile with dental implant supported dental crown in place

Missing One Tooth

Even if a missing tooth isn’t visible when you smile, it can still throw off the balance of your bite and cause other health difficulties. The gap can be filled with a single implant post that is eventually topped with a porcelain crown after osseointegration is complete.

Model smile with fixed bridge restoration

Missing Multiple Teeth

When three or more teeth in a row are gone, an implant-retained bridge can be used. Traditional bridges rest on two abutment teeth, which involves the removal of enamel. Such alterations can be avoided if the bridge is placed on a pair of dental implants instead.

Full denture in a glass of water

Missing All of Your Teeth

Even people who have lost an entire arch of teeth can still get implants. A full denture can be anchored to four to eight implant posts so that it won’t slip at inconvenient times. When a denture is permanently attached to implants, it can be brushed and flossed just like natural teeth.

Dentist holding a full denture

All-on-4 & Teeth-in-a-Day

The All-on-4 procedure is an advanced technique that lets those who have suffered from extensive tooth loss get new teeth much faster. Four dental implant posts are strategically inserted into the jaw at specific angles so that they have the strength and stability to support a temporary denture right away. 

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Dentist explaining cost of dental implants in Summerfield

When it comes to dental implant treatment (and tooth replacement in general), you truly get what you pay for. Dental implants are considered a long-term investment not just for your smile, but your oral and overall health as well as your quality of life. Since there are so many factors that can influence the final price tag of your care, you’ll need to speak with Dr. Parry first and complete an exam. With that said, you can click the button below to learn about all of the variables that will go into the overall cost.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Implant dentist in Summerfield explaining treatment to a patient

You need to have a consultation before an estimate of the cost of dental implants can be made. That is because the price is going to vary from patient to patient based on:

  • Necessary preparatory procedures (gum disease therapy, bone grafts, tooth extractions, etc.)
  • The number of implants needed (which can increase surgery costs)
  • The amount of anesthesia used during surgery

Dr. Parry will personally complete every phase of your implant treatment, which means you will spend less compared to offices that require you to work with a specialist for placement.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Diagram showing parts of dental implants in Summerfield

The more implants you need to place, the higher you can expect your costs to be. This is because more materials, including titanium, are needed from the manufacturer. Where the implants are ordered from can also influence the final price tag. More implants also means more abutments, which are used to connect the restoration to the implant. Dr. Parry will be happy to explain why he uses certain implants and how they will ensure a tooth replacement that lasts longer and works better compared to others.

Final Dental Implant Restoration

Implant dentist in Summerfield showing patient dental restoration

If you require a restoration that is more complex, such as an implant bridge or denture, the cost of treatment goes up because more time and dedication is needed to craft a properly fitting tooth replacement. Not only are the materials designed to look incredibly natural, but they also keep the bite even, preventing undue stress son the jaw joints.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Dental insurance form resting on a table

Make sure to review your insurance benefits; not every plan will pay for the implants themselves, but related procedures could still be covered. For example, it’s common for insurances to offer coverage for preparatory treatments like bone grafts or periodontal treatment. The restorations may also be covered at a specific percentage depending on your plan. Our office will gladly go over your benefits and confirm that you are maximizing them to the fullest.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Implant dentist in Summerfield shaking hands with a patient

Even if you don’t have dental insurance, there are other options available to you that make dental implants a more affordable and accessible treatment. For example, we partner with multiple third-party financiers that allow you to make monthly payments on dental services with little to no interest attached. This includes CareCredit, Alphaeon, and Proceed Finance.

youtube thumbnail

Dental Implant FAQs

Graphic depicting tooth with the phrase FAQ in the center

At Magnolia Shores Family Dental, we want you to be able to start living your life to the fullest as quickly as possible. If you have questions or concerns about dental implants that are making you hesitant about treatment, Dr. Parry is happy to answer them to help you feel more confident about your future tooth replacement. Below, you can find some of the most common questions we’ve heard, but feel free to call us directly if yours is not listed.

Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

Ahead of surgery, Dr. Parry will administer a local anesthetic. Keep in mind that the jawbone does not have any nerve endings anyway, and while sedation may be recommended, it’s actually not needed in most cases. Many patients note that the procedure is much more comfortable than initially expected. With that said, you can expect to feel sore for the next few days after surgery, but this can be mitigated with painkillers and cold compresses. If your discomfort does not improve after a week or so, get in touch with our office.

How Can I Tell If My Dental Implant Is Failing?

The most common signs that a dental implant is failing include significant discomfort around the implant itself. You may also notice inflamed gum tissue, swollen gums, or the sensation of a loose implant. These indicate that either an infection is present or the implant did not properly integrate. Call our practice as soon as possible if these symptoms appear!

How Long Does Dental Implant Surgery Take?

It really depends on how complex your dental implant treatment is and how many teeth you intend to replace. For example, a single implant can take anywhere between one to two hours to place, while more implants can increase the length of your procedure. Also keep in mind Dr. Parry will take the time to ensure anesthesia is fully administered and a sterile, surgical atmosphere is established.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

Those who have smoked in the past can technically receive dental implants, but we do not recommend smoking for several weeks ahead of treatment as well as quitting tobacco completely after you’ve received them. This is because tobacco causes dry mouth, slows down the healing process, and can interfere with the implants ability to fuse with the jawbone. Smoking can also cause the blood clot that forms over the implant site to dislodge, leading to a painful condition known as dry socket.

Do Dental Implants Feel Natural?

Once the implants are placed and fully integrated, they should feel almost exactly like your natural teeth. If you notice sensations around the implants, it’s actually coming from the gums that surrounds them, not the prosthetic roots themselves.

More to Explore

I Need a Dental Checkup & Cleaning I am Concerned About Bleeding Gums I am Unhappy with My Smile I Have a Cavity or Broken Tooth I am Missing 1 or More Teeth I am in Pain & Need Help I Experience Head, Neck & Jaw Pain I am Scared of the Dentist I am Concerned about Sleep Apnea View Our Services

Have Questions? Ask Dr. Parry