Dental Implants

We can perform the entire dental implant procedure in our office.

Missing teeth can not only be embarrassing. They can also affect your ability to enjoy your favorite foods and lead to changes in your bone structure if left untreated. Dental implants look, feel, and act as a natural replacements for missing teeth. Dental Implants look much more lifelike than conventional bridges or dentures and can last a lifetime. With dental implants, you can chew anything you want. Our dentists offer several dental implant options at our dental practice in Mobile, Alabama to suit your number of missing teeth, budget, and desired outcomes.

Understanding Dental Implants

A dental implant is a prosthetic replacement for a missing tooth. The dental implant is made up of a crown and root, just like a natural tooth. Most dental implant roots are made of titanium, which is a metal that’s particularly suited for integration into the jaw bone.

Our dentists have special training in dental implant placement and will handle your tooth replacement smoothly and efficiently.

Implants are viewed by the dental community as the Gold Standard in long-term tooth replacement. Our dentists have experience in dental implant placement and use the latest equipment and techniques to optimize results. At Maitre & Crabtree Dental – unlike at many other dental practices – you can get the whole procedure done in our office!

Candidacy for This Procedure

Previously, too little bone would prevent people from having implants placed. Now, we have better bone grafting techniques to augment insufficient bone due to gum disease or missing teeth.

Research estimates that 25 percent of bone loss occurs in the first year and continues. Implants act as natural teeth in maintaining jawbone structure.

At one time, patients who were smokers or had certain health conditions, like diabetes, were considered too high of a risk for implants. Thanks to advancements in the science of dental implants, patients with these conditions can now be treated safely and effectively.

Your Initial Consultation

Your first appointment will consist of several steps, including:

• Meeting the doctor
• An oral exam
• Getting a second opinion
• Discovering if you’re a dental implant candidate
• Finding out how implant treatment works
• Learning your treatment options
• Getting any questions answered

Our staff can also review our financing options with you during this time.

Implants Can Have Outstanding Benefits

Dental implants have become more and more popular over the last decade. Today they are considered by dentists worldwide as the “gold standard” in tooth replacement.

Dental Implants vs. Traditional Dentures

Although dentures have long been used to replace extensive amounts of missing teeth, implant-supported dentures offer super benefits, including:

• Dental implants are just like real teeth and are cared for the same way. Dentures have to be removed every day for cleaning.
• Dental implants do not make clicking sounds when chewing.  Dentures often have a clicking sound while the person is eating.
• Dental implants are anchored and permit you to eat and speak with confidence. Dentures can slip out during eating or speaking.
• Dental implants are anchored into your jaw and there is nothing covering your palate.  Dentures are fairly bulky and cover the roof of the mouth (palate).
• Dental implants let you eat anything you want just like with real teeth.  Dentures are unstable and can move during chewing. They are also incapable of allowing for the same chewing forces as natural teeth. Denture users are forced to restrict their diet and since they may end up avoiding solid food like fruits, vegetables and meats, their health can be compromised.
• Dental implants act as natural teeth in maintaining jawbone. Probably the most serious issue with dentures, and leaving teeth un-replaced, is bone loss. Teeth and their chewing action are an integral part of the health of the jawbone. When a tooth is lost, the supporting bone loses its stimulation and proceeds to decrease in density and volume. Research estimates that 25 percent of bone loss occurs in the first year and continues on.

Our dentists will work with you on dentures if that is the treatment you choose.  We encourage implants for the reasons listed above and because dentures will contribute to bone loss and bone loss affects facial aesthetics.  The facial height between the tip of the nose and chin can decrease causing dramatic facial changes. These include pronounced wrinkles around the mouth, thinning lips, dropping curvature of the lips and sagging facial skin. These changes happen with age but are vastly sped up in the case of bone loss.

Conventional Bridges vs. Dental Implants

Rather than replacing missing teeth with a dental bridge, our doctors recommend an implant-supported restoration to ensure benefits such as:

• With dental implants, your mouth will be restored as closely as possible to its natural form.
• When placing implants, grinding nearby natural teeth is not necessary. In order to support a dental bridge, the natural teeth need to be ground down and a crown placed. This can weaken the teeth and make them more sensitive and likely to decay.
• With a dental implant, there is no necessity to touch healthy adjacent teeth. A dental implant, like a natural tooth, preserves jawbone.
• Dental implants, however, cared for properly (like natural teeth) can potentially last a lifetime.  Bridges tend to have a shorter lifespan than dental implants. Bridges can be expected to last, on average, 10 to 12 years with good oral hygiene and regular checkups.

Contact Our Office

Do not let missing teeth continue to affect your diet, social life, and self-confidence. We have many tooth replacement options available and can complete most treatments all in the office and sometimes in the same day. To make an appointment, call (251) 344-4571 or request an appointment online by messaging our team.