Dental Implants – Idaho Falls, ID

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

As with many other dental treatments, we start with a consultation with Dr. Cline. During this meeting, he’ll get a close look at your jaw and your mouth to make sure your oral health allows for the procedure. He will also plan the number and location of your implants as well as explain how dental implants work in Idaho Falls. You need to have an infection-free mouth and enough jawbone to support the implants in order to qualify and be successful. If there are issues that stand in your way, we can administer the treatment you need to be in a better position for implants.

Dental Implant Surgery

One of the most complex steps of receiving dental implants is the actual placement procedure. Before we begin, we give a local anesthetic so that you stay comfortable the whole time. During this surgery, Dr. Cline positions the implant post into the jawbone and closes up the gums. For a couple of days afterward, you need to take it easy, avoid using a straw, and allow the site to heal properly to avoid infection or complication. We’ll send you home with a complete list of instructions for a smooth recovery.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Following the post placement, we give your jawbone plenty of time to grow around the implant, in a process called osseointegration. Once the jawbone and tissue have fully healed, which typically takes a few months, you’ll come back to our dental office to have another simple procedure for the abutment placement. This piece sticks out above the gums and secures your restoration to the post.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

The final step of implant treatment is to create and attach the restoration. A few weeks after the abutment has been inserted, we take impressions of your arches and send the information to a dental lab. When the restoration is complete, you return to our office to have it permanently bonded into position. At that point, your smile is complete and ready for action!

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Because dental implants recreate the root structure of your lost teeth, you’ll regain most of the chewing power you had before tooth loss. This allows you to enjoy a varied diet of nutritious foods like fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Traditional dentures might warp if you drink hot beverages, causing them to not fit correctly. Implant-supported prosthetics should retain their shape, so you’ll be able to enjoy coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to your heart’s content.
• Dentures also notoriously slip around or even fall out of your mouth every so often. If your new teeth are secured onto dental implants in Idaho Falls, you can trust that they’ll remain in place, preventing any embarrassing moments.
• Your implant restorations are carefully designed to mimic the size, shape, and color of your original pearly whites. Overall, your implants should look and feel just like the teeth you used to have!

Health Benefits

• Studies show that prolonged or extensive tooth loss is associated with higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other medical conditions. Dental implants prevent these issues by filling all of the functions of your natural teeth.
• Bridges require natural teeth to be filed down, and dentures can rub up against the gums. In contrast, dental implants are self-supporting and secure – they won’t irritate your gums or require the removal of healthy tooth structure.
• Dental implants stimulate the jawbone whenever you talk or chew. This makes them the only solution that prevents the bone deterioration that commonly occurs after tooth loss. Jawbone loss has been linked with additional tooth loss, and it also causes a sunken facial appearance. Dental implants keep your jawbone strong and you looking young!

Long-Term Benefits

• While dentures require you to learn a whole new cleaning process, dental implant maintenance is simple. For the most part, you can pretty much brush and floss as you would natural teeth. Of course, you’ll also want to visit your implant dentist in Idaho Falls for routine checkups.
• If you take good care of your implants, they can last for 30+ years or even a lifetime. Bridges and dentures, on the other hand, rarely last more than 10 years. So, while traditional options may cost less initially, their frequent repairs and replacements will compound that lower cost over time. Dental implants are the most cost-effective solution in the long run.

• Healthy gums

The health of a person’s gums has a strong correlation with the health of the bones in their mouth. Patients with gum or periodontal disease may not qualify for dental implants because the infection that causes gums to be unhealthy may have also done damage to the bone. Since dental implants are set into the bone, gum health is important for dental implant candidates.

• Proper bone density

In order to properly support the implant, the patient must have good bone density. While there are certainly procedures such as bone grafting that can be done, bone density is a vital part of successful implants.

• General oral health

Because bacteria can easily spread, it is important that an overall state of good oral health is maintained by patients who are good dental implant candidates.

• Patience

Healing takes time, so the patient needs to be prepared for this. Oftentimes, it can take four months to a year for the gums to heal, and sometimes there are also additional things that need to be done. While a fully functioning mouth is definitely worth it, sometimes the process to get there takes time.

• No smoking

While this isn’t exactly a requirement, it’s ideal for a patient to avoid smoking, at least during the initial procedure and during the healing process.

• Good overall health

Patients with compromised immune systems or oral cancer are not considered ideal for dental implants. It is important to look after other aspects of your general health to make sure that you are a good candidate for dental implants.

The best way to determine whether or not dental implants are the right option for you is to schedule a consult with Dr. Cline. If we move forward with the treatment, we’ll come up with one of the following plans to rebuild your smile:

Missing One Tooth

Instead of reducing healthy teeth with a dental bridge for just one missing tooth, we can utilize one dental implant to take the place of the root. Then, we’ll bond a dental crown to the implant, making your replacement tooth seamlessly blend in with your natural teeth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Whether the missing teeth are grouped together or are more spread out in the arch, we have solutions that can be customized to your situation. Using just a couple of dental implants, we can permanently fix a partial denture or bridge in place for more security and longevity.

Missing All Teeth

If you’ve lost all of your teeth, don’t worry! Your dentures can be held in place by four to six dental implants strategically placed in the arch. You can choose to have your full dentures permanently fixed for a more natural feel or keep them removable for convenience.

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Types of Dental Implants

No matter how many teeth you’re missing, dental implants can revitalize your smile. The price of your treatment largely depends on how many implants you need. For example, a single missing tooth can be replaced with one implant post restored with a dental crown. An implant bridge can replace several missing teeth in a row, and four to six implants is usually enough to secure a full denture for patients who have lost all of their pearly whites.

What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?

The dental implant process takes multiple appointments spread out over the course of several months to a year. This allows you to pay for each step of the process as it comes, rather than all at once.

First comes the initial consultation, in which  Dr. Cline  takes x-rays to determine your eligibility for dental implants. You might require preparatory work, such as bone grafting or periodontal therapy, before placement.

During implant placement surgery, your gum tissue is opened up to expose your jawbone. Once Dr. Cline has placed the posts inside of it, the bone starts to grow around the implants until the two have essentially become one structure. After this process is finished, which takes three to six months, you’ll return to our office to have your restoration (crown, bridge, or denture) designed and placed.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

Most of our patients who have gotten dental implants have gone on to say that they were worth every single penny. For one, they can last for several decades with the right aftercare. This saves you time and money you would normally spend on repairs and replacements for conventional bridges or dentures. Dental implants also deliver benefits that other options cannot, such as jawbone preservation that supports your facial muscles and keeps you looking young and vibrant.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Many dental insurance carriers unfortunately won’t cover the implants themselves, but they might mitigate the cost of other steps in the treatment process, like your consultation or restoration. At Oxford Dental, we are in-network with most popular PPO providers, including Delta Dental, Aetna, Cigna, and more. We’ll gladly take a look at your plan and maximize any benefits you have available. For those who are uninsured or don’t have enough insurance coverage to pay for implants, we can help you apply for a low-interest loan through CareCredit. We also offer an  in-house savings plan  that, for a small annual fee, nets you a 20 percent discount on dental implants and many other services, as well as two FREE preventive exams a year.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

Following dental implant surgery in Idaho Falls, the most important thing you need to do is leave the forming blood clot untouched. It’s necessary to ensure that the gums heal properly.

To that end, you should avoid:

• Spitting (use tissues or swallow your saliva)
• Drinking from straws
• Smoking for at least the first day
• Touching the surgical site with your fingers and tongue

Common Side-Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement

If you’ve never had oral surgery before, you may be unsure which side effects are normal. As you’re healing, your discomfort should gradually fade away with time. You should give us a call if your symptoms are persistent or worsening.

Let’s take a look at a few common side effects that you can expect in the days following your procedure:

• Intermittent Bleeding – While this can last multiple days, it can be remedied by placing a small amount of pressure on the gauze that’s located on the surgical site.
• Swelling – It should last about a week. However, you can make it go down quicker by applying a cold compress onto the cheek or jaw for at least 10 minutes at a time.
• General Discomfort – You can alleviate it by taking prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

It’s strongly recommended that you stick to a soft-food diet for the first few days following dental implant surgery. You should stock up on foods like:

• Mashed potatoes
• Yogurt
• Ice cream
• Pudding
• Scrambled eggs
• Pasta
• Soup (make sure it’s not too hot)

Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene

You must keep your mouth as clean as possible after dental implant surgery in Idaho Falls. It’s the best way to ensure your implants successfully integrate with the jawbone. Although you can brush your teeth as usual the day after your procedure, you should be very careful near the surgical sites. Don’t forget to rinse your mouth two to three times each day with salt water. Avoid using mouthwashes that contain high levels of alcohol, like Scope or Listerine.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Once you’re all healed up, you’ll be ready for the final step of the dental implant process – the attachment of your new teeth! When your crown, bridge, or denture is placed onto your implants, you may experience mild discomfort. However, it’s easily manageable with pain medication. That means you’ll be ready to put your brand-new grin to use that very same day.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Your dental implants require the same level of attention as your teeth, despite the restoration itself not being made of any organic materials. This is because the gum tissue surrounding the implant can still become inflamed and affected as a result of plaque and bacteria buildup. To keep your mouth healthy, brush twice a day and floss daily. Use an oral rinse for a more thorough oral hygiene routine. To loosen food debris more easily, it may be worth investing in a water flosser.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating a balanced diet complete with foods like fruits, vegetables, and other options good for your oral health will benefit your tooth replacement in the long-term. In contrast, eating many foods high in sugar and starch will only make it easier for bacteria to produce plaque acids that harm teeth. You’ll want to avoid these foods as much as possible to ensure the best long-term health of your mouth and dental implants. Staying hydrated will also help keep your mouth clean and loosen food debris.

Break Bad Habits

Dental implants are capable of lasting for life when you maintain them, but they are not indestructible. You should never use them or your natural teeth to perform tasks better suited for a tool, such as opening packages or bottles or trimming your fingernails. Instead, keep nail clippers, bottle openers and box cutters on hand so you aren’t inclined to use your teeth. Never chew on foods that can easily crack or chip teeth, including ice cubes, popcorn kernels, or hard candies.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Dental implants can still break or fail as a result of forced trauma or injury, which is why you’ll need to have the right protective gear to avoid damaging your tooth replacement if you are active. Contact sports like football, basketball, soccer, hockey, wrestling and others can all damage your teeth if you aren’t wearing a mouthguard. The same logic applies if you grind and clench your teeth at night while sleeping, which can be mitigated with a nightguard. Both can be customized to fit your mouth exactly for better comfort, protection, and longevity.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

No oral hygiene routine is complete without completing regular dental exams and cleanings at our office every six months. These visits give our office an opportunity to examine the condition of your dental implants and make sure you’re taking proper care of them at home. We’ll also perform a cleaning to remove any plaque or tartar that may have developed since your last visit.

CBCT Scanner

A CBCT machine can go by a few different names. It may be referred to as a cone beam scanner, a cone beam CT scanner, or a 3D cone beam scanner. Whatever you call it, this marvel of dental technology can play a critical role in implant preparation, placement, and monitoring.

CBCT stands for “cone beam computed tomography.” That seems like a mouthful, but the basic idea of how the machine works is fairly easy to understand. It uses a cone-shaped beam of radiation (the same type of radiation that is used for normal X-Rays) to produce highly detailed, three-dimensional images of a patient’s jawbone, teeth, nerves, and connective tissues. Because it provides a much higher level of detail than what is produced by regular X-Rays, it allows Dr. Cline and our team to gain an in-depth understanding of an individual’s oral anatomy.

Some of the ways in which it can be used include:

• Preparing for dental implants. Some patients require preliminary treatments before they can receive dental implants in Idaho Falls. The CBCT machine can make it clear if an individual requires a bone graft or other preparatory procedures.
• Placing dental implants. Information provided by CBCT scans allows us to understand how strong the jawbone is and where certain nerves are. Such data plays a critical role in helping your implant dentist in Idaho Falls to determine where, at what angle, and how deep the dental implants should be placed in the jaw.
• Monitoring dental implants. A CBCT scan can help us determine whether dental implants are integrating well with the surrounding tissue. If you ever run into a problem with your implants, the machine can aid in diagnosing the nature and extent of the issue.

The CBCT scanning process is fast, noninvasive, and painless. First, we may ask you to remove any jewelry or other items that might interfere with the images. Then, we will position you in the machine. You will stay still while it scans your mouth and surrounding areas. Depending on which specific parts of your mouth we want to capture images of, a scan can take anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute or so. Following the scan, the images will be available for quick analysis.

A CBCT scan is quite safe. Although the machine emits more radiation than a regular X-Ray, it emits less than a traditional CT machine.

Are you ready to learn more about our CBCT machine? Contact us today to ask questions or schedule an appointment with our skilled, friendly team. We look forward to serving you!

Bone Grafting

The jawbone’s density is key to ensuring a successful dental implant placement. This is why bone grafting in Idaho Falls is often recommended, especially for patients who have been without their teeth for quite some time. When meeting with Dr. Cline, he will examine your jawbone to determine if this procedure is necessary. If so, he will begin the process by opening the gums and exposing the underlying, existing bone. Using bone minerals from another part of your body or that of a donor, he will place them into the appropriate areas of your jawbone. Once the area is closed, it will take several months for the new and existing bone to integrate; however, once complete, you will be ready for dental implants.

Sinus Lifts

When dental implants must be placed toward the back of the mouth, in the upper arch, it is sometimes necessary to complete a sinus lift in Idaho Falls first. The reason is that when these teeth go missing, it can create a significant gap. With no bone to hold the implant in place, it can protrude into the sinus cavity, which is not a good situation. To remedy this issue, Dr. Cline can perform a vertical sinus lift that involves a minor procedure. Placing grafting materials around the implant allows for a more minimally invasive procedure that cuts down on recovery times. It also leads to higher success rates.

PRF/PRP Treatment

Proper healing is essential after dental implant surgery, which is why Dr. Cline is pleased to provide patients with PRF/PRP treatment. Also referred to as Platelet Rich Fibrin or Platelet Rich Plasma, this process involves using your blood to speed up the healing process during recovery. The extraction of your blood will occur beforehand and will be placed in a centrifuge. When ready, we will apply it around the surgical sites to encourage faster healing. And one of the best parts is that because it is your own blood, there is a reduced risk of possible infection.

Ridge Expansion

When your jawbone isn’t wide enough to successfully support your new dental implants in Idaho Falls, we may need to perform what is known as a ridge expansion. Using Versah drills, these specialized instruments make it easy for Dr. Cline to divide the bone so that an inner and outer area is created. We can then fill the wedge with grafting materials to widen the space and create a denser area. Once healed, you will be able to take the next step in your journey toward a complete smile with dental implants.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Despite the latest innovations in dentistry, modern tooth replacement options only last for a few years before needing new ones. Dental implants differ because they are proven to last for 30 years or longer. Their lifespan is influenced by several factors, like a patient’s oral health and lifestyle habits. You can ensure your dental implants last for decades by practicing proper oral hygiene. Besides brushing and flossing, use a mouthwash daily to kill any bacteria lingering in your mouth. Don’t forget to visit your implant dentist in Idaho Falls at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. Your dentist will recommend avoiding anything that might compromise the success of your new smile, like chewing overly hard or sticky foods and using your teeth as tools.

Can I Take Dental Implants Out?

Your jawbone will fuse to your implant posts through a process called osseointegration. As a result, you can’t remove them on your own. Only a dental professional can take them out; however, some implant dentures that can be removed for cleaning.

Are Dental Implants Safe?

If you’re a good candidate for the procedure, dental implants are safe and effective. It’s also important to choose a qualified dentist to perform the procedure. They’ll perform a thorough examination to look for any issues that might cause dental implant failure, like an infection. They’ll resolve any concerns before moving forward with your treatment plan. If you have certain pre-existing conditions, like diabetes, your implant dentist will take extra precautions to safeguard your new smile from any complications. With the right care at home and routine visits to your dentist, your dental implants can thrive for a lifetime.

How Can I Tell If My Dental Implant Is Failing?

Dental implants are the most reliable option to replace lost teeth. They have over a 95% success rate, but they can fail in rare cases. Often, pain around the implant or a feeling that it’s loose is the first indicator of a problem. Inflammation and redness are also red flags. It’s important to contact your dentist at the first sign of a complication. They’ll find the cause of the problem to quickly intervene before your dental implant fails.

What Should I Do If My Dental Implant Feels Loose?

You should call your dentist right away. In some cases, the restoration may be loose or need to be replaced. In severe instances, the dental implant might be failing. Your dentist will create the strategy you need to restabilize your smile.