After a tooth extraction, it’s crucial that you find the best replacement to restore your natural smile. We all know that replacing a missing tooth with the right dental prosthetic can improve your smile’s appearance. But did you know that it can give you a new lease on life? Teeth replacements can promote better oral health, restore your old diet, improve your speech, and boost your self-esteem and confidence. Depending on the restoration you choose, there may be even more benefits you can enjoy, too!

Dental Implants Dental implants are often the tooth replacement of choice for our Bellflower patients if the option is available to them. Made of 3 base parts—an implant, a connecting abutment, and a crown—implants act as an entirely artificial tooth from crown to root.

How Long Is The Implant Process? The implant process is a lengthy one, spread across at least 3 separate surgeries and multiple visits. From your initial consultation to your final crown, your whole dental implant procedure can take between 6 and 12 months. -Consultation Before we get started, you will need to meet with your dentist for an initial consultation. We’ll take a series of comprehensive X-rays during your exam to ensure that you’re an excellent candidate for implants and plan your specific dental implants procedure. -Bone Graft The longer your jaw goes without a tooth, the more your jaw begins to deteriorate. If your jaw isn’t strong enough to support your implant, we will need to replace the missing bone with a bone graft. This surgery allows your jaw to reinforce and regenerate itself. After 3 to 4 months of healing, you will be ready to begin your first implant surgery. -Implant Once your dentist gives you the go-ahead, we will surgically insert the metal post of the implant itself into your jaw. Over the next 4 to 6 months, your mouth will be left alone and monitored as it heals and the implant fuses to the bone in a process called osseointegration. -Abutment After osseointegration is finished, we’ll attach the metal abutment to your implant. The abutment will be used to connect your crown to the implant, keeping the false tooth together. In some cases, the abutment can be attached at the same time as the implant. -Crown Lastly, the crown is connected to the abutment, completing the dental implant tooth's look and function. Any adjustments will be made to ensure the crown's bite is perfect. In the case of implant-supported prosthetics, the prosthetic piece will be attached to the abutment instead of a crown.

What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants? Implants look and behave like a real tooth, and they even have the root of one, unlike dentures. By being surgically attached and inserted into the jaw, your implants promote a healthy and robust jawbone structure. With other tooth replacements, there is a gradual loss of bone over time, which often limits both the effectiveness and durability of the prosthetic as patients' jaws shift and change. That isn't the case with implants. Dental implants can last 20 to 25 years, offering a fixed, stable bite. There are also no food restrictions or special care you have to take into account. Dental implants only further improve your speaking and eating experience, and they’re easy to maintain and clean. By brushing and flossing your teeth regularly and attending your routine dental cleanings, you can get the most out of your implants while enjoying a beautiful and healthy smile.

How Much Are Dental Implants? Your dental implant cost depends on several factors: -Number of teeth being replaced -Type of implant (standard vs mini dental implants, All-on-4 dental implants, implant-supported prosthetics) -Location of tooth or teeth -Dental extraction cost (if the implant process is started immediately) -Bone graft surgery cost (if necessary)

Dentures There are two main types of removable dentures: partial and complete. For patients who only need to replace anything less than a full arch of teeth, your denture dentist will recommend partial dentures. Partials are flexible to your mouth's specific needs, and they can stay perfectly in place by using its gum-pink acrylic base behind your remaining natural teeth. If you need a full-mouth smile restoration, then complete dentures are the choice for you. A complete denture doesn’t rely on existing teeth for stability but instead fits right over your gums and bone. With a perfect fit, your denture will slide on smoothly and comfortably, and it won’t need to rely on adhesive to stay secure. For both partial and complete dentures, your Bellflower prosthodontist can prepare immediate dentures before your dental extraction. These dentures are made weeks in advance using impressions of your smile, allowing you to walk away from your extraction appointment with a brand new smile. These immediate dentures are only temporary, however, because they only last around 2 to 3 months. Your bite will change a lot in the weeks following your extraction, and you will need to have a more permanent denture made.

Can You Wear Dentures 24/7? Although you CAN wear your dentures all hours of the day and night, we highly recommend that you give your mouth a break at night. To stay healthy and strong, your gums and bone should have some time to themselves without your false teeth' constant pressure. Taking your dentures out before you sleep prevents jaw and gum soreness, bacteria buildup leading to bad breath and infection, and a faster rate of jawbone loss. When taking your dentures out at night, you should soak your dentures at night with a denture cleaner solution. This keeps your denture from drying out and helps remove any food or bacteria that even a good toothbrush can’t remove. Once you’re ready to put your false teeth back in the next day, give them a good rinse with running water before popping them in. With great denture maintenance, you’ll ensure that your dentures last for years to come and that your natural smile stays healthy.

Do they make permanent dentures? Permanent dentures are implant supported dentures, securing their dentures on metal implants and abutments to leave your bite more stable without the need for denture glue. These denture implants can improve patients’ speech and eating without worrying about any slipping or sliding. They also keep your jaw stronger and slow down the change in your bite from bone loss, allowing your dentures to last longer. There are also fixed denture implant options, such as All-on-4 dental implants. With All-on-4s, an entire arch of teeth is supported on 4 dental implants and screwed into place. Say goodbye to removing your dentures before you go to bed to soak all night! Plus, not only can you enjoy a beautiful, full smile 24/7, but the maintenance is even simpler. These fixed dentures truly combine the best of both worlds of both dentures and implants.

What Do Dentures Cost? There is a wide range in the cost of dentures. The price is calculated based on these deciding factors: -Materials used -Number of teeth being replaced -Type of denture chosen -Extraction and immediate dentures cost (if applicable)

Here at Bellflower Dental Group, we know the importance of budget-friendly dental care. While dentures can be partially covered by dental insurance, we understand that it may not be enough to meet your budget’s needs. If you need assistance with ensuring you get affordable dentures and implants, our dentists are here to help. Please give our office a call at [NUMBER] to schedule a consultation, and we’ll be more than happy to go over our financing options with you.

What Is Better: Implants or Dentures? Ultimately, the best tooth replacement option for you depends on your specific smile. Dentures are more flexible to your mouth’s particular demands, replacing anywhere between one or all of your teeth with ease. There are also immediate options that allow you to leave our Bellflower dental office with same-day dentures. So for patients on a budget or who don’t want to wait months before they can enjoy the benefits of a restored smile, dentures may be the right choice. However, if you are only replacing one or two teeth, we recommend you get dental implants. Implants are durable, more stable, and don't require any maintenance or recurring denture repair. They're also an overall healthier option for your mouth. They prevent bone loss that can age your face, change your prosthetic's fit, and leave you vulnerable to infection and decay. Implants can also last more than 25 years with proper care. As dentures often need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years, implants' higher prices are incredibly cost-efficient and well worth it.