implants time to heal

If you are looking at dental implants and want the process to be quick, then All-On-4 dental implants may be right for you. All-on-4 implants are also known as Teeth in a Day, and can be placed in a single appointment. All-on-4 implants are a fixed denture that is implant supported typically by 4 dental implants.

How Do All-on-4 Dental Implants Work?

All-on-4 dental implants can provide patients with dental implants in just one visit to our office. The implants are strategically placed in the top and bottom of the mouth. The benefit of this type of implant is that an implant is not needed for every tooth, making the process easier compared to traditional implants. All-on-4 dental implants are reliable and can last for years. During the healing process the implants fuse to the bone and this creates a stable base.

How Does the Healing Process Work?

Many patients wonder how the healing process works with All-on-4 implants compared to other options. The good news is the healing time is quicker with All-on-4 compared to traditional implants. Patients should still plan for a few months of healing as the implants fuse to the jawbone. Patients can experience the benefits of implants, and restore their smile in one day.

Once the implants are placed, we do recommend a liquid diet as the area heals. Patients can slowly incorporate soft foods into their diet, and be careful while chewing. Gradually patients can add normal foods back into their diet as your mouth heals. Patients are required to return for follow up visits to our office. This ensures the implants are healing properly, and allows our doctors to spot any potential issues. We also want to make sure the implants feel comfortable in the mouth, and listen to feedback our patients have about their new smile.

Interested in Finding Out More About All-On-4 Dental Implants?

If you are ready to take that next step towards a beautiful smile, contact Total Implants & Periodontics. Our doctors have years of experience in implant dentistry, and love to give patients a smile they can show off. Dental implants restore confidence, and allow you to speak and eat normally. Implants are life changing, and can help you feel better about yourself and your smile. Let our team help you move towards that smile you have always wanted!

To schedule your implant consultation, or to find out more about the benefits of All-on-4 dental implants, contact Total Implants & Periodontics, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.

dental implant

If you have been using dentures for years and are ready for a change, dental implants may be the perfect solution. You may be wondering if you can switch from dentures to implants, and the good news is that this is an option. Many patients get frustrated with dentures, but in the beginning they were the easier choice. Dentures are easier to get and do not require the recovery time that implants require. Cost is much lower and this attracts patients to dentures.

Patients tend to get frustrated with dentures over time, and do not like the slipping or clicking that comes with them. Dentures have to be taken out and cleaned, adding another item to your oral hygiene routine. Over time our faces tend to sag, and dentures do not provide the support that implants do.

Why Should I Switch to Dental Implants?

Dental implants can improve your dental health, and can give you a better quality of life. Implants are permanent and last for years restoring your smile. Patients do not have to worry about slipping or clicking, and can eat the foods they love without worrying their device will fall out. Implants are comfortable and feel like natural teeth. You don’t have to worry about sore spots or raw gums, and patients can feel confident around others.

Taking care of dental implants is similar to caring for your natural teeth. Following a good oral hygiene routine at home can ensure your dental implants always look and feel great. You will feel like you have your natural teeth again with dental implants.

Is Bone Grafting Needed?

In some cases when patients switch from dentures to implants, they may need a bone graft. Over time your jawbone shrinks, and you may not have enough bone to support the implants. As part of the evaluation, we will check to see if you have sufficient bone in the jaw. If needed bone grafting can be done to provide the support needed prior to you starting the implant process. The recovery period for a bone graft is a few months, and this can vary between patients.

Ready to Find Out More About Switching to Dental Implants?

The majority of patients are great candidates for dental implants, and our team at Total Implants & Periodontics, strives to help patients achieve a smile they love. You don’t have to suffer with dentures, and implants can give you a permanent solution that lasts for years.

Our doctors have years of experience in implant dentistry, and we love to help patients achieve the smile of their dreams. Let our team at Total Implants & Periodontics help you start the implant process today!

To schedule your implant consultation contact Total Implants & Periodontics, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.

People with Gum Disease

Gum disease is a serious problem, and if not addressed can cause many different health issues in the future. One of the most important things in life is to take care of your teeth and gums. Our mouths are linked to many other parts of our body, and the health of the oral cavity is important in keeping your body healthy.

We are proactive about your oral health. Attending regular visits to our office for your exam can prevent serious issues, and allows our team to monitor your oral health. Gum disease should never ben left untreated. If you think you may have gum disease or inflammation, we encourage you to contact our office.

Is There a Link Between Gum Disease and Risk of Death?

Gum disease involves inflammation and infection. This requires your immune system to attack the infection and work overtime. The constant inflammation can cause damage to your body over time. Inflammation is dangerous and is linked to cancer and other medical conditions. Medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes are serious, and can develop in patients that suffer from gum disease.

Our teeth are used for eating and allow us to consume nutrition. If you are missing your teeth due to gum disease, you may miss out on the vital nutrition needed to stay healthy. Patients that can not eat normally may resort to foods or drinks that are not as healthy, or have a higher sugar content.

The best way to prolong your life is to keep your body healthy. This starts with prevention and good oral and overall hygiene. Brushing and flossing each day along with visiting your dentist can get in front or any issues with gum disease early, and prevent future medical conditions that may jeopardize your life.

Dentist X offers many periodontal treatments as well as tooth replacement, and restoration options for our patients. Take charge of your oral health and schedule your consultation today. We will give you thorough exam, and create a customized treatment plan that works for you.

Our facility provides a comfortable and relaxing setting using state of the art technology. Our doctor shave years of experience in periodontics and restoration, and can help restore your smile.

Let us help you take charge of your oral health and get you on the road to healthier gums!

Interested in Finding Out More?

If you think you may have the start of gum disease, or would like to find out more information on gum disease treatments, contact Total Implants & Periodontics, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.

Water Flosser

If you suffer from periodontal disease good oral hygiene is extremely important at home. If a patient has periodontal disease, they may have periodontal pockets which are areas under the gum where bacteria can collect over time. This can cause inflammation, infection, bone, and tooth loss.

At Total Implants & Periodontics, we provide many periodontal services for patients that have periodontal disease. Scheduling a consultation in our office allows our doctors to look at your teeth and gums, and determine the best course of treatment. Depending on the severity of your gums, will determine what treatment is needed.

Can Using a Water Flosser Help?

If you have periodontal disease traditional cleaning methods at home can not reach the bacteria properly. These methods are not able to clean deeply enough where the gums are inflamed. To help your oral hygiene routine at home and treat periodontal disease, using a water flosser can make a difference. Water flossers are easy to use and can reach up to 90% of your gum pocket.

A water flosser can remove plaque and improve your gum health. The flosser has a soft rubber tip that is gentle and does not irritate the gums. If you have severe periodontal pockets, we may recommend gum surgery in our office. Our periodontal pocket reduction procedures help to remove bacteria from those deep pockets, and eliminate areas where bacteria can collect in the future. Our procedures also promote healthy bone growth.

We recommend scheduling a consultation in our office for an exam to determine what treatment is best for you. During your consultation our staff will take x-rays, discuss your health history, and create a customized treatment plan. This allows the patient to ask any questions, and discuss concerns they may have with our team.

If you notice inflammation or have receding gums this should be treated. Gum recession that is left untreated can develop into more serious issues in the future.

Interested in finding Out More?

If you are interested in finding out more about treating periodontal disease at home, or what in-office treatments are available, please contact Total Implants & Periodontics, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.

Dental Implant

Patients that choose to move forward with the dental implant process wonder how painful the procedure will be. Dental implants look and feel natural in the mouth, and are a great restorative solution for those that have missing, cracked, or broken teeth. Our customized treatment plans work for each patient’s needs, and we work closely with our patients every step of the way.

Overall, the implant process is not painful. Many patients say that the dental implant process is less painful than having a tooth pulled. To keep patients comfortable we use local anesthesia and numb the gums around the implant area. Our team also checks to make sure each patient has enough bone present in their jaw to support their new implants. If necessary, bone grafting can be done to give patients the bone required in their jaw. This is an extra step in the process and does require additional healing.

How Is the Implant Healing Process?

The healing process for dental implants takes between 4-6 months. Antibiotics may be recommended to patients, as well as pain relievers to help with the healing process.

After Your Implant Procedure You May Have the Following

  • Minor bleeding that should subside after a day or two.
  • Minor swelling or bruising around the face and implant area.
  • Some pain or sensitivity around the implant area.

If patients notice any pain, swelling, or bleeding that does not subside, or gets progressively worse we encourage you to contact our office immediately. You will need to be seen in our office as soon as possible. During the healing process soft foods are recommended, and patients should stay away from foods or drinks that may stain your teeth.

Dental implants can last up to 25 years or a lifetime if they are cared for properly. The pain associated with the dental implant process can be kept at a minimum by following the at home care instructions. Implants are a great choice for patients seeking a beautiful smile that is permanent and will last for years.

Interested in Finding Out More?

To find out more, scheduling your implant consultation is the first step towards a beautiful smile. Our team is available to answer any questions, and our detailed consultation process allows our team to take a close look at your mouth and teeth. We will build a customized treatment plan and get you on the road to a beautiful smile.

To schedule your implant consultation contact our office, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you!

What Is Soft Tissue Grafting

Whether for the replacement of one or more teeth, implants represent one of the greatest advances of the last decades in the field of dentistry, offering the possibility of fixing crowns or dental prostheses to the jaws permanently.

The most commonly used implants are cylindrical screws made of titanium. They are inserted into the jaw bone and serve as artificial tooth roots to support crowns, bridges and other partial or complete dentures.

However, in some cases, patients may need to get a bone graft prior to getting an implant. This article will explore that relationship between the two. 

What Are Dental Implants
The Benefits of Dental Implants
  • Implants restore the aesthetics and comfort of natural teeth. 
  • They allow to find a chewing promoting normal digestion. 
  • They preserve the jaw bone and prevent premature aging of the face. 
  • It’s a long-term solution. 
  • Implants help restore confidence and self-esteem. 

Who are Dental Implants For?

Implants are an excellent solution for patients with the following characteristics:

  • A healthy general health profile
  • Healthy gums

However, a sufficient amount of bone to support the implants is necessary. If there was atrophy of the jawbone, bone grafting may be necessary before receiving the implants.

Additionally, dental implants are only installed in patients with facial skeleton growth, usually at 18 years of age. However, there is no age limit for receiving implants.

Your periodontist, Dr. Samir Patel will be able to confirm that you are a good candidate to receive implants during a consultation.

Dr. Patel gave me so much comfort and assurance to relieve my anxiety of having dental surgery (bone graft). He has compassion in caring for his patients that leads to relaxing and trusting him completely. His staff made me feel welcome with a very caring and personable attitude. Dr. Patel and his staff are an amazing team together. I would highly recommend Dr. Patel and his staff. You won't be disappointed.

Total Implants 09949

Meet Dr. Samir Patel !

Our Fort Mill periodontist, Dr. Samir Patel, has extensive education & experience in the field of periodontics!

Do Dental Implants Hurt?

The placement of an implant is done under local anesthesia and is not painful.

An intravenous sedation can be administered to reduce anxiety and ensure relaxation and comfort during implant placement.

What is Bone Grafting?

Minimal bone volume is required for implant placement. This bone could be lost over the years where the teeth are missing.

When the amount of bone is insufficient, it becomes necessary to proceed to increase by bone graft.

Modern techniques now make bone regeneration possible, allowing us to perform implant placement after healing.

What is the Process of Getting Dental Implants?

Replacing missing teeth with implants is a procedure that is done in different stages over a period of a few months.

These steps include:

  • An assessment of the patient (clinical examination, x-rays, medical history, etc.). Treatments are planned and coordinated with your dentist
  • Of interventions prior such as extractions or bone grafts are planned only if necessary
  • The placement of one or more implants in the jaw bone (the implant will need a period of 3 to 6 months to bind firmly to the bone)
  • The installation of a prosthesis on the implant (s) (crown, bridge or other type of dental prosthesis)

What Can I Expect After Treatment?

The treatment steps could vary greatly from one patient to another. Your surgeon will meet you first for an initial consultation during which he will be able to confirm the treatment schedule.

For a majority of patients, only one surgical step will be necessary. A healing period of 3 to 6 months is expected (period when the implant merges with the bone). During this time, it will be possible to wear a temporary prosthesis to replace the missing tooth(s). In some cases, it is even possible to extract the teeth, place the implants and put in the mouth a prosthesis fixed to the implants in a few hours.

Questions? Contact our Periodontist in Fort Mill!

Our periodontist in Fort Mill, Dr. Samir Patel, is experienced in providing both dental implants & bone grafts in Fort Mill, SC! If you have any questions about bone grafts or dental implants — or are looking to schedule an appointment — please don’t hesitate to reach out to our friendly staff! We look forward to treating you and your family.