Dental Implants – Raleigh, NC

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small screw-like posts that we can surgically insert into the jawbone to replace the missing roots of teeth. They’re made from a biocompatible metal, titanium, that is able to naturally fuse with the jawbone through osseointegration after they are surgically placed.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

With a success rate of over 95% and the potential to last a lifetime, it’s easy to see why dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement. However, the treatment process does involve oral surgery and can take several months to a year or more. Despite the time commitment, the long-term stability and durability of your new teeth make the wait worthwhile. While each patient’s experience is unique, here’s an overview of how dental implants work in Raleigh.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step in every dental implant journey is a consultation with Dr. Hunt. During this visit, she will ask you about your goals and complete a thorough examination of your mouth to determine whether you will be a good candidate for the procedure. Then, she will put together a treatment plan so you know what the process will look like.

Dental Implant Surgery

At Dalton Hunt Dentistry, we perform dental implant surgery in-house, so you can stay with the same trusted team throughout your entire treatment. This ensures a seamless experience and personalized attention at every step. During the procedure, we’ll numb the area and may offer sedation for added comfort. Next, a small incision is made in the gums to place the implant posts securely into the jawbone. Afterward, the gums are closed, and protective caps are placed over the posts to promote healing. This approach allows for efficient, cohesive care from start to finish.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

After your implant surgery, the crucial healing period begins, during which osseointegration occurs. This process involves the implants fusing with your jawbone, creating a stable foundation for your new teeth. Osseointegration is essential for the long-term success of your implants and typically takes several months.

Once complete, you’ll return to our office for a minor procedure where we’ll place abutments (small metal connector pieces) on top of the implants. While you heal from this step over the next few weeks, we’ll craft your final restoration using precise impressions of your mouth, ensuring a perfect fit and natural appearance.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

Finally, you’ll return to our office for the exciting step of placing your dental implant restoration. Depending on your needs, this could be a crown, bridge, or denture. We’ll carefully attach your replacement teeth to the implants and ensure a precise fit. After verifying that your bite is perfectly aligned, you’ll be ready to enjoy the full benefits of your newly restored smile. This final step not only completes your dental implant journey but also gives you the confidence to eat, speak, and smile with ease!

Benefits of Dental Implants

One of the reasons why dental implants in Raleigh are so popular among patients is because they offer a wide range of benefits that allow patients to feel like they have their natural smile back. This includes restorations that will never slip or shift, up to 80 percent restored original bite force, and replacement teeth that both look and feel realistic. They also provide long-term health benefits, as being fused with the jawbone allows them to prevent it from deteriorating with time.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Dental implants are an excellent tooth replacement solution for many patients, as they are able to fill gaps left by one, several, or an entire row of missing teeth. At your consultation, Dr. Hunt and our team will help determine whether your situation is a good fit for this treatment. It is important that you have a healthy smile and adequate jawbone to support the implants, but if you do not currently possess these traits, we can help you get there with preliminary treatments.

Missing One Tooth

For a single missing tooth, Dr. Hunt can secure one dental implant in the gap within the smile below the gumline. Once it has healed and fused with the jawbone, our team can secure a free-standing dental crown to it, completing your arch.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Instead of needing to alter your surrounding teeth to support a traditional dental bridge, we can secure the restoration to two dental implants placed at either side of the gap in your arch. These will secure the bridge in place, filling that space left between two or more consecutive missing teeth.

Missing All of Your Teeth

Instead of investing in traditional dentures that can slip and shift within the mouth when you eat or speak, you can get implant dentures. This treatment involves securing your prosthetic to anywhere between four and eight dental implants below the gumline.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Every dental implant treatment that we complete here at Dalton Hunt Dentistry is custom-tailored to meet patients’ unique needs. For that reason, there is no singular price tag attached to this service. This is largely due to your individual needs. For example, one patient may not require preliminary procedures and need to restore an entire arch of teeth, while another may need a bone graft and only to replace one tooth. That is why, at your consultation, our team will provide you with a detailed cost estimate, along with your payment options, so you know what to expect financially moving forward.