Missing teeth can ruin your smile and seriously impact your oral health. Dental implants
A dental implant is a dental prosthesis, typically made of metal or porcelain, inserted into the jawbone to support a dental crown matched to the exact shape and color of surrounding teeth. The result is a synthetic tooth that looks and feels natural while maintaining as much stability and resilience as a natural tooth.
Unlike dentures or dental bridges, dental implants are permanent, so you don’t need to take them out to clean them– simply brush and floss your implants as you would your natural teeth!
Sue Baucom
I have always had excellent care at Shallowford Smiles. Everyone is very friendly and makes me feel comfortable. They all know what they are doing and are very good at letting me know what they are doing. I appreciate the text reminders of my appointments also. I can highly recommend Shallowford Smiles and Dr. Wilkerson to everyone.
Isaac
The experience of going to Shallowford Smiles has always been great for me. The staff has always been pleasant & helpful when answering questions. I'm especially grateful for their hygienists (Sarah is awesome!) & how great they are at what they do!
Stacey Ketry
I have severe dental anxiety. This visit almost made me forget I have dental anxiety at all. I have never been more impressed with a dentist or dental office assistant and staff in my entire life. I’m almost looking forward to the upcoming visit and I promise you this, I have NEVER before said that.
Restore Tooth Health
Missing teeth impact more than just your appearance. Tooth gaps leave room for teeth to shift around and become crowded or misaligned. A complete set of healthy teeth is also essential for maintaining face shape and jaw strength. Dental implants restore missing teeth, so you enjoy good oral health for years to come.
Natural Look and Feel
Implants are matched to your unique tooth shape and enamel color for a natural appearance and feel. After a while, you may even forget which tooth is the implant.
Improved Bone Strength
When you lose teeth, the jaw bone will weaken over time. Dental implants are placed directly into the bone, stimulating new bone growth, and restoring the bone structure and jaw strength.
Dental implant restorations
A restoration is the “false tooth” that covers the implant. The implant is not visible when you smile, but the restoration that covers it is what makes it look like you have a new tooth.
- Dental Crown – This is the most common implant restoration, and it covers a single-tooth implant.
- Dental Bridge – A bridge spans the gap in places where multiple teeth in a row are missing. You can replace several teeth with just one or two implants that support a dental bridge. A full implant-supported bridge is an entire arch of upper or lower teeth that are fixed to four or more implants.
- Implant Denture – Give a removable denture more stability by clipping it onto two small implants.
Dental Implants – What to Expect
Consultation and Planning
The first step in your implant process is to come into our Chattanooga dental office for a consultation. Our doctor will begin by checking the health of your teeth and jaw to determine if you’re a good candidate for the dental implant procedure. Next, we’ll plan the placement of the implants using X-rays and imaging. Finally, our doctor will go over the timeline with you, so you’ll know what to expect at each step along your journey.
Implant Placement
Before performing any operation, the doctor will numb your mouth with a local anesthetic to ensure you won’t feel a thing. Next, they’ll make a small incision in your gum to access the jawbone. Using a surgical guide, your doctor will place the implant in the bone. The tissue is then closed over the implant and allowed to heal for a couple of weeks.
Your New Tooth
Once the implant is placed, we’ll allow a few months for the gum tissue to recover and for the bone to fuse with the implant. This process is painless and essential to ensure that the implant is strong and healthy enough to support your new crown. Once the bone has fused to the implant, we’ll schedule an appointment to place the crown. The doctor will attach an abutment to the implant, and then your new crown will be seated on the abutment. The day you have your new crown placed, you can start eating with it and brushing and flossing it, just as you would with a natural tooth.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Cost of dental implants in Chattanooga
In Chattanooga, expect to pay approximately $3,000 – $6,000+ for a single tooth implant. Full-mouth reconstructive dental implants may cost anywhere from $6,000 to $60,000 and up. The cost for a full set of implant-supported dentures averages out to about $30,000. Remember that no dental practice can provide you with an accurate quote over the phone. The dental implant procedure is very complex and depends on many factors that are unique from person to person.
How is the cost of dental implant surgery determined? Here are some important factors:
- The type and number of implants you need.
- The materials and supplies that are used.
- The time and experience of the dental team will be with you every step of the way.
- The location and complexity of the surgery.
- Your recovery time. We will be here for you for as long as you need us.
Every case is different so it’s important to speak with a dentist and to have an oral exam to allow us to evaluate your unique situation and provide you with different treatment options to consider. To get a more accurate quote, you’ll need to come into our Chattanooga dental office for a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
