Dental Implants Cincinnati, Ohio

A dental implant is an artificial replacement for a missing tooth root. The implant itself is not the tooth – once the screw becomes one with your jawbone, the tooth is attached to the implant via an abutment.

There are two components to implants, the surgical phase which involves their placement into the jawbone, and the restorative phase which involves the prosthesis (crown, denture, bridge). A general dentist can do both, but often a periodontist or oral surgeon will do the surgical component.

Most patients say the implant procedure was not nearly as bad as they expected. In fact, most will say the tooth extraction was harder to endure than the implant surgery. We at Hardin Advanced Dentistry also offer sedation for the anxious patient.

All implant surgeries will use local anesthesia at minimum. This is no different than what is given during a filling or crown procedure. For the anxious patient or more involved surgeries, sedation is possible through an oral dose of medication or an IV. Read more about sedation dentistry here.

This question is asked a lot and unfortunately there is no good answer because every case is different. At best, a tooth needing an implant can be extracted and the same day an implant can be placed with a temporary tooth attached to the implant. At worst, the implant can be placed and require months to integrate within your jaw bone until the restorative phase can be started. All of your questions and concerns will be answered during your consultation.

Forever is a strong word, but if our teeth can last a lifetime, so can a dental implant. Of course the implants need to be cared for both at home and in the office for routine maintenance. A car would not last forever if the oil was never changed. The same goes for your teeth and implants.

Yes, dental implants look very real, and can be mistakable for a natural tooth. See our gallery for before and after pictures of implants and you’ll be hard pressed to tell which is an implant and which is a real tooth.

Yes, absolutely! We only get two sets of teeth throughout our lifetime that are free. Fortunately with the advent of dental implants, you can buy your third set. Restoring function and esthetics is priceless for most people. Not replacing a lost tooth can be detrimental over time to your other teeth. A space causes the other teeth to shift which will change your bite ultimately leading to tooth wear, periodontal issues, and jaw pain.

Yes! Dental implants are typically made from titanium which is highly compatible with our bodies. Titanium is used by many fields of surgery for joint replacements and for plating broken bones. Dental implants have been around over 50 years with a high success rate.

Some do and some don’t. Typically, the longer the tooth has been missing, the higher chance you have of needing a bone graft. The best time to graft is at the time of the tooth’s removal. If you did not have this done, however, we can still grow bone to place your implants!

Grafting material can come from many sources. It can be harvested from your own body, from a cadaver, from an animal, or as a synthetic material. Each has its pros and cons and can be discussed with your provider at the consultation.