Do you find yourself smiling with your mouth closed or covering your mouth when you laugh due to missing or severely decayed teeth? Missing and failing teeth can impact your quality of life from how you interact with others to the foods you eat and the health of your mouth and jaw. But you deserve better than that! If you need to replace teeth, our dentists, Drs. Dustin and Kenneth Rabine, offer the leading tooth replacement solution—dental implants. Considered the gold standard in replacing missing teeth, dental implants mimic natural teeth from the root under the gumline to the crown that shows when you smile. If you’re interested in getting more information on dental implants, then read more below!
Dental implants are modern tooth replacement solutions composed of three parts. The top is a dental crown that provides aesthetics in your smile as well as biting and chewing ability. Under the crown is a small abutment piece that connects the crown to the final piece. Last but surely not least, is the dental implant post, which is a titanium “screw” that is inserted into your jawbone and firmly holds your new tooth in place. Once all three pieces are put together, you’ll have a permanent and natural looking smile again—and most people will never know you have a replacement tooth!
While dental implants are one of the best solutions for those with missing or failing teeth, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Your teeth and mouth are unique just to you, so our doctors will have to customize each treatment plan towards your needs. With nearly five decades of combined experience, both our dentists are experienced in placement and restoration of dental implants to give you the most successful results. Contrary to popular belief, the surgery is typically not painful and thanks to our detailed process and advanced technology, you’ll be able to enjoy a brand-new smile in no time! We begin every dental implant procedure with a private consultation to discuss your needs, wants, and goals, as well as to let our doctors fully understand your oral and overall health.
After the consultation, we will use our advanced KaVo OP 3D cone beam CT scanner to capture highly detailed digital images of your mouth and jaw. This shows our doctors the amount of jawbone volume you have, position of tooth roots and the location of any nerves in your jaw. We use this information to plan your implant surgery beforehand. On the day of surgery, you will be sedated with nitrous oxide and your jaw numbed with local anesthetic. Our doctors will carefully place the implant post into the precise location of your jaw. Once the implant heals over the course of a few months, it can be permanently restored with a durable and lifelike dental crown!
During the consultation and evaluation of your mouth and overall health, we may determine that you require preliminary treatments before we can begin dental implant surgery. These treatments are used to ensure your implant’s success and longevity throughout your lifetime.
Since dental implants are tooth replacement solutions, we will need to remove your failing, broken or diseased tooth first before we can place the implant post. In some cases, we will need to restore bone volume to this area before implants can be placed and in other situations, we may be able to place the implant the same day as your extraction!
Your jawbone is what supports your dental implant and holds it firmly in place. It is important to have adequate bone volume before placement to ensure success. Bone grafting allows our doctors to restore lost bone to help you qualify for implant placement.
Having a healthy oral environment is key to immediate and long-term implant longevity. If you are affected by gum disease, treating the infection first is a priority in order to allow for proper healing and prevent additional infection. We offer gentle gum disease treatment that can get you ready for implants as soon as possible.
When it comes to receiving dental implants, choosing a team that is experienced, modern and compassionate matters most. At Rabine Family Dentistry, Drs. Dustin and Kenneth Rabine have nearly 50 years of combined experience. We work hand-in-hand with you to achieve your dream smile and strive to make the treatment as seamless and painless as possible. If you or a loved one needs tooth replacement, schedule an appointment with our team in Shelton, CT today and discover how dental implants can help!
865 River Road,
Shelton, CT, 06484