Replace Missing Teeth with Dental Implants in Lake Charles

The loss of a tooth is devastating in many ways. Your ability to comfortably chew and eat the foods you love is compromised and can make daily meals a challenge. You might also feel uncomfortable about smiling or talking to other people if you feel self-conscious about the gap in your smile. The good news is that whether you're missing one or multiple teeth, tooth implants can restore your smile, your confidence, and also your dental health.

Dental implants can provide unparalleled, permanent support to restorations. This treatment involves surgically placing small titanium posts in the jawbone to replace missing tooth roots and uphold a restoration, such as a tooth crown, bridge, or denture. By replacing the entire structure of the tooth, you can achieve improved oral health and a beautiful smile with increased longevity to last you for many years.

Lake Charles dentists, Dr. Edward J. Hebert, and Dr. Scott M. Hannaman can restore your smile with tooth implants whether you are missing just one, or multiple teeth. Even if you were told in the past that dental implants were not a solution for your needs, we encourage you to contact our dental office to schedule an exam with one of our dentists and learn what may be possible for your smile.

• Understanding How Tooth Implants Work
• Choosing the Right Team to Restore Your Smile
• Qualifying for Treatment
• The Treatment Process
• The Benefits of Dental Implants
• Understanding the Investment
• Rebuild Your Smile

How Dental Implants Work

Dental implants are small, threaded posts, typically made from titanium, which is a biocompatible material. After our dentist place these posts in your jaw during a simple surgical procedure, a natural process called osseointegration occurs which allows the metal to fuse with the bone, so your implant actually becomes part of your dental anatomy, taking the place of your tooth root. This process creates a solid foundation for crowns, bridges, or dentures and typically takes anywhere from four to six months.

Dental Implants to Restore Missing & Damaged Teeth 

Your Lake Charles, LA dentists, Dr. Edward J. Hebert, and Dr. Scott M. Hannaman, offer comprehensive treatment for full-size, traditional implants, including preparatory bone grafting, surgical placement of the implants, and restoration. Dr. Hebert and Dr. Hannaman have undergone extensive continuing education in dental implant treatment and can help you achieve the very best results.

We also offer options for dental sedation using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or oral conscious sedation to make your dental implant procedure as comfortable as it can be. You will also find our dental office equipped with leading-edge technology that allows our dentists to place tooth implants with the utmost precision and accuracy to ensure an ideal outcome for you.

When Dental Implants Are Necessary 

Patients who can benefit from dental implants are usually those who are missing one or more teeth, and whose jaw bone density can support implants. Conditions that may disqualify someone from receiving dental implants include:

• Smoking
• Uncontrolled diabetes or heart disease
• Blood disorders
• Immunodeficiency disorders like HIV
• Active periodontal (gum) disease

If you do not have sufficient jawbone strength or space, Drs. Hannaman and Hebert may recommend preparatory procedures such as bone grafting or a sinus lift to help ensure long-lasting results. Our leading-edge technology, such as our cone beam computed tomography (CT) scanner, allows us to determine if you qualify for dental implants and plan the most accurate surgical procedures to help you achieve your goals.

Procedure for Dental Implants in Lake Charles

First, you will undergo an initial consultation so your dentist can conduct an examination and review of your medical history. We can also discuss any preparatory procedures you need to complete first, such as non-surgical periodontal treatment, a bone graft, or tooth extraction. When you come to our office, you can rest assured that we offer all services related to dental implant treatments under one roof for your comfort and convenience. We also use Straumann® implants, which have a 20-year track record of proven results.

To place your dental implants, you will need to undergo two minor procedures in our office. During treatment, we can administer a local anesthetic and sedation to ensure your comfort. Next, one of our dentists will place the dental implants in your jaw. Our computer-guided surgical procedures allow for the most precise implant placement. After your surgery, you will need to let the implants heal and fuse with the bone for roughly four to six months.

Once you have fully healed, your Lake Charles dentist will place your customized abutments on top of the implants during a second procedure. These connector pieces will eventually be the foundation for your dental crown, bridge, or denture. We will then allow your gums to heal around the abutments, a process that usually takes about two weeks. Once your gums fully heal, our team will make highly detailed impressions of your jaw and gums to create your customized restorations.

If you want to benefit from quality dental implants treatment while enjoying the convenience of completing every stage of treatment under one roof, look no further than Drs. Hebert and Hannaman.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants are an advanced restorative option that provides lifelong benefits for your smile and oral health. Implants replace lost tooth roots and provide lifelike support to restorations for a complete, healthy smile. Some of the life-changing advantages afforded by dental implants include:

• Superior support for crowns, bridges, and dentures
• Maximum comfort when chewing and talking
• The look and feel of a natural tooth
• No anxiety or discomfort caused by slipping restorations
• Improved confidence in your smile
• The best longevity of any tooth-replacement option

In addition to providing the highest level of support to dental restorations, tooth implants improve your oral health as a whole. These metal posts replace missing tooth roots and send regenerative signals to the jaw. These signals can prevent the bone loss that is otherwise unavoidable after you lose a tooth. With proper care, your dental implants can continue to improve your oral health for decades, and even the rest of your life.

Investing in Dental Implants 

Choosing tooth implants in Lake Charles, to replace your lost tooth is an investment in both your dental health and your smile. While the cost for tooth implants may be more upfront than other treatment procedures like a dental bridge, it's essential to understand the overall investment. A dental bridge will have to be replaced after ten to twelve years, whereas a dental implant can potentially last for a lifetime with the right home care and consistent routine dental checkups with Dr. Hebert and Dr. Hannaman. This means a dental implant is often a more reliable long-term investment.

Drs. Hebert and Hannaman offer both third-party and in-office financing to work with patients who might want to break the cost of their treatment into convenient monthly payments. We are happy to work with you to help you realize your goal of restoring your smile with a dental implant.

Schedule A Consultation with Our Implant Dentist in Lake Charles!

If you want to benefit from the quality of life that dental implants provide, and enjoy the convenience of completing every stage of implant treatment under one roof, Drs. Hebert and Hannaman can help. Contact our practice online or call us at (337) 474-4892 to learn more about dental implants or to schedule an evaluation.