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Dental Implants – McMinnville, OR

Tooth Replacement for the 21st-Century

For patients with missing teeth, dental implants simply offer the best of everything. Not only do they look extremely lifelike, but they function just like real teeth as well, allowing a patient to eat whatever they like without their prosthetic shifting. Plus, they’ve been shown to last decades longer than any other treatment, making them a onetime investment for most patients. Dr. Ramsay is able to provide comprehensive dental implants in McMinnville, OR here at Evans Street Dental, so our patients can recover their missing teeth and never have to think about them again. To learn more and schedule a consultation, contact us today.

Why Choose Evans Street Dental for Dental Implants?

What Are Dental Implants?

Closeup of dental implants in McMinnville

A dental implant is essentially a small titanium tooth root that is placed into the jaw to restore one that has gone missing. Titanium is extremely strong and very biocompatible, which means when it’s positioned within the jaw, it actually bonds directly with the surrounding bone. This helps create a strong and reliable foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture that is attached on top. Basically, implants are built just like real teeth, which is why they look and function flawlessly.

4 Step Dental Implant Process

McMinnville implant dentist holding model of dental implants

Unlike other tooth replacement options, rebuilding your smile with dental implants is a multistep process. While every patients’ treatment will be slightly different, you can typically expect steps like an initial consultation, preliminary treatments, implant placement surgery, and final restoration placement. The entire dental implant process usually takes several months to complete, but the end result is a beautiful, comfortable, and long-lasting restoration that is well-worth the wait. During your consultation, we’ll go over your dental implant plan step-by-step and as well as an estimation of your treatment timeline.

Start to Finish Convenience

Closeup of dental implants in McMinnville

While most other dental offices in the area force their dental implant patients to bounce between different specialists to have the procedure completed, Dr. Ramsay has the training and experience to perform every phase of the treatment herself right here at Evans Street Dental. From your initial consultation all the way until you walk out our doors with your renewed smile, you’ll be able to save time and stress every step of the way.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Dentist and patients discuss how dental implants work in McMinnville

The first step of rebuilding your smile with dental implants is to visit your McMinnville implant dentist Dr. Ramsay for a consultation. During this appointment, she’ll discuss your smile goals with you and address any concerns you may have. Then, she’ll review your medical history and carefully inspect your teeth, gums, and jaw to see if you’re a good candidate for dental implants.

Issues like gum disease and lacking jawbone density can cause your dental implants to fail. If needed, she will work with you to create a plan for completing preliminary treatments like PRP/PRF therapy or a bone graft first.

Dental Implant Surgery

Man smiles after getting dental implants in McMinnville

Once your oral health is on track and you’re ready for your new smile, we’ll schedule your surgery. As a highly trained McMinnville implant dentist, Dr. Ramsay can perform every step of your dental implant treatment personally. After numbing your mouth, she’ll make a small incision in your gums. Then, she’ll place an implant post into your jawbone and cover it with a protective cap. This will protect it and maintain the shape of your gums until it’s time to place your abutment and final restoration.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/ Abutment

Woman smiles after getting dental implants in McMinnville

After your dental implant surgery, you’ll need to wait several months for your mouth to heal before we can move onto the next step. During this period, the implant post in your jaw will fuse with the surrounding tissue in a process called osseointegration. Depending on how many implants you need and your healing abilities, it can take anywhere from four to six months for implants to fully integrate into the jaw. Once you’ve healed enough, we’ll place abutments that will anchor your final restorations to the implant posts.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

McMinnville implant dentist placing model dental implants

Once we receive your custom dental crown, bridge, or denture, you’ll return for the last step. Using the abutment pieces, we’ll securely anchor your final restoration into place. After we’ve made sure that your bite feels comfortable, you’ll be all set to enjoy your brand-new smile!

Benefits of Dental Implants

man smiles after getting dental implants in McMinnville

More than 3 million people have dental implants, and hundreds of thousands more are placed each year. Why it is behind their booming popularity? Dental implants rebuild missing teeth from the roots up, so they offer benefits that other forms of tooth replacement simply cannot provide. They are truly the gold standard of tooth replacement.

Lifestyle Benefits

Senior woman enjoying meal with help of her dental implants

Soon after your new teeth are in place, you will begin to experience numerous benefits of dental implants in McMinnville:

  • The freedom to eat anything. A survey of denture wearers found that 34% believed their dentures limited their ability to live life to the fullest. Dental implants are different! They provide a strong bite force that can enable you to eat virtually any food, including hearty meats and fresh vegetables.
  • Drink your favorite hot beverages. Dentures may warp when exposed to hot temperatures, but implant-supported restorations can stand up to coffee, tea, and other hot beverages.
  • Smile confidently. Implants and the prosthetic teeth they support are designed to complement your natural facial characteristics. They look incredibly lifelike!
  • No slippage. You will be able to speak without worrying that your prosthetic teeth will slip out of place.

Health Benefits

Doctor holding heart shape to illustrate cardiovascular health

In addition to benefiting you in your day to day life, dental implants in McMinnville can benefit your overall health in several ways:

  • Jawbone preservation. After you lose a natural tooth, the bone that once supported it begins to deteriorate. Over time, the deterioration can reach the point where your face begins to take on a sunken appearance. Dental implants stimulate the jawbone and help to keep it strong, whole, and shapely.
  • No gum irritation. Implant restorations do not depend on your gums for support, so you shouldn’t have to worry about gum sores.
  • Preservation of natural teeth. Certain forms of tooth replacement, such as dental bridges, require that some of the remaining natural teeth be modified. Dental implants are self-supporting and thereby do not usually require that any of your natural teeth be altered.
  • Benefits for overall health. Research shows that individuals who have lost five or more teeth are at an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular illness, and other conditions. Dental implants support oral health, which is linked to overall health.

Long-Term Benefits

Senior couple brushing teeth, enjoying long-term benefits of dental implants

Did you know that extensive tooth loss is associated with a shortened lifespan? Dental implants replace lost teeth and may help you to live longer. While that is one of their most outstanding benefits, they offer other long-term perks as well, including:

  • Monetary value. Dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime, which makes them a better monetary value than many types of tooth replacement that need to be replaced every few years.
  • High success rate. Even after 10 years, more than 90% of dental implant patients are still enjoying their replacement teeth.
  • Easy maintenance. No one wants to spend a lot of time meticulously cleaning their teeth day after day, month after month, and year after year. Fortunately, caring for dental implants is similar in many ways to caring for natural teeth. Strict oral hygiene and regular visits to your implant dentist in McMinnville are a must.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Woman with dental implants in McMinnville smiling

If you’re ready to replace your missing teeth and have decent oral/overall health, then yes, dental implants are a viable option for you! After meeting with Dr. Ramsay for a consultation, she’ll help you determine which of the following implant options would be best for your needs. If you are not sure which treatment option you should consider or if you are a good candidate for dental implants, keep reading to learn more about the treatment process!

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Implant dentist in McMinnville working with a patient

While more people are eligible to receive dental implants than ever, there are certain requirements that should be met in order to ensure the smoothest and most successful dental implant treatment possible. For example, patients should have:

  • Good overall health – Dental implant treatment is considered a minor surgery. Specifically, the gum tissue is opened so that a titanium post can be placed into the jaw and given time to heal. That means you should good enough general health to complete this process.
  • Good oral health – Those with tooth decay, gum disease, or oral infections need to have these issues handled ahead of time before any surgery can be completed.
  • Thick jawbone tissue – If the jawbone is not thick enough, the implant won’t fuse properly with the jaw. If too much bone is missing, a bone graft will be recommended first.

Missing One Tooth

Closeup of dental implant in McMinnville

A custom-made crown can be positioned between two healthy teeth and held in place using a single implant. Unlike with a traditional bridge, the nearby teeth won’t need to be reshaped at all to make room for the prosthetic, and the crown itself will be color-matched to the rest of the smile. This way, you can expect your new restoration to blend in exactly with your teeth and only you and our team will know that you had it placed.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Closeup of implant bridge in McMinnville being placed

A small number of implant roots can be used to attach a bridge to the jawbone to restore multiple teeth at the same time. This approach gives these prosthetics the stability and longevity simply not possible with removable ones. The implant bridge works similar to a traditional bridge, but as an added bonus, you won’t necessarily need to have a dedicated implant for each tooth you intend to replace. For example, a pair of implants can hold a bridge consisting of three to four crowns.

Missing All Teeth

Diagram of implant dentures in McMinnville being placed

All it takes is just four to six implants placed strategically along the jaw to hold a full denture firmly in place. We’ll do our best to maximize as much bone tissue as possible to reduce the number of implants needed to hold the denture. Unlike a removable denture, an implant denture won’t shift or slide across the gums, leading to a more comfortable fit and much stronger bite to eat your favorite foods. You can also customize the denture to be fixed or removable if you prefer. Partial dentures can also be paired with dental implants if desired.

Learn More About All-On-4 Dental Implants

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Woman smiles after getting dental implants in McMinnville

Will the cost of dental implants in McMinnville fit in your budget? We can help you figure out the answer to that question, but you need to bear in mind that every patient is in a different situation; there simply is no “one size fits all” price that can be given upfront. Yes, it is true that dental implants are more expensive than traditional prosthetics, but they prove to be much more cost-effective in the long run. Luckily, at Evans Street Dental, you’ll have Dr. Ramsay and the rest of our committed team to walk you through the procedure. And because they can perform the start-to-finish process in-house, this allows for greater convenience instead of seeking a referral and paying an outside specialist. Just call us to schedule a consultation, and we can help you find the answers you need to make smart financial decisions for restoring your health.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

A dentist performs dental implant surgery in McMinnville

When meeting with your implant dentist in McMinnville, Dr. Ramsay will examine your smile to determine if you are eligible to schedule your dental implant surgery or if you require preliminary treatments. Bone grafting, periodontal therapy, and tooth extraction are most common, as patients can often have signs of gum disease, tooth decay, and jawbone deterioration. Should you require one or more of these treatments, they will be added to your total cost.

Your dental implant surgery will fortunately be completed in-house, allowing you to remain in one convenient location and pay only our trusted professionals for your treatment. This can make the process much easier and more comfortable.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

A mouth mold that holds an implant bridge on the lower arch in McMinnville

Do you need one dental implant or an entire arch? Do you require short or long implants? Do you want titanium or zirconia? These are all factors that make up the parts of your dental implant. Each unique part comes with a price, and just like cars, there are different makes and models. Various brands and manufacturers create dental implants, and it is up to the dentist as to which company they want to work with.

Most commonly, titanium implants are the ones chosen for a majority of patients, as they are known for their ability to fuse with bone quite well. The location of your implants can determine if you need shorter or longer ones, and of course, how many teeth are missing will determine how many implants you need as well as the type of restoration you will receive.

When meeting for your consultation, Dr. Ramsay will discuss all these components with you to ensure you are fully aware of the cost that comes with dental implants in McMinnville.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

An older woman wearing a purple sweater and pointing to her new smile in McMinnville

It may seem hard to believe that dental implants can actually save you money, but it’s true. This is possible for many reasons:

  • You won’t be buying dental adhesives to keep your prosthetics in place.
  • You won’t need special cleaning solutions to maintain your implants and keep them clean.
  • You won’t require multiple dental appointments throughout your life to undergo regular adjustments and replacements every 5-7 years like you would with dentures or a dental bridge.
  • You can lower your risk for systemic issues by replacing your missing teeth. Instead of forgoing replacement altogether and potentially paying more for health-related treatment associated with diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and more, you can have dental implants put into place and continue to stimulate your jawbone and potentially extend your lifespan.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

A mouth mold with a blue piggy bank on top of it in McMinnville

We gladly accept most insurance plans and will help you claim any benefits that could make paying for your implants easier. Not all plans cover implant surgery (although some will); in those cases, we might still be able to find a way to apply your benefits to other parts of the process, such as certain preliminary treatments, your consultation, or even your customized restoration.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

A man wearing a denim shirt admiring his smile in McMinnville

If you need additional assistance to help make your dental implants more affordable, Evans Street Dental is pleased to work with CareCredit, which is a third-party financier that offers low and no interest payment plans. You can essentially break up the cost of your treatment into monthly installments, allowing you to achieve a healthier smile while remaining well within your budget.

Advanced Dental Implant Procedures

Patient and dentist discussing advanced dental implant procedures in McMinnville

Not everyone who rebuilds their smile with dental implants is a good candidate at first. As soon as a tooth goes missing, the jawbone will begin to deteriorate and shrink away. This is a problem because you need to have adequate jawbone density for your dental implants to be successful. Thankfully, we offer advanced procedures that can help get you ready for your brand-new smile!

Bone Grafting

Implant dentist holds X-rays before bone grafting in McMinnville

After a tooth goes missing, the jawbone that used to support it actually starts to shrink and change shape. Over time, this can make the bone so weak and thin that it cannot be trusted to support a dental implant. But, Dr. Ramsay can build up the bone with a minor procedure called a bone graft. This increases the height and thickness of the bone right where it’s needed so a patient can get an implant and enjoy all the benefits that come with it.

PRP/PRF Therapy

Blood cells representing PRP/PRF Therapy in McMinnville

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), is a substance derived from a patient’s own blood that is rich with innumerable healing proteins and regenerative cells. When applied after dental implant-related surgery, it kicks the body’s natural healing response into overdrive, not only shortening someone’s recovery time but also reducing any inflammation and post-treatment pain. This creates a much more comfortable experience and allows a patient to achieve their final result in much less time.

Maintaining & Caring For Your Dental Implants

A middle-aged man holding a tablet and showing off his new smile that contains dental implants

Keeping your dental implants in optimal condition is the only way you can guarantee that they will continue to have a high success rate (90-95%) after 10 years. It is also the only way you can ensure their longevity and enjoy your smile for a lifetime. Knowing how to maintain your new teeth is key, which is why the team at Evans Street Dental is providing helpful tips and recommendations to help you take better care of your new smile. Not only will you need to commit to better oral hygiene, eating right, and continuing to see our team for regular checkups, but you’ll also want to give up some bad habits and ensure you’re doing everything you can to protect your teeth from injury. Our team is here to help you better understand dental implant care in McMinnville, but if you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

An older woman wearing a white robe brushes her teeth while in her bathroom

No matter how many teeth you have replaced with dental implants, you will need to continue your regular oral hygiene routine. Yes, it is true that implants cannot decay, but your natural, healthy teeth can. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash will help to remove bad bacteria and food particles, keeping your real and artificial teeth looking and feeling their best.

Eat a Healthy Diet

An older couple smiling while at the market buying vegetables

If you’re like most people, you enjoy a good candy bar or bag of potato chips now and then. Unfortunately, too much of a sweet or starchy thing can be extremely bad not only for your waistline but also your smile. Incorporating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, leafy greens, and dairy will help to strengthen regular tooth enamel and improve gum health, both of which are vital for the lifespan of your implants.

Break Bad Habits

A man wearing a button-down shirt and blue tie bites down on the tip of a pen

If you want to avoid a trip to see an emergency dentist, it’s time to break bad habits. Whether it is smoking, chewing on pens and pencils, eating ice, or using your teeth to open packages and containers, all of these can damage your teeth, forcing you to spend valuable time and money fixing your dental implants (and possibly your regular teeth, too). The investment you make by choosing dental implants in McMinnville is costly, so you’ll need to make sure that you take every precaution to avoid practicing bad habits that will only damage and destroy your new smile.

Protect our Dental Implants

An up-close view of a person holding a clear mouthguard

Do you like playing sports? Do you tend to grind your teeth when stressed? If you answered “yes” to either question, make sure to talk to your implant dentist in McMinnville about receiving a customized mouthguard. These uniquely made oral devices make it possible to safeguard your smile and avoid common dental injuries. Because your real and artificial teeth are not indestructible, a hard hit, sudden fall, or excessive wear and tear from grinding or clenching your teeth can cause them to break, chip, fracture, or even fall out. By wearing a mouthguard, you can better protect your smile for longer.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

A woman having her teeth examined by her implant dentist

In addition to the previous tips provided, you’ll also want to make sure you are committed to keeping your regular dental checkups and cleanings. Not only will your dentist want to check for signs of decay and gum disease, but we’ll also review your implants to make sure there are no minor or major problems occurring. These visits will help to keep your smile on the right track for years to come.

Dental Implant FAQs

Man with orange question mark wondering about dental implants in McMinnville

Rebuilding your smile with dental implants is a big decision, so it’s only natural to have some questions that need answers before you’re ready to commit to a treatment plan. Not to worry! During your initial consultation, we’ll walk you through your entire treatment plan step by step, so you’ll know exactly what to expect. In the meantime, we’ve gathered some of the most common questions we get about dental implant treatment below so you can learn more about them. If you don’t see the answers you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Will People Be Able to Tell That I Have Dental Implants?

Your dental implants will be virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth in practically every way. You won’t need to avoid certain foods or feel embarrassed while eating at social events, nor will you need to worry about your new teeth slipping out of place while you talk or laugh. The custom-made restoration that your dental implants support will be made of high-quality dental porcelain and designed to match the rest of your remaining teeth for seamless results.

Do Dental Implants Fail?

Dental implants boast an impressive success rate of over 95% even 10 years after placement. However, as rare as it may be, they can fail. Typically, dental implant failure is the result of an infection in the mouth brought on by poor oral hygiene. If your implant feels loose or if the area around it feels painful or inflamed, give us a call right away so we can get your smile back on track.

How Soon After a Tooth Extraction Can I Get Dental Implants?

If you’re having a tooth extracted, it’s important to replace it as soon as possible. Sometimes, if a patient is in good oral health and has a strong jawbone, an implant can be placed immediately after extraction. However, in most cases, you will need to wait three to six months before your mouth has healed enough to be ready for dental implants.

Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

At Evans Street Dental, patient comfort is a top priority no matter what treatment is being performed, and dental implant surgery is no exception. While the jawbone contains very few nerve endings that can sense pain, we go above and beyond to make sure the entire treatment goes smoothly. Not only will we thoroughly numb your mouth before the surgery, but we offer three types of sedation as well to ensure you are as comfortable and relaxed as possible. However, a majority of patients are pleased to find that getting dental implants is no more uncomfortable or stressful than having a tooth extracted. Some swelling, minor bleeding, and discomfort are natural after the surgery, but should fade within a week or so.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

It is possible for smokers to get dental implants. However, it is important to know that dental implants have a much lower success rate in patients who smoke. Tobacco products leave your mouth vulnerable to infection and can interfere with the integration of your dental implant, both of which can easily cause dental implant failure. Smokers need to quit for at least two or three weeks before their implant surgery and hold off on resuming for at least three months afterward. However, we highly recommend you take this opportunity to kick the habit!

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