The side effects of living with a missing tooth or teeth can seriously interrupt your daily life, from difficulty chewing to trouble speaking. In the recent past, there were limited options available if you were looking for a solution for your smile. However, modern dental implants have been a game-changer! For nearly fifty years, implants have been the standard of care in providing a safe, long-lasting way to restore your natural smile.

Lets take a look at what you need to know about dental implants and how they can help enhance the appearance of your mouth and your smile, make it easier for you to eat what you want, and even improve your speech.

Dental implants are appliances used to replace a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, a floppy denture, or an entire upper or lower arch. They are crafted from titanium alloy, a material that has high compatibility with the body. The implants are placed in the jaw by a qualified dental professional and anchor the new teeth in place.

Once the implant area has healed, your dental team will take digital scans of your teeth or conventional impressions to create a replica of your mouth. This is then used to fabricate a small connector called an abutment that is attached to the implant to hold the new tooth. The new tooth, also known as a crown, is then attached to the abutment. Crowns are designed to look as natural as your own teeth, including the color and shape, so theyre able to blend with your natural smile.

An experienced, trained dentist will create a customized treatment plan if you are a good candidate for implants. This plan will document all aspects of care, including the surgical and restorative implant phases. In most cases, you will not need to visit multiple doctors to complete the process.

A dental implant procedure normally happens in three separate phases: the initial placement, impression, and delivery of the final tooth abutment and crown. Because every case is different and each patient responds to treatment in their own way, the length of the process can range from 3 months to 9 months, especially if bone grafting is necessary due to bone loss. While this may seem lengthy, the long-term success of implants actually depends on giving your body adequate time to heal and accept the implant before concluding treatment.

Once you decide that you want dental implant treatment, a dentist will examine the bone structure around the missing tooth or teeth by taking a CBCT, which is a 3D scan of your jaws. If the tooth is only partially gone, the remaining tooth structure will be removed at the time of the procedure. The proper bone height, width, and density are necessary to properly place an implant in the best location to provide a final outcome similar in appearance to a natural tooth. If there is not adequate bone, then grafting may be required prior to placing the implant. Grafting is a bit like spackling, so if this is necessary, you will need to wait a few months for the area to heal before moving on to the second phase. If bone grafting is not required, Phase Two could be initiated within the same session.

During this stage of the treatment process, the dental implant will be inserted into the assigned location based on digital planning with the 3D CBCT scan prior to the surgery. This procedure usually lasts around 1-2 hours, and youll need to let the area heal for a few months. You will be scheduled for regular check-ups with your dentist during this period.

This final phase is known as implant restoration. Depending on which best fits your individual needs, your dentist will restore either a natural-looking dental crown on top of the abutment which is attached to the implant itself or a sturdy fixed bridge to the implant posts. If you need a full arch replacement or your denture replaced, then the entire teeth restoration will be attached to the implants. Regardless of the specific situation, your implants are the closest things possible to natural teeth, restoring functionality and greatly improving the appearance of your smile!

If a missing tooth isnt bothering you too much, you may wonder if theres any reason to replace it. The truth is that sudden changes in your bite, including missing teeth, can result in other issues, including crowding, gaps between the teeth, or bone loss. When a tooth is missing, the other teeth along the same gum line will begin to shift inward to close the gap left behind by the missing tooth. This can alter the way your top and bottom rows of teeth fit together and also affects the long-term health with the bone loss around the adjacent teeth.

Like many things in life, minor dental issues can become major problems if left untreated over time. For this reason, you should replace a missing or partially missing tooth as soon as possible. This can help prevent you from dealing with the time and expense of major reconstructive dental work in the future.

Unlike other options, a dental implant replaces the entire tooth, up to and including the root. In its capacity to function like a natural tooth, an implant can offer many advantages over alternatives. These include:

Stops Bone Loss After a tooth is lost or pulled, the jawbone shrinks, which affects the adjacent teeth negatively. Placing an implant in the missing space prevents the bone from continuing to be lost over the years. This is a HUGE benefit!

Feel and Look Natural The most significant benefit is that you will be able to eat what you want with a confident smile! Youll never have to worry about food getting under partials or your dentures moving around. Additionally, having all your back teeth allows for the proper chewing and mastication of your food and takes the stress off your front teeth, keeping them from wearing down prematurely.

Natural Appearance Dental implants are designed to look and feel like a natural tooth. Crowns can also be made with all-ceramic materials that match the appearance of your natural teeth. When you smile, no one will even notice that theyre not your real teeth!

Improved Oral and Digestive Health Because it seamlessly integrates into the jawbone, a dental implant wont increase your risk for tooth decay or sensitivity like dental bridges sometimes can. Being able to chew your food properly with all your teeth also allows for better digestion and fewer digestive complications.

Improved Jawbone Strength Since they dont rely on support from the adjacent teeth, dental implants can keep your jawbone strong, and because its needed to support the implant, no bone loss of the jawbone will occur, either.

Following a dental implant procedure, some slight discomfort and inflammation for a few days after the area heals is normal and to be expected. Dental lasers can be used before, during, and after the procedure, minimizing inflammation and discomfort for a better experience. Applying ice packs will help reduce any residual swelling along with properly taking any medication that is prescribed. A soft diet will help minimize the amount of chewing you have to do after the procedure has been completed for a few weeks to give your mouth a chance to heal.

Its important to care for and maintain your dental implants the same way you would your natural teeth. You should brush twice a day, for at least two minutes each time, and floss every night. A consistent dental routine will help ensure the longevity of your implants and maximize your investment. You should also visit your dentist for regular hygiene cleanings and oral cancer screenings every six months.

While it will depend somewhat on your age, your overall oral health, and a few other factors, dental implants will typically last a very long time. Compared to other teeth replacement options, implants have an established track record of long-term stability. By scheduling regular check-ups and maintaining an excellent oral hygiene routine at home, you can help ensure your implant or implants will stay strong and healthy for years to come.

Dental implants can be a permanent solution for missing or partially missing teeth. Once youve completed the process, they really are no different from your own teeth in the way they function and look. Unlike dentures, partials, or bridges, which can sometimes contribute to the bone and tissue degrading over time, implants help to keep the bone and gum tissue healthy and strong.

These include porcelain bridges, fillings, laser dentistry, crowns, night guards, TMD/TMJ treatments and so much more. Dr. Ford Gatgens also takes on patients that have overall health issues that might coincide with their dental health like snoring, sleep apnea and a wide variety of periodontal treatments like cancer, osteoporosis and heart disease. We really are your premiere dentist in Dickson TN.

The Interfaith Dental Clinic is a 501(c)(3) program founded to bring people of all faiths together in a healing ministry, serving the working poor and the elderly through quality, affordable, comprehensive dental care.

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Continuous learning is a lifelong passion for Dr. Gatgens and he and his team regularly attend continuing education courses to ensure they have the knowledge and training to offer to best quality dentistry for their patients.

In 2014 Dr Gatgens completed a fellowship with the WCLI World Class Laser Institute where he took an additional 50 hours of CE in laser dentistry, completed a written and verbal test, and presented two cases displaying clinical competency.

He uses his knowledge of lasers to help his patients receive the best outcomes possible in all areas of dentistry. In addition he enjoys lecturing to students at University of Tennessee College of Dentistry regarding lasers and their use in the dental field.

Dr. Ford Gatgens graduated from the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry in 2006 and completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at the University of Tennessee, which focused on comprehensive dentistry and implant placement and restoration.

You'll always get the most up-to-date care because Dr. Gatgens prioritizes his continuing education. In 2019 he completed a 300-hour comprehensive course on implants, surgery, and grafting with the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID).

Smile Source dentists are committed to education and delivering the highest quality dental care to their patients. He helps mentor other dentists so they can reach their potential and have practices that are helping many patients achieve their oral health goals.

In October 2014 they went on a medical mission trip to the countries of Kenya and Tanzania in Africa where they helped others receive medical and dental care while also spreading Gods love to the tribal people.

Dr. Alison Wilson was born in Nassau, Bahamas to Jamaican parents and was raised in Nashville, TN. As a child, Dr. Wilson dreamed of being everything from an artist to a flight attendant. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Biology from Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL.

Dr. Wilson loves that Dickson is experiencing rapid growth and the diversity and experiences that it brings. She loves the team at Accent Smile Center, where she is known for her tenacity and efficiency as well as her infectious laugh and bubbly, warm personality.