Get Your Bite Back — Dental Implants That Feel Like Real Teeth in Spokane, WA
When you lose a tooth, your smile isn't the only thing that changes. It can change the way you eat, talk, and feel confident in everyday situations. We have high-quality dental implants at our Spokane office that will make your smile look, feel, and work like it used to, so you can feel like yourself again.
If you are missing one tooth or more, we will help you look into your options and make a plan that works for you.
People are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can't keep up. If you've lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health.
An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium: the same material used in many replacement hips and knees, and a metal that is well-suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.
The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw, and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease.
Why More Spokane Residents Choose Dental Implants
It's easy to see why dental implants have become the most popular way to replace missing teeth. Implants are different from dentures and bridges because they are meant to fuse with your jawbone. This gives them a strong base for a new tooth that looks and works like the real thing.
They not only feel natural, but they also help keep your bones from losing strength and your teeth from moving. That means a stronger bite, better oral health in the long run, and a smile that lasts.
We customize every implant procedure at our Spokane clinic to fit your smile and use safe methods that keep you comfortable the whole time.
What a Dental Implant Really Is
There are three main parts to a dental implant:
- Implant Post – A small titanium screw that goes into your jawbone and acts as the tooth root
- Abutment – A strong link between the post and the crown
- Crown – A tooth that is made just for you and looks and feels like your natural one
These parts work together to make a strong, long-lasting solution that fits in with the rest of your teeth.
The Steps in Our Spokane Implant Process
We made our implant process easy and stress-free:
Step 1: Individualized Consultation
We look at your teeth and jawbone, take scans, and go over your health history to make sure that implants are the right choice for you.
Step 2: Putting in the Implant
The implant post is carefully put into your jaw with the help of local anesthesia. Most patients say they don't feel much pain.
Step 3: Time to Heal
Osseointegration is the process by which your bone and implant naturally fuse together over the next few months. This makes the implant strong and stable over time.
Step 4: Putting on the Crown
After everything has healed, we put on a custom-made crown that matches the shape and color of your smile.
We help you every step of the way and make sure you always know what to expect.
The Advantages of Choosing Implants
People who get dental implants often have:
- A natural look and feel, like real teeth
- Results that last a long time—many implants last 20 years or more
- Better support for teeth next to it and less bone loss
- The ability to eat, smile, and talk without worrying
- A stable and comfortable fit that won't move or slip
We also offer full-arch implant solutions, implant-supported bridges, and single-tooth replacements. All of these use modern tools and methods to get great results.
Single or Multiple Implants
Implants are versatile. If you are only missing one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.
Advantages of dentures or Bridges
Conventional bridges and dentures are not fixed to the bone, and can therefore be unstable. This can make it difficult to eat or smile with confidence. Implants not only look more natural but feel and act more like normal teeth, with a stronger biting force. And because they don't directly rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants don't compromise the health of your natural teeth. In fact, bridges are only expected to last seven to ten years, even less with root canals, whereas implants will typically last a lifetime.
Post-Treatment Care
Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.
Implant Services
Our spokane dental implants services include:
- Sinus Lift Augmentation: Often the sinuses will enlarge following loss of the upper back teeth. This can preclude the placement of dental implants in the upper back areas of the mouth since the sinus is an air-filled space and dental implants need to be surrounded by solid bone. A sinus lift augmentation/graft is a surgical procedure that restores the sinus cavity to its original size, and replaces the bone that has been lost as a result of the enlarged sinus. This new bone graft typically takes nine to 12 months to heal before the dental implants can be placed into the grafted bone.
- Autogenous Bone Grafting: Occasionally, the ideal areas for dental implants do not have sufficient bone quantity to support the implants. In these cases, it is often necessary to “borrow” bone from another area of your mouth and graft it into the deficient area. Often, the area of choice is from the chin or in the back of the jaw where your wisdom teeth used to be.
- Implant Site Development: When a tooth needs to be removed due to infection, it is not uncommon to have lost bone around the infected tooth. In these cases, various types of bone grafting can be done at the same time the tooth is removed to facilitate the placement of a dental implant at a later date.
- Computer-Enhanced Treatment Planning: We have special software on our computer that allows us to evaluate your dental CT scan in three dimensions for bone quality, bone quantity, and bone location, enabling the best possible placement of your dental implants. This also allows us to work closely and smoothly with your restorative dentist to ensure an ideal result where your dental implants are concerned.
- Implant Maintenance: Once your dental implant restoration is completed, it is important to keep the area clean and infection-free. Dental implants can accumulate plaque and tartar just as teeth can. Whether you have just one tooth replaced by an implant or several, a professional cleaning schedule will be necessary to keep your implants healthy. The time interval for these professional cleanings will be determined by your individual needs.
Dental Implant Questions and Answers: What You Should Know
- How long do implants last?
They can last for decades, often 20 years or more, if you take good care of them. - Will the procedure hurt?
Most patients say the pain isn't too bad. We use gentle methods and local anesthesia to make the experience go smoothly. - Can I still get implants if I've been missing teeth for years?
Yes. If you've lost bone, you might need a bone graft, but we'll find out during your exam. - Are implants better than false teeth?
Yes, for a lot of people. Implants are more stable, feel more natural, and help keep your jawbone healthy. - What is the price of implants in Spokane?
Prices depend on what kind of treatment you need. We make our prices clear and offer payment plans to help you feel good about moving forward. - Do implants need special care?
Nope. Like you would with real teeth, brush, floss, and go to the dentist regularly. - Does insurance help pay for it?
Some plans only cover part of the cost. We'll explain your benefits to you and give you a simple estimate. - Is there a limit on age?
Not really. Implants can work at almost any age as long as you are healthy and have enough bone. - How long will it take to heal?
Most people go back to their normal lives within a day or two. It takes a few months for the implant to fully heal and connect with your bone. - Are dental implants safe?
Yes, very much. They are one of the most studied and predictable dental procedures available right now.
Let's Make Your Smile Better — Schedule Your Spokane Dental Implant Consultation Now
You shouldn't let missing teeth stop you from living your life. Our Spokane dental implant team can help you get your smile back with results that look and feel natural and last for years.
Call us today to set up your appointment. Let's work together to fix your smile and get your confidence back, one tooth at a time.
