Dental Implants in Aurora, CO

Serving the Aurora, Centennial, and Parker communities

According to data from the American College of Prosthodontists, nearly 180 million people in this country are missing at least one tooth. Worse yet, about 36 million Americans are missing all their teeth.

If you are one of the many Americans who is dealing with the inconvenience and embarrassment of missing teeth, talk to Dr. John Chen of Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry and Prosthodontics about dental implants in Aurora, CO.

Dental implants are not new and have been used successfully for decades. However, there’s a lot to know about implants, and we’re always more than happy to answer your questions.

Learn more about why Dr. Chen recommends dental implants by calling us now at (303) 627-5755 to arrange a dental implants consultation.

• What are dental implants
• Who are good candidates for dental implants?
• Why are dental implants better than other tooth replacement options?
• How long do dental implants last?
• Are dental implants a healthy tooth replacement?
• Who shouldn’t get dental implants?
• My dentures move and shift. How can dental implants help?
• How do I care for my dental implants?
• Why don’t you do dental implant surgery?
• How can I get started with dental implants?

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is a very small titanium post that is placed surgically in the jaw bone where the missing tooth used to be. We can use implants to replace a single tooth or to replace multiple missing teeth. 

After the implant heals and fuses with surrounding bone and tissue, a connector piece called the abutment is attached to it. The abutment secures a restoration to the implant which becomes the functioning, visible part of your tooth. After we add the restoration, the implant looks, feels, and functions as close to a natural tooth as possible. 

Who are good candidates for dental implants?

If you are considering dental implants to replace one or more missing teeth, you should know that almost anyone who has sufficient periodontal bone is a candidate for dental implants. Scheduling a consultation with Dr. John Chen at Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry and Prosthodontics will allow Dr. Chen will perform a thorough evaluation and let you know if you are a good candidate for one or more dental implants. 

Even if you are not currently a candidate, procedures are available to improve your oral health so you could be a candidate in the future.

You do have choices for tooth replacement, and both bridges and full and partial dentures are still reliable options. However, dental implants allow you to eat the foods you love and enjoy all the activities you would if they were their natural teeth. 

Many patients prefer dental implants because they don't present any of the typical problems associated with dentures. Unlike dentures, your implants won't move or shift, and you can speak, eat, and laugh with confidence. 

How long do dental implants last?

When the implant post is placed in your jaw and left to heal, it gradually becomes one with bone and tissue that surround it. For this reason, implants are said to last a lifetime.

However, the longevity of your dental implant relies heavily on a strong, healthy jaw and disease-free gums. So it’s essential to keep your gums healthy with diligent at-home oral hygiene habits and routine dental exams and cleanings at Uptown Dentistry. During these visits, Dr. Chen and one of our hygienists will inspect your gums to ensure that they stay healthy. 

Are dental implants a healthy tooth replacement?

Dental implants are considered the standard of care for tooth replacement because they are the healthiest option available at this time. While implants restore your appearance and your ability to eat and speak comfortably, there is another benefit to choosing dental implants that most people aren't aware of.

When a healthy tooth root is present in your jaw, chewing and biting actions stimulate the healthy regeneration of the bone that surrounds it. When the tooth and the root are lost, this stimulation stops, and the jawbone begins to break down. You lose about 25 percent of bone in the first year after tooth loss, and the process continues leading to further breakdown and possible loss of neighboring teeth.

This causes the jawbone to shrink, and over time, your face can take on a drawn or sunken appearance that makes you look older than you are. This doesn’t happen with dental implants because they stimulate the jawbone to maintain itself the same as the natural tooth root would.

Who shouldn’t get dental implants?

We do our best to make it possible for anyone who wants dental implants to get them. But there are some cases where we shouldn’t place an implant or where we have to perform additional procedures to make implants a possibility.

• Severe bone loss – When you lose a tooth, the bone in your jaw starts deteriorating and losing mass. A strong, healthy jaw is essential for successful implant placement. If we find that the bone has deteriorated to the point where it cannot support dental implants, we may refer you for a bone grafting procedure.
• Smoking – While smoking doesn’t disqualify you from dental implants, the habit does impair your body’s ability to heal properly. For this reason, smoking impacts the healing process after dental implant placement and significantly reduces the probability of success.
• Chemotherapy – If you have had chemotherapy, it can inhibit the ability of the bone and tissue in your jaw to bond properly with the implant. Depending on how long ago you had chemo, your body may also have a more difficult time healing after implant placement.

If you have concerns about any of these, please call Dr. Chen at Uptown. We can often overcome these problems with specific treatment and proper planning. 

Dental implants in Aurora, CO provide our patients with the option of a permanent set of implant-supported dentures that do not have to be removed. We can stabilize full dentures using four dental implants, which eliminates the worry about dentures that shift unexpectedly. Implant-supported dentures mean dentures that are completely stable. Unlike dentures alone, implant-supported dentures allow you to speak, eat, laugh, and smile confidently again!

Another benefit of implant-supported dentures is that the implants in your jaw stimulate bone regeneration to prevent the sunken facial appearance that's so common when the jawbone deteriorates as it does in the case of traditional dentures.

How do I care for my dental implants?

There is no special care required for dental implants. You can continue to brush and floss and brush as you normally do and be sure to maintain routine appointments for exams and dental cleanings.

The restoration that shows when you smile can’t get cavities, but good gum health is essential because periodontal disease can compromise the stability of the implant itself. 

Why don’t you do dental implant surgery?

Dr. Chen is trained for implant surgery; he has chosen not to place dental implants. He feels that his limited training in this field is not comparable to the training of periodontists and oral surgeons who went through three to six extra years of schooling to perform these procedures. Dr. Chen wants the best results for our patients, so we work with great surgeons in the area.

How can I get started with dental implants?

If you have missing teeth or dentures that don’t fit well and are tired of the struggle, please call Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry and Prosthodontics to learn more about dental implants in Aurora, CO.