Dental Implants

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Dental implants are a sought-after treatment because they provide a natural, stable option for replacing teeth. Tooth implants last longer and often look better than other tooth replacement alternatives.

However, many dentists who offer dental implants don’t specialize in prosthodontics. As the only board-certified prosthodontists in the Brentwood area, our dentists can handle simple to complex cases. We simplify the process, no matter how complex.

Find out more about dental implants or call today for a consultation.

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Living with Missing Teeth

As your local prosthodontist, we know just how hard living with missing teeth can be. Failing to replace your teeth can lead to issues with function and confidence in your smile.

Functional Concerns

There are many functional issues that come from tooth loss, whether it be sudden or caused by disease progression. If you are missing one or more teeth, you may notice that you have:

  • Jaw pain
  • Increased infections near tooth gaps
  • A harder time chewing and digesting food
  • Gum irritation or disease
  • Changed speech patterns

When we place implants, we can holistically address these functional issues. We will treat remaining gum health concerns, infections, and irritation before placing the implants. Your new implants will act as natural teeth, helping you chew and speak comfortably once again.

Aesthetic Concerns

Your smile is an essential part of you, so if you feel shy to show it off because of gaps in your smile, it can seriously affect your life. You may notice that you feel less confident or that you are constantly hiding your smile. Lack of jawbone support can even cause facial sagging. We take the cosmetic side of missing teeth just as seriously as the functional side.

While implants feel like natural teeth, they also look like natural teeth. Implants fill the gaps in your smile permanently, and the restorations are stain-resistant and durable.

For every implant, we create a natural tooth color that matches the surrounding healthy teeth, and for more than one implant, we also match your gum color.

The Risks of Waiting to Replace Your Teeth

While there are functional and aesthetic concerns to missing teeth, there are also oral health concerns. When you lose a tooth root, it actually leads to a decrease in bone density in your jaw over time. This jawbone loss can lead to more tooth loss in serious cases; however, in many cases, it just makes implants harder to place and can cause facial sagging or pain.

The longer you wait, the more likely it is that your jawbone will decrease in density. If you wait too long, dental implants will be harder to receive and might require a bone graft beforehand.

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What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

Dental implants may not be right for every patient, but they do work well for many people with damaged or missing teeth. 

Even patients who don’t have enough jawbone density to support implants can see our implant specialists for help. 

While other options, such as dental bridges or traditional dentures, can work for some people, dental implants have many specific benefits. These include that tooth implants are:

Dental implants often last a lifetime, while options like bridges need to be replaced every decade or so.

Tooth implants look very natural. The replacement tooth is matched to the exact shade of your smile.

Because the implant post functions like a tooth root, dental implants are extremely durable, ensuring full functionality and strength.

For these reasons, dental implants are popular with many patients and recommended by many dentists. Our dental team will devise an individualized treatment plan to find the right replacement tooth options for you.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants are a long-lasting and natural-looking solution for replacing missing teeth, designed to mimic both the structure and function of natural teeth. Our process often looks like this:

Dental implant illustration

This titanium post is surgically placed into the jawbone by a specialist, creating a stable and durable foundation for the restoration. Over time, the post undergoes a process called osseointegration, where it fuses with the jawbone, creating a stable and durable foundation for the replacement tooth.

Once the implant post has healed and integrated with the bone, a small connector piece called an abutment is attached to the top of the post. This abutment acts as a bridge between the implant post and the replacement tooth.

The final component is the visible replacement tooth, often made from zirconia for a natural appearance. Depending on the patient’s needs, this may be a single crown, a dental bridge, or part of a larger prosthetic like implant-supported dentures.

Caring for implants is similar to caring for natural teeth. Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush, floss regularly, and use any tools recommended by your dentist to clean around the implant. It’s important to maintain regular checkups and professional cleanings to ensure your implants and surrounding gums stay healthy. Avoid smoking and protect your implant from damage by wearing a night guard if you grind your teeth. With consistent care, your implant restoration can last up to 15 years, and your implant a lifetime.

At Middle Tennessee Prosthodontics, we provide dental implant services for patients with varying needs. Some people only need one implant, while others need all their teeth replaced. We offer advanced options, such as implant-supported dentures and more.

Start the Process with a Consultation

We recommend that if you are interested in replacing a tooth, you visit our office for a consultation with us. This consultation will help us advise you on what kinds of implants would work best in your smile. We can also tell you about the process, give you cost estimates, and discuss any concerns you may have.

We love to get to know our patients, so this consultation isn’t just practical, but helps you feel relaxed and helps us meet you. If you have severe dental anxieties, we can also talk about comfort options such as sedation.

Implant Restorations We Offer

At Middle Tennessee Prosthodontics, we restore the entire spectrum of dental implants and restorations to meet a variety of needs. Our services include:

This is a classic implant, with a single post and a single custom crown restoration. You can have just one placed, or you can have several placed throughout your mouth. However, if you need to replace more than 2 teeth in an area, we have implant bridges for that.

Replace multiple missing teeth in a row with a stable, durable solution. This system uses at least two implants to replace 3 or more teeth in a row. This reduces the number of implants needed while still providing a comfortable solution. You can keep the remaining teeth healthy around the implant bridge.

These restore an entire arch of your smile, and can be snap-ons (also called telescopic implants) or permanently attached to your implants. These provide additional security for your jawbone, but also prevent your dentures from slipping or chafing.

We also offer teeth in a day, which is an accelerated way to replace either a single arch of teeth or your entire smile. We place implants and then permanent dentures over them all in one visit, so your cosmetics and functionality are immediately enhanced.

No matter your needs, our team delivers custom-designed restorations to restore your smile’s function, appearance, and confidence.

Why Visit Dr. McLaughlin for Your New Teeth?

Dr. McLaughlin and his team are all highly trained. Not only that, they are excited to work with you to create your smile. Our office works together closely to bring you a custom experience where you can create the smile you want.

Implants and the custom restorations needed take years of specialized training, which is why we invite you to visit our office of prosthodontists. We offer care right where you need it. Our office is the only prosthodontics office in the Nashville area, making us a top choice for tooth replacement.

The Benefits of a Prosthodontist

All of our dentists at our office are prosthodontists, who have special training when it comes to tooth restoration and replacement. Here are many of the advantages of visiting a prosthodontist:

  • Advanced Training in Restorations: Prosthodontists complete years of additional education focused on restoring missing teeth with precision and artistry.
  • Expertise in Complex Cases: From single-tooth replacement to full-arch restorations, prosthodontists are uniquely equipped to manage challenging treatment plans.
  • Precision in Fit and Function: Every implant restoration is crafted to ensure a comfortable bite, natural appearance, and long-term stability.
  • Customized Aesthetic Results: Prosthodontists consider facial structure, bite alignment, and smile design to create lifelike results that blend seamlessly.
  • Collaborative Care: We work closely with trusted surgical specialists to ensure each step of your implant process supports both health and aesthetics.
  • Focus on Long-Term Success: With meticulous planning and attention to detail, prosthodontists design restorations built to last and function beautifully over time.
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Dental Sedation OPTIONS

We offer 2 kinds of sedation dentistry for your comfort during any implant procedure. We can discuss your options and preferences during your implant consultation. Some people don’t need sedation, but it can help with anxiety or gag reflexes while we do any implant procedures.

  • Nitrous Oxide: This is also called laughing gas, and is inhaled through the nose while we work on your teeth. It has a light, calming effect and doesn’t put you to sleep.
  • IV Sedation: This is used for more intense surgical procedures, such as implant placement. You will fall entirely asleep when using this.

Our office works with anesthesia professionals to make sure that your anesthesia is administered in the right doses and that you are safe and healthy throughout any procedure.

Implant Dentistry FAQs

The full implant process can take several months from start to finish. This includes the time needed for healing and integration of the implant post before your final restoration is placed. For some patients, we may offer same-day solutions like Teeth in a Day when clinically appropriate. However, even the final result for Teeth in a Day doesn’t happen until a couple of months later.

No, you won’t have to go without a smile. We provide temporary restorations that allow you to eat, speak, and smile comfortably while your implant site heals and your permanent restoration is being crafted.

Even if you’ve been living with missing teeth for a long time, you may still be a candidate for implants. We’ll evaluate your current oral health and jawbone structure to determine the best path forward.

Yes! Once your restoration is placed, your dental implant will look and feel remarkably similar to a natural tooth. The implant is anchored into the jawbone, so it functions just like a real tooth root, providing stability when you chew, speak, or smile.

While implant failure is rare, it can happen, most often due to poor oral hygiene, smoking, or untreated gum disease. At Middle Tennessee Prosthodontics, we take steps to evaluate your risk factors beforehand and provide long-term guidance to protect your results. With proper care, implants are a highly successful and long-lasting solution.

Call Today for Caring Implant Dentistry

From restoring single dental implants to designing implant-supported dentures and more, Drs. McLaughlin, Miller, Patel, and Peterman provide expert restorative dentistry services in a caring environment. While we do offer specialized services in prosthodontics, we also care about your experience with us and take a conservative approach to treatment.

Contact our office today to learn more or to request an appointment!

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