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Dental implants, available at our practice serving New Iberia, Abbeville, Franklin, and Lafayette, LA, are a natural-looking and highly durable solution for replacing missing teeth. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made from titanium that are implanted into the patient’s jawbone. Unlike dental bridges, removable dentures, and other restorative dentistry solutions, dental implants actually fuse with the jawbone, effectively becoming a part of the mouth.
Many dentists provide dental implants, but few are qualified to see patients through the entire dental implant process, from start to finish. Fortunately for our dental implants patients in the Lafayette, Abbeville, Franklin, and New Iberia, LA areas, Dr. Simm is well qualified to conduct every phase of the implant procedure. Furthermore, Dr. Simm can use IV sedation dentistry to ensure that patients remain comfortable while the implants are placed.
The process to place dental implants at Dr. Simm’s practice near Lafayette, LA involves three stages: surgical implant insertion, osseointegration, and the final attachment of the replacement tooth to the implanted root. During a patient’s first visit to our office to received dental implants, Dr. Simm numbs the gums with local anesthesia. He then makes a small incision in the gums to prepare the jawbone for implantation of the dental implants. The final step in this first visit is the actual implantation of the artificial tooth root or roots into the patient’s jawbone. Once this is complete, Dr. Simm closes the incision with small stitches. The patient then returns home to complete the osseointegration stage.
Osseointegration is the period during which the jawbone heals and bonds firmly with the dental implants. Once the implants are properly integrated with the bone, an artificial tooth root is just as strong as a natural tooth root. Osseointegration can take from three to eight months. There is usually no pain associated with this stage, but patients may feel some soreness. Dr. Simm can prescribe medications to ensure that the patient remains comfortable throughout the osseointegration process.
The final step in the process to place dental implants for our patients from New Iberia, Abbeville, Franklin, and Lafayette, LA is the attachment of a porcelain crown replacement tooth to the implanted tooth root. Once the replacement tooth is secured, Dr. Simm thoroughly examines the patient’s mouth to ensure that he or she is in good oral health. After this, the patient can enjoy his or her new smile with confidence.
With proper maintenance, patients can enjoy the benefits of beautiful and durable dental implants for a lifetime. If, however, a patient is unhappy with the appearance of his or her dental implants, or has older implants that appear damaged, Dr. Simm and his team can restore these implants to their original brilliance.
In addition to placing and restoring dental implants for his patients from Lafayette, New Iberia, Abbeville, Franklin, and throughout LA, Dr. Adrian Simm is also well qualified to meet all of their oral surgery needs. Unlike other local dentists who must refer their patients to an oral surgeon, our expert dentist has the qualifications, experience, and technology to address most oral surgery needs in-house. In performing extractions of infected or impacted teeth, including wisdom teeth, and oral surgery to address periodontal disease, Dr. Simm employs his skill as a surgeon to safeguard the oral health of all of his patients.
Dental implants are a popular solution for our patients because they have the appearance and functionality of natural teeth and do not require special care. If you are in need of an oral surgeon or would like to learn more about how dental implants can restore beauty and function to your mouth and you live near Abbeville, Franklin, New Iberia, and Lafayette, LA, contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Simm.