Dental Implants in Bardstown

We understand that missing teeth have a negative impact on more than just your dental health. Tooth loss, no matter what caused the issue, can also have negative effects on your emotional well-being. An incomplete smile can make it difficult to enjoy daily activities like eating, smiling, and speaking, but dental implants can restore your smile and your confidence. From a single missing tooth to a full arch, our implant options will give you a complete smile again.

Want to know more about implants?

Dental Implant video

Hi everybody.  I am Michael Walton of  Walton Family Dentistry. One of the common questions that we get in the office is “Am I a candidate for Dental Implants?” So with technology nowaays, about everybody is a good candidate for dental implants. The main reason we chose to do dental implants over another procedure is that we want to have a tooth that is independent of the other teeth, and we also don’t want to disrupt a perfectly good tooth on either side of the space that we are restoring.  So a dental implant fills that space without affecting the adjacent teeth. A dental implant will maintain priority as the longest lasting restoration that we can do in the industry, and it is also a unique process that cannot be quoted over the phone. So the best way to answer your questions about dental implants is to schedule a consultation with your dentist.  If you have any questions that we can answer, please feel free to call us at the office, or you can schedule an appointment online.


Single & Full Arch Restorations

At Walton Family Dentistry, we take the time to get to know every patient, discuss your needs and your dental health history, and come up with a treatment plan that works for you and your budget. Whether you need a single tooth replacement or you have a full arch of missing teeth, we have a range of implant options that will work for you. If you are missing one tooth, we will replace it with a dental prosthesis that looks and feels completely natural. We can also replace full arches of missing teeth with bridges or dentures to give you a beautiful, healthy smile.

The Dental Implant Placement Process

We know that the implant process can be intimidating, and that’s why we want to keep our patients informed every step of the way. At Walton Family Dentistry, we promise that you will never feel in the dark and we’ll always communicate effectively about your procedure throughout the process.

We work with a trusted implant specialist during your placement procedure to ensure that your surgery is performed perfectly. Though every implant procedure is personalized and planned according to each patient’s needs, each placement consists of certain steps:

  • After Dr. Walton assesses your smile thoroughly and approves you for implant surgery, we will coordinate your procedure with a specialist who will perform your implant placement.
  • When you arrive for your placement appointment, the implantologist will make sure that you are comfortable and provide sedation to ensure that your procedure is as painless as possible.
  • Your mouth will be cleaned and numbed, and the specialist will make a small incision in your gum where the implant will be placed.
  • Your dental implant will be placed precisely to ensure than it mimics a natural tooth root once it heals.
  • Your gums will be sutured shut, and the specialist will give you instructions to ensure that your healing process goes smoothly.

As your gums heal, your dental implant goes through a process called osseointegration. This means that the implant bonds with your bone and becomes a permanent part of your jaw.

Walton Family Dentistry office

The Dental Implant Restoration Process

Once your new implant goes through the osseointegration process and your gums are completely healed, you’ll return to our office for your last appointment. The details of your restoration process will depend on the number of missing teeth you are replacing.

  • If you are replacing just one tooth with an implant, Dr. Walton will work with a trusted outside lab to create a beautiful, natural-looking dental crown. Your crown will be checked for shape, color, and fit, and once it is perfect, Dr. Walton will permanently attach it to your implant using a special dental cement.
  • If you are replacing a full arch of missing teeth with multiple implants, Dr. Walton will use either dentures or bridges to restore your smile. Implant supported dentures are custom made at an outside lab to fit perfectly in your mouth, and they are attached to a minimal amount of implants.
A patient is having oral exam at Walton Family Dentistry

How Long Will It Take For My Dental Implants To Heal?

The implant process takes time because the work involved is intricate and your mouth must heal completely after surgery before your restoration is attached. The healing time after an implant placement procedure varies depending on a patient’s overall health and how many implants are placed. Typically, this takes between 3-6 months.

Waiting times can also vary depending on what kind of restoration your implant process requires. A single crown will take about 1-2 weeks, whereas a full arch replacement could take a bit longer. Dr. Walton will keep you up-to-date and give you all the information you need about the timeline of your procedure.

Will I Need Extractions Before Implant Surgery?

If you are missing multiple teeth, or if many of your teeth are severely damaged, it may be best for your dental health to extract the remaining teeth and make room for a full arch restoration. This is often a more economical choice than restoring multiple missing teeth with individual implants.

If this is the case, your treatment plan will begin with extracting the necessary teeth to make room for implant-supported dentures. Dr. Walton is gentle during extraction procedures, and localized anesthetic is used to keep you comfortable. A single tooth extraction takes about 5 minutes, so you won’t be in the chair for too long. After your gums have healed from the extraction, the implant placement process can begin.

Are Dental Implants Right For Me?

Since dental implants are permanent and they must be surgically placed in your gum tissue and jaw bone, there are certain stipulations for qualifying for this procedure. First, a patient must have adequate jaw bone in order to support the dental implant. Also, a patient must be in good overall health and be free from periodontal disease.

If you don’t meet these qualifications right away, don’t worry! Dr. Walton can work with you to properly prepare your mouth for implant surgery and get you to optimal dental health to make the treatment possible. If you would like to find out whether you are a good candidate for implants, call us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Walton.

FAQs

How do you get dental implants?

How dental implant surgery is performed depends on the kind/type of implant and the shape and thickness of your bone. Dental implant surgery may involve several techniques depending on your situation. The main benefit of implants is solid support for your new teeth — this process requires the bone to heal tightly around the implant.

How painful is getting a dental implant?

Local anesthesia will numb the area surrounding the dental implant. With numbed nerves, you can expect not to feel any pain (just pressure at times) during your dental implant procedure. It would feel very similar to having a routine filling place

Can you do a dental implant in one day?

When most people think of the implant, they don’t realize that there is more to replacing the tooth than just getting the implant. There are 3 parts: the implant (the screw that is in the bone), the crown (the tooth) and the abutment (that holds the tooth and screw together). In most cases, the screw is placed first and needs time to heal. So, to the technician, the answer to this question is yes, the implant can be placed all in one day. However to the layman, no, in most cases they will not be leaving with a tooth (which is what they think the implant is).

How long do dental implants last?

Dental implants have been shown to have a 95% success rate and are highly dependent on 5 factors: sufficient bone density, medical conditions, dental implant type/brand, lifestyle/habits and clinician skill. Overall, studies on dental implants have consistently shown (with routine maintenance) to last 20+ years or, in many cases, the rest of one’s life.

Are you put to sleep for dental implants?

Being completely unconscious isn’t normally necessary for implant surgery.

How long after tooth extraction can I get an implant?

Implant placement typically happens about 3-4 months after an extraction.  Few situations allow the implant to be placed same day as the extraction.

Can your body reject an implant years later?

Dental implants have been shown to have a 95% success rate and are highly dependent on 5 factors: sufficient bone density, medical conditions, dental implant type/brand, lifestyle/habits and clinician skill. Overall, studies on dental implants have consistently shown (with routine maintenance) to last 20+ years or in many cases the rest of one’s life.