Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are custom-made bionic tooth roots made of medical-grade titanium. After they’re surgically anchored into your jawbone, much like a real tooth root, they’re capped off with an artificial tooth or porcelain crown.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants are one of the most important developments in modern dentistry. They’re strong, stable, and permanent, and they also blend in perfectly with your natural teeth, making them ideal for filling gaps to restore your smile.

Dental implants are usually stronger than natural teeth because they naturally fuse to your jawbone and have no movement at all. Natural teeth, on the other hand, can have a little give; they may even wiggle if they lose bone around them or if chronic gritting or clenching compromise them.

Who can get dental implants?

Because dental implantation is a surgical procedure, it’s essential that the patients who have it done have healthy gums, adequate bone mass, and good overall health. Although some areas of insufficient bone mass can be corrected with bone grafting, not all areas of bone can benefit from grafting.

To make sure you do have enough bone mass, you’ll have a 3D cone beam CT scan before surgery. This special X-ray produces a 3D image of your teeth, soft tissues, nerves, and bones. The image reveals essential details about your bone structure and helps Dr. Cottrill determine the exact type of implants you need.  

What does the procedure involve?

Dental implant surgery is an in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia.

After Dr. Cottrill anchors the titanium root into your jawbone, he secures your gum over the implant, leaving it covered, so it has time to fuse with your bone.

Once the area is healed and the implant is fully fused, he can finish the restoration by attaching a post to the implant and then affixing a porcelain crown to the post.

How long does the entire procedure take?

The amount of time it takes to complete the entire dental implantation process depends on your body’s ability to heal and the quality of your bone.

For patients who require an extended recovery time after implantation, the entire process can take as long as nine months. For patients who heal quickly and have good bone quality, the process can go much faster.  

Who should not consider dental implants?

Patients who are affected by systemic health problems, including diabetes and leukemia, may not be able to undergo implant surgery because such illnesses can interfere with the body’s ability to heal.

What is All-on-4?

All-on-4 is a breakthrough dental implant procedure that can replace an entire row or both rows of teeth. It’s called All-on-4 because all the replacement prosthetic teeth fit on as few as four implants, making for a more straightforward, cost-effective procedure than replacing an entire row using traditional implants. All-on-4 helps people with dental problems that affect their entire mouth experience the benefits of implants.

How is All-on-4 different than dentures?

Dentures are removable, while All-on-4 permanently replaces your missing or damaged teeth with prosthetics that look and function just like healthy, natural teeth. You may find All-on-4 much more comfortable and convenient than dentures. All-on-4 fits like natural teeth, so you’ll likely find speaking and chewing food much easier than you would with dentures, which cover the roof of your mouth.

Who can benefit from All-on-4?

All-on-4 can restore your dental health if you have problems with your teeth that impact your entire mouth. These problems may include multiple loose, damaged, or missing teeth, a loss of bone in your jaw, or just poor dental health in general.

Is All-on-4 available to patients who can’t receive traditional implants?

Even if you can’t receive traditional implants due to bone loss, you may be a good candidate for All-on-4. Dr. Cottrill installs all-in-four implants on an angle, which makes use of your remaining jawbone, unlike traditional implants.

How long does an All-on-4 restoration take?

You may see All-on-4 described as a “same-day” procedure, but like all implant procedures, you’ll need to leave time for your jaw to heal after Dr. Cottrill places the implants. However, you’ll be able to wear a temporary prosthetic beginning the same day Dr. Cottrill places the implants, so you’ll see a dramatic improvement over dentures or damaged, missing teeth. You’ll need to be careful about what you eat, because your jaw will be healing, but you’ll find that activities like chewing and speaking are much easier than they were before.

Once your jaw is has healed, a process that takes about six months, Dr. Cottrill will fit you with your customized, permanent replacement teeth, which will look and function just like natural teeth.

Why should I consider All-on-4 restoration?

Traditional dental implants are a fantastic solution for decaying or missing teeth, but you may not need as many individual implants as you think to achieve the look you want.

The All-on-4 restoration essentially allows all of your teeth to be supported by just four dental implants, which helps you save money on your dental restoration.

If you have broken caps or bridges, missing teeth, periodontal gum disease, or failing teeth, this treatment is a cost-effective way to restore your smile.

How much does All-on-4 cost?

A less costly alternative to traditional dental implants, All-on-4 is typically an all-inclusive treatment.

Every dentist will offer a different payment structure, but the cost of All-on-4 generally includes teeth removal, bone grafting if needed, four dental implants, and a temporary and permanent bridge to support your new implants.

Nashville Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry typically charges 50% less than other prosthodontists do in the area for this procedure, so please call us to get a quote today. We’ll also match any price for dental implants, although restrictions do apply. We'll match the total treatment plan price if you bring in a treatment plan from any competitor. The plan for treatment must come from a licensed Dentist within the past six months for comparable dental services and may be verified.

What should I eat after All-on-4 surgery?

While most major dental surgeries require you to arrive at the office with an entirely empty stomach, you can eat the night before if you opt for an All-on-4 restoration.

After surgery, however, you will likely need to stick to a liquid diet to avoid pain and discomfort in your mouth.

It’s important to stay extra hydrated during this time to ensure that the tissues in your mouth are healing properly.

Over the next few weeks, soft foods like protein shakes, smoothies, soups, and yogurt are excellent options to help you get vital nutrients without hurting your mouth.

Slowly, you can start introducing more solid foods into your diet once your implants have worked their way into your tissues.

Are there any disadvantages to All-on-4 dental implants?

All-on-4 dental implants are ideal for those hoping to restore missing or decaying teeth, but there are a few factors to consider before opting for this treatment.

First, All-on-4 dental implants can cause minor speech issues such as slurring for a short period of time after the surgery.

If you experience slurred speech for longer than a few weeks after the surgery, contact your dentist right away.

Some patients also have difficulty adapting to the bridge bulk after their All-on-4 surgery, but this discomfort should subside once you get used to your new implants.