Oconomowoc Dental Implants

If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants in Oconomowoc can provide a durable, natural-looking solution for restoring your smile. At Summit Dental Excellence, we offer implant dentistry to help patients replace missing teeth while restoring comfortable chewing and natural-looking aesthetics.

Dental implants have become a widely used alternative to traditional bridges and removable dentures. Unlike restorations that simply replace the visible portion of a missing tooth, an implant replaces the tooth’s root with a small implant fixture placed into the jawbone. A custom restoration is then attached to the implant to recreate the visible portion of the tooth.

When properly planned and cared for, dental implants can provide a stable, long-term tooth replacement option that looks and functions much like a natural tooth.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a small post, typically made from titanium or another biocompatible material, that is surgically placed into the jawbone. Over time, the implant can integrate with the surrounding bone through a process called osseointegration, creating a stable foundation for your replacement tooth.

Once the implant has healed sufficiently, an abutment connects the implant to the final restoration. Depending on your treatment plan, the restoration may be a dental crown, bridge, or implant-supported denture.

At Summit Dental Excellence, we use Straumann® dental implants, a well-established implant system used by dental professionals worldwide.

Who Can Benefit From Dental Implants?

Dental implants can be used to replace a variety of tooth-loss situations, including:

• A Single Missing Tooth
  An individual implant can support a custom dental crown, providing a fixed replacement without requiring the neighboring teeth to support a traditional bridge.
• Multiple Missing Teeth
  Several implants can be used to support an implant-supported bridge or other restoration designed to replace multiple missing teeth.
• Complete Tooth Loss
  For patients missing all or most of their teeth, implants can provide support for implant-retained or implant-supported dentures and other full-arch restorations.

Whether implants are appropriate depends on factors such as your overall oral health, gum health, available jawbone, medical history, and treatment goals. In some cases, additional procedures such as bone grafting may be recommended before implant placement.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer several advantages compared with some traditional tooth replacement options:

• Natural appearance: Implant-supported restorations are custom designed to blend with your surrounding teeth.
• Stable and secure: Implants are anchored in the jawbone, helping provide stability during everyday activities such as chewing and speaking.
• Improved chewing function: Replacing missing teeth can make it easier to enjoy a wider variety of foods.
• No removable appliance for single-tooth replacement: An implant-supported crown is fixed in place rather than removed like a traditional denture.
• Preservation of jawbone: The implant fixture provides stimulation to the surrounding bone and can help reduce the bone loss that commonly occurs after tooth loss.
• Long-term solution: With proper care and regular dental visits, dental implants can provide many years of service.

Single Tooth Replacement

A single missing tooth can often be replaced with an individual dental implant topped with a custom-made dental crown. The implant provides a stable foundation for the replacement tooth, helping restore your smile, chewing function, and overall oral function.

At Summit Dental Excellence, Dr. Lehman and Dr. Malak carefully plan each implant restoration to complement the size, shape, color, and appearance of your surrounding teeth. Your custom crown is designed to look natural and blend harmoniously with your existing smile, giving you a comfortable and confident tooth replacement.

Multiple Tooth Replacement

When several adjacent teeth are missing, dental implants can be used in several ways to restore your smile and chewing function. Depending on your oral health, the location and number of missing teeth, and your treatment goals, you may be a candidate for individual implants with separate crowns or an implant-supported bridge.

An implant-supported bridge consists of multiple connected replacement teeth that are securely supported by dental implants rather than by neighboring natural teeth. This can provide a stable, fixed solution for replacing several missing teeth in a row.

Dr. Lehman or Dr. Malak will carefully evaluate your teeth, gums, jawbone, and bite to determine which approach is best suited to your individual needs. Our goal is to provide a comfortable, functional restoration that looks natural and complements your smile.

Full Mouth Rejuvenation

For patients who are missing most or all of their teeth, implant-supported dentures can provide a secure and stable alternative to traditional removable dentures. Rather than relying solely on suction or adhesives for support, implant-supported dentures are anchored to dental implants placed in the jawbone.

Dental implants provide stability for the denture and can make everyday activities such as eating and speaking feel more comfortable and natural. Because implants function as artificial tooth roots, they can also help maintain the jawbone in areas where they are placed and reduce the bone loss that commonly occurs after tooth loss.