Dental Implants | Implant Dentist in Urbandale, IA

Smile Again With Dental Implants

Losing your teeth can be distressing, but you don’t have to live with missing smiles or difficulty eating. Dental implants offer a long-term solution to restore your confident smile and chewing ability. At Hickman Family Dental in Urbandale, IA, Dr. Brad Erickson provides customized implant treatment to give patients a natural-looking, permanent replacement for missing teeth. With advanced technology and a patient-first approach, Dr. Erickson can transform your smile and help you regain dental function. Whether you are missing one or several teeth, dental implants may be the right choice to improve your comfort and quality of life.

If you’re interested in dental implants and are wondering if you qualify for dental implants, you can call us at (515) 276-4981 to schedule your implant appointment.

rbandale and Des Moines patients. Explore our helpful guide to dental implants to learn about this high-quality treatment and if they’re right for you.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial teeth or tooth roots placed surgically in the jawbone to replace missing teeth. Dr. Erickson at Hickman Family Dental in Urbandale, IA, offers dental implants as a permanent solution for patients missing one or more teeth due to disease, infection, or injury. Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, dental implants integrate with the jawbone to function like natural teeth.

Improve Appearance by Replacing Missing Teeth

Implants look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The crown perfectly matches the color, shape, and size of your surrounding teeth. Implants prevent sunken cheeks and wrinkles by stimulating the jawbone and preventing bone loss after tooth extraction.

Restore the Ability to Chew and Bite Properly

Missing teeth can impede chewing, eating, and speech. Implants allow you to eat all your favorite foods again without pain or difficulty. The firm foundation provides superior biting power compared to dentures.

Prevent Bone Loss and Deterioration of the Jaw

Tooth loss leads to bone resorption as the jaw no longer receives the stimulation it needs. Dental implants fuse to the jawbone-like roots, preventing further bone density loss.

Eliminate the Need to Anchor Removable Dentures

Implants provide a strong base to attach dentures without messy adhesive. This creates a comfortable, natural fit so dentures won’t slip or move during use.

Permanent, Stable Solution for Tooth Replacement

With proper oral hygiene, implants can last a lifetime. Dental implants have a high success rate. They provide a long-term, low-maintenance solution.

Can Last a Lifetime with Proper Care

Dental implants don’t decay like natural teeth. With excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits, they can easily last decades. The crown, abutment tooth root, and post are made from durable, biocompatible materials like titanium.

The Dental Implant Procedure

Dr. Erickson uses advanced technology and techniques to place dental implants seamlessly. The dental implant solution process involves:

Initial Consultation – Dr. Erickson will assess your oral health, medical history, and the condition of your jawbone. 3D imaging helps determine the optimal implant type and location.
Mouth Scanning and X-rays – Precise views of the implantation site are needed to avoid nerves, vessels, and sinuses. Specialized CT scans provide detailed anatomical visualization.
Placement Surgery – Dr. Erickson will surgically insert the titanium implant into the jaw bone. The number of implants depends on how many teeth are missing. Local anesthesia is used for your comfort.
Bone Integration Period – Osseointegration occurs as the jawbone fuses to the implant over three to six months. We may provide a temporary restoration during this period.
Abutment and Crown Placement – An extension is secured to the implant, and then a custom-designed crown is attached to perfectly match the surrounding teeth.

Recovery from Dental Implant Surgery

Patients can expect minimal discomfort and quick recovery following implant placement. Dr. Erickson will provide detailed post-op instructions such as:

Swelling – Use ice packs on your face to reduce swelling. Sleep with your head elevated the first night.
Diet – Stick to soft foods like yogurt, applesauce, and soup for the first one to two days. Slowly work your way back to normal foods.
Medications – Over-the-counter pain medication and antibiotics will be prescribed to manage discomfort. Take as directed.
Oral Hygiene – Avoid brushing or flossing around the surgery site for about a week. Rinse gently with warm salt water.
Lifestyle – Abstain from tobacco, alcohol, and strenuous activity during the initial healing period.

Aftercare and Maintaining Dental Implants

Proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits will keep your implants in great shape. Follow Dr. Erickson’s recommendations to ensure their long-term success:

Brush and floss carefully around the implant site to remove plaque. Use interdental brushes to clean under the abutment.
Avoid chewing excessively hard or sticky foods. Opt for softer nutritious foods as the first choice.
Schedule checkups and cleanings every six months to monitor the implant, abutment, and crown. These visits allow us to identify any potential issues early.
Contact our Urbandale, IA dental office if you experience implant pain, swelling, damage, or any other concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

With proper care and maintenance, dental implants can last for several decades, or even an entire lifetime in many cases. By practicing good oral hygiene and seeing your dentist regularly, you can expect your dental implants to provide long-term function for many years.

The implant placement procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so patients do not feel pain during the surgery. Afterward, some mild soreness, swelling, and discomfort are normal for a few days. This can be well managed with the use of ice packs and over-the-counter pain medication such as Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. Within one to two weeks, any residual pain from the surgery should subside.

With diligent oral hygiene practices, the risk of implant infection is generally quite low. However, you should be on the lookout for signs of infection, such as persistent swelling, pain, or fever around the implant site. Contact your dentist immediately if you suspect your implant may be infected so they can prescribe antibiotics or perform other treatments as needed. Prompt treatment helps prevent more serious complications.

The initial recovery time after implant surgery is about one to two days, during which you may experience some minor swelling and tenderness. While the implant integrates with the bone over the next three to six months, you can gradually return to normal eating and activities.

Complete healing and recovery takes approximately eight to twelve weeks for the bone and soft tissues to fully stabilize. During this time, your dentist will monitor your progress and may place the abutment and crown once the integration is complete.

Reclaim Your Confidence, Restore Your Smile

Living with missing teeth can make you feel self-conscious and embarrassed about your smile. It can prevent you from fully enjoying life when eating is difficult and painful. But there’s a solution – with dental implants from Dr. Erickson, you can restore your beautiful, confident smile as well as your ability to eat all your favorite foods again. Don’t wait to start feeling like yourself once more.

The skilled, compassionate team at Hickman Family Dental is here to support you each step of the way, from your initial consultation to the final placement of the tooth crown. Take back your smile and quality of life on your terms – call (515) 276-4981 today to schedule a dental implant consultation with Dr. Erickson. We proudly serve new and existing patients in our home of Urbandale, IA, and the surrounding areas of Lovington, Waukee, and Windsor Heights, IA.

Dental Implants in Urbandale, IA

Hickman Family Dental provides high quality dental implants from Nobel Biocare.