812-882-1572
Optimize Your Dental Implant Success
At Herman Family Dentistry, our Vincennes, IN, implant dentist, Dr. Eric Herman, offers supplemental procedures to enhance your dental implant outcomes. By strengthening your teeth, gums, and jawbone, these procedures ensure a solid foundation for your implants, promoting long-term stability and health.
Call our Vincennes dental office at (812) 882-1572 to learn more about how we can prepare you for successful dental implants.
What Are Supplemental Procedures?
Supplemental procedures are preparatory treatments designed to enhance the success of dental implants. These procedures address various oral health issues that can compromise implant stability and longevity, such as insufficient bone density, gum recession, and jawbone defects. By creating a strong, healthy foundation, supplemental procedures ensure that your dental implants have the best chance for long-term success.
Our Supplemental Procedure Options at Herman Family Dentistry
Bone Grafting
Tooth loss often leads to jawbone deterioration, making implant placement challenging. Bone grafting involves adding bone material to the weakened jaw area, stimulating new bone growth, and providing a strong foundation for implants.
Soft Tissue Augmentation
Gum recession can expose tooth roots, causing discomfort and jeopardizing implant stability. Soft tissue augmentation involves using tissue grafts (either from the roof of your mouth or a donated piece) to restore the gumline, ensuring healthy, supportive gums for your implants.
Ridge Augmentation
To restore the natural shape of your gums and jaw after tooth loss, ridge augmentation uses bone and soft tissue grafts. It can be performed immediately after tooth extraction or when a tooth has been missing for a while. This procedure prepares the area for implant placement, which is especially beneficial for patients with bone defects or trauma.
Sinus Augmentation
For dental implants in the upper jaw, sinus augmentation is essential when there isn’t enough bone density to support the implants. This procedure involves adding bone tissue to the sinus cavity, creating the necessary support for implant placement. It is especially beneficial for patients who have experienced bone loss due to gum disease, tooth loss, or other reasons. Typically, sinus augmentation is performed before the implant placement to ensure a stable foundation.
Gum Disease Treatment
Healthy gums are crucial for implant success. Treating gum disease (periodontal disease) before implant placement reduces the risk of complications. Look out for symptoms like red, swollen gums, shifting teeth, and bleeding while brushing, and seek treatment promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still get implants without a supplemental procedure?
If you have low bone density, you may need a supplemental procedure like bone grafting or a sinus lift to support your implants. Without it, you face a significantly higher risk of implant failure, infection, or possibly even tooth or bone loss.
Will insurance cover my supplemental procedure?
Supplement procedure coverage varies by insurance provider. Contact your insurance company for detailed information and inquire about financial assistance at your implant dentist’s office.
When is a supplemental procedure necessary?
Supplemental procedures prepare your teeth, gums, and jawbone for implants to ensure high-quality results. They’re especially necessary for patients with tooth loss, gum disease, or long-term denture use.
How long do the results of supplemental procedures last?
With proper care, the benefits of supplemental procedures can last many years. Maintain good oral hygiene and regular dental visits to prolong their effects.
Learn More About Preparing for Dental Implants
If you’re missing teeth and are considering replacing them with dental implants, call our office at (812) 882-1572 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Herman. During this visit, he can answer questions about implants, determine if you’d benefit from any supplemental procedures, and help you decide if this treatment is right for you.
You can also fill out our convenient online contact form, and one of our team members will get back to you shortly. Herman Family Dentistry proudly provides implant dentistry services to patients in the Vincennes area and the surrounding areas like Washington, Bruceville, and Decker, IN.