DENTAL IMPLANTS
JACKSONVILLE, FL
Are you among the 120 million Americans who are missing at least one tooth? You could choose a traditional solution to complete your smile, like a bridge and crowns, or you could enjoy an option that closely looks and feels natural. Dental implants in Jacksonville allow you to regain the next best thing to your real teeth. Dr. Kathryn Ryan will rebuild your smile using a customized treatment plan.
WHAT IS A DENTAL IMPLANT?
A dental implant is a screw-like cylinder that can be crafted from a variety of materials, including titanium and zirconia. The secret behind their success is that they replace the root hidden underneath the gums while dentures and bridges are designed to only recreate the white crown parts of the tooth that are visible when you smile.
HOW DENTAL IMPLANTS WORK
Dr. Ryan surgically inserts an implant into your jaw, where it works as an anchor to support your eventual dental restoration. She also attaches an abutment, which connects the restoration to the implant and won’t be visible above the gum line. As a prosthodontist, Dr. Ryan specializes in the design and placement of custom dental implant restorations and other advanced restorative dentistry services. After your implant-supported restoration is in place, it will be so lifelike that virtually no one should notice is it not natural.
LIFE-CHANGING BENEFITS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS
Replacing both the root and crown of the tooth allows you to enjoy a variety of benefits that are not possible using any other treatment. As the implant post stimulates bone growth to fuse with your jaw, you will experience various advantages, including:
​
Sturdy & Long-Lasting
Dental implants offer several advantages over other treatments. The posts are made of medical-grade titanium, which is biocompatible and built to fuse with the surrounding jawbone tissue. As long as you practice good dental care and attend regular visits to the dentist, your implants can last a lifetime.
​
Prevents Bone Loss
One of the natural consequences of tooth loss is jawbone recession, which can make your face look sunken or prematurely aged. By sending regenerative signals to your jawbone just like healthy teeth, implants can help prevent bone atrophy.
​
Uplift Your Confidence
96% of people say a good smile makes a person more attractive. Missing teeth can make your smile look unhealthy and unbalanced. If you cover your smile on dates, at work, or in photographs because of missing teeth, dental implants can give you a renewed sense of self-confidence.
​
High Success Rate
Studies have shown a five-year success rate of approximately 95% for lower jaw implants and 90% for upper jaw implants. The success rate for upper jaw implants is a little lower because the upper jaw is less dense than the lower jaw.
​
No Damage to Other Teeth
Implants can counteract just about all of the effects of tooth loss. Without any negative stress or pressure on the neighboring teeth, implants can actually prevent the movement and shifting of the adjacent teeth. Bone loss that would otherwise impact the neighboring teeth can also be prevented.
​
Lifelike Function and Appearance
Dental implants act as artificial tooth roots, allowing your implant-supported restorations to anchor into the jaw in the same way as healthy, natural teeth. This ensures your dental prosthetic will not loosen, wobble, slip, or slide out of place during biting, chewing, or speaking. Denture patients especially often find this newfound confidence to be nothing short of life-changing.
​
REASONS FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS
Depending on your degree of tooth loss, there is a treatment right for you. Dr. Ryan performs a comprehensive consultation to create a customized treatment plan you need.
MISSING SINGLE TOOTH An implant post, an abutment, and a crown are used to fill the space of a single missing tooth.
IMPLANT-RETAINED CROWNS & BRIDGES 2 to 3 consecutive missing teeth in a row are replaced by anchoring your custom-made bridge to your jawbone using 1 or 2 implant posts. This eliminates the need for placing dental crowns on the adjacent teeth.
​
MISSING MULTIPLE TEETH Several missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants as well. Depending on how many teeth you are missing, Dr. Ryan may recommend a combination of a single unit implant or an implant-retained bridge.
​
ALL-ON-4 A custom-made denture is anchored to your jawbone using an average of 4 implant posts. Often, your denture is attached the same day as your placement surgery, so you do not need to go without any teeth.
LEARN MORE
​
MISSING ALL YOUR TEETH You can skip the slipping and irritation of a traditional denture by anchoring it to your jawbone with dental implants. Dr. Ryan determines how many posts are needed to secure your denture.
​
IMPLANT-RETAINED DENTURES Implant-retained dentures allow you to restore as much as 70% of your biting force, so you can enjoy your favorite foods again.
LEARN MORE
WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF DENTAL IMPLANT TREATMENT?
Your treatment process will occur in multiple stages. Although this may seem unnecessary it is vital to the long-term success of your new smile. Each phase of your treatment includes separate costs, which can include:
-
Initial Consultation: You need a consultation with your prosthodontist in Jacksonville to ensure you are a candidate. Besides the office fees, you need to pay for x-rays and a CT scan.
-
Additional Procedures: It is common to need additional procedures before placing your implant posts, like bone grafting or tooth extractions.
-
Implant Placement: Oral surgery is needed to place the implant posts into your jawbone. In addition to the cost of the posts, you will also need to pay for sedation or anesthesia.
-
Abutments & Restorations: After your jawbone has fused to the posts, special fixtures are placed on each one to connect your custom-made restoration. You will need to pay for each abutment and the restoration.
​
See how we replace a single tooth during implant surgery at our Parkway Prosthodontics office...
CONVERT YOUR EXISTING RESTORATION
Do you already have removable dentures? Are you frustrated with the noises, slipping, glue, movements, and embarrassing moments that can happen as a result? It is possible to convert your current system into Implant Dentures. An implant-supported denture looks more natural and, most importantly, it stays in place and helps keep your jawbone healthy and strong.
UNDERSTANDING THE COST OF DENTAL IMPLANTS
There are various factors that influence the cost of dental implants, such as how many teeth you are replacing and your dental coverage. Unsure if you can afford dental implants? Talk to our team about arranging a payment plan and maximizing the value of your dental insurance to keep your new smile affordable.
​
Stop living with an incomplete smile. Contact Parkway Prosthodontics today to schedule your consultation.
Implant Gallery
Are you among the 120 million Americans who are missing at least one tooth? You could choose a traditional solution to complete your smile, like a bridge, crowns, or you could enjoy an option that closely looks and feels natural. Dental implants allow you to regain the next best thing to your real teeth. Dr. Kathryn Ryan will rebuild your smile using a customized treatment plan.
DENTAL IMPLANT FAQS
Dental implants in Jacksonville give you a solution that offers realistic and predictable results; however, it is a big decision to make. It is normal to have questions about the treatment. We want you to feel confident in your preferred solution to replace your missing teeth. Dr. Ryan takes the time to explain your treatment and answers your questions to help you make the right choice for your smile during your consultation. In the meantime, here are the answers to common questions about dental implants to help you make the right choice.
-
WHAT IS A PROSTHODONTIST AND WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES DO THEY OFFER?Prosthodontics is a dental specialty that’s specifically devoted to the art of restoring and replacing dental structures like teeth and the jawbone. You can rely on a prosthodontist to provide high-quality services like porcelain veneers, dentures, bridges, crowns, dental implants, and complex full mouth reconstruction.
-
HOW IS DR. KATHRYN RYAN DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PROSTHODONTISTS?Dr. Ryan completed a three-year residency program in Prosthodontics at the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, earning her Master’s in Prosthodontics in 2010. She also was a surgical implant fellow in the Graduate Prosthodontic program at the University of Florida College of Dentistry. In this program, she not only became very skilled in oral surgery techniques like dental implant placement, but she also taught dental students about dental implants and other restorative concepts. In fact, she continues to serve as a guest faculty member at the school, regularly lecturing and working with the prosthodontic residents. Her dedication to this specialty truly goes above and beyond!
-
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO REPLACE MISSING TEETH?In most cases, Dr. Ryan will strongly recommend dental implants as the premier reconstructive solution. Implants replicate the entire structure of the natural tooth, improving health and function as well as aesthetics; their longevity is also unmatched, lasting for decades or even the rest of the patient’s life. Our practice is home to several state-of-the-art implant options that can be matched to each patient’s unique needs, including implant-retained prosthetics and All On 4. Of course, no treatment plan can be the right fit for every patient in need. Dr. Ryan will be happy to review all available options with you in detail during your initial consultation so that we can discover the ideal path.
-
WHAT IS A FULL MOUTH RECONSTRUCTION?Full mouth reconstruction isn’t a specific service – it’s actually a personalized treatment plan that incorporates any number of restorative and cosmetic-minded procedures in order to fully revitalize a patient’s oral health. Dr. Ryan’s expertise enables her to guide patients through even the most complex journeys, resulting in a complete, confident smile that’s finally regained its full potential.
-
CAN YOU HELP ME IMPROVE THE APPEARANCE OF MY SMILE?Of course. Parkway Prosthodontics is home to several cosmetic services that can erase visual smile flaws and create stunning improvements for your teeth. Possible options include teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, metal-free restorative work, and more.
-
CAN DENTISTS REALLY TREAT SLEEP APNEA?Yes! If you are a victim of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a trained dentist like Dr. Ryan can prescribe customized oral appliance therapy in order to clear the airway and help patients rest easier.
-
WHAT ARE MY PAYMENT OPTIONS?Our team is happy to accept many major dental insurances and payment plans through CareCredit. We want to help make your care as affordable as possible! To learn more, please visit our new patients page.
