Skip to main content

Dental Implants

Brite Smiles Dental Care

General Dentistry & Cosmetic Dentistry located in Apple Valley, MN

According to the American College of Prosthodontists, more than 36 million Americans don’t have any teeth, and 120 million are missing at least one tooth. Dennis Simmons, DDS, and his associates, at Brite Smiles Dental Care in Apple Valley, Minnesota, can help you replace your missing teeth by using dental implants. Implants help you chew properly, prevent further bone loss and help keep your surrounding teeth from shifting. To learn more about dental implants, call the office or book your appointment online.

Dental Implants Q & A

What are dental implants? 

Dental implants are a great long-term solution to replace your missing or extracted teeth because they don’t require treatment to your adjacent “natural” teeth, as is the case with dental bridges.  

Your implant involves a porcelain crown, abutment, and a titanium rod to replace your original tooth’s root. The dentist secures the rod into your jawbone, making it a strong foundation for your replacement tooth. 

What are mini dental implants? 

Mini dental implants are half the size of a traditional one. They’re the best option for someone who doesn’t have enough jawbone density to support a full-size implant. 

Mini implants may mean less recovery time than traditional dental implants because the dentist can insert the implant right through the gum into the bone. We take great care to deliver as comfortable and pain-free dental care as possible. Contact us to see if mini implants would be right for you.  

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants have many benefits, such as: 

  • Durability, perhaps lasting longer than 10 years
  • Improving your self-confidence
  • Making it easier to eat and speak properly

Leaving empty spaces in your mouth after losing one of your teeth can lead to your surrounding teeth shifting out of place and bone loss to your jaw. 

What can I expect during a traditional dental implant procedure?

Our dentists perform a dental exam using the NewTom Cone Beam CT scanner, which produces 3D images of your mouth. These images allow your dentist to plan exactly where the implants go and what the final result will look like prior to the surgery. 

The scanner also helps determine if additional procedures are necessary.

Over the next 3-4 months, your jawbone begins to form around your implant in a process called osseointegration. During this time, your dentist fits you with a temporary crown so you can chew and speak normally.

After your jawbone and implant fuse together, you come back for your second appointment to remove your temporary crown and place an abutment on your implant. This part connects your implant to your new porcelain crown. 

To replace your missing teeth with the highest-quality porcelain dental implants, contact Brite Smiles Dental Care or schedule your appointment online today.