You shouldn’t have to avoid fresh Pacific Northwest salmon at local restaurants or cover your mouth when you laugh with neighbors at community events. These are the real-life moments that missing teeth steal from you, and at Arlington Family Dentistry, we see how tooth loss affects our patients beyond just their smiles. Our practice has helped families across Washington regain their confidence through dental implants in Arlington. With our advanced implant dentistry techniques, Dr. Dongho Kim, DDS, creates replacement teeth that become part of you, restoring your oral function while preventing the bone loss that ages your face prematurely.
Understanding Dental Implants in Arlington
Dental implants are titanium screws that replace missing tooth roots beneath your gum line. When you lose a tooth, the root that once anchored it leaves behind an empty socket in your jawbone. The implant placement process involves surgically positioning a titanium post into this space, where it bonds directly with your bone tissue over several months. This titanium screw becomes a permanent foundation that can support a single crown, bridge, or even full dentures.
The integration process, called osseointegration, transforms the titanium post into what functions like a natural tooth root. Your jawbone actually grows around and fuses with the implant surface, creating a connection that’s often stronger than original teeth. This biological bonding process takes approximately three to six months, during which the implant becomes a permanent part of your jaw structure, ready to support your new replacement teeth for decades.
Benefits of Dental Implants in Arlington
Maintain Jawbone Structure and Density
Dental implants provide the bone stimulation your jaw needs to stay healthy and strong. When you lose teeth, the underlying bone begins to shrink and weaken, but the titanium post acts like a natural tooth root. This stimulation prevents bone loss and keeps your jaw structure intact, maintaining proper facial support for years.
Eliminate Eating Restrictions Permanently
With dental implants, you can bite into corn on the cob, eat sticky caramel, and chew tough steaks without any limitations. The titanium screw creates such a secure foundation that your replacement teeth can handle the same chewing forces as natural teeth. You’ll never need to avoid certain foods or worry about your teeth shifting while eating.
Preserve Adjacent Healthy Teeth Intact
Unlike dental bridges that require grinding down neighboring teeth, implants stand independently without affecting surrounding teeth. This preservation approach protects your existing dental health and eliminates the need to alter healthy tooth structure. Your natural teeth remain untouched, reducing future dental complications and maintaining your original oral anatomy.
Provide Lifetime Durability with Proper Care
The titanium post becomes permanently integrated with your jawbone, creating a restoration that can last your entire lifetime. While the crown portion may eventually need replacement after 15-20 years of use, the implant foundation remains stable indefinitely. This longevity makes implants the most cost-effective tooth replacement option over time.
Restore Natural Speech Patterns Completely
Missing teeth can cause whistling sounds, slurred words, and difficulty pronouncing certain letters clearly. Dental implants fill these gaps and provide the tongue support needed for proper speech formation. You’ll speak with the same clarity and confidence you had with your original teeth, without any adjustments or speech therapy.
Our Dental Implant Treatment Process
Comprehensive Evaluation and Treatment Planning
During your first visit, Dr. Dongho Kim conducts a thorough oral exam and reviews your complete dental history to assess your candidacy for implant placement. We’ll take detailed X-rays and possibly a CT scan to evaluate your jawbone density and identify the optimal locations for your titanium posts. Our dental team will discuss your specific needs and create a customized treatment timeline that addresses any preliminary procedures you may need.
Digital Imaging and Precise Implant Positioning
We use advanced 3D imaging technology to map your jawbone structure and plan the exact placement of your titanium screws. This digital planning ensures optimal positioning for both function and aesthetics while avoiding important anatomical structures. Your personalized surgical guide allows us to place each implant with millimeter precision, maximizing the success of your tooth replacement procedure.
Surgical Placement and Immediate Aftercare
The implant placement surgery is performed under local anesthesia in our comfortable office environment. We’ll carefully insert the titanium post into your prepared jawbone site following strict sterile protocols. After placement, we’ll provide you with detailed recovery instructions and prescription medications to ensure your comfort during the initial healing phase.
Healing Period and Osseointegration Monitoring
Your implant will need approximately three to six months to fully integrate with your jawbone tissue. During this healing period, we’ll schedule regular check-ups to monitor your progress and ensure proper osseointegration is occurring. We’ll also discuss temporary tooth replacement options if needed and provide guidance on maintaining excellent oral hygiene around your healing implant site.
Final Restoration and Abutment Attachment
Once your titanium screw has completely bonded with your jawbone, we’ll attach the abutment piece that connects your implant to the final crown. We’ll take precise impressions to create your custom replacement teeth that match your natural teeth in color, size, and shape. Your final restoration will be securely attached, completing your dental restoration and restoring full oral function to your smile.
Why Choose Us for Dental Implants in Arlington
Our family dentistry practice combines advanced implant dentistry techniques with a patient-first philosophy that prioritizes your comfort and satisfaction. Dr. Dongho Kim, DDS, understands that dental implant treatment is a significant investment in your health and well-being, which is why we take the time to thoroughly explain each step of the process and ensure you feel confident in your treatment decision. Our experienced team stays current with the latest developments in implant technology and uses state-of-the-art equipment to deliver predictable, long-lasting results.
We believe that every patient deserves personalized care that addresses their unique needs and concerns. From your initial consultation through your final restoration, we’ll work closely with you to ensure your treatment experience is comfortable and stress-free. Our commitment to excellence in dental care means you can trust us to provide the highest quality implant treatment available.
Never Worry About Loose Teeth Again with Dental Implants in Arlington!
Dental implants in Arlington can restore not just your teeth, but your entire quality of life in ways that go far beyond what you might expect. At Arlington Family Dentistry, Dr. Dongho Kim, DDS, has seen countless patients rediscover their love for foods they thought they’d never enjoy again.
Your smile transformation starts with a simple phone call to our Arlington office at 360-658-7741, where our family-focused dental team will answer your questions and help you understand exactly what dental implants can do for your unique situation. Connect with us on social media to see real patient stories and get helpful tips for maintaining optimal dental health throughout your implant process.
FAQs
Are dental implants painful to get?
Most patients experience minimal discomfort during implant placement since we use effective local anesthesia throughout the procedure. After surgery, any soreness typically feels similar to having a tooth extracted and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications. The titanium post integration process itself is painless, and most people return to normal activities within a few days.
How do I know if I have enough bone for dental implants?
We’ll evaluate your jawbone density during your initial oral exam using X-rays and possibly a CT scan to determine if you’re a candidate for implant placement. If your bone has thinned due to tooth loss or gum disease, we may recommend bone grafting procedures to build up the area first. Many patients who think they don’t qualify for implants actually can receive them with proper preparation and treatment planning.
Can dental implants get cavities like natural teeth?
The titanium screw and crown portions of dental implants cannot develop decay since they’re made of artificial materials. However, the gum tissue around your implant can still develop infection if you don’t maintain proper oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing. This is why following good dental hygiene habits and attending regular cleanings remains essential for your implant’s long-term success.
What happens if my dental implant fails?
Modern dental implants have a success rate over 95%, but occasionally an implant may not integrate properly with the jawbone. If this occurs, we can remove the failed implant, allow the area to heal, and often place a new one successfully. Most implant failures happen within the first few months and are typically related to smoking, poor oral hygiene, or underlying health conditions that affect healing.
How soon after tooth extraction can I get a dental implant?
In many cases, we can place a dental implant immediately after removing a damaged tooth, which is called immediate implant placement. However, if you have gum disease or infection at the extraction site, you may need to wait several months for complete healing first. Your specific timeline depends on your individual healing process and the condition of your jawbone and surrounding tissues.
