At North Dental Professionals, Dr. Paul Chaiken and his team provide high-quality dental care to the residents of Chicago and Skokie, IL. One of our key services is dental implants. Implants are a permanent solution for patients with missing teeth. They are an essential restorative dentistry treatment that offers a lasting solution. With dental implants in Skokie and Chicago, we can help restore your smile for a lifetime.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone beneath your gums. They act as sturdy bases for mounting replacement teeth. Unlike dentures or bridges, implants don’t slip or shift in your mouth. This stability helps improve your speech and appearance.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants have become the top solution for replacing missing teeth because they work so much like your natural teeth. While dentures and bridges can help, implants provide advantages that other options simply can’t match.
The common benefits of dental implant treatment in our Skokie, IL, office include:
Look Natural
Dental implants are custom-made to blend perfectly with your smile. The crown (visible part) is shaped and colored to match your surrounding teeth so well that even you might forget it’s not real. Because implants fuse with your jawbone, they feel stable and comfortable. Unlike dentures, implants will not slip or click. You can laugh, talk, and smile without worrying about your teeth.
Long-Lasting
With good care, your implants could last the rest of your life. While dentures typically need replacement every 5 to 8 years and bridges every 7 to 15 years, implants are designed to be permanent. The titanium post that acts as your new tooth root actually bonds with your jawbone to create an incredibly strong foundation.
They Protect Your Oral Health
Missing teeth cause your jawbone to shrink over time, which can change your facial shape. Implants prevent this by stimulating bone growth just like natural tooth roots do. Unlike bridges that require grinding down adjacent teeth, implants leave your healthy teeth untouched. This helps maintain better long-term dental health.
Restore Full Function
You can eat all your favorite foods without hesitation, even crunchy apples or chewy steak. Unlike dentures that can slip when eating or talking, implants stay securely in place. Many people find they can taste food better and speak more clearly with implants compared to other tooth replacements.
Easy Care
You don’t need special cleaning solutions or adhesives. You care for implants just like your teeth. We recommend that you continue to brush, floss, and visit us for dental checkups after treatment. This simple routine helps ensure your implants stay clean, healthy, and problem-free for years to come.
The Dental Implant Procedure
The journey begins with an initial consultation. Dr. Paul Chaiken will assess your oral health, take X-rays, and discuss your medical history. This evaluation helps determine if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants.
Implant Surgery
Getting dental implants is a multi-step process that takes time but provides long-lasting results. It all starts with a consultation visit where Dr. Paul Chaiken will examine your mouth, take detailed X-rays, and review your overall health. This important first step helps determine if implants are the right solution for your missing teeth and ensures your jawbone can properly support them.
The actual implant procedure begins with placing a small titanium post into your jawbone where your tooth root used to be. You’ll receive local anesthesia so you won’t feel pain during this surgery, though you may feel some pressure.
Healing
After we place the post, your body needs time to heal as the bone gradually grows around the implant in a natural process called osseointegration. This healing phase typically takes three to six months as your jawbone forms a strong bond with the implant.
Once your jaw has fully healed and the implant is secure, Dr. Chaiken will attach a connector piece called an abutment to the implant post. He will then take dental impressions.
Final Restoration
The final step involves placing a custom-designed crown, bridge, or denture. We work with a dental lab to ensure your new teeth looks and functions just like teeth.
The lab makes the restoration to match your existing teeth in color and shape. We will guide you throughout the process and ensure you’re comfortable at each stage of your treatment.
Aftercare with Dental Implants
Caring for your implants will make them last for many years. Just like your natural teeth, implants need daily brushing and flossing to stay clean and healthy. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and gentle toothpaste to avoid scratching the surface of your implants.
Regular dental checkups at North Dental Professionals play a key role in maintaining your implants. During these visits, Dr. Chaiken will carefully examine your implants to ensure they remain secure and function properly. The professional cleanings you receive will remove any hardened plaque that regular brushing can’t eliminate to protect your implants and the surrounding gum tissue.
Patient Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you want to learn more? We can help. Read answers to common questions about dental implants in Chicago and Skokie, IL.
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
Most healthy adults who have lost one or more teeth can get dental implants. You need enough bone in your jaw to support the implant and healthy gums. During your consultation, Dr. Chaiken will check your teeth, gums, and overall health to make sure dental implants are a good option for you.
How do dental implants compare to traditional dentures and bridges?
Dental implants offer several advantages over dentures. Implants are permanently fixed and do not need to be removed for cleaning. Dental implants also prevent bone loss, which is a common issue with dentures. Our implant restorations closely resemble natural teeth and offer the same function.
Unlike dental bridges, which rely on surrounding teeth for support, we anchor implants into the jawbone. This independent structure helps preserve your adjacent teeth. Dental implants have a longer lifespan than bridges, which need replacement every 5 to 10 years.
Can dental implants prevent bone loss?
Yes. When you lose a tooth, the bone that used to support it can start to shrink over time. This bone loss can change the shape of your face and even make your other teeth shift. A dental implant acts like a natural tooth root and sits securely in your jaw. It stimulates the bone just like a real tooth. Implants preserve your facial structure and also helps maintain the stability of your other teeth.
How much bone do I need to get implants?
To get dental implants, you need enough jawbone to hold the implant securely. You need approximately 1mm of bone in height and width. The implant post might not stay stable if your bone is too thin or too soft.
During your consultation, Dr. Chaiken will take X-rays or scans to check your bone. If you don’t have enough bone, our oral surgeon can perform bone grafting to build up your jaw.
How long does it take to get dental implants?
Everyone is different but dental implant treatment takes 3 to 12 months on average. Getting dental implants is a process that involves multiple steps and healing time. First, Dr. Chaiken will check your mouth and may recommend pretreatments. You may need weeks to heal after we treat gum disease, remove damaged teeth, or perform a bone graft if your jawbone isn’t strong enough.
Once your mouth is ready and we place your implants, your body needs time to heal. The bone slowly grows around the implant in a process called osseointegration, which usually takes 3 to 6 months. This helps make the implant strong and stable.
We place the abutment to connect the post to your new restoration. Your gums need time to heal several weeks. We’ll finally place your restoration once you’re healed.
Does it hurt to get implants?
Our office works to make maxillofacial surgery as comfortable as possible. During surgery, we use local anesthesia so you won’t feel pain. We also offer sedation options for extra relaxation. You may feel some pressure or mild discomfort, but most patients say it is much easier than they expected.
You can experience some soreness or swelling directly after treatment. We can prescribe pain medicine and give you tips to reduce swelling as you heal.
What is the cost and insurance coverage for dental implants?
The cost of dental implants can vary based on the number of implants needed and the complexity of the procedure. Many dental insurance plans cover only a portion of the cost. Our team at North Dental Professionals will help you navigate your insurance benefits. We can explore financing options to make the treatment more affordable.
Are dental implants permanent?
Yes, dental implants are designed to be a permanent solution for missing teeth. The titanium post is placed into your jawbone, where it fuses with the bone. This creates a very strong and stable foundation, similar to a natural tooth root.
Because of this stability, dental implants don’t slip or move. Implant posts maintain your jawbone and facial structure.
Replace Your Lost Teeth Today
If you want dental implants in Skokie or Chicago, IL, contact Dr. Paul Chaiken and our North Dental Professionals team. Call our Skokie dental office at 224-298-7907. You can also call our Chicago dental office at 708-274-4192. We’re here to guide you on your journey to better oral health.
