Dental Implants

Get Tooth Implants in Anchorage or Wasilla

dental implant demonstration graphic for dental implants in AnchorageAre you missing one or more teeth? Is a gap in your mouth keeping you from sharing your smile? You are not alone. In fact, millions of Americans suffer from tooth loss every year. A missing tooth can be detrimental to both your oral health and your self-esteem. Dental implants can provide a solution that will restore your healthy smile and your confidence! Visit us today for tooth implants in Anchorage, also serving Wasilla, Alaska!

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implant parts explained for tooth implants in Anchorage or WasillaA dental implant is an artificial tooth root that forms the foundation for a tooth replacement procedure. The special titanium alloy that most dental implants are made of is crafted to fuse directly to your jawbone in a process called “osseointegration.” This process creates a strong, healthy base that perfectly mimics a natural tooth root. When paired with one of our beautiful porcelain crowns, implant dentistry will restore your smile so that no one will know you were ever missing a tooth!

Benefits of Dental Implants

Close up photo of a tooth implant in Anchorage or Wasilla, AK.
At Alaska Premier Dental Group, our patients love dental implants because they provide a durable, comprehensive, and natural-looking solution to missing teeth. Tooth loss often leads to jaw deterioration. This deterioration can cause patients to suffer from sunken cheeks, difficulty eating, and other oral health issues.

Implant dentistry is the only procedure that restores both the root and the crown of your tooth. With dental implants, you will be able to eat, speak, and smile more comfortably while enjoying optimal oral health.

This root restoration also improves the health of your jawbone. The osseointegration of the titanium post actually keeps the bone from continuing the process of deterioration.

The Dental Implant Procedure

Disassembled tooth implant in Anchorage imageOur caring, well-trained doctors and staff are happy to provide the highest quality, most up-to-date dental implant technology. The procedure is relatively simple and can usually be completed in about two visits once we determine whether this procedure is right for you.

  • Before placing your dental implant, our doctors will conduct a comprehensive exam to determine whether your jawbone and gums are able to support an implant.
  • After confirming your candidacy, the doctor will prepare your gums for the tooth implant as a first step toward your new tooth.
  • After the implant is in place, your mouth will be given time to heal, and your jaw will begin to naturally fuse with the tooth implant.
  • Once the area is healed, the doctor will place an abutment and a beautiful, custom-made porcelain crown on top of the implant.

The final step in this process is watching you enjoy your new smile!

Frequently Asked Questions about Tooth Implants

How long do dental implants last?
The very first titanium implant was placed in 1965. Since then we have had a lot of opportunities to study the longevity of implants. We can confidently say that a modern implant should last at least thirty years, if not more. The technology is only getting better.
How do I care for a dental implant? Do I need special equipment?
No! You don’t need anything for an implant that you don’t already have for your natural teeth. That’s one of the great things about an implant. It is designed to be a complete synthetic tooth, and you care for it in exactly the same way. Proper brushing, flossing, and dental visits are standard for both your implants and your natural teeth.
What are implants made of?
Most implants use titanium for the root and dental porcelain for the crown. This titanium is hypoallergenic and non-toxic, providing a safe and comfortable implant experience.
Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
First and foremost, implants require sufficient jawbone density and thickness to hold the implant rod securely in place. If the bone in the area surrounding the missing tooth does not meet these measurements, it will not be able to support a dental implant, but if your bone is strong enough, implants may be the right choice for you.
Is there anything that can be done to improve the jawbone?
Yes! There are several ways to try to increase the thickness or strength of the bone. These include bone grafts and sinus lifts. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions about these procedures. We can help you discover if they are right for you.
What are bone grafts?
When you have lost a tooth due to trauma, decay, or injury, your body begins to reabsorb the surrounding jawbone due to lack of stimulation. Bone resorption decreases the quality and quantity of your jawbone, making chewing difficult, and giving your face a sunken, aged appearance.

Unfortunately, patients with diminished jawbone density may not be ideal candidates for dental implants. However, bone graft surgery can help replenish lost jawbone and give patients the chance to receive dental implants once again.

With a bone graft, we can replace bone that is missing while promoting new bone growth in that location. This can be achieved using autogenous (your own bone), allogenic (bone from a cadaver), or xenogenic (non-living bone from another species) bone graft surgery techniques.

If you are missing teeth but lacking the necessary jawbone required for a dental implant, a dental bone graft may be the best way for you to regain the form and functionality of your smile.

What are sinus lifts?
Your maxillary sinuses are located behind the cheeks, on top of the upper teeth. The roots of the upper teeth tend to extend up into these sinuses, especially if the teeth are impacted. If for some reason you are missing your upper teeth, this leaves just a thin wall of bone separating the sinus from the mouth. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place implants into the upper jaw without resorting to some type of bone grafting.

A sinus lift is one of the most common bone grafting procedures for patients with bone loss in the upper jaw. It can reverse years of bone loss in the upper jaw. By strengthening the existing bone and growing new bone to raise the sinus floor, a sinus lift surgery can make it possible for patients with bone loss to receive dental implants.

I am missing more than one tooth. Do I need an implant for every single space?
You can, if that is what you want for your smile, but it is not required. In fact, there are several methods available for supporting a full denture set on as few as four to six implants.
How Do I Choose an Implant Dentist?
Our office has a highly-trained staff that always stands ready to provide the highest quality dental treatments possible. Our professional manner, comfortable office, and focus on your needs will all confirm that the faith you put in Alaska Premier Dental Group is well-founded.

Whatever your needs are, we are more than willing to design a plan that is just right for you.

Schedule an Implant Dentistry Consultation in Wasilla or Anchorage!

If you have any questions about tooth implants or think implant dentistry might be the solution for you, contact us today! We would be thrilled to help restore your smile!