Dental Implants

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Restore Your Smile With Dental Implants!

Missing teeth can now be replaced easily and effectively by dental implants. Through restorative implant dentistry, Dr. Oppenlander can replace areas of lost teeth with natural, esthetic and functional porcelain crowns.

Dental Implants in Portage, MI

What are dental implants?

An implant is a surgically placed post that supports a natural looking tooth-colored ceramic crown.Dental implants are small titanium posts that replace the roots of missing teeth.

They are inserted into your jawbone during a minor surgical procedure that takes place in the dental office. After the implant has been placed in your jawbone, a completely lifelike porcelain tooth crown is attached. In some cases, the implant needs to fuse with the bone for several months before it is permanently crowned; in other cases, you can have new (but temporary) teeth the same day your implants are placed.

By placing an implant where there is a missing tooth we are able to improve and maintain a healthy, balanced smile. The benefits of an implant are that it conserves tooth structure of the adjacent teeth and prevents bone loss or misalignment resulting from the loss of a tooth. Let us show you how easily this can be accomplished.

How many teeth can be replaced with dental implants?

You can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or all your teeth with implants. You don't even need one implant for every missing tooth. As few as two Implants can support a removable lower denture, while as few as four implants can provide a full, permanent set of top or bottom teeth.

Is dental implant surgery painful?

Most people find dental implant surgery very easy to tolerate. Any post-operative discomfort can usually be managed with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or OTC pain-relievers. Ice can also be helpful.

Are dental implants expensive?

At the outset, implants are more expensive than other tooth-replacement methods such as dentures or bridgework. But they also last many years longer and in fact should never need replacement. So they offer the best, most cost-effective option when viewed as a long-term investment in your health, comfort and well-being.

How do you care for dental implants?

They require exactly the same care as natural teeth: daily brushing and flossing, along with regular dental checkups and professional cleanings. Although implant teeth will never decay, the gum tissues around them can become inflamed or infected in the absence of good oral hygiene. Properly cared-for dental implants should last a lifetime.

Can my body reject a dental implant?

Strictly speaking, implants can't be rejected because they contain no living cells or genetically coded material. The titanium of which they are made is completely biocompatible, and allergies are extremely rare. But an implant can fail to integrate with the jawbone if an infection develops in the absence of good oral hygiene, or if it is subjected to biting forces too soon. However, this is rare; implants regularly achieve success rates in excess of 95%.

Am I a candidate for dental implants?

There's a good chance that you are, but this can only be determined after a complete oral examination that includes x-rays of your jaws. Please schedule a consultation to begin the exciting process of restoring your smile and bite.

Dental Implants Before Portage, MI Dental Implants After Portage, MI

Dental Implants Before Portage, MI Dental Implants After Portage, MI

Interested in Dental Implants from Richard A. Oppenlander, DDS, PLC?
Call our Portage, MI office at (269) 327-9332 today!

Dental Veneers

In just two or three dental visits, a veneer can reverse years of stains caused by foods, caffeine and tobacco use.

Special thin laminates, called veneers, can often be used to correct discolored, worn down, cracked and chipped teeth. Veneers can also be used to close unsightly gaps between teeth. Stronger types of veneers made of porcelain, also called composite veneers, typically last longer because they are bonded to the tooth.

An impression of the tooth must be made and a veneer molded by a lab technician. Because veneers require a small amount of enamel to be removed, they are permanent and non-reversible.

The process involves buffing the tooth, removing an extremely thin layer of the tooth to allow for the thickness of the veneer, an impression of the tooth, and final bonding of the veneer to the tooth with special cement. A special light is used to complete the process.


Our Location

HOURS OF OPERATION

Richard A. Oppenlander, D.D.S., P.L.C.

Monday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wednesday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Thursday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday

Closed

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

Richard A. Oppenlander, D.D.S., P.L.C.

Monday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Thursday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
Closed
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed