Dental Implants
Nothing can take the place of a healthy set of teeth, but when a disease or an accident causes tooth loss, it is good to know you have sturdy options like dental implants for repairing your smile.
Dental implants are a safe, effective method that replicates your tooth roots. These devices are medical grade titanium screws that are surgically placed into the jawbone. Once the implant has completed its healing phase, we will add replacement teeth to complete the process.
At Three Rivers Dental in the Flathead Valley, we take the time to get to know you, understand your goals, and create a personalized plan so you feel comfortable and confident in your care. Come to a dentist who has received extensive dental education in implant education as an ICOI Fellow. Call our office in Columbia Falls today to learn more about dental implants.
Dental Implants video
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small, medical-grade titanium posts that serve as artificial tooth roots. Surgically placed into your jawbone, these implants provide a stable foundation for replacement teeth, whether that’s a single crown, a dental bridge, or even a full set of implant-supported dentures.
Once placed, your dental implant fuses naturally with the bone through a process called osseointegration. This secure bond helps ensure your restoration looks, feels, and functions just like a natural tooth.
At Three Rivers Dental, we use the latest technology and techniques to ensure that your implants integrate successfully and provide lifelong benefits.
When Dental Implants Are Necessary
Dental implants act as the anchor to secure replacement teeth together. Patients who deal with the following tooth conditions are typically suggested to receive dental implants:
- Infected Tooth Roots: Unaddressed dental decay can deteriorate the roots of your teeth, which can injure your smile. Dental implants replace inoperable tooth roots.
- Damaged Teeth: Missing or irreparable teeth are replaced with the help of dental implants holding the new tooth together.
- Stabilize Dental Tools: If you’re dealing with old, unstable dentures or bridges, it may be time to replace them. Dental implants help these products last as long as possible.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants can set you up for a lifetime of a stable smile. Our patients have raved about how dental implants have helped them with these concerns:
Your teeth are responsible for managing the food that, in turn, impacts your general health. A clean and repaired smile makes it easy to eat healthy foods and spend more time taking care of your emotional and physical well-being.
Missing or damaged teeth can make your jaw and gumline seem to hang down or look slack. Healthy tooth roots are essential for maintaining straight and functional smiles. Filling in broken teeth with dental implants can limit future orthodontic work and prevent further injury to your teeth.
Tooth sensitivity and pain are a difficult reality for many patients with infected teeth and roots. Replacing a wounded tooth root can eliminate your tooth’s pain levels, allowing you to go about your day as usual.
When teeth are missing, the jawbone can begin to shrink over time. Implants stimulate the bone just like natural tooth roots, helping to preserve bone density and prevent facial collapse.
Unlike bridges, dental implants don’t require structural support from adjacent healthy teeth. This helps protect your remaining natural tooth structure.
Our Dental Implant Process
At Three Rivers Dental, we take pride in offering a streamlined, comfortable implant process:
Your journey begins with a detailed consultation. We’ll assess your oral health, take advanced 3D images, and create a treatment plan tailored to your unique situation.
Thanks to Dr. Evon’s advanced training as an ICOI fellow and her experience at the Kois Center, you can feel confident in the precision and care that goes into your implant surgery. In many cases, we can offer immediate implant placement, where the implant is placed on the same day as tooth extraction.
Over the next few months, your implant will fuse securely with your jawbone. We’ll monitor your progress and provide guidance to support healing.
Once healing is complete, we’ll attach your custom crown, bridge, or denture, ensuring a natural, comfortable fit.
Immediate Dental Implants—Save Time, Save Smiles
In traditional implant procedures, there’s often a waiting period of several months between tooth extraction and implant placement. However, Dr. Evon can frequently offer same-day implant placement, reducing your treatment time and getting you back to smiling sooner.
This approach isn’t right for everyone, but it’s a fantastic option for eligible patients looking for quicker results without compromising quality.
If you are debating whether dental implants fit your needs, feel free to schedule a consultation with our office today! We would be more than happy to discuss your needs to see if you qualify for dental implant treatment.
Types of Dental Implant Solutions We Offer
Every smile is unique, that’s why we provide a variety of dental implant options:
- Single Tooth Implants: Replace a single missing tooth with an implant and crown that looks and functions like the real thing.
- Implant-Supported Bridges: If you’re missing multiple teeth in a row, an implant-supported bridge offers a stable, natural-looking solution.
- Implant-Retained Dentures: Tired of slipping dentures? Implants can anchor full or partial dentures securely in place, offering greater comfort and chewing ability.
- All-on-4® & All-on-X Dental Implants: For patients missing all teeth on the upper or lower arch, the All-on-4® or All-on-X treatment concept uses 4–6 strategically placed implants to support a full set of teeth, often on the same day as surgery.
Find Dental Implants For Your Needs
All-on-X video
Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most healthy adults are good candidates for dental implants. Factors we’ll consider include:
- Overall health
- Oral hygiene habits
- Bone density in the jaw
- Smoking status (smoking can affect healing)
If you need bone grafting or other preparatory treatments, we’ll explain your options and help you achieve the foundation necessary for the long-term implant process.
The Three Rivers Dental Way
Dr. Evon and our team will do everything in our power to make your experience receiving dental implants a satisfactory one. Some patients have reported appreciating the following advantages:
- Compassionate, Personalized Care: Your comfort is our priority, and we take the time to understand your concerns, answer your questions, and ensure you feel at ease every step of the way.
- State-of-the-Art Techniques: Dr. Evon’s training at the Kois Center emphasizes patient-first, research-driven treatment, allowing us to provide the most effective and up-to-date care tailored to your needs.
- Advanced Implant Training: Dr. Evon has received specialized training with dental implants as an ICOI Fellow, making her a notable implant dentist in the Montana area. This rigorous recognition has helped patients receive more from their implant visits.
Caring for Your Dental Implants
Maintaining your dental implants is essential for ensuring their long-term success and protecting your oral health. The good news? Implant care is simple and is similar to caring for natural teeth.
Daily Oral Hygiene
Brush at least twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and low-abrasive fluoride toothpaste to prevent plaque buildup around the implant. Make sure to floss daily, focusing on cleaning around the implant and under any implant-supported bridges or dentures.
Routine Professional Care
Visit Three Rivers Dental for professional cleanings and exams at least twice a year, or more frequently if recommended. We’ll monitor your implant health and clean areas that are difficult to reach at home.
Lifestyle Habits that Protect Your Implants
If you smoke, consider quitting. Smoking significantly increases the risk of implant failure by interfering with healing and bone health. Avoid using your teeth as tools. If you grind your teeth at night, we recommend a nightguard to protect your implants and teeth from excessive wear or damage.
What to Watch For
While problems are rare, call us right away if you notice:
- Swelling, redness, or tenderness around the implant
- Loosening of the restoration
- Difficulty chewing
- Unusual pain
Prompt care can address issues before they become serious, helping preserve your implant for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
With good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, dental implants can last 30 years or more.
Most patients report minimal discomfort. We use local anesthesia, and sedation is available for your comfort. Post-op soreness is typically manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.
Cost varies depending on how many implants you need, the type of restoration, and any additional procedures like bone grafting. During your consultation, we’ll provide a transparent cost estimate and discuss financing options.
Dental implants have a success rate of over 95%, making them one of the most reliable tooth replacement solutions.
Age is not a limiting factor for dental implants. As long as you’re healthy enough for oral surgery, implants can be a great option at any stage of life. We’ve successfully restored smiles for patients in their 70s, 80s, and beyond.
If you’ve experienced bone loss, our office or a specialist often performs a bone graft or sinus lift to rebuild the area and create a stable foundation for implants. In some cases, options like All-on-X can work even with reduced bone density.
Unlike traditional dentures that rest on the gums and may shift or slip, dental implants are anchored securely in your jawbone. This means greater stability, no need for adhesives, and better ability to chew a wide variety of foods.
Yes! We custom-design your implant restorations to match the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth. Most people will never know you have an implant; they’ll simply see a beautiful, complete smile.
While rare, implant failure can occur, often due to poor oral hygiene, smoking, or untreated gum disease. Choosing an experienced implant dentist like Dr. Evon greatly reduces this risk, and we’ll guide you on how to protect your investment.
The timeline varies. In some cases, immediate placement allows for tooth removal and implant placement in a single visit. Otherwise, the process from implant placement to final restoration typically takes 3–6 months, allowing time for healing and osseointegration.
Start Your Tooth Restoration in Our Flathead Valley Clinic
Take the first step towards restoring your smile with the help of an experienced implant professional who cares about your needs. Call Three Rivers Dental in Columbia Falls, MT, to schedule a visit today.