Are you tired of dealing with the hassle of missing teeth, or perhaps the discomfort of ill-fitting dentures? Dental implants might just be the solution you've been searching for. These sturdy, artificial tooth roots offer a permanent and natural-looking solution to address tooth loss. However, not everyone is an ideal candidate for this procedure.
When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants have emerged as a complete solution, providing not only aesthetic benefits but also restoring functionality. If you're considering dental implants in Atlanta, GA, you likely have an abundance of questions.
We scoured Google to find out what questions people ask about dental implants. In today’s blog, you’ll learn a wealth of information about dental implants: what they are, what the procedure entails, the risks, and the rewards.
After reading, if you still have questions about dental implants or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Aiken or Shessel, call Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta at 404-846-4793.e.
Dental implants are a dental prosthetic that secures and stabilizes a single tooth, bridge, or denture. Implants are small biocompatible screws. We insert them into the jaw during a brief surgery. Over the course of months, the patient’s jawbone integrates with the implants to create a solid anchoring point for a dental prosthetic.
A single implant can hold a single tooth; a bridge usually requires a few implants; and with the All on Four technique, four implants can hold a denture in place so that the patient doesn’t experience any slippage, wobbling, or looseness.
Patients with insufficient bone density to support implants aren’t good candidates. However, these patients can undergo bone grafting to improve jawbone density and thus become candidates for dental implants.
Patients with diabetes, and those with an autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis, often heal more slowly than healthy people. Slow healing can result in implant failure.
Other potentially poor candidates include those who grind their teeth (bruxers), those who have untreated gum disease, and cancer patients with jaw irradiation (osteoradionecrosis).
If your health qualifies you for dental implants, the entire procedure will take about nine months to one year. The bulk of this time is spent waiting for the jawbone to solidify implant posts during a stage called osseointegration.
First, the surgeon will secure your implant(s) to the jaw during an outpatient oral surgery at Oral Health Specialists of Atlanta.
Next, we wait. Your jaw needs months to integrate with the implant posts through osseointegration. The surgeon will tell you how long he expects osseointegration to take.
Once the implants are completely stable, another brief surgery is necessary to reveal the implant heads and secure abutments. Abutments allow us to attach prosthetics to implants.
Next, the doctor will secure your final prosthetic. Denture patients can opt for a permanently affixed or removable denture. Patients with physical or cognitive disabilities may benefit from a permanent prosthesis.
Nine to 12 months, in most cases. The bulk of this time is a waiting period when bone tissue grows strong around implant posts, securing them so that they can endure the pressures of biting and chewing while holding a prosthetic.
Not at Oral Surgery Associates of Atlanta! As oral surgeons, Drs. Aiken and Shessel can administer a local anesthetic, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and general anesthesia. If you’re concerned about procedure pain or pain from sitting in a dental chair for an extended time, tell the surgeon so he can recommend appropriate sedation.
Following surgical placement of dental implant posts, patients may experience pain, bleeding, bruising, and/or inflammation. Symptoms will peak on day three. You’ll need to take about a week off work to rest after dental implant surgery. We provide implant patients with postoperative instructions for pain management and recovery.
After two weeks, all of these symptoms should have subsided. If they persist, call our office for an appointment. Rest assured, dental implants have a 95% success rate.
The cost of dental implants ranges significantly based on factors like:
Prerequisite procedures (extraction, grafting)
Where in the mouth implants are to be placed
How many implants are being placed
The type, materials, and quality of the final prosthetic
While a denture, bridge, or single tooth replacement is considered necessary, dental implants aren’t a medical necessity. Insurance and Medicaid will not pay for dental implants. However, you can seek cosmetic insurance coverage or finance the procedure through a third party like CareCredit, which offers low- and no-interest loans for qualified applicants.
The only concern with age is whether a person is too young. We prefer to place dental implants in patients over the age of 25, but in some cases will perform the procedure on someone as young as 18 years of age.
Bone growth may still occur in a patient in his early 20s. Because an average of 5mm vertical tooth movement occurs between the ages of 15 and 25, an implant placed too early in life could be shorter than surrounding teeth.
We often say “implants last a lifetime,’’ but the truth is, implant posts usually last up to 30 years. Because many implant patients are senior citizens, 30 years likely encompasses the rest of their life. The crown, bridge, or denture on your implant(s) is not expected to last three decades.
The average lifespan of restorative prosthetics is as follows:
Crown: 5-15 years
Bridge: up to 10 years
Denture: 5-15 years
Dental implants have a 95% success rate overall. However, in 5% of dental implant patients, problems may surface. It is extremely important for you to qualify for implants prior to placement and if you smoke, you should stop.
The most common causes of implant failure include:
Diabetes
Gum disease
Poor jawbone density
Poor oral hygiene practices
Pre-existing conditions (cancer, etc.)
Tobacco use (smoking, dipping)
Bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching)
If you develop a fever and chills while recovering from implant placement surgery, call us. You may have developed an infection. An estimated 4-10% of implant patients develop infection after implant placement surgery. We might save your implant by prescribing antibiotics to treat bacterial infection, but you must contact us as soon as you notice problems.
Also, if your implant(s) ever feel loose or appear to have shifted, give us a call. We will want to assess your implants and oral health to determine if infection or failure is occurring. Both issues may be treatable.
In some cases, a failing implant may be saved. It’s vitally important that you call us if you notice anything abnormal. The earlier we address issues, the better chance we have of saving your implant.
No dental restorations or prosthetics will ever develop cavities.
Other issues can occur, though. For instance, when oral health is not maintained with daily brushing and flossing, as well as six-month dental checkups and cleanings, an implant patient may develop:
Gum disease
Shifting of implant
Gum recession
Jawbone damage
Infection
Peri-implantitis
Do you have more questions? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Aiken or Shessel. The surgeon will evaluate your oral health, take x-rays, and inform you of your candidacy or need for prerequisite procedures. He’ll also answer all of your questions. Call Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta today at 404-846-4793.
The dreaded wisdom teeth removal, dental implant surgery, bone grafting….it all sounds pretty scary, and the truth is it’s no joke. Viral videos of loopy patients and pain filled recoveries are all too common.
But is there hope for a better experience?
If you’re in need of oral surgery in the Atlanta area, you are in luck! The team and doctors at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta are trained and ready to make your experience as quick and painless as possible.
They offer a variety of oral surgery procedures that will fit many of your needs.
Wisdom Teeth Removal: wisdom teeth are something that just about everyone has, but rarely are they found to be beneficial for healthy function. According to the ADA and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, everyone should have their wisdom teeth evaluated. Our belief is that most patients should have their wisdom teeth removed to prevent pain, damage to their adjacent teeth, possible infection, as well as other potential risks that may arise.
Dental Implants: everything from single tooth replacement to All-on-4 dental implants offer a great, convenient and functional solution to missing teeth.
Bone Grafting: Bone grafts fill sockets, build bone for dental implant placement, and stabilize existing teeth after either disease, or a missing tooth has caused bone loss in the mouth.
Oral Pathology: Oral pathology refers to diseases that may develop inside the oral cavity, jaws, or salivary glands. These can cause issues to both your dentition as well as to your overall oral health and should be addressed by a professional.
Impacted Tooth Exposure Treatment: oftentimes patients require surgery to assist their dentist or orthodontist complete their prescribed treatment plan. Typically, this is done through a procedure known as exposure and bonding.
Pre-Prosthetic Exposure: This procedure may be necessary to prepare your mouth, gum, or jaw structure for dentures. This may include smoothing, reshaping, removal of excess tissue or bone, or exposure of impacted teeth. It is a necessary procedure often overlooked before dental prosthetics are placed.
Pain is the most common fear when discussing dental procedures and particularly oral surgery. Our team is very aware of this concern and we work hard to minimize the unpleasantry of surgery while ensuring that each patient is as comfortable as possible before, during and after their procedure.
We offer the following types of anesthesia:
Local anesthesia: consists of “One or more injections near the site of each extraction” (Mayo Clinic, 2021) after the gum is numbed (typically by a numbing gel) in order to minimize the pain from the shot.
Nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) anesthesia: this type of anesthesia is used for many of our awake procedures. It is an inhaled gas through your nose which serves to reduce pain and anxiety during the procedure.
Intravenous/Deep sedation anesthesia: this type of anesthesia is administered through an intravenous (IV) line in your arm. This suppresses the consciousness so that you “drift off to sleep” and pain is not felt during the procedure. The patient is fully monitored as they would be in the operating room, only in our office they are still breathing on their own. Memory of the procedure is limited, and our patients typically have an excellent experience.
If you need oral and facial surgery, the team at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta are here for you. A consultation is a great place to start for questions or curiosity of a certain procedure. Our surgeons will be happy to help and provide you with all the comfort you need to keep your mouth happy and healthy.
Maybe you’ve been told by your dentist that you need oral surgery.
Maybe you (or your child, spouse, etc.) are experiencing pain in your mouth or jaw region and you know that something isn’t right.
Either way, it’s likely you’re going to need a procedure in the near future to fix the issue and alleviate the pain or discomfort.
So just like everyone does these days, you go to the internet to look for someone who is highly-trained, specialized, and seems to be loved by their current patients.
However, it’s confusing.
What are you really looking for? How do you differentiate dentists from oral surgeons, and to that point, one oral surgeon from another?
In this article, we’re going to share with you a little bit about our philosophy and why we believe you should choose Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta for wisdom teeth extractions, dental implants, and other procedures that we perform on a daily basis.
If you are in the Atlanta area or really anywhere in the Southeastern United States, and are looking for an oral surgeon, we encourage you to read our reviews, watch some of our video testimonials from patients, and read the article below to get a better understanding of what separates us from other practices.
We understand that, even though oral surgery is part of our daily routine, that isn’t the case for you or your children.
We know it can be scary; the words surgery, procedure, treatment...they can all be scary and intimidating.
We also understand that this may be your very first surgery and we don’t take that lightly.
You can call it an attitude of compassion or empathy, but we always “put ourselves in your shoes” to better understand how you’re feeling. We look for ways to ensure your experience is a positive one.
Sure, no one wakes up and wants to go to the oral surgeon, but we do our very best to ensure your experience is calm, comfortable, and relaxed once you are here.
That being said, we can say all we want about the quality of our practice and how much patients love our top rated oral surgeons, but the proof is in the reviews and testimonials. Without those our words don’t mean much.
Here are what a few patients have to say about our chairside manner and overall experience at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta:
I chose this practice based on their overall 5 rating and they did not disappoint. Dr. Aiken extracted my son's 4 wisdom teeth on 9/18. My son opted for a combination of Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas), Local Anesthesia, and the new medication administered during the procedure to minimize post-operative pain (can't recall the name, but it was worth the extra cost). He stated that Dr. Aiken was very kind and reassuring during the surgery. Not once did my son complain of post surgery pain. His surgery was on a Tuesday and by Friday he was back at work. The entire office staff was great! Dr. Aiken called personally to follow up and check on my son. They are the best and very worthy of t heir high rating.
I came to this office after going through a difficult experience at another office out of the country. The oral surgeon that removed my wisdom tooth left pieces tooth and I couldn't stand the pain. I had to do my surgery again to remove the residue. Dr Shessel was amazing. I had a great experience with all the staff. They are very professional and caring.
Called Friday morning and had an appointment later that morning. Dr. Aiken is AWESOME! The staff is so amazing. If you ever need dental work this is the place to go. I wish I was able to give 10 stars. Office manager Cindy and Dr. Aiken both called me over the weekend to check up on me and make sure I was healing good. BEST people ever!!!
Out of all the oral surgery practices in Atlanta, I chose Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta because of their 5star rating and personal reviews and they did not disappoint. Dr. Shessel and his staff were extremely professional and helpful during the whole process. Although I was extremely anxious about removing all 4 of my wisdom teeth, Dr. Shessel and his staff made sure to calm my fears and answer any questions I had. I would highly encourage anyone looking for the best oral surgeon to visit Dr. Shessel and his team!
Quick and painless wisdom tooth removal with proper follow up care. I felt comfortable here, even with ‘white coat syndrome’ . My Wisdom tooth socket is almost healed and I have not experience any complications. Up to date medical equipment and friendly staff made my time at this facility a 10+. * This location accepts care credit as a form of payment.
One of the best oral surgeon I have ever been to. This place was recommended to me by my dentist. They were very gentle with me and took very good care of me. I only went for a consultation but my Doctor had time to take care of my needs all in the same day. The dental assistant never left my side. I had an awesome and amazing appointment. May God Bless.
You can read more patient reviews on Google here, or visit the link below to see what patients (as well as referring dentists) have to say about our practice:
Nothing is more important at our practice than our patients...period. Not our team, not the doctors, no one.
Surgery should not be an impersonal experience, making you feel that you’re just a number. Sure that methodology can be efficient at times, but it’s just not how we do things.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, you or your child, spouse, etc. are more than just a number; you’re a real human being who has questions and concerns. We want to make sure you understand everything and are comfortable.
While we do many “service-related” things for our patients, here are a few:
The Ritz-Carlton experience. No one wants to have oral surgery, but if it’s necessary, we think you might as well get treated like royalty.
You’ll see the same doctor throughout your procedure. Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel both have a vast amount of experience with extractions, placing implants, and with many other procedures, and are both board certified and qualified to do any procedure you need. That being said, we understand that patients will develop rapport with a particular doctor, so we ensure you see one doctor from the time of your first consult all the way through your post-op appointment.
We will call you to see how you’re doing. This isn’t just a profession. We have a vested interest in a successful outcome for every patient. We genuinely care for each person who comes through our doors. You’ll get a personal call from us a few days after your surgery to check on you.
If you choose Dr. Aiken or Dr. Shessel for your oral and facial surgery needs, you’ll be in great hands before, during, and after your procedure.
General (family) dentists are great. In fact, they are the backbone of the dental field and are the first line of defense (other than routine brushing and flossing) toward preventing a variety of dental issues and improving your overall oral health and wellness.
The relationship between a general dentist and an oral surgeon is similar to the relationship between a family physician and a surgeon. It’s not that one is “better” than the other, they simply serve two different roles in the care and treatment process.
As oral surgeons, Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel have advanced training above and beyond a DMD, and are Diplomates of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Not only did they complete several more years of school after getting their DMDs, they also completed a 350-question written exam and an oral exam to become board certified.
We feel it’s important that oral surgery is completed by a board certified oral surgeon. That may sound like common sense, but many people have oral surgery procedures completed by a general dentist.
Again, it’s not that a general dentist can’t perform the procedure, it’s that they typically do not do them day in and day out as part of their daily routine like an oral surgeon does.
It’s really simple, the more you work at your craft, the more proficient you become. At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel have extracted 40,000+ teeth and performed countless oral surgery procedures.
While everyone on the team at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta are very accommodating with their time in answering any questions or concerns you may have, we are also efficient.
We know you don’t want to wait long or have a surgery that lasts longer than it should. Being that oral surgery is all we do at our office, we’ve gotten our procedures, processes, and systems down to a science.
You’ll receive the personalized, one-on-one care you need, but we won’t take up any more of your time than needed to get the job done. In fact, after surgery, many patients or their family members have remarked, “Wow, that was fast!”
We never, ever rush (we are meticulous and take our time). It’s just that when you’re experienced in something and have done it thousands of times like we have, it doesn’t take as long.
When you or someone you love are about to have oral surgery, we don’t think a quick “in the door, out the door” consult is the best way to do things.
As part of the “Ritz Carlton” experience you’ll receive when visiting our practice, we do one-on-one consultations with the doctor who will perform your surgery.
You’ll be given the opportunity to ask your surgeon (not a staff member) any questions you have. To be honest, we hope you have questions because we enjoy helping patients better understand their options!
Your consultation will generally last around half an hour, so you’ll get plenty of time with Dr. Aiken or Dr. Shessel without feeling hurried, pressured, or rushed into anything. It’s part of the unique patient experience we provide at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta.
Do you know that you need a special license to administer certain types of sedation?
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, we obtained all required licensing to administer oral, nitrous oxide, or IV sedation for dental procedures.
When appropriate, we like to give our patients options. We are happy to discuss the benefits of each and to make recommendations for what we feel is best for you or your family member.
When you talk with Dr. Aiken or Dr. Shessel about your sedation, you’ll get their opinion, but know that you have a say, as well. We want to ensure you are sedated as needed, but also want you to feel comfortable with the sedation method.
Experience matters. While we do everything in our power to eliminate any unforeseen circumstances before surgery (and are successful with almost every patient), oral surgery is surgery and something unforeseen could happen during your procedure.
If this were to occur with yourself, your child, or your spouse, wouldn’t you want an experienced surgeon in the room who can deal with the situation in a calm, methodical manner?
You certainly don’t want someone who just does an oral surgery “here and there.” You want someone who can think with a level head and has the experience, knowledge, and clarity to find a solution and fix whatever issues arise.
For example, let’s say that a tooth fractures during an extraction procedure. This is sometimes hard to predict during a consultation, but is actually somewhat common during surgery.
When this occurs you want to have an experienced oral surgeon taking care of you. It’s quite common for Dr's Aiken and Shessel to be called upon by non-oral surgeons who couldn't complete a procedure due to this routine complication.
Choosing an oral surgeon from the onset can save both the patient and his/her dentist a lot of time and headache, plus give you peace of mind knowing you are having your extraction performed by someone who does this day in and day out.
Traditional panoramic x-rays alone are often inadequate when planning a successful oral surgery. In fact, traditional x-rays can miss nerves and sinuses that are too close to the surgical area.
We have an on-site 3D CT scanner to quickly and easily get the imaging we need for a more accurate diagnosis and treatment. Getting a CT scan versus an x-ray is a lot like seeing the entire iceberg versus just the tip sticking out of the water. We need to see everything in and around the surgical area to avoid any unforeseen issues.
If we see anything that could be a problem, we’ll communicate that with you before your surgery, as well as give you your options and our recommendations. Our goal is to arm ourselves with as much information as possible so that we can communicate clearly with you and provide the best treatment possible.
There is no doubt that prescription drug addiction is a serious concern in the United States. It is estimated that more than 15 million Americans abuse prescription drugs and 2,500 youths age 12-17 abuse a prescription drug for the first time according to this Foundation for a Drug Free World article.
It’s an epidemic and something we take very seriously when prescribing pain medications after oral surgery.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, we want to provide you with the pain relief you need. We do so in a responsible way. This is why we are administering Exparel® injections to many patients after their oral surgery.
Exparel is a single dose, non-opioid injection that can reduce the need for pain medications following your surgery. We’ve administered it successfully to many patients with satisfying results. If you would like to learn more about Exparel, visit their website below:
From 2018-2022 we have been voted “best oral surgeon” in the Atlanta area… an award we’re very proud of!
“Since 1961, Atlanta magazine, the city’s premier general interest publication, has served as the authority on Atlanta, providing its readers with a mix of long-form nonfiction, lively lifestyle coverage, in-depth service journalism, and literary essays, columns, and profiles.” (source)
We are happy to have been voted as the best oral surgery in Atlanta 5 years in a row.
You don’t want to walk into a dental or oral surgery office not knowing how experienced your surgeon really is.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel are both scientists and artists when it comes to tooth extractions, placing dental implants, and any other form of oral surgery.
With thousands of teeth extracted and countless procedures under their belts, you can feel confident knowing that when you choose us for your oral surgery, you’re selecting a surgeon who has the experience to get the job done right the first time.
Choosing an oral surgeon isn’t an easy thing to do, but we hope this article has helped you to understand our practice on a deeper level.
As one of the leading oral surgery practices in the greater Atlanta area, we understand that we are taking your oral health into our hands, and as such, we treat every patient (and their family) with dignity, respect, compassion, and professionalism.
If you’re a parent reading this, we especially want to let you know that we will treat your child like our very own children, nieces, or nephews when they are under our care.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel are committed to providing the impeccable care and treatment you would expect from a big city practice, while at the same time providing the level of hospitality and personalized follow-up care you would expect from small town, family-friendly doctors.
If you would like to learn more about our practice or if you’re ready to schedule your appointment, please contact us here or call our office today. We look forward to meeting you and your family, and we look forward to providing you with everything you need for a stress-free, hassle-free oral surgery experience.
If you haven’t already, please make sure to check out our reviews and testimonials to see what other patients are saying about their experience with Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta.
It is imperative to take care of your physical health; however, people tend to overlook how emotional health is tied to their overall health. In a world that is increasingly congested with everyday stressors, your smile should not be something you worry about.
A single smile releases natural endorphins, and endorphins deliver a feeling of euphoria and positivity. Endorphins are also excellent stress releasers and help you to show when you are feeling happy. Additional benefits to smiling include lower blood pressure and a boost in the immune system. The simple act of smiling is a powerful social unifier; it is a universal expression across all countries and languages.
But if you’re afraid to smile, then what do you do?
If you are embarrassed because you have missing, broken, or decayed teeth, then you are probably not smiling very much and are missing out on limitless chances that encourage your emotional wellness.
The American Academy of Implant Dentistry has released a study to show that the number of Americans who are missing teeth, in either one or both of their jaws, is astounding. If you are one of the 30 million Americans reported to be in this category, we can help you find your smile again through dental implants.
Dental implant options (single tooth implants, full mouth implants) are often the preferred option over removable dentures or bridges. Dental implants are secured and fixed in the mouth, which is why they look, function, and clean just like natural teeth. This option is often more convenient for people who do not want to fuss over removable dentures.
Each patient has an individual facial structure and facial aesthetic. Since dental implants are custom fitted into your mouth, the result is completely natural. After several months, your dental implants will have healed enough for you to receive your permanent prosthesis. You may also be fitted with a temporary prosthesis, depending on the location of the implant(s), so you can immediately start smiling again.
No one should have to agonize or suffer from oral health issues; we want you to always feel happy with your smile. Dental implants are an incredibly safe and effective way to restore your smile, which will only enhance your quality of life.
Do you have questions about dental implants? Would you like more information on the dental implant process? Wondering how much dental implants cost?
Please contact our dental implants specialists at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta to schedule a consultation. We will evaluate and determine the treatment plan and method that is right for you.
