Dental Implants

Creating A Smile You Can Be Proud Of In Cary, NC

At Cary Smiles, we help our patients achieve confident smiles. Our knowledgeable, trusted team is highly trained in restoring your smile with dental implants. This permanent solution is a safe, effective way to replace missing teeth. Unlike removable dentures, implants are a fixed appliance—you will never have to worry about taking them out or managing extra care. Dr. Rahee Shah and our team are excited to help you love your smile again and enjoy eating, chewing and speaking with a full set of teeth!

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About Dental Implants

Dental implants are an extremely common medical device surgically placed in your jawbone to replace missing teeth, with more than 3 million performed in the United States every year. They are used to support artificial teeth, including crowns and bridges, and function just like real teeth in order to make chewing easier and create a more aesthetically pleasing smile. They are made up of three parts: the implant body, abutment and artificial tooth. When working together, they create a seamless function of a natural tooth and enhance a person’s facial appearance, which we believe can dramatically improve a person’s overall quality of life and health.

How Cary Smiles Places Dental Implants

The process of receiving dental implants can feel lengthy–spanning over several months from start to finish–but we believe it’s worth the beautiful, healthy smile you receive in the end! At Cary Smiles, we tailor your treatment to your specific needs and goals. The following is a general overview of what you can expect during the process, but your experience may look a little different depending on Dr. Shah’s recommendations for you.

Consultation: You will first have a consultation with Dr. Shah, where he will assess the health of your mouth and determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants. During this appointment, our team may also take dental X-rays to capture a complete picture of your oral health.

Implant Surgery: On the day of the surgery, you will be given anesthesia to numb your gums and help keep you comfortable. You may also be given the option for sedation to help with any anxiety or fear you may have. Next, Dr. Shah will precisely position the implant into the jawbone and secure the area by closing the incision with stitches.
Temporary Tooth: Depending on your case, Dr. Shah may place a temporary cap tooth for you to wear until you are fully healed and ready to come back for your permanent crown.
Healing: In some cases, we are able to place your dental implant with the crown all in one visit. However, Dr. Shah may recommend that you take some time to heal to make sure the jawbone fuses to the implant properly before coming back to receive your crown.
Attaching The Artificial Tooth: After you have healed from the implant procedure, Dr. Shah will carefully position the abutment and restorative piece. This process generally takes about an hour and is an outpatient procedure, allowing you to go home after or return to work.

Caring For Your Dental Implants

The beauty of dental implants is that they are fixed to your mouth and care is minimal. They will look and feel just like your natural teeth and help you bite, chew and speak with ease! If you follow these three tips, along with any other instructions from Dr. Shah, your dental implants can last a lifetime!

Maintain good oral habits: Just as you should be doing with your other teeth, make sure you keep your artificial tooth and gums clean by brushing twice a day. We recommend an interdental brush that is able to get into the nooks and crannies easily!
Stay on top of your routine dental visits: Make sure you visit our Cary, NC office every 6 months for your routine dental visit and cleaning. This allows our team to make sure everything looks good and catch any problems with your dental implants if they arise.
Break bad habits: Avoid any damaging habits such as nail biting, smoking or chewing on crunchy items such as ice and hard candy, as that can damage your restorative device.

Our Patients Are At The Root Of Everything We Do

We are committed to delivering a positive dental experience for every patient, every time. Our warm and welcoming team fosters a relaxing, comfortable environment that feels like home. We use cutting-edge technology, such as digital X-rays, scans, and 3D-printed appliances, to ensure your comfort and provide exceptional care. Request an appointment today!