Dental Implants

Specialized Dental Implant Surgery in Sioux Falls

Restore your confidence and protect your oral health with permanent, natural-looking tooth replacements in Sioux Falls.

Your teeth affect more than just your smile—they impact your speech, your nutrition, and the structural health of your jaw. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone begins to “melt away” due to a lack of stimulation, often losing 25% of its structure within the first year.

At River Ridge Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Center, we provide a permanent solution. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that mimics the natural root of a tooth, safeguarding your bone structure and preventing the premature wear of your remaining teeth. With a successful placement rate of over 96%, our surgeons are the region’s trusted experts in implant technology.

The Advantages of Dental Implants

Unlike traditional bridges or dentures, dental implants offer a lifetime of benefits:

  • Preserve Healthy Teeth: Bridges require grinding down adjacent healthy teeth for support; implants stand alone, leaving your natural teeth untouched.
  • Stop Bone Loss: Implants stimulate the jawbone, maintaining your facial profile and preventing the “collapsed” look associated with tooth loss.
  • Natural Function: Enjoy the ability to eat, speak, and smile with a restoration that looks, feels, and functions exactly like a natural tooth.
  • Long-Term Value: While other options may require replacement every few years, a dental implant is designed to last a lifetime with proper care.

Tooth Replacement Options

You can select from a number of different options to replace your missing teeth – from temporary to long-lasting solutions.

  • Fixed Bridge – A fixed bridge is a connected set of replacement teeth. For support, it is cemented into position on top of the teeth adjacent to the empty space. The protective outer layer of these teeth is usually removed or ground down prior to attaching the bridge.
  • Flipper – A fragile, temporary and inexpensive solution is a removable plastic tooth with a plastic retainer, often called a “flipper”.
  • Metal Partial – A less fragile option is a removable partial denture cast in metal and plastic. It is held in place by wire clips. A removable partial denture can be removed and reinserted when required by the patient.
  • Denture – The most common solution, for people missing all teeth in one or both jaws, is complete dentures. Some people adapt well to dentures. Others find them uncomfortable, even intolerable, because of differences in jaw size and shape.
  • Dental Implants – Dental implants are the most comfortable and permanent solution. They form a strong foundation for teeth and keep the jaw healthy and strong. Implants support individual replacement teeth or secure specialized dentures in place. Unlike bridges, no healthy teeth are damaged and can last a lifetime. Implant-supported replacement teeth can be attractive, stable, and comfortable for almost any patient.

Our Restorative-Driven Approach

We utilize a restorative-driven approach to ensure the best aesthetic and functional outcome. This means we use advanced Cone-Beam CT scanning to plan the exact position of your implant before surgery begins. We work in close coordination with your referring dentist, who will place the final custom crown once the implant has healed.

Ensuring a Strong Foundation

The key to a long-lasting implant is the quality of the bone.

  • Same-Day Placement: In many cases, we can perform the extraction and implant placement on the same day to minimize your clinic visits.
  • Bone Grafting for Implants: If your tooth has been missing for some time, the bone may be too thin for an implant. We can perform site preservation or a sinus lift to create a stable, healthy foundation.
  • Soft Tissue Grafting: To ensure a natural appearance and easy cleaning, we can also perform brief gum tissue grafts during the implant process.

What to Expect: Comfort & Cost

We believe in total transparency. During your consultation, we provide a clear estimate tailored to your specific needs.

  • Is it painful? Most patients find the procedure surprisingly comfortable. Using advanced IV sedation and precise surgical techniques, we ensure a stress-free experience.
  • Financial Ease: We are in-network with six major dental insurances and offer flexible financing through CareCredit or Cherry. We can even help coordinate your treatment timeline to maximize your annual insurance benefits.

Healing After Dental Surgery

Learn more about your healing journey after dental implant surgery. If you have any questions or concerns post surgery reach out to our office directly.