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Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Dean Cosmetic Dentistry podcast. I’m Margaret Dean, and today we’re talking about a topic that truly changes lives every single day in our office: dental implants.

If you’re living with a missing tooth, or maybe several, you know it’s about more than just the gap in your smile. It affects how you eat, how you speak, and honestly, how you feel about yourself when you’re out at dinner in Bearden or meeting friends in West Knoxville. You might find yourself covering your mouth when you laugh or choosing softer foods because chewing has become a chore.

I want to clear up the mystery around implants because there is so much “old school” information out there that makes the process sound scary. At our practice, we’ve turned that on its head.

So, what is a dental implant, really? Think of it as a new, high-tech root for your tooth. It’s a tiny titanium post that actually bonds with your bone. Now, the “So What?” here is huge: because it replaces the root, it stops your jawbone from shrinking away. This keeps your face looking full and youthful, rather than getting that “sunken” look that often comes with missing teeth or old-fashioned dentures.

One of the questions I get most often is, “Margaret, does it hurt?” And I love being able to tell our patients: it’s much more comfortable than you think. Because we use the Galileos Sirona 3D Imaging, Dr. Dean can see your entire jaw structure in three dimensions before we even start. He’s not guessing where that implant should go; he’s planning it with pinpoint accuracy. This means the actual procedure is faster, and your recovery is much smoother.

We also use the Solea Laser for many of our procedures, which often means no needles and no vibration. It’s a complete shift from the dental visits you might remember from years ago.

When it comes time to create your new tooth, we use our Primescan digital scanner. That means no gooey, gag-inducing putty in your mouth. We take a digital “picture” of your smile, and then Dr. Dean—who is a Master CEREC trainer—designs a crown that matches your existing teeth perfectly. You won’t just have a functional tooth; you’ll have a beautiful one that looks like it’s always been there.

The best part of my job is seeing the “after.” Seeing someone walk out of our office, headed over to lunch at Turkey Creek, finally able to order whatever they want off the menu without a second thought.

We aren’t a big corporate chain. When you come in, you’re going to see familiar faces like Karen at the front desk or Lenny helping you with your treatment plan. Sam and Vanessa will be there to make sure you’re comfortable with a blanket or a pillow, and our hygiene team—Mary and Samantha —will help you keep that new smile healthy for the rest of your life.

If you’ve been waiting to fix your smile because you were nervous or just didn’t have the time, I’m telling you: you deserve this. You deserve to feel confident again.

Give us a call at 865-539-1119 or visit us at deancosmeticdentistry.com. We’d love to sit down with you, answer your questions, and welcome you into our dental family.

I’m Margaret Dean. Thanks for spending a few minutes with me, and I can’t wait to see your new smile!

Call 865-539-1119 or visit deancosmeticdentistry.com.