Dental mini-implants in Timonium
Every implant is sized to fit, and every implant needs its own kind of care—cleanings every 3–4 months, titanium-safe instruments and a night guard if you grind, so implants keep serving you.
months
Timonium, MD
Implants and their care in Timonium
3–4 month cleanings
The frequency advised for implant patients.
Titanium-safe cleaning tools
Implants are cleaned with titanium or plastic instruments, not steel.
Protection from grinding
A custom night guard shields implants from damaging sideways forces.
Every dental service in Timonium, all in one place.
Mini-implants and implant care are one part of a full-service practice, and every one of these dental services is available in the same Timonium office.
Implant care, step by step
Here’s how the practice helps you choose the right implant and keep it healthy.
Size the implant to you
Implants come in specific lengths and widths, sized for your particular need; by definition, full-size implants are 2.8 mm or larger in diameter. A radiographic review and CBCT scan show how much bone there is to work with.
Clean more often, with the right tools
Gums don’t seal around an implant as firmly as around a tooth, so cleanings at a 3–4 month frequency are recommended. Implants are scaled, and their pockets measured, with specialized titanium or plastic instruments.
Protect your implants at home
Home care can include interdental brushes, a water irrigator and an end-tuft or electric toothbrush. If you grind or clench, wearing a custom bite guard or night guard helps protect implants from sideways forces.
Patients in Timonium and Towson. In their words.
4.7 stars from 147 Google reviews · Dr. Steven W. Haywood, DDS: 35+ years in practice, Fellow of the ICOI, member of the AACD
“When I realized Dr. Haywood could give me implants that would be just like my natural teeth, I signed up immediately. After only a few painless visits, I had a smile like never before.”—Robert
“Received excellent care. Always detailed the work to be done and the cost. Friendly staff. Highly recommend.”—Dan
“I came in knowing I’d have all of my teeth pulled — they were terrible and not worth fixing. Even I find it hard to believe these are not my real teeth. They look great, I feel and look younger, and I can eat anything I want with no trouble.”—Ed
“Best dental experience I ever had. The office feels more like someone’s home than a sterile office… I have always been terrified of dental visits. Not anymore.”—Kelli White
“Happy I found a true dentist that appreciates a biological approach to dental care. Very informative, and the entire staff were super friendly and helpful with me as a new patient.”—N. S.
of flexible payment plans with Cherry
- No-interest financing options with CareCredit for up to 12 months
- Cherry uses a soft credit check that won’t affect your credit score
- Out of network: we file your insurance paperwork for you
- Apply online before your visit and get a decision in minutes
Related treatments
More in dental implants
Single Tooth ImplantReplace one missing tooth with a single dental implant in Timonium, MD. Root and crown replaced, neighboring teeth left untouched.
Snap-On Implant TeethSnap-on dental implants in Timonium, MD: removable full or partial dentures held by implants, so they stay put while you eat and speak.
Full-Arch Implant TeethFixed full-arch implant teeth in Timonium, MD: All-on-Four teeth that don’t wobble, planned from CT scan to final teeth in one office.
Front Tooth ImplantsFront tooth implants in Timonium, MD: smaller implants, custom ceramic abutments and computer-guided placement for your smile zone.
Implant BridgeImplant bridges in Timonium, MD: 2 or more implants support 3 or more teeth, often for 20–30% less than an implant per tooth.
Guided Implant SurgeryWhat decides the cost of guided implant surgery and what you get: a 3D scan, virtual plan and 3D-printed guide. Financing available.Implant care questions,
answered
Implants are made in specific lengths and widths so each one suits the space it fills, and by definition full-size implants are 2.8 mm or larger in diameter. Whether a smaller implant suits your case is something Dr. Haywood can assess from your X-rays and CBCT scan at a consultation. See how implants are planned in 3D.
Natural teeth have strong connective-tissue fibers that help seal the gum to the tooth. Implants heal with a weaker cell attachment that is more susceptible to inflammation and infection. That’s why cleanings at a 3–4 month frequency are recommended for implant patients, the same as for people with gum disease.
Implants don’t decay, and they resist gum disease and plaque better than natural teeth. They still need care: the pockets around implants are routinely 3–4 mm deep, compared with 1–3 mm around healthy teeth, and plaque is frequently found there, so meticulous hygiene around your implants matters.
Titanium can’t be scraped and cleaned with the traditional stainless-steel instruments used on teeth. Instead, implants are scaled, and their pockets measured, with specialized titanium or plastic instruments.
Recommended tools include interdental brushes, a Hydrofloss irrigator, end-tuft brushes and careful use of an electric or manual toothbrush. Irrigating with plain water or 0.12% chlorhexidine (Peridex, for example) is regularly recommended.
Implants are strong against normal up-and-down chewing forces. The sideways forces of grinding and clenching can loosen them or even work them out of the bone. Implant patients should control those forces by consistently wearing a custom-made appliance, such as a bite guard, a Vivera retainer or a hard acrylic night guard.
Implants that heal properly over the first 6–12 weeks after placement are considered to have lifetime potential, as long as they are looked after with a professional and personal hygiene program coordinated with the practice’s hygiene team. Ignore them, just like teeth, and they can be lost. See single tooth implants.
Screw-retained full-arch teeth can only be removed at the practice, and food collects underneath however carefully you clean. Removing the set every 3–4 months is recommended in most cases: the screws and appliance are cleaned and sterilized, the screws re-torqued, the implants cleaned, and you receive specialized cleaning tools and instructions. See fixed full-arch implant teeth.
108 W Timonium Rd, Ste 200, Timonium, MD 21093, serving Timonium, Towson, Pikesville, Baltimore and the surrounding communities. New patients are welcome. The practice is out of network with insurance companies: you pay at the time of service and the office files the paperwork on your behalf for maximum reimbursement. HSA and flex plans are welcome, and financing is available through CareCredit and Cherry. See financing options.