Dental Implants
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Dental implants are a permanent option many patients are now opting for over alternative tooth replacement choices. Dental implants may be used to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth in the form of an implant denture. A dental implant is a small titanium post that is placed in the jawbone under the gumline. This post will form the foundation for the crown or denture that will be placed upon it after healing from the placement surgery. With necessary maintenance and regular dental visits, implants can last a lifetime.
Dental implants are the next best thing to natural teeth. They are designed to look, feel, and function like real teeth. They also provide excellent long-term value and are an incredible investment in overall oral health due their high success rate and the advanced implant placement technology currently being used. In addition, dental implants preserve bone and natural teeth that may be affected by other types of tooth replacement treatment.
Dental implants may be right for you if you have:
- One or multiple missing teeth.
- Older dental treatment that may need repair or replacement.
- Ill filling dentures.
- Bite, chewing or pain problems due to a missing tooth or teeth.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant replaces a missing or lost tooth. The implant consist of 3 parts: a titanium screw that replaces the root of the tooth, a porcelain crown that replaces the missing tooth, and a piece in the middle, called the abutment, that connects the screw and the crown. Replacing missing teeth is important not only for esthetics, but also for the stability of your bite. A missing tooth has the potential to cause your bite to become unstable.
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
Dental implants are an ideal treatment option for most healthy people. In most cases, dental implants are a better option than a porcelain bridge. Exceptions to this rule are patients who are long-term heavy smokers, uncontrolled diabetics, and patients who have undergone bisphosphonate treatment.
What are the advantages to dental implants?
There are several advantages to choosing dental implant treatment.
- Because the root of the tooth is restored, the bone supporting the implant remains healthy and strong. Left without a root or implant, the bone can resorb away, leaving a defect in the jaw.
- Another advantage of dental implants is that the teeth next to the implant do not require any alteration, unlike a bridge.
- From the patient’s perspective, an implant looks and acts just like a normal tooth.
- You can floss it just like a tooth, and it looks and functions like a natural tooth.
- Dental implants are one of the most innovative and successful procedures available in dentistry today.
What are the disadvantages to dental implants?
One drawback to dental implant treatment is that the process takes several months to be completed. From start to finish, the process takes between 4 and 8 months. After the implant is first placed, it needs adequate time to “settle” into the jaw through a process called osseointegration. After osseointegration is complete, the crown can be placed within a few weeks.
The doctors at your location can help you understand your options and move forward with the best decision for you.
The time required to receive dental implant treatment depends on the number of implants being placed and healing time. Your dentist will give you an idea of the time frame to expect during your initial consultation, and you will visit the practice after surgery to check healing progress. The only way to know if dental implants are right for you is to schedule a consultation with our dentists to discuss your specific concerns and begin the treatment planning process.
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