What are Dental Implants

What Are Dental Implants?

What Are Dental Implants?

 

Tooth loss can happen for numerous reasons, but most commonly tooth loss occurs with an injury, periodontal disease, or tooth decay. Prior to the introduction of dental implants around three decades ago, you would have little choice in how to replace missing teeth. The only options for you to replace your missing teeth were by getting dentures or a bridge. Fortunately, dental technology has come a long way and now offers a more durable and comfortable solution to missing teeth.

A dental implant is essentially a man-made artificial tooth root. They look similar to a screw and are the size of a natural tooth root. Dental implants are installed into the jawbone itself. Over time the natural bone bonds with the dental implant. This allows us to have a solid foundation to hold one or more artificial replacement teeth. An abutment or a special connector is installed onto the dental implant to secure your custom-made crowns into. The entire tooth replacement as a whole will function, look like, and feel the same as your other natural teeth. 

 

Appearance And Speech Improvements

The dental implant and the crown that will attach to it is custom made to fit perfectly and naturally in your mouth. We are able to ensure that the artificial tooth crown and the implant matches the shape and color of your natural teeth. Dental implants are permanent because they fuse into the bone in a way that is similar to how the tooth is naturally anchored into the bone with its root. With other tooth replacement solutions like dentures and bridges, the teeth tend to move around and cause slurred or mumbled words. It is a common occurrence to experience difficulty with speech when wearing dentures. Because dental implants are permanent, they will not move around and cause these problems. 

 

Eating And Comfort Improvements

Dentures are not permanently anchored into your mouth, so they also tend to cause problems with properly chewing food. Often times those wearing them have to avoid certain foods because they may damage or move the dentures around. You do not have to worry about that when you have a dental implant. The crown is strong and will not move or fall out, so you are able to eat what you prefer without complications. Additionally, dentures and bridges involve removing, cleaning, and other maintenance steps that are separate from the care of your mouth and other teeth. A dental implant does not need to be removed, and it can be brushed normally as if it is your real tooth. 

 

Oral Health And Confidence Improvements

A tooth-supported bridge requires the reduction or grinding down of your other teeth. With a dental implant, your surrounding teeth are left intact and are unaffected by the mechanism used to hold the artificial crown in place. This allows for better long term oral health and better oral hygiene. There is no need for messy adhesives, and once healed the implant does not cause gum irritations. Furthermore, many people avoid getting bridges or dentures because it is embarrassing and inconvenient to have to remove them. Some people feel that getting a bridge is not worth the hassle for one missing tooth and will deal with having that missing tooth in their smile. The solution of a dental implant can make your smile full again without those added factors so that you can feel more confident. 

 

Dental Implant Eligibility And Procedure

If your oral health is good enough to have oral surgery or a dental extraction done, then you most likely are healthy enough for a dental implant. This is considered on a case by case basis, however, most people that have not had considerable jaw issues will be eligible. The procedure to insert a dental implant involves the removal of any tooth fragments and the placement of the titanium post into the bone socket where the tooth had been. After that, the jawbone needs to heal and grow around the implant. Usually, the time frame for this step is between six and twelve weeks. When this process is complete, we will take impressions of your mouth and teeth to use for the creation of your new tooth. The abutment is then attached to the dental implant. The crown is tightly secured to the abutment, and your smile will then be complete and whole.

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