Dental Implants For Teeth Replacement

There are many solutions for replacing a missing tooth and restoring your smile. One of the newest and effective replacement options is a dental implant. A dental implant is a permanent and durable tooth replacement option that is made up of two parts: a titanium post that is installed in the bone and a false tooth that is attached to the post.

The Benefits Of Dental Implants

There are many tooth replacement options available to you, but dental implants have become a popular option because of all of the benefits they provide patients.

Once the installation of the dental implant is complete, the implant looks and functions just like a natural tooth, allowing patients to speak and chew just as they normally would. Additionally, a missing tooth that is left without repair can lead to several oral health issues, including: the shifting of surrounding teeth, the alteration of your bite, and bone loss in the surrounding area. Having a dental implant installed or following through with implant restoration helps to maintain your natural bite, tooth alignment, and bone integrity.

Dental implants are a fixed tooth replacement solution. Once the installation is complete, the implant and crown are integrated into your bone, so you can return to your normal oral hygiene habits, including daily brushing and flossing. This allows for you to maintain the health of ALL of your teeth, including the health of the implant.

Maintaining Dental Implants

One of the many benefits of a dental implant, is their longevity. In many cases, a dental implant is a permanent solution to a missing tooth.

Following placement of the implant, homecare will play an important role in how long it will last. Just like your natural tooth, a dental implant should be brushed and flossed on a daily basis. Maintaining good oral hygiene will prevent plaque and tartar build-up and prevent gum disease that could compromise the bone surrounding the implant.

If you are missing a tooth or considering removal of a tooth, a dental implant is an exceptional long-term replacement option. If you are interested in learning more about implants, set up an appointment with Dr. Carlin or Dr. Chris to discuss if it may be a suitable replacement option for you.

The Dental Implant And Implant Restoration Procedure

Getting a dental implant placed and restored is a significant commitment. The dental implant process involves many steps, requiring healing time between steps, and will take several visits to your dentist. From oral exam to final installation of the artificial tooth, the process takes a several months to complete. While the end result is a crown that looks and feels like a normal tooth, it is important for patients to be aware of what they are committing to. Communication between the patient and the dentist is critical to achieve a result that meets the patient’s needs, goals, and expectations.

The stages of the dental implant procedure:

  1. For some patients, the first step requires the existing tooth, or what is left of it, to be extracted. A tooth may need to be extracted for various reasons, including substantial decay, irreparable damage such as a fracture, or damage due to an oral accident. After the tooth has been removed, the dentist will complete a comprehensive exam to confirm that a dental implant is the right option for the patient. This exam usually involves checking the health of the jaw bone, as well as radiographs. Once it is confirmed that the dental implant is the right choice for the patient, he or she will be referred to an oral surgeon for evaluation and placement of the implant.
  2. Following the referral from the dentist, the implant will be placed into the site of the missing tooth by the oral surgeon. After the implant is secured, the patient must wait a few months and allow the jaw bone time to heal. During this period the implant will integrate and become attached securely to the surrounding bone.
  3. After the healing period, it is time to attach the artificial crown to the implant. At the next visit, an abutment is placed on the implant which attaches the crown to the implant. Depending on the tooth and situation, the crown will be secured with either an internal screw or a dental cement composite.