25 Sep Dental Implants: A Long-Term, Permanent Solution
Dental implants provide a permanent solution for tooth loss. One, several, or all of your natural teeth can be replaced restoring the ability to eat, speak, and smile. The dental implant procedure is not a quick fix, but when completed you will experience the joys that may have been lost due to problems with your biological teeth.
A consultation with our implant dentist will reveal what is needed to move forward. A thorough dental exam coupled with a review of your overall health will determine your candidacy for the dental implant process.
Once you have been declared a candidate, the implant process will proceed. If the tooth or teeth to be replaced are still present, they will be extracted and the implant placed at the same time. If tooth loss has already occurred, the implant will be surgically embedded in the gum tissue.
The implant is a small device made from titanium. This metal has exhibited the ability for bone to fuse to it providing the strong anchor to support the restoration that will eventually cover it. The implant performs much the same functions as a tooth root without concerns about eventual damage to the nerve.
Once placed, the implant requires a healing period. During this time brushing and flossing the area to prevent infection are critical as infection is the leading cause of implant failure.
Once healing has taken place, the appropriate abutments are attached to the implant that will hold the restoration in place.
The restoration may be one tooth or several that are supported by one or more implants. Your new teeth will have been fabricated by a dental lab to match surrounding biological teeth in size, shape, and color making the implant virtually undetectable.
Our implant dentist will have provided a means for you to eat all the foods you love, speak clearly, and smile with renewed self-confidence.
Tobacco users do not enjoy the same success as non-smokers, so to help ensure implant success, our doctor will likely stipulate quitting before undergoing treatment.
Caring for your new dental implant is the same treatment you employ with your natural teeth. Brush at least twice daily with a fluoridated tooth paste, floss daily, and see your dentist for cleaning and exam twice each year.
Contact our office to learn more about if implants are the right decision for you.