Dental Implant
Leaving alone the space left by an extracted/missing tooth (or teeth) may not be a big deal. But the results of not restoring in the space can include:
-Adjacent teeth changing position, thus affecting your bite/chewing
-Shrinking of jawbone, making the face appear prematurely older
-A less appealing smile
-Speech problem
Why let dental problems affect your smile and quality of life?
Dental implants are made from titanium; a biocompatible material that is fully compatible with human tissue. A dental implant acts as a replacement root and the small titanium screw is surgically placed into your jaw bone to create a permanent new root. Over several weeks or months, a strong bond is formed between the implant and the bone, acting as an anchor for a replacement tooth that can take the form of a crown, bridge or denture that is placed over the implant. This procedure may be used to replace one or more teeth without adversely affecting neighboring teeth.
The greatest benefit with dental implants is that they feel comfortable, natural and secure – you’ll find you can eat anything you want. Implants also prevent the jaws from shrinking, which helps you maintain a younger looking face.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Assists in proper chewing allowing for a healthy and improved diet.
- Eliminates the need to grind healthy teeth necessary to produce conventional bridgework.
- Improves speech and supports natural facial contour.
- Ensures a secure and comfortable fitting denture.
Dental implants are commonly used for adults. You will also need to have good general oral health, healthy gums and good bone structure. There should be adequate bone in your jaw to support the implant.
- Initial consultation, x-ray and model of your teeth
- First surgery — implant placement
- Second surgery (might or might not be needed) and placement of healing collar and/or temporary crown
- Placement of permanent crown
From the initial dental consultation to the time permanent crown being fitted, the whole process will take about 3-6 months. Some factors will affect the length of the whole process, including, the speed of healing of the implant site, whether bone grafting is needed, and also whether the patient has other medical complications.
Most implant patients comment that they were surprised at how minimal and short the duration of discomfort was as you will be placed under local anesthesia. It is essential to take the prescribed medication after the procedure to ensure painless recovery. You should be able to resume daily activities on the same day.
You can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or all your teeth with implants. You don’t even need one implant for every missing tooth. As few as two implants can support a removable lower denture, while as few as four implants can provide a full, permanent set of top or bottom teeth.
You care for your implants the same way you care for your natural teeth. It is important to brush, floss daily and visit our dentist for check-ups every 6 months.
Although implant teeth will never decay, the gum tissues around them can become inflamed or infected in the absence of good oral hygiene.
Scientific studies have shown a 95% success rate for dental implants to last over 10 years.