Dental Implants
Dental implant surgery is a procedure that replaces tooth roots with titanium, screwlike posts and replaces damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and function much like real ones. Dental implant surgery can offer a permanent alternative to dentures or bridgework, and can offer a option when a lack of natural teeth roots don't allow building denture or bridgework tooth replacements.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental Implants behave like natural teeth
One of the biggest advantages of an implant is that it restores full chewing power. Most patients can’t tell the difference between their natural teeth and the implant tooth. They can eat completely normally, and they can brush and floss normally as well.
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Dental Implants can last a lifetime
The implant is made from titanium and integrates with the jawbone. It’s bio-compatible, meaning that it’s non-toxic to the mouth. All in all it makes a powerful replacement tooth.
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Dental Implants prevent bone loss and gum disease
Bone loss occurs in the jaw when there are no tooth roots (or implants) keeping the jaw bone stimulated. If no implant is placed in the first year of losing a tooth, that bone area loses 25% of its volume, and bone loss continues over the years. Dentures may even accelerate bone loss due to constant rubbing against the bony ridge, gradually wearing it away. Because an implant replaces the root as well as the tooth, and chewing is restored to normal, it provides the needed stimulation for natural bone growth. Additionally, a missing tooth gap can act as a trap for food and bacteria and can lead to gum disease.
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Dental Implants keep adjacent teeth stable
The gap from a missing tooth can cause adjacent teeth to shift towards the gap. This pulls your teeth out of position and can affect your bite, your ability to chew and your appearance. It can cause interference that makes tooth replacement difficult later. A poor bite can also lead to issues with your TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and may result in pain and headaches.
The Implant Procedure
The First Step
A dentist or oral surgeon will cut into the gum to expose the bone. One or more implants are precisely placed into the jawbone to mirror the location of the root of the missing natural tooth.
The Second Step
After appropriate healing has taken place to allow for the implant to fuse within the bone, impressions of the teeth and bite are taken to custom-fabricate a connector post or abutment, and crown.
The Final Step
At the final appointment, the oral surgeon reopens the gum to expose the implant screw. The abutment and crown are attached to the implant, completing the process.