Dental Implants

Tooth loss can occur for several different reasons including accident and disease. Not only are teeth important for our outward appearance, they are also vital to our nutrition and health. Having missing teeth makes it more difficult to enjoy life in a carefree manner. Tooth loss may cause limitations when eating, speaking, laughing, or when interacting with others. Research has shown that healthy teeth have a significant influence on our total well-being. To replace missing teeth, patients want to choose a natural and comfortable alternative to their real teeth.

Dental implants allow people who have lost teeth to enjoy the function, appearance and permanence that their natural teeth once provided. Dental Implants can be used to replace a single tooth, a partial, a bridge, or full dentures. Understanding the basic principles of Implant Dentistry can make your decision about whether or not a dental implant is right for you much simpler. Being a well-informed patient can make your first visit for a dental implant consultation much more productive because you will know how to ask the right questions to help prepare you to make the best decision possible.

A dental implant is a man-made replacement for a tooth root, which is essentially a tiny titanium post that will fill the role played by a natural tooth. Because of the very unique design of dental implants, they become securely attached to the patient’s jawbone through a process called “osseointegration”.

After a waiting period which allows the bone to heal around the implant, the final restorations are attached to the implant. These restorations are made utilizing procedures that are very similar to traditional crown, bridge, and denture dentistry but are held permanently in place with the implant.

Dental implants make it possible to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or an entire arch. They are also a good option for patients who are faced with losing all of their teeth.