A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed directly into the jaw bone to hold a replacement tooth in place. A dental implant procedure is one that is generally very successful, but relies majorly on the skill of the surgeon placing it.
Placing dental implants requires a great deal of experience, knowledge, and expertise. Dental implants are closely connected with the gums and surrounding bone, which is why periodontists are often the ideal professionals to place an implant. Periodontists are specialists of the gums and the areas that support the teeth. They have years of education and training beyond dental school and have extensive knowledge of gum disease diagnosis and treatment, oral inflammation, and the placement and maintenance of dental implants.
The dental implant process is a group effort between the patient, the periodontist, and the general and/or restorative dentist. Together, a plan of action will be developed and tailored to meet the patient’s needs.
Depending on the patient’s dental implant needs, that person may have several options to replace their missing teeth, including a single implant, an implant-supported bridge, all-on-4, etc.
A single tooth implant replaces just one tooth. An implant-supported bridge can replace several teeth while the all-on-4 procedure can replace an entire arch or mouth full of teeth. Simply put, all-on-4 is similar to a denture alternative. All-on-4 uses 4 implant on the top arch of the mouth and 4 implants on the bottom arch of the mouth to secure in a set of prosthetic teeth permanently in place. This means that the teeth will look and act virtually exactly the same as natural teeth would.
Your local periodontist should be able to guide you to your best option for replacing your missing tooth/teeth.
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The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.