Dental Implants

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants can be one of the best ways to replace missing natural teeth. They can replace teeth lost to decay, injury or disease.

The implant consists of a titanium post that is surgically placed into your upper or lower jawbone. The post fuses to your jawbone to provide a strong and stable tooth that continues to stimulate your jawbone and prevents degradation of your mouth structure.

A dental crown is then placed on this post to look and function just like your natural teeth.

Why should I get dental implants?

Dental implants improve the look and health of your smile, which can boost your confidence, improve your appearance and help you maintain optimal oral health.

A dental implant can:

• Fill in the holes left by missing teeth
• Keep the rest of your teeth in alignment
• Improve your ability to eat and speak properly
• Evenly distribute the force in your bite
• Provide support for dental bridges or stabilize dentures

Dental implants are also superior to replacements like dentures or bridges because they help prevent deterioration of your jawbone. When the jawbone starts to deteriorate, the structure of your face changes and your oral health suffers.

What are the types of dental implants?

At our clinic, dental implants replace a single missing tooth or several missing teeth.

What does getting dental implants involve?

The process of getting dental implants can take several months. The first step is your consultation, during which the dentist makes sure you are a good candidate. It is important to have enough quality bone and good gum health to support the implant.

If an implant is right for you, the post is placed at your first appointment. A small incision is made in the gum and the implant is applied to the jawbone. Over the next several months, the implant fuses to the bone and becomes stable and sturdy.

Once the implant has fused, you return to have a small post attached to the implant. This abutment sits just above the gum line and serves as the base of your dental crown.

After your gums and abutment have fully healed, a customized crown (or row of teeth) is made to restore the look and feel of your tooth.

To learn more about dental implants, contact us to schedule an appointment.