Dental Implants
DENTAL IMPLANTS
Using technology and techniques available to us today dental patients benefit from better outcomes. With the advent of dental implants and the improvements that took place over the years, they have become some of the most predictable procedures performed in both medicine and dentistry.
What Are Dental Implants?
A natural tooth consists of a root and a crown. If you compare natural teeth to implant-supported replacement teeth, you’ll see they have the same basic parts. Both have a crown (the visible part used to chew food). Both have a root that holds the tooth securely under the gum and is anchored into the jaw. The difference is that the implant is made of titanium – the same time-tested material used by surgeons for artificial joints. When you lose a tooth, you lose both the root and the crown. To replace the tooth, the surgeon first replaces the root with a small dental implant.
Time is allowed for bone to heal and grow around the dental implant. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. A support post (abutment) is then placed on the implant and a new replacement tooth (crown) is placed on top of the abutment. In many cases a temporary replacement tooth can be attached to the implant immediately after it is placed. If all of your teeth are missing, a variety of treatment options are available to support the replacement teeth.
There are other options for replacing missing teeth. You may be a candidate for a “bridge”. The following video helps to explain the main differences between dental bridges and dental implants.
ADVANTAGES OF DENTAL IMPLANTS
Dental Implants have quickly become the golden standard for replacing teeth. They are the only form of tooth replacement that is structurally sound and complete. A Dental Implant with a crown does not depend on surrounding teeth for support and does not compromise your remaining teeth in the process. Dental implants are not susceptible to decay and are easier to maintain. Due to the nature and position of Dental Implants they help preserve the form of your jaw bone and decrease the chance of future bone loss.