Dental Implants: Procedure: The Solution to a Healthy and Confident Smile
The dental implant procedure is hands down, the next best thing to a real tooth. For people who are missing one or more teeth, the best solution for restoring their smile could very well be a dental implant. Dental implants are a long-lasting solution to missing teeth.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone to act as the root of the tooth. The implant provides an exceptionally sturdy foundation for the crowns that would be your new tooth.
Dental implants are well tolerated by the body due to the fact that they are made from titanium. This is a biocompatible material accepted by the human body.
Once the implants are placed surgically into the jaw, they begin to fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This provides an extremely stable and secure platform for the replacement teeth.
Benefits of Dental Implants
The benefit of a dental implant is life changing. They function just like natural teeth. You will be able to chew food with confidence knowing that your implant is strong and secure.
Implants, unlike other tooth replacement options such as dentures and partials will also give you more confidence when you speak, because they are fixed in place and do not shift or slip as you speak or eat.
Dental implants provide an enhanced appearance that come as close as possible in resembling real teeth. They are shaped to fit with precision accuracy and color match to the existing teeth. Implants also serve to improve your facial appearance by preventing or eliminating the sunken facial appearance when there are missing teeth.
Implants are a long-term solution. When you practice good oral hygiene, your implants could last the rest of your life. They are highly durable, so they offer a more permanent solution to other options used to replace missing teeth such as bridges and dentures.
The Dental Implant Procedure
We begin the treatment plan of the dental implant procedure with a consultation from Dr. Nguyen or Dr. Weinberg. We can assess your dentition and draft a treatment plan curtailed to your goal of function and esthetics to make certain that you will have a successful experience. With our personalized approach you will be able to rest assured that you will move forward with the best plan for your situation.
Then you will be referred to our preferred oral surgeon for the placement of the implant posts. This procedure is offered with local anesthesia and or general sedation as per your comfort level.
A very small incision is made into the gum tissue. A drill is used to make way for the titanium implant as it is skillfully placed into the jawbone. Over time, the titanium implant will integrate and form a strong bond with the jawbone.
It does take some time for the implant to integrate with the jawbone. It could take four to six months, maybe even more to integrate, and the more time you give it, the better the integration. While this is in process, a temporary tooth may be provided to maintain aesthetics.
Placement of The Dental Crown
When the dental implant has been finally integrated into the bone, our dentists will add what is called an abutment. Think of this as the connection between the root (implant) and the replacement tooth.
The dental crown is then placed on to the abutment. We use zirconia crown material for the strongest and most effective replacement. The crown is custom made to fit perfectly and color matched to existing teeth. This process ensures and seamless blending to achieve a beautiful smile.
Aftercare and Maintenance
We cannot stress this enough, maintaining healthy oral hygiene will be important to the success and longevity of your implant.
Brushing and flossing and regular checkups will go a long way in preserving your dental implant. We recommend a soft bristle toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste combined with regular professional cleanings. The checkups will become important so that our dentists can assess the health of the implants and provide any necessary adjustments.
You will want to take into consideration that certain habits can impact your new implants. Be careful not to chew hard objects for best results. Also be aware that smoking can also have a negative impact.
The dental implant procedure is an excellent solution for people who want to restore their smile and bring back their confidence. When you combine this with the fact that implants are durable and functional, you are making a great choice in choosing this optionThe