Dental implants have become the standard for long-term tooth replacement. From mechanics to movie stars, people from all walks of life have discovered the advantages of replacing a missing tooth with an implant. Restoring your smile is a definite advantage, but an implant can also help maintain the health of your jawbone and adjacent teeth.

The implant is a small, screw-like titanium post that is placed into your jawbone to function as the root part of the tooth. The living bone tissue will actually attach to the titanium post, fusing them together. This will not only provide a sturdy anchor for a natural-looking dental crown but will provide stability for bridgework or dentures. You will then be able to smile, chew and talk as if all of your teeth are natural. The procedure will also help to stabilize the bone, reducing long-term bone loss that occurs when a missing tooth is not replaced.

At this point, if you think there must be a lot of pain involved, I have good news for you. Very little pain is involved after the procedure is completed, and there is no pain at all. Typically, it is a routine surgery that takes place in a dentist’s office under local anesthesia, where the immediate area is numbed. If there is any apprehension about the procedure, we will offer alternative anesthesia or sedation options during the planning process.

To determine who will be a good candidate for the implant procedure, a plan must be in place to assure the success of the implant. Part of the plan includes:

• Reviewing your past medical and dental history. We must know your complete past and present medical history, and medication use since good health is essential. Some certain conditions and diseases can affect the healing of an implant.
• Performing a comprehensive dental examination. An evaluation of your dental problems and needs will determine if implants are in your best interests. An assessment of the health and mass of the jawbone and the number and location of the implant(s) needed to restore your bite and smile back to health will also be determined.

When the dental implant procedure has been successfully completed, there is one more step. As with your natural teeth, preventive maintenance is crucial for long-term success. A daily routine of brushing and flossing, along with regular professional dental cleanings and checkups, will help ensure your implants’ continued gum health and proper functioning.

If you are wondering whether dental implants are right for you, contact us for more information or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about dental implants by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Dental Implants” and “Dental Implant Surgery.”

Losing permanent teeth is never good — unlike primary teeth, no natural replacements wait in the wings. But the good news is you have a number of options like Implants And Dentures for replacing them with life-like prosthetic (false) teeth.

Today’s premier choice is dental implants, preferred by dentists and patients for their durability and life-likeness. But because of their cost when replacing multiple teeth, many people opt for traditional dentures. And now, dentures are easier to wear and maintain, thanks to new, advanced materials and designs.

Still, one major area where implants have a definite edge over dentures is long-term bone health. Older bone cells die and dissolve (resorb), replaced by newly formed cells. Teeth help perpetuate this cycle through the forces generated when we chew that travel through the roots to stimulate the formation of new bone.

But because this stimulation through a tooth ends when it’s lost. New bone beneath the empty socket may not keep up with the resorption rate of older bone. You could lose as much as a quarter of normal bone width in just the first year after losing a tooth.

This bone loss will continue to accumulate even if you wear dentures, which can’t replicate the bone growth stimulation of natural teeth. What’s more, the constant pressure on the bony ridge of the gums can accelerate bone loss. Eventually, the firm, comfortable fit you first had with your dentures will become looser and less comfortable with the shrinking bone volume.

Implants, on the other hand, can stop bone loss and may even reverse it. This is because the titanium metal of an implant has a special affinity with bone cells that readily grow and adhere to it. This creates the anchorage responsible for the implant’s durability, but it’s also healthy for the bone.

Of course, this doesn’t have to be a binary choice between the two restorations, thanks to a new hybrid advancement that combines implants with dentures. We can install as few as two implants to support a removable denture. You’ll enjoy greater stability, fit, and durability with your dentures while improving bone health through the implants.

So before you decide on a dental restoration, discuss your implant options with us. Your oral health and appearance could benefit immensely.

If you would like more information on dental restoration, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “The Hidden Consequences of Losing Teeth.”