Your teeth were designed to last your whole life, but even with the latest innovations in dental technology, that doesn’t always happen. In fact, over 120 million Americans have lost one or more permanent teeth. These days, there are more options than ever before to treat your tooth loss, but dental implants are quickly becoming the most popular. It’s not hard to see why; they provide benefits that other tooth replacements cannot. But what exactly are they? Here’s a quick “Dental Implants 101” featuring all of the basics of dental implants that you need to know.
What Are Dental Implants?
The part of a tooth that you normally see is only about one-third of the whole tooth. The rest is hidden beneath the gums. While traditional prosthetic teeth only replace the visible section (the crown), dental implants take it one step further by also replacing this hidden structure (the root). This is accomplished by surgically inserting a titanium post into the jawbone where the tooth’s root used to be. A metal attachment called an abutment is placed on top to secure your custom replacement tooth. Depending on how many teeth you need to replace, this restoration may be a crown, bridge, or denture.
The Process of Getting Dental Implants
Unlike getting a denture or dental bridge, the dental implant process takes several months. After a consultation, your dentist will create a personalized treatment plan, which may include preliminary procedures like tooth extractions. Once you’re ready, you’ll undergo dental implant surgery. You’ll receive sedation or anesthesia to ensure you’re comfortable before the posts are placed at strategic locations in your jaw.
Because dental implants fulfill the functions of natural tooth roots, they stimulate new jawbone growth. This allows the post to merge with the jawbone through the process of osseointegration. Although osseointegration can take up to six months, it’s worth the wait to have a sturdy foundation for your restoration. These replacement teeth are crafted from impressions of your mouth, and once they’re fixed onto your implants via abutments, they’ll look perfectly natural.
The Unique Benefits of Dental Implants
As the only tooth loss solution to bring back every part of a missing tooth, dental implants offer unique advantages over other treatments, including:
- A success rate of over 95%
- The potential to last for 30+ years or even a lifetime
- A solution that looks and feels just like your real teeth
- The power to chew all of your favorite foods again
- Prevention of bone loss in the jaw
- A self-supporting prosthetic that doesn’t require remaining teeth to be altered
- Cost-effective solution in the long run
Complete Your Smile Today!
Now that you know the basics of dental implants, it’s time to find out if they’re right for you. Give your dentist a call to take the first step toward completing your smile!
About the Authors
At Temple Choice Dental, our dentists to their utmost to help our patients achieve and maintain the confident, healthy, and complete smiles they deserve. We’re proud to be able to perform every step of the dental implant process under one roof to make your treatment more affordable and convenient. Plus, with low-interest dental financing and Saturday appointments available, you can rest easy knowing that your tooth replacement journey will be a smooth one! To get started, feel free to contact us online or call (254) 727-7144.