What exactly is a dental implant?

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth. There are usually two stages to a dental implant. The first is where a titanium post is placed into the jawbone-basically replacing the missing root. The implant is completely under the gum at this stage and usually takes 3-4 months to integrate into the bone.

At this point (3-4 months after placement), you are ready to have the implant restored.An abutment (a component above the gum line is placed and an impression is taken for the final restoration.

The final restoration may be a single crown, multiple crowns, or a removable denture. In many cases patients who have been unable to wear a denture (because it is too loose) will have a very stable denture that won’t move with the help of dental implants.

There are basically two types of implants. Those that sit on top of the jaw bone, but under the gums, and those that fit into the jawbone similar to the root of a natural tooth. Each type offers solid, non-mobile support for replacement teeth which act and feel like natural teeth. Since both types are attached to your jawbone they can provide distinct advantages over traditional methods of replacing missing teeth.

• Implants restore proper chewing function and so you can enjoy foods previously too “difficult” to eat.
• You feel confident that your replacement teeth won’t move or loosen.
• You regain the closest thing to the look, feel and function of your natural teeth.
• Throw away those gooey adhesives.
• Forget about unsightly partial denture clasps which place damaging pressure on remaining natural teeth.
• Eliminate irritated and painful gums.
• Improve your speech by eliminating or reducing the “fullness” of full or partial dentures.
• Replace missing teeth with the look and feel of natural teeth without having to “cut down” healthy teeth.

Dental implants help stop the progressive bone loss and shrinkage of your jawbone by “mimicking” the roots of natural teeth. They are clinically proven with a success rate in excess of 90%.

Clearly dental implants are one of the finest treatment options dentistry has to offer. With their ability to improve the quality of your life and health it’s easy to understand why they have become the accepted alternative to traditional methods of replacing missing teeth.