You may have heard of dental implants, but do you know how they are placed in your mouth? Here, we’ll explain what needs to be done in order to successfully place dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a way to help dentists replace teeth for their patients. They are replacement tooth roots made up of strong materials in order to establish a permanent foundation for replacement teeth. The dental implants are made of titanium, which fuse with the jawbone so that they can’t move around in the mouth. Dental implants are often used for people who have healthy oral tissues, a strong jawbone that can support the implant, and are missing one or more teeth. Those who can’t or don’t want to wear dentures may also be good candidates for dental implants.
What Are the Positives of Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a great replacement tooth option because they look completely natural. Replacement teeth are made to match your natural teeth perfectly and to fit into your mouth in the same way that your natural teeth do. Where other teeth replacements like dentures are uncomfortable and can slip around in your mouth a lot, dental implants are much more comfortable and stay put. Because they stay in place, dental implants won’t alter your speech, are easier to eat with, and aren’t an embarrassing inconvenience because you don’t have to remove them in public. Dental implants also last a long time. When you properly care for your dental implants–in the same way you care for your natural teeth–they can last 25 years or more. Most other tooth replacements only last between ten and fifteen years.
What Needs to Be Done in Order to Successfully Place Dental Implants?
There are a few steps that needs to be taken to place a dental implant. First, the dentist will need to drill into your bone in order for the dental implant to be screwed into your jaw. This is done while you’re under local anesthesia or sedation so that you won’t feel a thing. Next, the bone around the implant will heal and fuse with the implant, which is a process that takes about four months and is called osseointegration. In some situations, the implant and replacement teeth are placed at the same time but most often you’ll have to wait for the bone and implant to fuse together in order to place the replacement teeth. Once osseointegration has occurred, the dentist will place the replacement tooth and ensure that it fits in completely with your natural teeth.
Are You a Dental Implant Candidate?
Please contact our office to set up an appointment if you think you may be a good candidate for dental implants. We look forward to hearing from you!