Dental implants have been an essential part of dental health for over 30 years, and implants are more than just cosmetic enhancements. These lifelike replacement teeth will change the way you feel, the way you eat, what you eat, how you speak and can even help save existing teeth.
How do dental implants work?
A dental implant replaces a missing or damaged tooth, including the root. It is a titanium post that a skilled dental practitioner implants into your jawbone. You can have a single implant or multiple implants. You can even have a dental bridge or denture attached to your titanium posts.
Within a few months, the titanium root adheres to your jawbone. This provides a solid foundation for your new tooth, affixed denture or dental bridge.
Implants are custom designed to look just like your surrounding teeth—both in shade and in shape. No one will ever know you have had work done.
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
A skilled dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth, including taking or reviewing x-rays to look at bone health and other potential issues. This will help the dentist draw up a custom plan for your restorations, which may include:
• Bone grafting
• Root extraction
• Broken tooth extraction
• Other
The dentist will determine, based on your health profile, whether you are a good candidate for dental implants.
What to expect
On the day of your implant surgery, you will be made to feel relaxed and comfortable through IV sedation or other. When you are fully relaxed, our skilled dentist places the titanium root or post-surgically into your jaw.
Afterward, there may be mild pain or swelling. This is usually minor and subsides in a day or two. Over-the-counter medications are almost always sufficient to remedy this pain.
Over the next few months, your titanium implant will fuse with your jawbone, which provides a stable foundation for your new tooth, affixed denture or bridge.
After your implant bonds thoroughly with your jawbone, you return to the dentist for abutment placement—sometimes this can be placed on the day of your implant surgery. This abutment rests above the gum line and is the anchor for your new tooth, affixed denture or bridge.
Your replacement tooth or teeth are custom made to match your existing teeth. Because of this, an impression will be made of your mouth to create the new tooth or teeth. This can be a single tooth, a bridge or an affixed denture with several teeth. When the tooth or teeth are ready, they will be placed over the abutment or abutments permanently.
Through every step of the dental restoration process, our skilled dentist will provide follow up care instructions for you to utilize at home.
What are the benefits of dental implants or restorations?
Aside from giving you your smile back, dental implants have several benefits you may not have considered. When a tooth or teeth are missing, for example, your remaining teeth have to do all the chewing. Over time, these teeth wear down; this can lead to further tooth loss or even adult cavities.
Other benefits of dental implants include:
• Renewed confidence through a winning smile
• Improved speech, especially if teeth are missing in the front
• Improved chewing, especially with crunchy or chewy food
• Affixed dentures or bridges to restore more teeth
Unlike non-affixed dentures that can slip or slide around, dental implants are permanent and solid tooth replacements.
Caring for dental implants
Even though dental implants are not real teeth, they require dental care and follow up. In other words, it is still important to visit your dentist regularly. Also, following implants, our dentist will provide you with best practices care instructions to help you maintain your new smile.
Contact Grillo Dental Today
If you are considering dental implants and would like an assessment to learn whether you are a good candidate, please contact us today!