Dental implants offered by your Monrovia, CA, dentists, Drs. Elaine Lu, Nissim Bensassat, and Chad D'Abilio provide an innovative way to fill gaps in your smile. Implants offer several important benefits for your appearance and oral health.
Implants replace your entire tooth
Implants don't just restore the top (crown) of your tooth, but they also replace the roots. Without strong roots, it's difficult to bite and chew foods. The dental implant process starts when you visit the Monrovia dental office for minor oral surgery. During the surgery, your dentist makes small openings in your jaw and places tiny titanium rods inside.
These implants become your new tooth roots once they osseointegrate, or bond, to your jawbone. Osseointegration usually takes about three to six months to complete and ensures that your new roots are securely anchored to your jawbone. The next steps involve adding connecting screws and dental crowns to the top of the implants to create brand new, fully functioning teeth.
Dental implants prevent shifting and keep your jawbone strong
Teeth may begin to drift when a gap appears in your smile. Overlapping teeth not only change your appearance, but they also increase your tooth decay risk. When teeth overlap tightly, it can be difficult to remove plaque. Replacing lost teeth with dental implants prevents shifting from ever occurring.
Implants help you avoid jawbone resorption, a condition that occurs when the bone begins to shrink due to decreased stimulation from lost tooth roots. Replacing your lost roots with implants stimulates the bone and helps you avoid resorption.
Your implants may never need to be replaced
After osseointegration, your implants become a permanent part of your mouth. In most cases, they'll last your entire life. Implants can be loosened by infections or grinding your teeth. Fortunately, good oral hygiene and nightguards help you keep your dental implants in good condition.
Dental implants are an excellent choice no matter how many teeth you've lost
If you've lost more than one tooth, you might think that dental implants won't be an option for you. Although implants are frequently used to replace single missing teeth, they are also a good option if you have a larger gap or have lost all of your teeth.
Restore your smile with dental implants! Call your dentists in Monrovia, CA, Drs. Lu, Bensassat, and D'Abilio at (626) 256-3368 to schedule an appointment.