Dental Implants Help Restore Function to Your Bite
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots used to support a restoration for a missing tooth or teeth, helping to stop or prevent jaw bone loss. By replacing missing tooth roots, dental implants provide people with the strength and stability to eat all the foods they love without struggling to chew. Dental implants can also stimulate and maintain jaw bone structure, preventing bone loss and helping to maintain facial features.
How Implants Work
Strategically placed, dental implants can be used to support permanent bridges, eliminating the need for a denture. They are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, dental implants can also be used to attach dentures.
Dental implants today are virtually indistinguishable from your other teeth. Their appearance is partially aided by the structural and functional connection between the dental implant and the living bone. Implants are typically placed in one sitting, but require a period of osseointegration, which direct anchorage of the implant root and the bone of the jaw occurs.
Osseointegrated implants are the most commonly used and successful type of dental implant, taking anywhere from three to six months to anchor and heal. Once healed and anchored, we complete the procedure with a crown placement. As soon as the implant has anchored with the jawbone, artificial prosthesis may be attached and the process is completed. If osseointegration does not occur, the implant may fail.
Advantages of Dental Implants
Dental implants can help you gain confidence in eating what you like and speaking clearly. Other benefits of implants include:
- Improved Appearance: Dental implants look and feel just like your own teeth.
- Improved Comfort: Implants eliminate some of the key inconveniences of dentures, including poor fit, gum irritation, and pain.
- Improved Health: They help prevent deterioration of the jawbone caused by loss of teeth, so your face retains its natural shape.
- Durability: Implants are strong and can last a lifetime with proper care.
- Convenience: Dental implants are permanent, eliminating the inconvenience of removing your dentures. With implants, you can brush and care for your teeth just as you would your natural teeth.
If you’ve lost one or more of your natural teeth, contact Healthy Life Dental for a consultation. Call us at (626) 256-3368!