Dental implants are an effective option for restoring missing teeth.
What do you do if one of your teeth falls out? Dental implants are an option. Dental implants involves a procedure in which an artificial tooth is surgically fused to the jawbone. Unlike dentures and fixed bridges, dental implants fully replicate the functionality of a real tooth and rarely, if ever, need to be replaced.
Advantages
- Implants look good. They’re aesthetically superior to bridges and dentures because they stay put and look like real teeth. You don’t have to worry about slips or shifts.
- Implants preserve the integrity of your teeth. They don’t need to be anchored to neighboring teeth and don’t contribute to decay.
- Reliability. So long as you continue practicing good dental hygiene you won’t have to regularly replace your dental implants the way you might have to with bridges or lost dentures.
- Anyone missing a single tooth or numerous teeth can get implants, and implant procedures have a success rate of about 95 percent.
Procedure
The dental implant procedure can take quite a bit of time, so it’s a good idea to know what to expect. First, you will receive a dental exam including x-rays and a mold of your mouth. A local anesthesia will be applied before the implant procedure. Your dentist will wait two to six months thereafter before placing a crown over the implant. The implant must first heal and fuse together with your jawbone in a process called osseointegration. However, you will typically be given a temporary crown in the meantime to assist with chewing and speaking. Once the implant has joined with the bone an abutment is screwed into the implant which will be used to support the crown. Finally, a permanent crown will be made and fitted to the implant to give it a natural appearance.
Dental Implant Care
Dental implants are nearly identical to real teeth, and just like real teeth they need to be cared for. You should continue practicing regular brushing and flossing techniques. Although rare, dental implants can lead to complications like infection or an improperly adjusted bite. You should receive regular check-ups with your dentist to ensure that you maintain strong, healthy implants.
Get Your Dental Implants at Annapolis Dental Care
If you want to schedule your next visit, please contact Annapolis Family Dental Care by calling (410) 267-0766 or visit AnnapolisDentalCare.com today! We can give you more information, or schedule your appointment. Our diligent knowledge of all dental treatments and extensive experience in all fields of dentistry, ensure Annapolis Dental is best suited to care for your oral health. You can also follow Annapolis Dental Care on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.