Implants
Implants
Losing a tooth isn’t uncommon. In fact, most adults in the U.S. have lost at least one permanent tooth by the time they reach their mid-thirties. There are many reasons why someone might lose a tooth, from experiencing trauma to the face to suffering from irreparable damage or decay. The level of inconvenience that you experience from your missing tooth may vary depending on where in the mouth it was originally located, but it’s important to have it replaced anyway. This is because any other teeth can potentially shift position to take advantage of the space, causing the rest to move out of alignment and triggering orthodontic issues. The gap in your smile might cause you to feel self-conscious or embarrassed about the way it looks too.
There are a number of different tooth replacement solutions available, but by far the most popular is dental implants. We are delighted to be able to offer our patients dental implants to restore their smile.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a tooth replacement solution like no other. This is because the technique is completely unique and unrivaled by any other type of restoration. What makes them different is the surgical element to their design. Dental implants comprise a metal screw or post that is biocompatible and is surgically placed into the jawbone beneath where the missing tooth once was. This implant acts as an artificial root, securing the entire structure of the mouth. What secures it in place is a process called osseointegration, which is used to describe the healing of the jawbone around the post. This takes several months, after which time a bespoke crown is created and attached to it to complete the visible part of your restoration. This is designed specifically using impressions of the area so that it is the perfect size, shape, and color to match your existing teeth, ensuring that it is virtually impossible to tell them apart from your dental implant.
Dental implants are best known for replacing single missing teeth. However, the technique can also be used to support bridges and even dentures, with it being possible to support a bridge on two implant posts, and a full arch of artificial teeth on as few as six or even four, depending on the dental implant procedure you choose.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Why are dental implants so popular?
The answer to this question lies in the many advantages of choosing dental implants to replace your missing tooth.
Discreet
Dental implants are known for offering the greatest discretion of any tooth-replacement solution, thanks to the fact that they look and act just like natural teeth.
Stable
The stability of dental implants is unrivaled since they are permanently embedded into the jawbone. This means that they don’t slip or move around like other solutions.
Comfortable
Since they don’t place any pressure on your natural teeth, nor do they rub against your gums, dental implants are considered to be the most comfortable of all dental restorations.
Easy to look after
Dental implants look and act just like regular teeth and they can even be brushed and flossed in the same way. In fact, proper brushing is one of the key requirements of care for dental implants as, although they can’t decay, wearers can develop gum disease if plaque builds up on the teeth and along the gum line. This is bad news for your oral health and the longevity of dental implants.
Reinforcing your jawbone
When the jawbone no longer has a root to stimulate it, it can start to deteriorate. For this reason, people who opt for dentures typically need them re-made some years after they first get them because their jaw changes shape. However, with dental implants the titanium post continues to stimulate the healthy bone in the jaw, preventing deterioration.
Longevity
With proper care and attention, dental implants can last significantly longer than any other type of restoration, often upwards of 20 years.
If you would like to find out more about dental implants or to schedule a consultation to see if you are a good candidate, please get in touch with our office in Warner Robins, GA where our team would be happy to help.