Dental Implants Q & A
What do dental implants do?
For many adults, dental implants are the next best thing to having natural teeth. When you lose your teeth as a result of a traumatic injury, decay, or an illness, it can hurt your self-esteem. Dental implants are strong, stable teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth.
A dental implant is a titanium post that's surgically anchored to your jawbone, beneath the gum line. A dental implant is an anchor for your new prosthetic tooth. After the post is implanted and your mouth has healed, your dentist permanently attaches the new replacement tooth (or crown) to the metal post.
Since the dental implants fuse directly to your jawbone, they're strong and stable. They won't shift around uncomfortably in your mouth like some dentures. The metal posts also work to keep dentures, crowns, and bridges securely affixed to your jaw.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
In addition to functioning, feeling, and looking like your natural teeth, dental implants offer the following benefits:
- Permanent and can last a lifetime
- Offer a cost-effective tooth replacement
- Help you avoid the sunken-cheek look due to teeth loss
- Help maintain the integrity of surrounding natural teeth
- Don’t slip out of your mouth
- Dental implants with a crown protect the tooth to prevent cavities
Can anyone get dental implants?
Whether you're missing one tooth or multiple teeth, you may be an excellent dental implant candidate. As your periodontist can tell you, it’s important that you have a healthy mouth support structure if you want dental implants.
That means you need healthy gums and sufficient quantity of jawbone. In some cases, your dentist can remedy a lack of jawbone with a bone graft. This gives you enough healthy bone to hold the implants.
You are also a great dental implant candidate if you're fed up with uncomfortable dentures or if it's time to replace a bridge or partial denture. If you need fixed full or partial dentures instead of a dental implant, you may need a bone graft beforehand.
If you want a more permanent, long-lasting solution to dental work, you may be a great candidate for dental implants. Meet with your dentist to ask questions and learn more about your options.
Schedule your consultation online or call Glenwood Dental Care today. A confident new smile could be just around the corner for you.