Tooth loss can occur due to trauma, decay, or disease. Dental implants are a great option to restore your dentition as close to your biological teeth as possible.
With missing teeth, the patient faces multiple uphill battles. Eating certain foods can be a problem when chewing is compromised, speech difficulties can develop, and the smile and laughter you once enjoyed might become an embarrassment due to missing teeth.
With dental implants, the patient will be able to restore eating, speaking, and smiling once again. The final restoration designed to cover dental implants is fabricated to match surrounding teeth in shape, size, and shade making them virtually impossible to detect from your natural teeth.
Requirements for initiating the dental implant process include a brief medical overview to make sure the patient is healthy enough for this treatment. A thorough dental exam including x-rays is required to determine bone strength in the jaw where the implant is to be placed.
When ready to get started, the dentist will surgically embed the small titanium post in the gum tissue. A temporary protective covering will be placed while the implant area heals.
During this healing period of several months, bone is fusing with the implant. This process is referred to as osseointegration. Over time, the implant will become a permanent part of the dental anatomy.
The patient must keep the implant area clean to prevent infection … tobacco use in any form is discouraged as infection and smoking are the primary reasons dental implants fail.
At the conclusion of the healing period, the temporary is removed and an abutment is attached to the implant; the final restoration is cemented to the abutment.
This final restoration is usually made from porcelain which is stain resistant; both titanium and porcelain are known to be well-tolerated with little risk of rejection.
Once the restoration has been placed, the patient can once resume eating all the foods they love, speak without concern, and laugh or smile broadly without embarrassment.
Caring for a dental implant upon treatment completion is as easy as caring for all teeth … brush at least twice daily with a fluoridated toothpaste; floss daily; and visit the dentist every six months for cleaning and dental exam.
The dental implant is in place for life, and will provide all the advantages enjoyed with your biological teeth. If you’re interested in dental implants, call our team at the office of Dr. Philip Kozlow today!