Dental implant restorations are replacements for teeth that are missing or too damaged to save. When it comes to replacement teeth, dental implant restorations are the highest quality option available in dentistry. They provide an appearance and function that comes as close to your natural teeth as possible in a dental prosthetic.
If you’re considering getting dental implants, you probably have some questions. What exactly are dental implants? How do they work? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this overview of dental implants.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that replaces the natural root of your tooth. An implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed into your jaw bone where the root used to be. It has threads or ridges like a screw to help it stay securely in place. Titanium is a biocompatible material that fuses with your bone through a process called osseointegration. Once the implant fuses with your bone it forms a solid bond that can last many years.
How Does a Dental Implant Work?
Once the dental implant is fully bonded to your jaw bone, a prosthetic can be attached. If you are replacing a single tooth with a dental implant, an artificial crown will be attached to the implant. The crown is typically made of porcelain for a natural appearance that matches your other teeth in size, shape, and color.
If you are replacing a few teeth in a row, two dental implants can support a dental bridge. A bridge is a row of artificial teeth with crowns on each end. In a traditional bridge, the crowns would be placed over the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. For implant-supported bridges, the crowns on each end attach to dental implants.
For patients in need of whole mouth reconstruction, multiple dental implants can be placed in their jaws to support dentures. Anywhere from 4 to 6 dental implants will be placed strategically in a jaw to provide a stable base of support that keeps a denture from becoming dislodged. Implant-supported dentures are often more secure and comfortable than traditional dentures.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
When it comes to replacement teeth, dental implant restorations have many benefits over traditional bridges and dentures, such as:
- Superior function. The way dental implants anchor prosthetics in the jaw bone allows them to function more like natural teeth, offering more comparable bite and chewing strength.
- Natural appearance. Dental implants and implant-supported bridges or dentures look more natural than traditional prosthetics because they are secured into the jaw in a similar way to how your natural teeth are.
- Preserves jaw bone structure. When a tooth is missing or extracted, the bone that surrounded that tooth weakens and eventually dissolves away. Dental implants lessen this from happening by fortifying your jaw bone to help preserve your existing bone structure.
- No damage to neighboring teeth. Unlike traditional bridges that require two healthy teeth to be permanently altered in order to secure the bridge into place, a dental implant has no negative effects on your neighboring teeth.
Where Can I Get Dental Implants?
If you’re interested in getting dental implants, Manchester Oral Surgery provides this service. As an oral surgeon, Dr. Abel specializes in dental implant placement. After a brief evaluation, he can determine whether or not you are a candidate for dental implants and can perform any preparatory procedures that may be needed. Using state-of-the-art technology, Dr. Abel places dental implants accurately in order to provide successful and lasting results.
Call 603-622-9441 or contact us today to learn more and to schedule an appointment.