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Implants
Humans are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can't keep up. If you've lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, consider dental implants to rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health.
What is a dental implant?
An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The root is usually made of titanium (the same ingredient in many replacement hips and knees), a metal that is well suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.
How common are dental implants?
Dental patients are opting for implants more frequently than ever. According to the most recent survey by the American Dental Association, the average number of implants increased 49 percent to 56.2 implants placed annually per dentist in 1999, compared with an average of 37.7 in 1995.
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
In order to consider implants, you must have good oral health, a sufficient amount of bone in your jaw, and healthy gums.
How many teeth can be replaced with dental implants?
As many as you need! If you are only missing one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.
How do implants compare with traditional bridges or dentures?
Conventional partial and full dentures are not fixed to the bone, and can
therefore be unstable. This can make it difficult to eat or smile with confidence.
Implants not only look more natural, but feel and act more like normal teeth,
with a stronger biting force. And because they don't rely on neighboring teeth
for support, implants don't compromise the health of your natural teeth.
How do I take care of implants and replacement teeth after treatment?
Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same sort of regular brushing and flossing, and the same amount of check-ups at our office. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.
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