What are Dental Implants?

What Exactly Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a permanent tooth replacement. If you lose your teeth for any reason, implants are a safe, long-term solution.

An implant is a slender titanium post that integrates with your body's bone. The implant anchors itself into the bone. It is then restored with a custom-designed crown that looks like a natural tooth.

Benefits of Dental Implants

• They look, feel and act exactly like natural teeth.

• They prevent deterioration of the jawbone.

• They keep your teeth and gums healthy.

• They are completely comfortable.

When You Might Need Implants

You have lost some of your teeth. If you have lost a tooth, you can replace it with an implant. You might have lost a tooth to disease or trauma. An implant is an excellent solution in this case.

You have brittle teeth. Do you have a history of brittle teeth that break easily? Some people have weak gums or teeth despite their best efforts to practice good dental hygiene. If you have a history of losing your teeth, you may want to take preventive action by replacing some of your weak teeth with implants.

You have crooked or damaged teeth. If your crooked, damaged teeth are wrecking your smile, replace them with dental implants. Implants look and feel just like natural teeth. You don't have to avoid any foods, and you don't have to take them out at night. You brush and floss them just like natural teeth.

You don't want dentures. If you've lost enough teeth to need dentures, you may want a solution that is fixed and totally natural-looking. Dental implants keep your gums healthier than dentures do. They preserve bone in your jaw and keep your gums strong.

Types of Dental Implants

Single-tooth implant: If you only have to replace one tooth, this is an effective and straightforward solution.

Multiple implants: Your dentist can place multiple implants in your mouth. These will anchor several crowns.

Full-mouth implants: You can replace all your teeth with implants. This treatment can be more complex, but it is worth it to get perfect-looking, healthy teeth.

What Is the Process of Getting Dental Implants Like?

Getting a dental implant requires several steps. It is a longer, more involved procedure than getting bridges or dentures.

To begin, your dentist surgically implants the metal implant into your jaw.

As you heal from the surgery, the bone grows around the implant. This is called osseointegration. It's the reason implants make your jaw strong.

Once the bone has formed, you are ready for the crown.

Your dentist creates a custom crown.

The entire procedure can take from a week to several months. Your dentist can give you an accurate timeline based on your gum health, number of implants and other factors.

Talk to Your Dentist About Dental Implants

If you're interested in getting one or more dental implants, talk to your dentist. Your dentist can assess your teeth and design a treatment plan for you.

At Malan Family Dentistry, we provide full smile restoration with a variety of cosmetic dental techniques. If you're not happy with your smile and think dental implants would help, give us a call today.