Longmeadow Family Dental Care Longmeadow Family Dental Care

The 411 on Dental Implants

| dental implants, dentures, implants, losing teeth

Dental implants are the perfect solution for replacement of a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. But they can also be used to secure partial or complete dentures as well as act as support for dental bridges. Dental implants can make you feel more positive and look like you never even had a missing tooth!

What exactly are Dental Implants

When you receive a dental implant, an artificial tooth is surgically anchored into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth in place. Since these implants are held by the jaw bone, they have the same, dependable foundation as natural tooth roots.

Dental implants resemble natural teeth and can completely restore your smile and substantially improve your oral health. More advantages include:

  • Improved comfort – Dental implants remove the discomfort of removable dentures.
  • Improved speech – With a removable device like dentures, teeth can slip within the mouth and can cause you to slur or mumble your words. A dental implant allows you to speak without the worry that teeth might slip.
  • Improved oral health – Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health.
  • Durability – With proper oral care, dental implants can last a lifetime.
  • Easier eating – Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to have the chance to eat foods without pain.

Your dental professionals at Longmeadow Family Dental Care in Hagerstown will consider numerous factors prior to recommending a dental implant, including: adequate bone support, healthy gum tissue, overall health, and sinus and nerve location.

What to Expect with Dental Implants

A dental implant begins with an artificial root of a tooth being placed in the spot that allows bone to heal around the placement (osteointegration). Healing of the bone usually takes 3-4 months. During that time, there will be a temporary tooth placed to mimic what the tooth will look like when fully restored.

After that time, you will be evaluated to see how well the bone has healed around the placement. If all is well, an abutment, or connecting element, is put into place to allow us to take an impression. An abutment is used to attach a crown, bridge, or removable denture to the implant fixtures. About two weeks after that you receive the final restoration of the tooth including the crown.

Then, all you have to do is enjoy your new smile! Be sure to make an appointment with your friends at Longmeadow Family Dental Care to see if implants may be right for you.