What Is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant consists of a titanium post surgically inserted into the jawbone beneath the gums. Once in place, this post serves as a foundation for mounting replacement teeth. Dental implants fuse with the jawbone to provide strong support for artificial teeth, preventing slippage and making eating and speaking easier.
Dental Issues Implants Can Fix
Dental implants effectively solve a range of dental problems, including:
- Replacing Missing Teeth: They provide a solution for replacing one or more missing teeth without affecting neighboring teeth.
- Improving Comfort: Implants eliminate the discomfort and need for adhesives associated with removable dentures.
- Enhancing Speech: Implants prevent slipping, an issue common with poor-fitting dentures, ensuring clearer speech.
- Facilitating Easier Eating: Unlike dentures that can slide, dental implants allow you to chew your favorite foods with ease.
How a Dental Implant Procedure Works
The process of getting dental implants involves several key steps:
- Comprehensive Consultation and Planning: This includes a detailed dental examination, X-rays, and the formulation of a personalized treatment plan.
- Surgical Implantation of the Titanium Post: This step involves surgically implanting the titanium post into the jawbone.
- Healing and Integration Process: After the implant is placed, it needs time to heal and join with the jawbone. This process is called osseointegration and typically takes several months.
- Abutment Placement: After successful integration, an abutment, a small connector post, is attached to the implant to hold the new tooth securely.
- Fitting of the Artificial Tooth: Once the gums have healed around the abutment, custom-made crowns are attached, completing the restoration.
Advantages of Opting for Dental Implants
Dental implants come with several benefits:
- Natural Appearance and Feel: Implants are designed to fuse with bone, making them permanent and indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
- Preserved Oral Health: Implants don't require altering surrounding teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does, thus preserving more of your natural tooth structure.
- Exceptional Durability: With proper care, implants can last a lifetime, proving to be a highly durable solution.
- Convenience: Dental implants eliminate the inconveniences associated with dentures, including the need for removal and the use of adhesives.
