Dental Implants Offer Ideal Solution for Missing Teeth

I placed my first dental implant 17 years ago and have always found it to be an ideal tooth restoration for people who are missing one or more teeth because of injury, periodontal disease, or any other reason. Implants are stronger than actual teeth, can last a lifetime, and appear incredibly natural.

Consisting of a metal post that acts as artificial tooth roots, an implant is surgically positioned into the jaw. It bonds with the natural bone and, when it has had time to heal, it creates a strong base for artificial teeth, called crowns, to be attached to the post. It doesn’t require full sedation and is a very common in-office procedure. Most people experience very minimal discomfort.

An implant is such an efficient alternative to a bridge when a tooth cannot be saved because they do not depend on neighboring teeth for support. While they cost a bit more, implants last longer and offer a single tooth solution to a single tooth problem, rather than having to drill down into adjacent teeth to make a bridge. Bridges break down over time due to the stress on adjacent teeth.

Dental implants are also the only dental restoration that preserves natural bone and stimulates bone growth to prevent future bone damage.

People who are healthy enough to undergo other dental procedures like tooth extraction and have healthy gums and adequate bone to support dental implants are good candidates. You must also be committed to excellent oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly as these are critical to their long-term success. Treatment typically takes three-to-eight months, and the result can last a lifetime if sourced from high quality materials.