Dental implants are a permanent and effective solution for replacing missing teeth, allowing us to replace single or multiple missing teeth with crowns or bridges. Our dental implants look natural and can significantly improve the appearance of your smile.
They are made of titanium screws that act as mechanical replacements for the roots of missing teeth, serving as a foundation for natural looking, feeling, and functioning teeth replacements. Implants can be applied anywhere along the jawline and, once in place, will merge with the bone to provide support for the actual crown.
The benefits of dental implants are numerous. They can help improve the function of the mouth, restore the full function of chewing and eating, and improve the appearance of the smile. Dental implants can also help prevent the jawbone from shrinking and causing a sunken, older appearance. They can also help eliminate issues with the bite that can occur when teeth shift around and can improve speech, chewing, and digestion. Additionally, dental implants do not require the reduction or filing of healthy teeth like traditional bridges do, making them a more conservative and effective solution for replacing missing teeth.
To determine if a patient is a candidate for dental implant treatment, our dentists will perform a full evaluation using technology such as digital imaging to determine if there is sufficient bone present to support the dental implant post. If there is insufficient bone present, additional procedures such as bone grafting and sinus lifts may be necessary to make implants possible.
Dental implants consist of three main parts: the implant post, the abutment (attachment), and the dental implant crown. The implant post, or screw, fuses with natural bone to stabilize the dental implant. The custom abutment is an attachment that secures the dental crown to the implant post. The dental implant crown, designed to look like a real tooth, completes the chewing surfaces and restores the appearance of the smile.
The dental implant treatment process typically takes several months. After surgery, we allow time for the bone to fully heal, which can take between three and six months, although it may take longer for some patients.