DENTAL IMPLANTS

During the last 20 years, dental implants have become a desirable alternative to other methods of replacing missing teeth. Excellent success rates and a range of available options give dentists a variety of new ways to treat and replace lost teeth.

Unlike bridges and crowns that fit over top of your gum line, dental implants go right into your jawbone to fill space left by a tooth extraction or irregularity. It takes a few visits to complete the procedure, but once the implant is set (and you take care of it) it should feel like a natural tooth and will likely last you the rest of your life.

Dental implants are generally recommended for people with healthy gums and strong teeth. They can also be used as an abutment for bridges or in conjunction with partial or complete dentures to keep them more secure.

Three Steps to a Dental Implant

If a dental implant is being considered, we’ll examine your mouth, medical history, and take x-rays of your head, jaw and teeth to make sure you’re a good candidate.

STEP 1: The Root

We insert a titanium root right into your jawbone, then stitch the gum tissue back into place. Over time (up to several months) the root will bond with the bone.

STEP 2: The Implant Abutment

Once the root has healed, we top it with an additional component (the implant abutment) to connect your new root to an artificial tooth.

STEP 3: The Tooth

We custom create a tooth or teeth for you. Then we fit them over top of the implant abutment and secure it in place.

Implant Considerations

Not everyone is a candidate for implants. Talk to your dentist to see if implants are right for you.

The area accepting an implant needs to have enough good quality bone to support an implant.

After an implant is placed, follow-up visits are necessary.

Added oral care is required. We’ll show you the extra steps to add to your routine