Dental Implants at Dental World

Disclaimer: Not medical or professional advice. Always seek the advice of your physician.

Lets face it.  Teeth undergo a lot of stress in our mouths.  They are constantly subjected to chewing pressures, cavities and gum problems around them.  Sometimes teeth break or start to hurt.  Some of those teeth cannot be repaired any more. Some consequences of tooth loss:

• Difficulty in chewing and favoring one side over the other.
• Swallowing larger chunks of food because of less chewing.
• Tooth shifting out of place causing more food to get stuck around adjacent teeth.
• TMJ pain due to overclosure from lack of teeth.
• Having to wear dentures or partials with loss of taste or sensation when chewing.

Fortunately, a method of tooth replacement that has been around for decades, can be used in many cases to provide a durable solution for many dental needs. This is dental implants.

Dental Implants Procedure

A dental implant is a post made of medical grade titanium that is placed underneath the gum into the jaw bone or socket of the extracted tooth.  It is basically an artificial root.

It is placed using local anesthesia or local anesthesia in combination with nitrous oxide.  IV sedation can be utilized as well. 
In any case there should be no discomfort while placing the implant.  Usually there is no discomfort after the procedure as well.

The implant undergoes a process called “osseointegration” in which bone forms a solid union with the implant.  This normally takes about 3 months. Once the implant is integrated a connector piece called an “abutment” is placed together with a “crown” over the implant. This becomes a whole tooth that is ready to be used to chew any foods.  

Some Factors to Consider When Deciding Between Implants or Bridges

• Implants don’t require alterations of adjacent teeth but bridges do.  However if adjacent teeth are already in bad shape and need “crowns” a bridge can be a good option.
• Implants support the surrounding bone from degrading and help maintain facial structure and profile.
• Implants do not get cavities and will never need “root canals”.
• Implants allow flossing around them.  It’s more difficult to floss around bridges.
• Implants can be used to stabilize a loose and wiggly denture.  This is called an overdenture.
• Your implant surgery would be done by an experienced oral surgeon, not a general dentist.

Let’s see if you are a candidate for dental implants loading. Schedule an appointment with our experienced dental implant specialists. Based on your case, we will offer the best treatment options.