Losing a tooth can be a traumatic experience that can affect a person’s confidence and self-esteem, not to mention the negative impact it can have on one’s oral health. Missing teeth can lead to problems such as difficulty speaking and eating, shifting of the remaining teeth, and changes in the shape of the face. If you’re looking for a Top Rated Pflugerville Dentist, you won’t be disappointed with the skilled and compassionate care provided by the dental professionals in this community.
Fortunately, there is a solution to replace missing teeth: dental implants. In this article, we will explore what dental implants are, how they are placed, and the benefits they offer.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone to act as replacement tooth roots. Once the implants are in place, they provide a strong foundation for the attachment of replacement teeth such as crowns, bridges or dentures. The implant mimics the root of the natural teeth, providing the same level of stability and support, allowing patients to eat and speak as they normally would.
The implant procedure typically is done in two stages, first is the surgical phase of the implant placement itself, followed by a healing period where the bone grows around the implant and bonds with it, creating a strong and stable base for the artificial tooth. After the healing period, the second stage of the implant process begins, where the abutment and the artificial tooth(crown, bridge, denture) is placed.
How are Dental Implants Placed?
The placement of dental implants is a surgical procedure that is typically done under local anesthesia or IV sedation. During the procedure, small incisions are made in the gums, and holes are drilled into the jawbone to prepare it for the implant placement. The implant is then inserted into the jawbone and the incision is closed with stitches. After the procedure, patients will need to follow a period of healing and recovery that can take several weeks.
After the implant has been placed and the healing period has passed, the abutment is then placed on the implant, and it serves as the connector to hold the artificial tooth in place, it can be a single implant or multiple implants to support a bridge or a denture.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer a number of benefits over traditional tooth replacement options such as bridges and dentures. Some of the key benefits include:
- Aesthetics: Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, and can be customized to match the color and shape of the patient’s existing teeth. This means that they look and feel very natural, unlike traditional bridges and dentures which can be bulky and uncomfortable.
- Durability: Dental implants are very durable and can last for many years with proper care and maintenance. Unlike traditional tooth replacement options which may need to be replaced several times over a patient’s lifetime, dental implants can last a lifetime.
- Preservation of Jawbone: Unlike traditional tooth replacement options, dental implants stimulate the jawbone, preserving its density and preventing the resorption that commonly occurs after tooth loss.
- Improved Oral Health: Dental implants don’t compromise the health of surrounding teeth, as traditional bridges and dentures can do. With dental implants, patients can maintain healthy teeth and gums since there is no need to grind down healthy teeth to support a bridge.
- Increased Functionality: Dental implants allow patients to speak, eat, and smile with confidence. Since they are anchored in the jawbone, they provide the same level of stability and support as natural teeth, meaning patients can eat the foods they love without any limitations.
