Dental Implants Consultation
Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture.
Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone, a process called osseointegration. Integration of the implants into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural, and some people also find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes. Candidates for dental implants must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant.
What is a Dental Implant
Reasons for Dental Implants
| • | Replace a missing tooth |
| • | Maintain healthy bone levels |
| • | Help support overdentures |
| • | Keep the look and feel of a real tooth where one is missing |
What Does a Dental Implant Involve?
Implant Site Preparation
The gum tissue is opened to expose the bone area where the implant will be placed. In situations where there is insufficient bone structure, bone grafting may be a recommended procedure. Once healthy bone material has been established, a special drill is used to prepare the bone to receive the implant.
Implant Supported Bridge
Placing the Implant
After the bone has been prepared, the implant is placed and the tissue is sutured. The healing process takes three to six months. This is the amount of time it usually takes the implant to become part of the lower jaw, commonly referred to as osseointegration.
Even though it takes so long for osseointegration the sutures are typically removed seven to fourteen days after surgery.
Attaching the Post
When the gum tissue is ready, a special post is attached to the implant. It is the support for the new porcelain crown.Today's technologies often include zirconium abutments attached to the implant post, to assure that the new porcelain tooth possesses translucency properties similar to a natural tooth.
Placing the Crown
After impressions are taken a crown is made and shaded to match your existing teeth. The crown is then slipped over the post and cemented. This final prosthetic crown appears as a natural tooth.
To learn if dental implants are the right option for you, call our office to set up your initial consultation with our Cooley Smiles doctors today.
For more information, check out our Dental Implant FAQ!
