Dental Implants

Why replace missing teeth?

Missing teeth can make it hard to feel confident about your smile, but there are also serious health issues to consider. Each of your natural teeth is anchored in the bone tissue that lies beneath your gum line.

When you bite down or chew, you stimulate that tissue, keeping it healthy and strong. Losing a tooth means losing that stimulation. The underlying bone can begin to wear away, a process called resorption, which can cause a cascade of additional tooth loss.

Missing teeth also make it hard to enjoy a varied diet, and can even interfere with normal speech patterns.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are a permanent option for replacing missing teeth. You can have an individual implant to replace one tooth or use a system that can replace an entire upper or lower span of missing teeth.

Individual dental implants consist of a metal post that replaces the root of your natural tooth, and an artificial crown that replaces the visible surfaces of your natural tooth. Some systems use a small piece called an abutment to connect the post and crown.

All-on-4 and similar systems use just four implanted posts to secure an entire upper or lower span of missing teeth. This can be a good option for people who don’t have enough healthy bone to anchor numerous individual implants.

What is the process for getting dental implants?

The planning stage is an important part of getting dental implants. You and your dentist discuss how implants align with your treatment goal, and what to expect from the procedure. Advanced imaging guides the planning process.

On the day of your procedure, an injection of numbing medication ensures you rest comfortably throughout your visit. Your dentist then makes an incision in your gum tissue to access the underlying bone.

A small pilot hole guides the insertion of the metal post. Your dentist then closes your gums around the post, and a period of healing begins. Once a few months have passed and your bone has fused to the implanted post, you return to have the new crown attached, which completes the process. 

You can expect to get a lifetime of use from your new dental implant. If for some reason the crown becomes damaged, your dentist can repair or replace it at a later time. 

To learn more, call the Sunset Smile Dental office to schedule a visit, or use the online booking tool to find a time that fits your busy schedule.