Dental implants are a versatile way of addressing missing teeth. They can be used in full mouth reconstructions or just to replace a single missing tooth. They are also used for patients who are looking for better support for their dentures, such as those who want to bite into an apple without having to worry about their dentures popping off or slipping out of place.
Dental implants are titanium rods that are placed into the jawbone. When the implant is surgically placed, there is a period of time in which the implant should heal. This is a process called Osseointegration. It allows the bone of the jaw to grow around the implant in order to hold it securely in place. Once this has occurred, patients will then have an abutment placed.
If a patient is using a dental implant to replace a missing tooth, they will then have a special porcelain crown fabricated to match the existing teeth and placed over the abutment. This will create a seamless integration with the existing teeth in order to make the implant appear as natural as possible.
For patients using implants for dentures, a bar may be placed between several dental implants in a dental arch, and will be made to integrate with the patient’s denture set. The dentures will be created with magnets that will allow the denture to snap and stay in place better than denture adhesives alone.
Dental implants are often more costly than other cosmetic restorations such as traditional dentures or dental bridges, but they are long lasting and highly successful.
At Park West Dental we understand the importance of a beautiful smile and offer dental implants in order to give patients the opportunity to restore their smile or use dentures without having to worry about their placement and stability.