Dental implants are a great way to replace a missing tooth to give you a complete smile and lower the risk of losing more teeth. They are usually titanium, are not removeable and will not rely on the other teeth to support it like in bridges and partial dentures.
The biggest advantage of dental implants is how natural they can look. They do not require us to cut on the neighboring teeth the way we must do with bridges. They are not removeable and do not place pressure on other teeth in the mouth the way partial dentures do. Getting missing teeth replaced will help prevent your other teeth from tipping into the space, causing an increased risk of tooth wear, decay and gum disease. Implants can be a great solution for preventing these issues.
In getting an implant, the first step is to evaluate the quality and quantity of bone in the area of the missing tooth. With implants, bone is like gold. The more and better-quality bone we have, the more predictable the outcome of the implant. If there is insufficient quality bone in the area, sometimes grafting and/or sinus lifts can be done to create enough bone to support the implant. Once the bone is prepared, the implant is placed and allowed to heal. Once the implant has integrated into the bone, a scan or impression is made for the lab to make a custom fitted crown and abutment to attach to the implant. The process usually takes 5-12 months depending on the complexity of the case.
When caring for dental implants, the most important thing is to keep the gums healthy and tight up against the implant. Gum tissue cannot attach to the implant the way it can with teeth. This means that if the gums get loose and swollen, bacteria from our mouth can travel to the bone supporting the implant and start eating it away. If the gums are properly taken care of with floss or a Waterpik and regular visits to your hygienist, the implant can last a long time.
At Dyras Dental, we can assess your case to see if we can place the implant here or if we will need to involve the skills of an oral surgeon. More complex cases, or those that need additional surgery will usually incorporate a visit to an oral surgeons office.
Dr Dyras and Dr Bedro regularly attend additional post graduate classes to improve their implant skills and create a more predictable and esthetic result. We go the extra mile to make sure your implants blend with your natural teeth. If you have missing teeth that need to be replaced, call us today to see if you would qualify for a Dental Implant!
