Denver, CO – If you’re in need of dental repair work, but want something different from the conventional crown or bridge, dental implants might be the answer for you. Dental implants can be used to support crowns that replace a single tooth, bridges that replace multiple teeth, or even dentures.
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that your Denver periodontal expert places in your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or teeth in place. Tooth decay, gum disease or injury can lead to the loss of teeth, and it’s important that these teeth be replaced, not just for your confidence, but to maintain you oral health.
Implants provide a strong foundation for replacement teeth to ensure there is no slipping and sliding, causing potentially embarrassing situations with your replacement teeth.
Dental implants have a success rate of 98 percent, and with proper care, can last your entire lifetime. For implants to be successful, you must have healthy gums and enough bone to support the implant. A consultation with your dentist or periodontist can determine if you are an ideal candidate for dental implants. Heavy smokers and patients with certain chronic illnesses such as diabetes may not be proper candidates.
After your initial consultation, your periodontist will create a treatment plan crafted just for you, to meet your specific needs.
During the procedure, the implant will be placed in the bone where the missing tooth was. The implant is a small titanium post to which your replacement tooth can be affixed. It can take between six to 12 weeks for your mouth to completely heal, as the jawbone will need to grow around the implant to securely anchor it in place.
Once healed, an abutment, or connector post, will be attached to the implant. This is what will attach your new tooth to the implant. Your dentist will make an impression of your teeth which will then be used to create a model of your bite. This will allow your dentist to create the perfect replacement tooth to complete your smile. This replacement tooth, or crown, will then be attached to the abutment.
Your dentist will work hard to ensure the color of your new tooth ideally matches the color of your own teeth, so your crown will look as natural as possible. Unlike traditional dentures that are removable and only affixed with an adhesive, implants are securely placed in the jawbone. That means there is no moving around, allowing any replacement teeth to function and look just like your own natural teeth.
The procedure is not very painful, and local anesthesia can be used to lessen any discomfort associated with it. Any soreness following the procedure can be relieved with over the counter pain medication.
Caring for your implant is as simple as caring for your regular teeth. Brush and floss, and maintain regular checkups with your dentist. With proper care, your implants and replacement teeth should last a lifetime.
There are numerous advantages to implants over other common tooth replacement solutions, such as dentures. Dental implants look and feel like your real teeth, so they look more natural. Dentures can slip around in your mouth, causing you to have difficulty speaking and eating. Because the implant fuses to your bone, you don’t have to worry about any embarrassing slip ups. Dentures can also be uncomfortable and take some time to get used to, but implants will seem as if they’ve always been a part of your mouth.
With dental implants, you’ll smile more, knowing your mouth has been restored back to its full beauty. Not only that, you’ll ensure your oral health remains intact. Missing teeth can cause the remaining teeth to shift, wreaking havoc on your bite alignment. And, you can experience bone resorption in the location where the tooth is missing, causing your jaw bone to begin to deteriorate.
If you’re ready to smile with confidence once again, now is the time to discover what dental implants can do for you. Schedule a consultation with Altura Periodontics today and be on the road to a beautiful smile in no time.
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