How Dental Implants Work

How Dental Implants Work

Implants work by replacing both a tooth’s crown and its roots. This is done by surgically inserting a small titanium post directly into the jawbone at the site of tooth loss. Since the post is constructed from titanium, the bone surrounding it will eventually integrate with the metal. This process stabilizes the titanium post so that it can permanently support a prosthetic tooth. Once the post is stable, a prosthetic such as a crown or bridge will then be attached to the implant. The prosthetic tooth or bridge will fill in the gaps of an incomplete smile while providing the biting surface necessary to enjoy smooth and comfortable oral function. 

Dental implants differ from traditional prosthetics because of their construction. For instance, dentures rest on top of the gums and only replace the crowns of teeth. Since implants are embedded beneath the surface of the gums, the tooth’s roots is also replaced. The titanium post anchors the prosthetic in the jawbone, making dental implants very durable and long lasting. Another major difference between implants and dentures is in the manner by which they are cleaned. Dentures are cleaned outside the mouth and left to soak overnight. Implants, on the other hand, are permanent and therefore cleaned along with biological teeth by regular brushing and flossing.

Missing Tooth Solution

Dental Implants are Today’s Best Missing Tooth Solution

If you have to replace one or more missing teeth, you want something that looks very natural, provides dependability, and does not cause harm to your existing teeth or jaw bone. Dental implants are today’s preferred missing tooth solution because they are designed to mimic tooth structure as closely as possible, something older appliances simply cannot achieve. Dental bridges and dentures may fill in the spaces left by missing teeth but they have limitations and consequences that affect quality of life for so many who wear them.

Dentures can be uncomfortable and require a lot of effort to keep in place and will frequently slip because they sit on the gum line, depending on pastes and clips to keep them stable. They make eating and socializing a chore and by sitting on the gums, they actually weaken the jaw, causing bone loss and drooping facial muscles. Dental bridges are also used to replace a missing tooth but they too can be concerning because of the stress and potential damage they place on the anchor teeth.

None of these problems occur when a dental implant is used to replace a missing tooth or several missing teeth. Implants are strong, dependable, and look very authentic. To replace a single missing tooth, a dental implant can be matched to blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth and does so without causing them any stress or damage. Dental implants also consist of a titanium post that is naturally decay resistant and because it is placed right in the jaw, it will perform just as well as a real tooth once it integrates with the bone. Dental implants also work like a root to keep your bone from deteriorating with daily stimulation every time you chew.

Dental Implants Versus Conventional Dentures

Dental Implants Versus Conventional Dentures

Dentures are a removable set of teeth or partial set of teeth that need to be removed and cared for in a special manner. They can often feel bulky and are difficult to get used to. Dental implants are a permanent replacement for missing teeth that can be cared for just like natural teeth.

Many patients who have selected dental implants describe a quality of life that is much more comfortable and secure than the lifestyle endured by those with fixed bridges or removable dentures. Dentures often make a person feel and look older than they are, cause embarrassment in social situations when they slip and click, and restrict the everyday pleasure of eating comfortably.

When they count the benefits they enjoy as a result of their dental implants, patients say their implants eliminate the day-to-day frustrations and discomfort of ill-fitting dentures. They allow people to enjoy a healthy and varied diet without the restrictions many denture wearers face. With a sense of renewed self-confidence, many people rediscover the excitement of an active lifestyle shared with family and friends and the chance to speak clearly and comfortably with co-workers. For all these reasons, people with dental implants often say they feel better... they look better... they live better.

Dental Implants Solution

Dental Implants Solution

Did you know that dental implants are frequently the best treatment option for replacing missing teeth? Rather than resting on the gum line like removable dentures, or using adjacent teeth as anchors like fixed bridges, dental implants are long-term replacements that your oral and maxillofacial surgeon surgically places in the jawbone.

A Solution of Choice for Replacing Missing Teeth

Statistics show that 69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, a failed root canal or tooth decay. Furthermore, by age 74, 26% of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth.

Twenty years ago, these patients would have had no alternative but to employ a fixed bridge or removable denture to restore their ability to eat, speak clearly and smile. Fixed bridges and removable dentures, however, are not the perfect solution and often bring with them a number of other problems. Removable dentures may slip or cause embarrassing clicking sounds while eating or speaking. Of even greater concern, fixed bridges often affect adjacent healthy teeth, and removable dentures may lead to bone loss in the area where the tooth or teeth are missing. Recurrent decay, periodontal (gum) disease and other factors often doom fixed bridgework to early failure. For these reasons, fixed bridges and removable dentures usually need to be replaced every seven to 15 years.

Today there is another option for patients who are missing permanent teeth. Rather than resting on the gum line like removable dentures, or using adjacent teeth as anchors like fixed bridges, dental implants are long-term replacements that your oral and maxillofacial surgeon surgically places in the jawbone. Composed of titanium metal that "fuses" with the jawbone through a process called "osseointegration," dental implants never slip or make embarrassing noises that advertise the fact that you have "false teeth," and never decay like teeth anchoring fixed bridges. Because dental implants fuse with the jawbone, bone loss is generally not a problem.

After more than 20 years of service, the vast majority of dental implants first placed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United States continue to still function at peak performance. More importantly, the recipients of those early dental implants are still satisfied they made the right choice. If properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime.