What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is an artificial root made of titanium metal. It is inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of the natural tooth. An artificial replacement tooth is attached to the implant. The implant acts as an anchor to hold the replacement tooth in place.

Who can get dental implants?

If you are in good general health, have healthy gums and have enough bone in the jaw to hold an implant, dental implants might be right for you. If your jawbone has shrunk or if it has not developed normally, you may be able to have a bone graft to build up the bone. A bone graft is a way of adding new bone to your jawbone. Your dentist or dental specialist will tell you if bone grafting can be done.


How dental implants are done?

We carefully examine your mouth and take panaromic x-rays of your head, jaw and teeth to find out if dental implants are right for you.

During the first stage of surgery, we put a dental implant into your jawbone beneath the gum tissue. The gum tissue is then stitched back into place. As the tissue heals, the implant will bond with the bone and attach to the gum. It can take several months to heal.

During the second stage of surgery and once the tissue is healed, we attach an abutment to the implant. An abutment is a post that connects the replacement tooth to the implant. In some cases, the first and second stage of implant surgery may be done in one single stage.

An artificial replacement tooth is made and we attach it to the abutment. It may take several appointments to properly fit the replacement tooth to the abutment.

When replacing several teeth or all of your teeth, a fixed bridge is anchored to your dental implants. A bridge is a dental restoration that replaces one or more missing teeth by spanning an area that has no teeth. The bridge is held firmly in place by dental implants on each side of the missing tooth or teeth.

What are the Advantages ?

There are a lot of advantages, including:

   - Improved appearance: Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.
   - Improved speech: With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that teeth might slip.
   - Improved comfort: Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
   - Easier eating: Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
   - Improved self-esteem: Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.
   - Improved oral health: Dental implants don't require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
   - Durability: Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
   - Convenience: Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.