Dental Implants: A Solution for a Missing Tooth

Dental implants are a complete solution for anyone who has lost one or more teeth. These oral prosthetics serve as artificial teeth roots that are placed in your jaw. Each implant can be fitted with a restoration like a crown or dentures, replacing any lost teeth the patient has.

Dental implants help you to avoid the bone tissue loss that typically takes place when a tooth falls out. It is the result of bone tissues no longer getting the stimulation they need in order to remain healthy. Just as is the case with muscles, bone tissues atrophy when they no longer get the stimulation they need to remain healthy. Bone tissue loss in the jaw can lead to changes to your facial structures and wrinkles forming around the mouth. Implants are the only missing-teeth replacement option that can prevent bone tissues from breaking down after losing some of your teeth.

What to expect when getting dental implants

Placing implants in the jaw requires minor oral surgery. An incision will be made to reach the patient’s jaw, and holes need to be drilled into the jaw so implants can be placed in them. Ideal candidates for implants are healthy enough to recover from such treatments. They typically do not have health issues, like immune system disorders or diabetes, that can hinder their ability to recover after surgery. Ideal patients should also be willing to give up habits like smoking and drinking since these can slow down their ability to heal, as well.

Patients should also have enough healthy bone tissues in the jaw to hold the implants in place. Patients can thicken their bone tissues by getting bone grafts. They will need to be fully healed from their bone grafts in order to proceed with implants, which can take up to three months.

During the installation of the implants, the patient will be given a shot of a local anesthetic to numb the area being worked on. An incision will be made if needed to reach the patient’s jaw and a hole will be drilled for each implant being installed. Each implant is pushed into the hole made for it until it is held in place by the friction created by the bone tissues rubbing against it. The implant is given up to six months to fuse with the bone tissues keeping it in place; this makes it virtually as stable as a real tooth’s root.

Once osseointegration is complete, the dentist will attach an abutment or attachment to each implant. This is used to hold a restoration like a crown in place. The benefits of choosing implants over other missing-teeth replacement options include:

• Implants can last a lifetime
• Bone tissues in the jaw are preserved
• Implants do not need special care
• Implants keep the patient’s remaining teeth properly aligned

Dealing with one or more missing teeth?

Dental implants may be the solution for you. Our dentist can point you in the right direction. Contact our Woodstock clinic to set up an appointment.

Request an appointment here: https://www.dentistryforwoodstock.com or call Dentistry for Woodstock at (770) 238-1437 for an appointment in our Woodstock office.

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