Dental Implants
Dental implants offer a great solution when patients have missing teeth. This tooth replacement option is used for one tooth, a few teeth or a full arch, with the versatility to adapt to each situation. It brings back full smiles and structure to the mouth in a permanent way.
At Linworth Family Dental, we use implants to help patients restore their oral health and happy smiles. We love making this option available to our community, and our dentists can help you compare it to our other tooth replacement services.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant features a titanium screw that acts as a replacement to the tooth root. Then, a crown restoration or other tooth replacement is attached to the implant to restore full function and appearance.
Other tooth replacement options, including traditional bridges and removable partial dentures, attach to the surrounding teeth. In the case of removable full dentures, they use suction to attach to your mouth. Implants differ because they create a new tooth root for the replacement piece to attach to.
Implants can adapt to the situation, whether you have one missing tooth or several. For a single tooth implant, our team of dentists uses a crown atop the implant. Otherwise, they may attach a bridge, partial denture or full denture to implants, restoring numerous teeth at once with a secure base of several implants acting as tooth roots.
What Is the Implant Process?
Implants begin with a surgical component, during which our dentists install the screw into the gums, where the jawbone naturally attaches to it to create a permanent structure in the mouth. During the fusing and healing process, you wear a temporary crown to give you mouth function. This is important, as the healing phase can take up to six months.
Once your mouth has healed, we add a prosthesis, whether it is a permanent crown on top for a single tooth implant or an implant-support bridge or denture for multiple teeth. At this stage, you have a fully functioning, natural-looking tooth replacement that replaces both the root and crown parts of a real tooth.
Because dental implants require surgery, many dental offices refer you to a separate office for this procedure. We are different. Our office provides the dental implant surgical insertion of the titanium screws and the attachment of the tooth replacement piece, all in the same place. This makes the process very convenient, as you can come to the same office and see the same friendly faces during all stages of the implant process.
Why Are Implants Beneficial?
When teeth fall out or are extracted, implants offer the only permanent solution to fill the gaps. They act like real teeth, and you can care for them in the same way. Beyond restoring the natural look and sturdiness of natural teeth, implants also prevent further problems from developing due to missing teeth.
Tooth gaps can result in the rest of the teeth moving and shifting. In time, the jawbone and facial structure can diminish. Filling in the space with a replacement crown and adding a replacement tooth root prevent these problems from happening, giving you the best restorative option for optimal oral health.
See If You’re a Candidate
You need to have healthy gums and enough bone structure to prevent implant failure, so we begin the process by seeing if you’re a candidate for the procedure. During a consultation, our team uses advanced technology to get a better look at your gums, jawbone and facial structure. Our dentists discuss whether implants are the best teeth replacement option for you.
To set up your consultation visit, call our office at 614-799-9500.