People who have lost one or more teeth due to injury, extensive decay or periodontal disease have hope for a better smile in dental implants. These prosthetic tooth roots form the foundation for a porcelain crown, permanent bridge or even full arch of dentures. Not just for a single isolated tooth replacement, dental implants can replace more than one missing tooth, leaving the individual with a smile that looks, feels and functions just like the one that nature gave him or her.
What does a dental implant look like?
The implant itself is much like an ordinary screw. However, it is usually made of titanium, a metal that blends wonderfully well with natural bone. When a dentist evaluates a person for the implant procedure, he or she makes sure the patient has sufficient jaw bone and gums that are healthy enough to accept these state of the art dental prosthetics.
What does the implant procedure involve?
The implant procedure takes some time and several appointments to complete. It begins with x-rays and digital imaging to get a complete picture of the patient's mouth and specific needs. Then, after using a local anesthetic, the dentist puts the metal implant or implants in to the jawbone. The device is covered with the patient's gums, and they are allowed some time to heal.
At the next appointment, the doctor adds an extension to each implant. Finally, posts, called abutments, are placed to accept the new teeth. The new porcelain teeth, bridgework or denture is put over the the posts.
The many advantages of dental implants
So, not only can patients have more than one missing teeth replaced with dental implants, they can enjoy several benefits from this state of the art procedure:
- ease of eating and chewing
- confident smiling and talking in public
- a bright, natural looking smile that won't discolor or stain
- no decay
- no sore gums or messy adhesives common to removable dentures
- preservation of jaw bone for a firm foundation and younger look to the face
- teeth that last a lifetime
Of course, dental implants require good oral hygiene and regular dental care just as natural teeth do.
Gibberman Dental is the Alexandria, Virginia practice for experienced implant dentistry
Paul Gibberman DDS, Jack Tsai DMD and Lauren B. Gibberman DDS would like to help you with all your dental needs. If you want more information on dental implants and how they may be right for you, call Gibberman Dental at 703-823-6616 to set-up a consultation.
Are you a patient of Gibberman Dental? If so, we would love to hear about your experiences below!