|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Implantation
Whenever you lose a tooth, the biting forces change on the teeth next to
the space, causing them to shift. Opposing teeth may even begin to extrude out of
the socket, which means they too could eventually be lost. Also, as your bite change
to your jaw joint. It's also much harder to clean teeth that have shifted; harmful
plaque and tartar collect in the new hard-to-reach places created by the shifting,
causing tooth decay and periodontal disease.
As you can see, it's critical that we replace a lost tooth. An excellent option
for replacing a missing tooth is an artificial tooth secured by a dental implant.
Implants are titanium cylinders that are surgically placed in your jaw to serve
as artificial tooth roots. Attaching a replacement tooth to an implant allows us
to avoid placing a bridge. Bridges require that we prepare the adjacent natural
teeth, and that weakens them substantially.
Benefits of implants
An implant and crown is practically indistinguishable from your natural
teeth, and it fits so securely that you won't even notice it when you chew and speak.
When we place an implant, it's not necessary for us to alter the structure of the
adjacent teeth, so their strength and integrity is maintained. Also, an implant
replaces the roots of a missing tooth, which helps to fend off the bone loss that
occurs when a tooth is missing. In essence, an implant is the next best thing to
your natural tooth.
Do implants work for everyone?
Start-to-finish, the procedure may take several months to complete, because it can
take about three to six months for the implant to fuse to your bone tissue through
a process called osseointegration. An implant won't work for you if you aren't in
good general health. Your gums and jaw bone must be healthy enough to support the
implant, and you must be meticulous about your daily home care routine. You'll also
need to visit us for cleanings.
We won't recommend an implant if you suffer from a chronic illnes such as diabetes,
as this can interfere with healing. And if you're a smoker, you may not be a good
candidate for an implant; smokers are at greater risk for gum disease, and gum desease
weakens the bone and soft tissue needed to support the implant.
If you're interested in replacing a missing tooth with an implant, we will perform
a through evaluation to determine whether your health and lifestyle make you a good
candidate for this kind of restoration.
|
|
 |
|
Teeth can shift |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Placing an implant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
A crown is placed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|
| 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|
|
|