Tooth loss can feel overwhelming, especially when the time comes to decide on how to replace the missing teeth. Patients who want the optimal solution for tooth loss should explore dental implants as a treatment option.
Dental implants offer patients the most advanced tooth replacement technology available and the only structurally complete prosthetic that includes both an artificial root and crown. This unique quality of dental implants gives many benefits to patients who choose this intervention.
If you need to replace missing teeth, visit an oral surgeon for a consultation. We’ll help you get back to flashing a complete smile.
The Foundation of Dental Implant Technology
Dental implants are small titanium cylinders that are inserted into a patient’s jaw to replace the root of a missing tooth. Titanium is biocompatible, so the surrounding bone tissue forms a strong bond with the dental implant via a process called osseointegration.
After several months, osseointegration leaves the dental implant as a fixture in the jaw, which is able to support any type of needed restoration, including:
- Crown to replace a single tooth
- Bridge to replace a stretch of missing teeth
- Denture to replace an entire arch
Before placing dental implants, the oral surgeon will need to assess the quality of bone at the identified site to make sure that it is sufficient to support osseointegration. If you have inadequate bone tissue, you may need to undergo a preliminary bone graft first.
Why is a structurally complete tooth replacement desirable?
Dental implants are more involved than traditional prosthetics, requiring a surgical procedure and a multi-step treatment process. Is all of that effort really worth it? The answer is yes! When you choose to restore your smile with dental implants, you gain the following benefits:
- Durability: Dental implants can last for decades when you take good care of them.
- Stability: Dental implants prevent jawbone atrophy, so the supported appliance retains its fit over time.
- Functionality: Dental implants are better at chewing than prosthetics that lack a root-like structure.
- Comfort: Because dental implants are structurally similar to biological teeth, they feel more like biological teeth.
To learn more about the advantages of dental implants and determine whether this is the right choice for you to restore your smile after tooth loss, call Jackson Oral Surgery to schedule a consultation.