What to Expect When You Need Dental Implants
A dental implant is designed to replace the root of a tooth. When you lose a tooth, that gaping space can cause a variety of problems. The dental implant fills in this space and creates a base for a crown or replacement tooth. If you have lost a tooth or had one pulled, your dentist may recommend an implant to preserve the shape of your jaw and allow for a fresh, new synthetic tooth to be added.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- Permanence: Because the dental implant fuses with the existing bone in your mouth, they become a permanent addition and don’t need to be removed or replaced regularly.
- Improved appearance: Your mouth will retain its natural full shape and you won’t have to worry about shifting or changes in appearance when you have implants
- Better speech and eating: If you have dentures, they can move about when you eat or speak. This slipping and sliding can cause slurred speech and make it difficult to chew your food. Since dental implants are permanent, they won’t slip or shift as you eat or talk.
What to Expect from the Process?
Your dentist will examine you and develop a treatment plan designed to address your individual needs, including implants if required. If you need an extraction, the tooth will be pulled first, and your dentist may augment the socket with some additional material to preserve the space for the implant. An artificial root made from titanium will be added to the space where your tooth was. Your jaw will need to heal for several weeks; as it heals it will grow around the new post and secure it in place.
A dental implant is a multi-step process; after about 12 months, the implant is ready to be fit for a crown, or replacement tooth. Your dentist will create a new tooth to fit into your mouth and add it to the implant, creating a new, permanent replacement for your lost tooth.
Your dentist can help you learn more about your tooth replacement options and come up with an individual treatment plan designed to restore your smile and improve your oral health.