Restoring Your Smile With Dental Implants

Dental implants can replace missing teeth using a combination of screwlike metal posts and dental crowns, bridges, or dentures. Many consider implants state-of-the-art teeth replacement. Though dental implants can be an effective way to restore your smile, it is important to ensure they are right for you and understand how they work.

Overview of dental implants

Dental implants can support a single tooth, multiple teeth, and full teeth replacement. The traditional single dental implant consists of a screwlike metal post that is surgically implanted into the jaw bone. After healing, an abutment attachment is placed on the post, followed by the dental crown. Multiple dental posts can replace a row of teeth or an entire arch.

Reasons to replace teeth with dental implants

In general, tooth replacement is crucial because it restores not only the smile's appearance but also chewing and speaking function. In addition, having all the teeth present helps maintain smile alignment by keeping other teeth from shifting into the space left by the missing tooth. Dental implants go a step further than other teeth replacement methods and replace the tooth roots. This means the jaw bone is still kept strong by continuous stimulation from this replacement root.

Types of teeth replacement using dental implants

There are several ways dental implants can be employed to restore a smile, making them a highly versatile tooth replacement method. Here is a closer look at the options.

• Individual tooth. One implant topped by a dental crown
• Dental bridge. Two crowns on either side of a pontic; dental implants support each side of the bridge
• Full teeth replacement. Between 4-8 dental implants placed strategically in the jaw can support a full arch of teeth; patients can choose fixed dentures or removable ones

There are sub-varieties in each option, and it is important to talk to a dentist to discover the most appropriate option for the patient.

About the procedure

The dental implant procedure involves oral surgery and can take several months to a year, depending on whether or not additional procedures like bone grafting are required. The first step involved surgical placement of the metal implant. After this surgery, the patient must wait several months for healing and a process called osseointegration (where the implant integrates with the jawbone). When that process is complete, the dentist will place the abutment and the restoration (crown, bridge, or denture) in a separate surgery. Sometimes, the abutment and restoration are placed in separate procedures.

Candidacy for dental implants

Though dental implants require adequate bone density, most patients can fulfill this requirement with dental bone grafting. However, patients must be in good oral health and physically healthy enough for surgery. Though patients are typically given a temporary denture during the healing and osseointegration process, it is still important to understand it is a long process and be willing to commit to it.