Dental Implant FAQs

By Marvette Thomas, DDS

The Dental Spa

. http://www.thedentalspaofvirginia.com/

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Dental Implant FAQs

You can’t grow new teeth, but dental implants offer the next best thing if you’ve lost a tooth. A dental implant looks like a tiny screw and replaces the roots of a tooth. During a minor surgical procedure, your dentist creates a small opening in your jawbone and places the implant inside. Over the course of several months, the implant fuses to the bone, providing a secure foundation for the crown that will be placed on top of it. In some cases, you may receive a temporary crown the same day you receive your implant.

Replace Multiple Teeth – When you have more than one tooth missing, implants provide an ideal replacement mechanism. You don’t even need one implant for every missing tooth. Instead, implant teeth can act as supports for fixed bridgework. For example, if you are missing three teeth in a row, we can place two implants, one on either side of the gap, and a crown in between that has no implant underneath. That way, you won’t need to use any of your remaining natural teeth as bridge supports, which could weaken them and make them more susceptible to decay.

Replace All Teeth Permanently – Implants can support an entire arch of upper or lower replacement teeth that are fixed into the mouth and are never removed. Sometimes the new teeth can be supported by as few as four implants. It’s comparable to the structure of a table, which only needs four legs to hold it up. In cases where jawbone density and volume have deteriorated, five or six implants might be needed to support a row of 10-12 teeth. Dental implant replacement teeth protect your jawbone, won’t slip, and should last a lifetime.

Aren’t Implants Expensive? – The initial costs of dental implants may seem high when compared to the cost of bridges and dentures, but it’s important to consider the lifetime costs of each tooth replacement option. With proper care, your implant will last your entire life, while bridges and dentures may need to be replaced several times.

Dental implants offer several benefits that other replacement options don’t, including:

• No Jawbone Loss – Your teeth roots constantly stimulate your jawbone and keep it strong. When you lose a tooth, the bone underneath begins to recede. Since dental implants take the place of your roots, you don’t have to worry about jawbone loss.
• Better Chewing – If you choose dentures to replace lost teeth, you may not be able to eat certain hard foods. Eating isn’t a problem with dental implants.
• Easy Care – You’ll care for your implants the same way you do your natural teeth. Infections are rare if you practice good oral hygiene.