Cosmetic Dental Implants
Cosmetic Dental Implants | If you asked a dentist or oral surgeon what type of tooth replacement option they would have themselves if needed, what would you expect their answer to be? Hint: dental implants.
It wouldn’t even be close. Although treatment options like dentures and bridges are fine choices for many people, the benefits of cosmetic dental implants are undeniable.
Cosmetic dental implants benefits:
- Avoid bone loss
- Prevents shifting of teeth into gaps in your smile
- Also prevents unpleasant facial changes due to bone loss
- Extremely durable and expected to last for a lifetime when properly cared for
- Provides both the appearance and function of actual teeth
When it comes to cosmetic dental implants, the only real drawback is that a greater upfront expense is involved.
However, you may actually come out ahead in the long run, because dentures and bridges require replacement every few years. And they can also compromise the integrity of surrounding teeth, representing additional expense.
What is a dental implant?
Cosmetic dental implants consist of a structure used to replace one or more missing teeth. Each implant consists of three basic parts: a titanium metal screw, an abutment and a crown.
Why is titanium used in implants?
When mixed with other metals, known as an alloy, titanium is an extremely strong metal that works very well with organic materials, like the soft tissues in your mouth.
Titanium should not cause any type of allergic response from your body. Your jawbone will treat your new titanium implant as a natural tooth root and naturally fuse around it to provide a firm foundation for your cosmetic dental implants.
What can I expect when receiving a dental implant?
Unless you require a bone graft procedure, your cosmetic dental implants can be placed with just two dental visits. At your first appointment, your dentist or oral surgeon will place a titanium screw into your jawbone to encourage it to grow around it and serve as a firm anchor for the entire structure.
Once your jawbone has grown around this metal post, an abutment will be placed onto it so that a dental crown can cap the entire structure. Your crown will provide both the appearance and function of a natural tooth so that you can both chew your food and proudly display your smile.
When is a bone graft necessary?
Some patients may have gone a long time with missing teeth before getting an implant. A process known as resorption tends to occur in these instances, resulting in jawbone loss.
Since an implant needs sufficient bone material to be firmly anchored within your mouth, a bone graft would be needed in this case to shore up the area so that it can receive the implant.
Learn More Today
Find out if dental implants are right for your smile! At Pike District Smiles, we offer a variety of dental services to help patients and their unique smiles. New patients are welcome! Call 301-979-9071 or book online.