Tooth Replacement With Dental Implants
Missing teeth have a major impact on your life. Replacing those missing teeth is necessary for restoring your oral health, your smile, and your quality of life. Traditionally, missing teeth have been replaced with bridges or dentures. Today, however, you have another option. At Waterford Dental Group, we can replace your missing teeth with dental implants.
Short-Term Effects of Tooth Loss
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The most obvious effect is the impact that missing teeth have on your smile. Gaps in your smile can lead to a significant decrease in your confidence.
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Tooth loss also affects your ability to bite and chew your food. You may be unable to eat many of your favorite foods.
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Additionally, poor chewing can lead to malnutrition. Your speech suffers, and you may find it difficult to effectively communicate. |
Long-Term Effects of Tooth Loss
Tooth loss also has a more hidden effect. The teeth are responsible for helping to maintain a strong, healthy jaw. The teeth stimulate the bone every time you chew. This stimulation triggers the body to send essential nutrients to your jaw. When you lose your teeth, the stimulation lessens, causing fewer nutrients to be sent. The jaw gradually begins to weaken and change shape. This can cause any remaining healthy teeth to shift out of alignment, which can lead to other serious issues.
The Dental Implants Solution
Dental implants are a modern treatment for replacing missing teeth, providing you with an alternative solution to bridges and dentures. This treatment uses posts made from titanium, which are surgically implanted into the jawbone. The posts are integrated into the jaw through a process called osseointegration. This is the process in which your bone fuses gradually to the posts as you heal, stabilizing them in your jaw.
Types of Dental Implants
Dental implants can be used in some different situations. This versatile treatment can be used to replace a single tooth or many teeth. To meet your specific needs, there are several different types of implants, including:
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Single Tooth Implants: This treatment uses one post and one crown to replace a single tooth.
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Multiple Tooth Implants: Also called an implant supported bridge, one or more posts support two or more crowns.
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Full Arch Replacement: Typically, when you are missing a full arch of teeth, 6 to 8 posts are used to support an entire arch of replacement teeth. If you lack the bone mass necessary to support these posts, you may be eligible for a treatment known as All-on-4. With this treatment, your arch of replacement teeth is supported by just four strategically placed posts. |
Dental Implant Procedure
To get dental implants, you need to undergo a surgical procedure. This procedure is done under a local anesthetic and sedation. Small incisions in the gums expose your jawbone underneath. Holes are drilled into the bone, and we place the posts directly inside. The surgical wounds are stitched closed around the posts, with just a small amount of each post left exposed. Temporary teeth are placed, and you go home to heal.
Healing after surgery varies from patient to patient. It takes several weeks to several months to completely recover. As you heal, the bone gradually fuses to the posts, stabilizing them in your jaw. Regular follow up visits allow us to monitor your progress and make sure there are no complications. Once you have fully healed, we then begin the process of creating your final crowns. This process takes two appointments. The first appointment involves taking impressions of your mouth, which are sent to our dental lab, where the teeth are designed and created. The second appointment occurs after the crowns are finished, and they are screwed securely into place on the posts.
Benefits of Dental Implants
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They look and feel completely natural.
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You can eat and speak normally again.
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Your smile is restored, as is your confidence.
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They are more comfortable than traditional treatments.
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They can be brushed and flossed just like your real teeth.
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The posts restore the stimulation to your jawbone, stopping and preventing bone loss in the jaw. |
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation
Dental implants are a modern treatment for replacing missing teeth that offer a variety of benefits over traditional treatments. Call Waterford Dental Group today to schedule your consultation and find out if this revolutionary treatment is the right option for you at General: 925-803-5888 / Ortho: 925-803-9800 / Pediatrics: 925-803-6880. |
