If you are looking for a permanent solution to replace missing teeth, you may be a candidate for dental implants. With implants, no one will ever know you are missing teeth because they will look, function, and feel just like your natural teeth.
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is made up of two parts, as shown to the right.
The root form is made out of titanium and ultimately serves as an artificial tooth root. It is surgically placed into your jawbone and the bone grows around it forming a bond, in a process called osseointegration.
After a short time period of healing, a porcelain crown is fitted on top of the root form. This prosthetic part of the tooth is visible above the gum line. We will have an oral surgeon place the root form and Dr. Collins will take care of the prosthetic. He will create your dental implant to look completely natural and blend beautifully with your existing teeth.
Benefits of Choosing Dental Implants
When you are missing all of your teeth, choosing implants offers many advantages:
- They are a durable and long-lasting solution.
- They are secure and won’t move around or fall out like dentures do.
- You can eat normally without any limitations.
- No one will know they aren’t your natural teeth.
- They prevent facial collapse.
Facial collapse is a condition that develops over the course of 10 to 20 years, when you don’t have any teeth left. What happens is that your body senses that your jawbone is no longer needed to sustain your teeth and it begins to resorb the bone. This results in the jawbone shrinking and your face takes on a sunken look. Eventually, the condition may worsen to the point that you may no longer be able to wear a denture. To learn more, please visit our facial collapse page.
Some disadvantages exist with implants. From the beginning to end, the complete procedure may end up taking up to six months. This is due to the healing period where your bone bonds with the implant. Also, they are more expensive than removable appliances, like dentures or partial dentures.
We also offer affordable dental implants, including snap-on dentures and implant overdentures. The process is much simpler and they are about half the cost. To learn more, visit our affordable dental implants page.
Am I a Dental Implants Candidate?
If you are in overall good general health and you have enough bone present at the implant site, you are most likely a candidate. It is also important that you are willing to take good care of your oral health moving forward. With routine cleanings, check-ups, and a good home care regiment they can be a long-lasting solution.
We invite you to come in for a complimentary consultation if you are considering dental implants. Maybe you just have some questions and aren’t ready to commit. No problem. This is an opportunity for you to meet the dentist personally and we will evaluate and make recommendations based on your specific case. Give us a call today at 225-292-4321.