Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are replacement tooth roots made from titanium. Dr. Moore implants these restorations into your jawbone to hold your replacement teeth in place when you have missing teeth. By providing a foundation for dentures, dental crowns, or dental bridges, implants hold your replacement teeth firmly in place.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants offer several advantages for individuals with missing teeth, including:

Durability

While dental crowns, bridges, and dentures typically require replacement once every 7-15 years, dental implants can last a lifetime.

Improved appearance

Dental implants fuse with your bone to hold your replacement teeth in place without the bulk and shifting that often accompanies conventional dentures.

Enhanced oral health

Dental implants don’t require any special cleaning or care. You brush and floss your implants just as you would your natural teeth.

Improved speech and chewing

One of the main drawbacks of conventional dentures is that they can shift on top of your gums, which can lead to painful chewing, slurred speech, and even a lisp. By connecting to your dentures, dental implants can prevent uncomfortable shifting.

Comfort

Sores and inflammation are common complaints of removable dentures. Poor-fitting dentures can irritate your gums and cause chronic discomfort. Not only do dental implants hold your dentures in place to prevent shifting, but they also provide a barrier between your gums and replacement teeth.

What happens during the dental implants process?

The first step in placing dental implants is determining whether you’re an ideal candidate. Dental implants require enough healthy bone in your jaw to hold the replacement roots in place. 

Dr. Moore performs a comprehensive dental exam with X-rays and 3-D dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans to evaluate your bone health. If you don’t have enough bone in your jaw to support implants, Dr. Moore may recommend a bone graft. 

At your dental implant procedure, Dr. Moore administers an anesthetic to ensure your comfort and surgically places the small titanium post into your jaw through the socket of your missing tooth. He then stitches the incision and packs your mouth with gauze.

The implant surgery recovery process takes about 6-12 weeks, during which time your jawbone naturally heals around the implant to secure it in place. The process, called osseointegration, bonds the implant to the bone permanently.

What are implant dentures?

Once your swelling subsides, Dr. Moore takes highly accurate impressions of your mouth to create your replacement teeth. While dental crowns and bridges are suitable for single-tooth restorations, implant dentures are an affordable way to replace all the teeth in your mouth. 

Implant dentures connect to your dental implants at your final visit. Once placed, implant dentures stay fixed in your mouth just like your natural teeth.

To learn more about dental implants, call Four Corners Dental and Dentures or schedule an appointment online today.