What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a man made replacement for the root of a tooth. Involves a minor surgical procedure to place in the jawbone. After three to six months to facilitate bone integration, a replacement tooth can be anchored to the implant. Dental implants are the gold standard for teeth replacement. Dental implants act as artificial tooth roots. They are made of sterile titanium cylinders, and recommended by dentists for a variety of functions.
Depending on your needs and condition, dental implants can replace one or more teeth without affecting bordering teeth, as well as provide support for a bridge, eliminating the need for a removable, partial denture. Dental implants will not only help you teeth function better, such as chewing, but overall improve your facial appearance. In turn, your smile will look fantastic!
Dr. Roberts and Dr. Cumberbatch agree that the best candidates for dental implants are those in good oral health, with healthy gum tissue, free from periodontal disease, and sufficient underlying bone structure. Contact our office in Decatur, GA to find out if you qualify as a candidate for dental implants, and in the meantime, look forward to having your questions answered.
Why we need to replace missing teeth
Placing a bridge after teeth have been lost can prevent a chain reaction of problems that could affect your entire mouth. Teeth need each other for support, and when a tooth is lost, the biting forces change on the teeth next to the space, causing them to shift. When a tooth on the opposite arch no longer has anything to chew against, it begins to extrude out of the socket. You can eventually end up losing it too. As your bite changes, it gets harder and harder to chew your food, and your jaw joint, the TMJ, may be damaged. It’s also much harder to clean teeth that have shifted. Harmful plaque and tartar collect in these new hard-to-reach places, causing cavities and the permanent bone loss that comes with gum disease.
A bridge supported by implants
Dental implants are small titanium cylinders that are surgically inserted into the bone of the jaw to replace the roots of missing teeth. Artificial teeth are then attached to the implants, and can be used as part of a bridge. A partial denture is another way to solve the problem of missing teeth, but there are several advantages to an implant-supported bridge. You avoid the clasps and metal work that come with a partial denture, and an implant can help stop the continuing bone loss that begins when teeth are removed. Using dental implants to support a bridge is an excellent way to replace missing teeth.
