Whether you’ve lost teeth to periodontal disease, pole vaulting accidents, or pillow fights, it’s important to bridge the gap in your smile. A dental implant is a great option for replacing lost teeth and will leave you with a gleaming, confident grin.
The Nuts and Bolts: What Is A Dental Implant?
Much like a tree’s roots anchor it in the ground, a tooth’s root anchors it in your mouth. To replace a lost tooth, the work starts from the ground up—by way of a dental implant. Implants are designed to mimic your natural teeth and are made up of two parts: a titanium implant body that replaces the root (a Swedish surgeon discovered that titanium actually fuses naturally with bone) and a tooth-colored crown for the world to seeThere are two kinds of dental implants:
Endosteal implants: these implants are surgically inserted directly into the jawbone with screws or cylinders. They can hold one or more new teeth and are also viable for use with bridges or removable dentures.
Subperiosteal: these implants, designed for patients unable to use conventional dentures or those who have minimal bone height, are placed on top of the jawbone and feature a metal framework of posts that pass through the gum to hold new teeth in place.
It’s More than An Attractive Smile
Why are implants necessary, apart from aesthetics? If missing teeth are left untreated, the jawbone can start to deteriorate; implants ward against this deterioration and actually promote healthy bone growth. Other solutions to a gap-tooth smile, such as bridges or partial dentures, grind down neighboring teeth in order to place new teeth, but implants are secured directly to the bone: no grinding necessary. Your new teeth will be strong and secure and will look and feel natural“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do” to quote Mother Teresa, and it’s true: research has proven that smiling is contagious and boosts the emotions of the people around us. Smiling has also been shown to result in longer life, boosted immune systems, and even more promotions. So let’s protect that smile! More than 3 million Americans have dental implants, and current technology has been saving smiles successfully for 30 years (though a Mayan woman from 600 AD was found with seashells for implants).
Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation
If you are in need of implants, don’t put off calling your friendly dentist in Cottage Grove. We’ll be happy to discuss treatment possibilities, from replacing one tooth to the whole set. After an initial surgery to place the implants, and a recovery time of a few months with temporary teeth, we will fit your custom-made new teeth, guaranteed to last decades. A brighter smile awaits! Call Today!Further Reading:What are Dental Implants? – American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Dental Implants. – American Academy of Periodontology. National Smile Week: 10 Fun Facts About Smiling. – Community Home Health Care.