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A natural tooth is anchored into the jawbone by its
tooth root. Tooth roots attach firmly to the jawbone and keep your
teeth stable when chewing solid foods.
Traditionally, if you were missing a tooth (or one
needed to be extracted), the healthy teeth on either side of the
missing tooth would be cut down and the whole chewing area replaced
with a three-crown “bridge”.
Dental Implants are the modern alternative. Instead
of cutting down two perfectly good teeth, a dental post (Dental
Implant) is inserted into the jawbone to replace your missing tooth
root. This post becomes quite solidly fixed in your jaw (like a
natural tooth root). Your general dentist then places a crown onto
this artificial tooth root that looks, feels, and functions like
your natural teeth.
Quite simply, Dental Implants are the most natural
replacement for missing teeth.
Traditionally, several missing teeth would have been
replaced with a removable partial or full denture.
Dentures have to be taken out and soaked at night.
During the day, they can also look unnatural and rub the gum tissue
painfully. Dentures and partials make it difficult or impossible
to eat certain foods.
Dental Implants can now be used to anchor partial
and full dentures.This eliminates the slipping, irritation, and
pain associated with “floating” partials and dentures.
It also eliminates the tedious removal of dentures for overnight
soaking and cleaning. With Dental Implants, these restorations are
anchored firmly into the jawbone becoming much more like natural
teeth.
Natural tooth roots and dental implant posts are fixed
firmly in your jawbone. When natural teeth or implants are not present
in the jaw, the jawbone resorbs and shrinks. When you chew, these
tooth roots and posts stimulate the jawbone to prevent it from shrinking.
You may have seen a person who looked prematurely old because their
jawbone had shrunk after wearing floating dentures. Dental Implants
help preserve your jawbone and appearance.
After their healing period, the success rate of Dental
Implants is between 94% and 98%. If you are a non-smoker with good
oral hygiene, the percentage is closer to 98%.
Placing a Dental Implant is usually like getting a
cavity filled. It is often done under local anesthesia and patients
generally experience little discomfort after the procedure.
Dental Implants become fixed to the jawbone. Dental
Implants have been in patient’s mouths for over 30 years.
With good oral hygiene and regular cleanings, Dental Implants should
last a lifetime. In contrast, the average life span of a traditional
fixed bridge is between 10-15 years.
Dental Implant treatment begins with an evaluation
by your general dentist who will determine if you are a good candidate
for this procedure. If he feels Dental Implants might be possible,
he will send you to a periodontist for an implant placement evaluation.
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