Dental Implants

DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dental implants represent a common procedure of permanently replacing missing teeth without affecting neighboring teeth. 

Dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth and they are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth. They offer a variety of ways to replace teeth and give patients the confidence to eat anything and smile completely. Implants are made of titanium and they are similar in size and shape of a patient’s natural roots. The implants can support one crown, multiple crowns or provide stability to dentures.

The benefits for implants versus dentures or bridges are that they do not decay, offer great esthetics and are stronger than the other options. Furthermore, when teeth have been missing over a long period of time, the bone gradually decrease, but placing implants help to prevent that deterioration from occurring. Another benefit of implants is that they help preserve the remaining natural teeth which take on extra force because some teeth are missing. Lastly, the previous way to replace a missing tooth was to place a bridge, which required cutting the surrounding teeth and using them as the support for the bridge. With one single implant there is no need to touch the adjacent teeth, thus protecting them.

At Family dentistry of Upper Marlboro, we will evaluate the areas of missing teeth and take X-rays to evaluate the amount of bone present. We may recommend a CT scan to evaluate further if more may be required for implant placement, as well as to measure the size of implant that can be successfully placed at the site. Following 4-6 weeks of healing, impressions can be taken to begin working on making the crown or dentures to replace the missing teeth. Multiple implants can be connected to make a bridge or to support full dentures or partial dentures, making them more stronger and preventing them from moving around.

  • Permanent solution
  • Improved chewing and speaking
  • Natural function and look
  • Improved facial appearance
  • Prevention of bone loss
  • No special care required
  • Very sturdy and secure
  • No diet restrictions
  • Can be changed or updated

Common Questions

Benefits

Compared to other tooth replacement methods, dental implants offer distinctive benefits. Since dental implants function very much like biological teeth, they will last for decades, if not the rest of the recipient’s life. Anchored by the bone, implants and the restorations they hold will not move during oral function as prosthetics like dentures tend to do.

Dental implants are cared for like natural teeth; this means that patients will brush and floss as normal. Special soaking solutions are not needed. Lastly, implants prevent the natural process of bone deterioration by keeping the jawbone stimulated.

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