Dental Implants
Dental Implants | Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you have no doubt heard at least something about dental implants. Although tooth replacement options like dentures and bridges are still used, this treatment space has been somewhat taken over by implants, which are typically a superior treatment option if the patient can afford it.
Dental implants are a type of structure employed to replace one or more missing teeth. They are comprised of three elements: a metal screw, an abutment and a crown. Implants provide a solid surface for the patient to chew and bite on, as they are firmly anchored within the jawbone itself.
If you are considering getting a dental implant, you will need some solid information to help you make the right decision for yourself and your individual needs. And after you have received your new implant, you will need to know how to maintain it so that it lasts for as long as possible.
Getting Your Dental Implants
The process of receiving dental implants is fairly straightforward. After taking part in a consultation with your dentist, you will have an appointment that involves the placement of a metal post made of a titanium alloy.
The next part of the treatment process is simply waiting. Your jawbone will begin fusing naturally around your new implant. This will take a few months to complete. At that point, you would return for a follow-up appointment to have an abutment, or connector, attached to the implanted metal screw.
Finally, your dentist will attach a dental crown to the abutment. Your new crown will serve as both an aesthetic replacement for your natural tooth, as well as a surface that allows you to chew and bite with normal force.
Implant Maintenance
There really is nothing special that you need to do to maintain your new dental implant. But it is vitally important that you maintain your normal oral care routine at home, as well as keeping up with your routine dental exam and cleaning appointments. Even though dental implants is virtually indestructible, the bone that underlies it, and the soft tissues that surround it, are not. An implant can loosen and fall out due to gum disease, just as an original tooth can.
So after receiving your new dental implant, make sure that you are:
- Brushing at least twice a day
- Flossing at least once a day
- Having plaque and tartar removed at your routine dental cleaning appointments
Schedule Your Consultation
Learn more about dental implants by scheduling a consultation with one of our dental offices down below:
Massachusetts
Connecticut
