Dental Implant FAQs

Are you curious about dental implants? If you are evaluating your tooth replacement options, you might have come across dental implants. More than likely, since these replacement teeth are relatively new, you might have questions about how they function and how they can benefit people who have lost teeth. Our oral surgeon provides bone grafting (a procedure that commonly precedes implantation) and dental implants placement so that members of our community can regain oral function and protect their oral health.

What is a dental implant?

An implant is a prosthetic that serves as a base for restorations like dental crowns and bridges. Dental implants are embedded into the jawbone to replace the roots of teeth. Supported by bone mass, an implant will hold a restoration durably and permanently. Implants resemble small screws and are only a few millimeters in diameter.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants are beneficial for a number of reasons. They help patients retain as much bone as possible by thwarting bone deterioration, restore oral function, improve the appearance of a smile, and give those who suffered with tooth loss renewed confidence. Moreover, dental implants are very low maintenance once they stabilize and last for decades.

What is bone grafting?

Bone grafting is a procedure that involves using excess bone in the hip or knee or taking bone from a tissue bank to thicken the jawbone. Many times, bone deterioration accompanies tooth loss and without enough bone, dental implants won’t become stable. Bone grafts are very useful for when dental implants are going to be placed in the upper jaw, where bone tends to be thin and narrow because of the sinus cavity above the upper mandible.

Is bone grafting necessary for implants?

Bone grafting commonly precedes dental implantation but it isn’t always necessary. After a tooth replacement consultation, patients will find out if they need a grafting procedure based on the results of diagnostic images, which will show whether bone is dense and thick enough to hold implants.

If you have suffered from tooth loss and are curious about your tooth replacement options, we recommend scheduling a dental implants consultation with our team at Central Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates.