Dental Implants: A Tooth Replacement Solution Worth Smiling About

When you need to replace a missing tooth or multiple teeth, you have a number of options. Dental implants offer the most advanced treatment option, as well as the most structurally complete prosthetic.

In considering your tooth replacement treatment options, you should schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon to explore if dental implants are feasible in your case and to learn more about the benefits of this treatment.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants are small cylinders that are made of titanium, which is biocompatible. This means that the bone tissue at the implant site is capable of fusing with the dental implant after the oral surgeon places it in the jaw.

That process – osseointegration – takes place over the course of several months. After the dental implant is fully osseointegrated, it can be used to secure a prosthetic crown.

Dental implants can be used in various tooth loss scenarios. Implants can support a single crown, a dental bridge, or even an entire denture. One main requirement for dental implant placement is adequate bone tissue at the implant site to support osseointegration.

Dental Implants Vs. Conventional Tooth Replacement

Patients who are exploring their treatment options for tooth loss are likely choosing between dental implants or conventional tooth replacements, such as fixed dental bridges or standard dentures. Dental implants outperform conventional appliances in a number of ways:

• Greater durability: Dental implants also promote jawbone stability, so an implant-supported appliance retains its fit over time, unlike a traditional appliance that gets loose as jawbone tissue wears away, changing the jaw’s shape.
• Improved functioning: The connection between jaw and implant facilitates more complete chewing motion than that achieved by a conventional appliance.
• Enhanced comfort: The root-like dental implants help the prosthetics feel more like biological teeth.
• Maximum convenience: Dental implants can be cleaned and maintained just like your natural teeth. In the case of dentures, dental implants eliminate the need for messy denture adhesives.

It’s also worth noting that in the case of single tooth replacement, dental implants have no impact on surrounding teeth. This is in contrast to fixed dental bridges, which require adjacent teeth to be fitted with crowns in order to support the pontic (artificial tooth).

Are you considering dental implants as an option to restore a complete, beautiful smile after tooth loss? If so, call Central Oklahoma Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates to schedule a consultation and learn more about this treatment.