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Dental Implants
Dental
implants are becoming more popular in today's dental society for a number of
reasons. They have proven themselves over the last 25 years to be very reliable
and safe. They are in fact often superior to some of the questionable teeth we
sometimes try to "save". They do not decay and are not nearly as susceptable to
fracture and periodontal disease as natural teeth. If properly placed and
restored, they rarely fail or are "rejected"
Implants are utilized to offer patients
a foundation for new restorative teeth where natural teeth are missing or have
been extracted. The implant offers
the patient the opportunity to regain normal function and
esthetics of teeth which have been lost.
Dental
implants can also be used to help hold removable dentures much more firmly
in place.
Procedure
The
tooth structure has two main sections, the root and the crown. The root is the section of the tooth
that is below the gumline. A dental
implant acts as the replacement of this section of the tooth. The metal implant acts as an anchor in
the jawbone. The first step of the procedure is surgical placement of the
implant. Under regular dental
anesthetic, the gum tissue is opened and the dentist places the implant into the
jawbone. When this is achieved, the
tissue is then sutured closed.
There is not often significant discomfort with this procedure. This process can take from 1-3 hours
depending on the number of implants being placed.
This
implant will be left untreated for a period of 3-6 months. During this time, the
bone will grow around the implant in a process called osseointegration. A removable crown may be utilized during
this time period to allow for chewing and to preserve the cosmetic
appearance.
The
next step in the process is to attach an abutment to the tooth. This is achieved by exposing the top of
the implant and placing the abutment.
This is the part of the implant that will support the final
crown.
Finally,
an impression is taken of the abutment and a final restoration (crown or
bridge) is crafted. This
restoration will be comfortable and cosmetically pleasing. Your completed implant will be fully
functional, allowing you to resume normal activities.
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