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What are dental implants?
Dental implants are the closest you can get to healthy, natural teeth. They allow you to live the way you want to – confidently eating, smiling, laughing, talking, kissing and enjoying all of your everyday activities without worrying about your teeth. Dental implants are the only dental restoration option that preserves natural bone, actually helping to stimulate bone growth.
Modern dental implants have been used successfully for over 30 years. They are the strongest devices available to support replacement teeth – and even better, they allow these new teeth to feel, look and function naturally. When performed by a trained and experienced dental implant dentist, dental implant surgery is one of the safest and most predictable procedures in dentistry.
Think of dental implants as artificial tooth roots, similar in shape to screws. When dental implants are placed in your jawbone (A), they bond with your natural bone. They become a sturdy base for supporting one or more artificial teeth, called crowns.
A connector – known as an abutment (B) – is placed on top of the dental implant to hold and support your crowns. The crowns are custom-made to match your natural teeth and fit your mouth (C).
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The Dental Implant Treatment
Each patient is different. After an initial consultation, Dr. Hernandez-Gil will review with you a treatment plan including the estimated amount of time to complete the process. Total treatment time depends on your needs, medical and dental history, jawbone condition, and the technique and materials used. It can be as short as a few months, or more than a year for more complex conditions.
A Dental Implant treatment involved several steps. Initially, your implants must be placed directly into your jaw like they were screws. The dental implant is placed in the bone to replace the root portion of the tooth. The treatment involves a surgical and prosthetic or esthetic component. After this step, the surgical component requires time to heal, the implants need to bond with your bone to form anchors. This means that the bone fuses to the implant to become stable enough to hold a tooth on it. After this healing time, your permanent replacement teeth can be placed and you are able to talk and chew like you were expecting!
Dental Implants vs Dentures
Missing teeth are not only unhealthy for your mouth. They can also impact your overall health and self-esteem. Tooth loss is more common than you think, it's not just for the elderly but younger individuals as well. Some studies show that almost 70% of adults aged 35 to 44 years have at least one missing tooth, and 1 in 4 people over the age of 74 are missing all of their teeth.
Why Dental Implants are a better option?
- Appearance. Look and feel like natural teeth, thereby helping to improve self-esteem and confidence. The crown for a dental implant can be created to match the color of the patient's natural teeth.
- A Permanent Solution. With proper oral care and regular dentist visits, dental implants can last 25 years or longer. In contrast, only high-quality dentures should last 5-8 years, but they are fragile and can break.
- Support. Fixed to jawbone enables a strong and stable fit. Dentures are sit on your gums, therefore many issues can prevent good suction, especially on lowers.
- Comfort. Dental implants feel and function like normal healthy teeth. Dentures can slip out of place while eating or speaking. Dentures can also lead to infection or tooth decay if they’re not fitted properly.
- Care. You can brush dental implants like you would regular teeth. Dentures need to be removed and gently cleaned daily. A brush and nonabrasive denture cleanser are used to remove food, plaque, and other deposits.