What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium cylinders that inserted into your jawbone. There the implants replicate the roots of your natural teeth and can secure and stabilize a single crown, a bridge or dentures. Dental implants are the standard of care when replacing teeth. They look, function and feel just like natural teeth.
Parts of a Dental Implant:
For implants that replace teeth there are three main parts.
Dental Implant: the actual titanium cylinder that is placed into the jawbone and fuses to the jawbone
Abutment: the foundation for the crown that is screwed into the implant
Crown: the porcelain prosthesis that replicates the form and function of a tooth
For implants that are used as anchor points for dentures there are again three parts.
Dental Implant: the actual titanium cylinder that is placed into the jawbone and fuses to the jawbone
Abutment: the “male” connector that is screwed into the implant
Locator Denture: the denture that has “female” connectors that snap onto the abutment
Why Are Dental Implants Conservative?
Dental implants are conservative because they don’t damage adjacent teeth. Old fashioned bridges require the aggressive irreversible cutting away of tooth enamel. The bridge is bulky and hard to clean. Therefore, bridges often fail in ten to fifteen years. Dental implants are superior to bridges.
Partial dentures use metal clasps to grab onto the remaining teeth. The extra bulky metal and plastic attracts more bacteria and plaque to the natural teeth. Decay is common on the teeth that support the partial denture. Plus, the denture puts excessive torquing forces on the remaining teeth that can lead to tooth loss.
Dental implants are independent of adjacent teeth. Implants do not compromise neighboring teeth.
How do Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss?
The titanium posts of dental implants replace natural tooth roots. By giving physical support to your jaw bone and stimulating bone strength through chewing, implants keep your jaw healthy over time. When teeth are lost the jawbone immediately starts to disappear. This bone loss continues forever. Patients will get a “Witch’s Chin” as their chin gets closer to their nose. Tooth loss will cause wrinkles because the cheeks will collapse inward. Because dental implants replace the natural roots of missing teeth, they stop this process of bone loss and related changes in facial structure associated with premature aging.
How Can Dental Implants Help Denture Wearers?
Old Fashioned Dentures are loose and float on your gums. Denture wearers often experience problems eating, talking, and interacting with others. Denture wearers know their dentures are not secure and move around. Dental implant dentures help a patient eat and speak more confidently. This is because the implant dentures “snap” onto the dental implants. The dental implant dentures are stable and secure. With this amazing stability, Dr. Nugent can make less bulky dentures and even remove the palate on your upper denture. Implant denture wearers don’t have to used messy denture adhesives and are confident that their dentures will not move. Furthermore, because dental implants replace tooth roots in the jaw bone, the bone stays healthy and robust. The patient’s facial structure stays intact. Eating transmits the forces of chewing down the implants. This stimulates and preserves the jawbone.
How Do Implants Prevent Bone Loss?
The titanium posts of dental implants replace the function of natural tooth roots. By giving physical support to your jaw bone and stimulating bone strength through chewing, implants keep your jaw healthy over time. We have all seen the “pucker up” look around the mouth and chin caused by progressive bone loss due to missing teeth. Since implants replace the natural roots of missing teeth, they stop or significantly slow this process of bone loss and related changes in facial structure associated with premature aging.
Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
This will depend on your overall health, your bone density, and other factors. A general rule is if you are healthy enough for an extraction you are able to receive a dental implant.
Is the Dental Implant Surgery Painful?
It is normal for patients to feel nervous about an upcoming medical procedure. Dr. Nugent use local anesthetic to eliminate any pain during the procedure. Furthermore, he can use Sedation Dentistry for patients that have anxiety about the procedure. Most patients do not take any prescription pain medication and only use over the counter Advil. Patients report that the implant surgery was MUCH easier than they thought.
Are Dental Implants Approved by the FDA?
Yes, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration first approved implants in 1982. They have been used for decades by dentists.
Are Implants Expensive?
Implants signify a long term investment in the health of your jaw bone and facial structure. Dental implants improve the long-term comfort and confidence in your eating, smiling, interacting and living. Dental implants are worth the cost.
Will Dental Implants Look like My Natural Smile?
Patients discover that implants are the best available solution for the replacement of missing teeth. That is because a dental implant replaces the entire tooth structure. The implant will look, function and feel like a natural tooth because it completely mimics a natural tooth.
