Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small posts made of titanium used to provide a sturdy foundation for prosthetics like crowns, bridges, or implant-supported dentures. They serve as replacement tooth roots and help preserve your oral health.

To place dental implants, Dr. Kelly performs a quick outpatient procedure. He carefully places one or several posts into small incisions in your gum line. Your bone grows around each post, fusing the implants in place.

What are the advantages of dental implants?

Compared to other oral prosthetics, dental implants offer many advantages, including:

• Improved oral health
• Increased confidence and self-esteem
• Easier eating, biting, and chewing
• Durability

Dental implants are also convenient. Because they’re attached to your jawbone, you don’t have to use messy adhesives to hold them in place. They function just like your natural teeth, so just brush and floss as normal.

How does getting dental implants work?

Getting dental implants typically takes 6-12 months. While this might seem like a major commitment, it’s important to remember that dental implants can last a lifetime.

At your initial consultation, Dr. Kelly conducts an oral exam, takes digital X-rays, and reviews your oral health history. If you have healthy gums and enough bone volume to support the implants, he moves forward with treatment. 

After administering a local anesthetic, he places several posts into your gum line. The number of posts you need depends on the number of teeth missing. Following the procedure, you return home for several months while your mouth heals.

Following the initial recovery period, you return to Choice Dental and Dr. Kelly takes impressions of your teeth and gums. He sends your impressions to a dental laboratory that manufactures your crowns, bridge, or implant-supported dentures. 

A few weeks later, you return for your final appointment. Dr. Kelly lines up your crowns, bridge, or implant-supported dentures, and attaches them to your dental implants. This restores your smile to its near-original condition, allowing you to bite, chew, and speak confidently.

How do I prevent damage to my dental implants?

To prevent damage to your dental implants, brush and floss daily, and visit Dr. Kelly every six months for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning. Dental implants are tough, but you should also take care to protect them. If you grind your teeth at night, wear a night guard, and if you play sports, skateboard, or mountain bike, wear a mouthguard.

It’s also important to avoid bad habits like nail-biting or chewing on ice cubes and popcorn kernels. Preventive maintenance will keep your dental implants in great shape for years.

If you’re missing one or several permanent teeth, consider dental implants. Schedule an appointment at Choice Dental today, book a consultation online, or call the office and speak with a friendly team member.