Dental implants are an advanced restorative dentistry treatment that replaces missing teeth. They are put in place through customized oral surgery and are a permanent repair that improves the look and function of a person’s smile. Learn everything you need to know about this procedure through dental implants 101 from Beachside Smiles in Manhattan Beach, CA.
The Parts of a Dental Implant
Every dental implant has three parts that form a complete, durable tooth. These components work together to form the foundation and cosmetic elements of a dental implant:
- Titanium post: Implanted in the jawbone under the gum line. Made of biocompatible metal.
- Abutment: A small titanium piece attached to the top of the implant that sticks out above the gum line.
- Prosthesis: A customized porcelain crown, bridge, or denture that is attached to the abutment.
What Dental Implants Feel Like
It’s natural to be concerned about having a dental implant placed in your jawbone. Will it feel weird? Will you notice it? Will others? One of the best parts of this restoration is that it looks and feels like a natural tooth. The only thing to get used to is finally having a tooth that fills the space that used to be empty.
Healing Time Is Significant
There is significant healing time in the dental implant procedure and there is no speeding it up. The osseointegration of the implant with the jawbone must be fully complete so that the combination can successfully serve as a new tooth root. This process can take several months, but your dentist is usually able to place a temporary crown while you wait, so your smile will look complete until the final restoration is put in place.
Enjoy a Permanent Restoration
Some dental restorations last for decades, but dental implants are meant to last for a lifetime. Reliable, strong, and difficult to damage, dental implants can replace one tooth, several teeth, or an entire arch of teeth. They will not shift out of place or come out. Your smile will be tough enough to bite down on the foods you love and chew them without worrying about teeth shifting out of place.
Avoid Typical Dentures
If you have an entire arch of missing teeth or multiple missing teeth in one area of your mouth, you may fear that dentures are your only tooth replacement option. The strategic placement of several dental implants, however, can be topped with a customized partial denture that does not cover the palate or require adhesive. You get a complete smile that never has to be removed and you don’t have to endure the typical drawbacks of dentures. If you already wear dentures, you may even be a good candidate for dental implants.
Other Dental Restorations Might Come First
Anyone who has multiple missing teeth may be living with other oral health problems that need to be addressed before dental implants can be put in place. Your Manhattan Beach dentist may tell you that you qualify for implants, but if you are also suffering from gum disease, that infection – likely the main culprit behind the tooth loss – must be cleared up completely first. A new smile can only be built on a healthy foundation.
If your teeth have been missing for a long time, it’s likely that the jawbone has deteriorated too without the tooth roots to keep it healthy. In cases like this, dental implants are still possible, but a bone graft must happen first to improve jaw density. Once healing is complete, the dental implant procedure can commence.
Get Dental Implants in Manhattan Beach
Dental implants are life-altering, giving people complete, healthy, functional smiles. Contact Beachside Smiles for a consultation to find out if you’re a good candidate for this low-maintenance, high-confidence, smile makeover solution.
