Dental implants are a serious dental surgery, but how these restorations work is very straightforward. Simply enough, an implant replaces a missing tooth both above and below the gumline. This permanent replacement looks and feels like natural teeth, especially when you get dental implants from the experts at Philadelphia Dentistry in Center City.
The Parts of a Dental Implant
Dental implants are made of three parts, each of which is necessary to the whole and make this dental restoration strong and secure.
- Post: The titanium post surgically implanted into the jawbone is small. This manmade post replaces the missing tooth root.
- Abutment: The abutment is attached to the post and sticks out just a little above the gumline so the prosthetic tooth can be situated upon it.
- Restoration: Whether you are getting a single crown, dentures, or a dental bridge to complete your dental implant, each item will be permanently attached to the abutment.
Surgery and Healing Time
Any patient getting dental implants must have patience. This process takes between four to six months from start to finish but it only requires a few visits to your Philadelphia dentist’s office.
- Evaluation: You must qualify for the procedure. This occurs during a consultation with your Center City dental implant dentist during which x-rays, impressions, and 3D images are taken.
- Surgery: Once the procedure is a go, the post is surgically implanted under the gum.
- Healing: You must wait for the surgical area to heal and the bone to adapt to the implant. This step usually takes between 12 to 16 weeks but may take longer.
- Completion: Your Center City dentist must confirm that the implant has fused with the jawbone and is solidly in place before the crown or denture can be placed. Once it is fine to proceed, the procedure and your smile are complete.
Excellent Side Effects of Dental Implants
Missing teeth are a big problem for your smile. Their absence is not just an aesthetic issue, but a foundational one too. Your oral health depends on whether you have all your teeth or not. Besides replacing your missing teeth, dental implants have other amazing side effects.
- Strong face shape: Your natural teeth stimulate your jawbone. When those teeth are missing, there is nothing to preserve bone structure, and, eventually, face shape will sink and be altered. Dental implants mimic the structure of natural teeth, prevent facial collapse and jawbone shrinkage, and preserve the jawbone.
- Confidence: Some people have ill-fitting dentures to replace their missing teeth and this solution can be unreliable, stealing your confidence. Dental implants are a permanent solution, not a removable appliance, so you never have to worry about poor adhesive, teeth falling out, or soreness. You can bite, chew, and speak because your dental implants aren’t going anywhere.
- Good oral health: Dental implants create a healthier mouth. Missing teeth are problematic because their absence affects the function of your mouth as well as appearance. Remaining teeth may shift to fill in the gaps, causing tissue damage, but with implants, teeth stay where they belong for a strong smile.
How Dental Implants Work in Center City
Dental implants are a viable option for almost everyone who has quality bone density and good oral health. Whether you are missing one tooth or multiple teeth, it is possible to achieve a strong, healthy mouth with dental implants and single-tooth replacements, multiple-teeth replacements, or all-teeth replacements.
Schedule a consultation with the experts at Philadelphia Dentistry in Center City to find out how dental implants work, what sort of dental restorations are right for you, and whether dental implants are in your future. Contact us to schedule your appointment.
