If you’re missing some or all of your permanent teeth and you want a long-lasting prosthetic solution that mimics your natural chewing and biting abilities, you may be a candidate for dental implants. The team of expert dentists at RenovaSmiles, regularly provides dental implants to patients. If you want to restore your smile to its near-original condition, request a dental implant appointment today by calling the office nearest you or by clicking the online booking tool.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are a type of oral prosthetic that act as replacement tooth roots. Each implant features a metal abutment that connects to a crown, bridge, or set of dentures.
During dental implant surgery, your RenovaSmiles provider places small metal posts into the dry sockets of your missing teeth. Following surgery, your bone grows around each implant, fusing them to your jaw.
In addition to restoring your smile, dental implants work to prevent further oral health problems, such as gum recession and misaligned teeth. They also help restore your chewing, speaking, and biting abilities.
Who can get dental implant?
Dental implants present a wide variety of benefits, including:
- Improved speech
- Improved appearance
- Easier eating
- Improved oral health
- Improved self-esteem
Dental implants are also convenient. Unlike traditional dentures, dental implants affix to your jaw. This means you don’t need to remove them, soak them, or use sticky adhesives to hold them in place.
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
If you’re healthy enough to undergo a routine dental procedure like an extraction or root canal, you’re probably healthy enough to receive dental implants.
If you’re living with diabetes or you smoke cigarettes, though, make sure to let your provider know. These issues won’t necessarily prevent you from receiving dental implants, but they may increase your risk of complications.
You also need to have healthy gums and jawbones. If your jaw doesn’t have enough bone to hold your implants, your dentist might recommend a bone graft before moving forward.
What is the process of getting dental implants?
Getting dental implants usually takes a period of between 6-12 months and a series of dental appointments. While this may seem like a long time, it’s important to remember that with proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime.
At your initial consultation, your dentist does an oral exam, takes a series of CT scans or digital X-rays, and asks you about your goals for treatment. If your tooth roots, gums, and jaws are healthy, your dentist moves forward with treatment.
After administering a local anesthetic, your dentist surgically places a small metal post into the socket of each tooth. Once your dentist places your implants, it will take 3-4 months for them to fully integrate in your jaw and be ready to be restored with a crown.
Once your mouth heals, you return to RenovaSmiles. Your dentist takes impressions of your remaining teeth and sends them to a laboratory that manufactures your restoration, which could be a crown, bridge, or denture. Your dentist also attaches a small metal post, known as an abutment, to each implant.
One or two weeks later, you return to RenovaSmiles for your final appointment, where your dentist attaches your new restoration to your implants, restoring your smile to its near-original condition. Your restoration mimics the color and strength of your natural teeth, ensuring no one but you and your dentist know you have implants.
Don’t let missing permanent teeth negatively impact your self-esteem. Request your dental implant appointment at RenovaSmiles today by calling the office nearest you or by clicking the online booking tool.
