Dental implants are a remarkable tooth replacement solution. Properly placed dental implants precisely mimic the function of natural tooth roots and provide a stable foundation for permanent dental restorations like porcelain crowns.
By replacing the natural roots that are missing after tooth loss, implants address a variety of immediate and potential issues, from preserving biting, chewing, and speech functions to maintaining alignment among remaining teeth to restoring smile aesthetics.
Let’s take a closer look at dental implant restorations and the process by which they’re placed.
The Many Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer numerous benefits that make them a preferred choice for tooth replacement. The most significant of these include:
- Incredible durability — Implants are designed to last many years — often multiple decades, sometimes a lifetime — with proper care.
- Aesthetic appeal — Implants restore facial structure, and smile appearance by restoring the look, feel, and function of natural teeth,
- Functionality — Dental implants restore full chewing ability, promoting proper digestion and nutrient absorption, and allowing recipients to enjoy all foods without restriction.
- Jawbone preservation — Implants provide stimulation to prevent the loss of jawbone density that can accompany tooth loss.
- No impact on adjacent teeth — Unlike bridges, implants do not require altering adjacent teeth, allowing them to maintain structural integrity.
The Dental Implant Restoration Process
Dental implants provide a permanent, durable, and aesthetically pleasing solution for missing teeth, significantly improving oral health and quality of life. Here is a detailed look at how they do this:
- Initial assessment — The implant process starts with a thorough consultation between the patient and the dentist. This comprehensive evaluation involves x-rays and possible 3D imaging and determines sufficient bone density for an implant or if a bone graft is necessary.
- Implant placement — During placement, with the patient under local anesthesia, the dentist makes an incision in the gums and drills a small hole in the jawbone, into which they surgically place the titanium implant.
- Osseointegration and healing — Over the next few (typically 3-6) months, through “osseointegration,” the implant fuses permanently with the jawbone.
- Abutment placement — After osseointegration, the dentist attaches a small connecting piece, or “abutment,” to the implant. This is used to hold a permanent restoration, usually a porcelain crown, in place.
- Crown placement — The final step, after a few weeks to allow the gums to heal, a custom-made crown is attached to the abutment. The crown is designed to integrate seamlessly into the patient’s mouth, matching their natural tooth color and shape.
Dental Implant Restorations and Cosmetic Dentistry in Wilmington, MA
If you’re in the Wilmington area and want to learn more about the transformative power of precisely placed dental implants or one of our many other restorative treatments, like laser gum therapy, the friendly, knowledgeable, and highly skilled Smile Life Dental team to schedule a consultation!