Dental implants are rapidly becoming the ideal choice for patients who have experienced tooth loss. Whether loss is due to trauma, infection, or severe decay, your dentist will work with you to determine the best tooth replacement solution to meet your needs.
The First Step
A consultation with your dentist will determine your candidacy for dental implants. A review of overall health is followed by a thorough dental exam that will include x-rays to determine bone strength in the area where tooth loss has occurred.
Insufficient bone is not necessarily a deterrent; there are bone augmentation procedures available. However, if the patient uses tobacco or suffers from gum disease, the odds of a successful implant procedure are reduced.
Everyone knows smoking is harmful to overall health; but tobacco use is especially detrimental to dental health. Gum disease and tooth loss are much more likely to occur in the mouth of a tobacco user.
Dental Implant Placement
Once you have been accepted as a viable candidate for the dental implant procedure, the next step involves placing the implant. Your dental provider will insert the small titanium post in gum tissue where tooth loss has occurred.
Bone fuses naturally with titanium, the implant metal of choice. While gum tissue heals, bone and implant are integrating. This will allow the implant to act much like the roots of a natural tooth providing stability and strength to the restoration it will eventually support.
The patient will be instructed on the care needed to prevent infection, a leading cause of implant failure.
The Final Restoration
Once healed and the implant is thoroughly integrated within the bone structure, the final restoration will be provided. An abutment is attached to the implant; the cosmetic restoration will have been made to match surrounding teeth in size, contour, and color. It will be tried in for fit and appearance; minor adjustments can be made at this time. It will be cemented in place completing the implant procedure.
You will be able to eat all your favorite foods, speak clearly, and laugh without fear that your tooth will slip or move. Brush and floss daily; visit your dentist every six months for cleaning and exam; and enjoy the rest of your life with your new, healthy smile.
To learn more about your tooth replacement options, contact the office of Dr. David Kuban and schedule a consultation today.