As we age, our teeth will begin to experience damage from the natural aging process, injury, dental trauma, or tooth decay. In some severe cases, one or more teeth can go completely missing over time.
Missing teeth is a particularly problematic condition that causes your jaw to lack support, and consequently, begin to immediately atrophy. A weakened jawbone can also impact your facial skeletal structure, which causes your mouth to appear as though it has collapsed and your remaining teeth to shift. Dental implants will not only restore missing teeth but help you regain a healthy and natural-looking smile and facial structure.
Process
The procedure will begin with a consultation and dental examination to determine whether your jaw is strong enough to receive implants. After your examination, a hole is made in your jawbone, and the implants are inserted and screwed into the bone. An artificial ceramic crown is also placed onto the implant, creating a natural-looking tooth replacement.
Typically, ceramic crowns are secured by titanium screws, since they are one of the most durable metals available for this type of procedure. The titanium also helps to promote osseointegration, which is the process of the jawbone growing around the metal of the implant. The metal implant functions like a natural tooth root, while the ceramic crown provides the protective enamel-like qualities to help you chew and bite down properly.
This procedure is capable of replacing one or more missing teeth and can be completed over the course of two or three appointments spanning only a few months.
For patients who are not candidates for the dental implants due to jawbone atrophy, pre-treatment bone grafting is available to strengthen the integrity of the jaw.
Benefits
Here are some of the benefits of replacing missing teeth with dental implants:
- Jawbone structure is left intact and strengthened
- Facial skeletal muscles are lifted and retained
- Chewing, eating, and digestion ability improves
- No additional maintenance or oral hygiene practices required
- Increased self-esteem and a healthier-looking appearance
- Permanent and long-lasting replacement option for teeth
Aftercare
Dental implants will leave you with a smile that looks, feels, and functions just like your original set of teeth. Osseointegration, which is catalyzed by the titanium screws, is necessary for the security and functionality of your dental implants once treatment is complete. Since the process of osseointegration can take weeks to develop, patients are given time to allow the process to occur once the titanium screws have been placed.
At La Jolla Cosmetic Dentistry and Orthodontics, Dr. Kohani works to help his patients determine the best treatment method for the structure of their teeth, oral health, timeframe, and budget. To see if dental implants are right for you, contact us at 858-295-0603 and schedule your consultation today.
