Dental Implants Specialist

Dental Implants Q & A

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are prosthetic teeth that we permanently install in your jaw. They consist of a titanium post that acts as an anchor, or your implanted tooth’s root; a dental crown, which replaces the visible part of your tooth; and an abutment device that connects the two.

Dental implants are becoming a standard option for replacing lost teeth. Whether you lose a tooth due to decay, trauma, or illness, implants are a natural-looking replacement option that provides a variety of other benefits.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants offer a wide range of benefits including:

• Permanently replacing lost teeth
• Helping to retain your smile and facial shape
• Stimulating bone growth in your jaw
• Keeping remaining natural teeth in place
• Allowing you to speak and eat normally
• Strong and durable
• Resistant to decay and staining
• Easily cared for

If you need a tooth replacement, we will discuss your options and answer your questions so you can make the selection that best meets your needs.

Who is a good candidate for dental implants?

Dental implants are an excellent tooth replacement option if you’ve lost one, several, or all of your teeth. Your gums and jaw need to be healthy enough to support the implant posts.

You may choose to have implants installed when you initially lose a tooth or teeth, or you may decide to replace a dental bridge or dentures with custom-made dental implants. For example, many people who are frustrated by dentures that don’t stay in place make the change to implants for a secure, permanent fit.

What should I expect during implantation?

We need several appointments to install your dental implants, and you may need to wait for several months in between appointments for your jaw and gums to heal.

During your initial consultation, we examine your remaining teeth, jaw, and gums. We will take X-rays to see if your jawbone is strong enough to support dental implants. If necessary, we may recommend bone grafting to strengthen your jaw.

When we are satisfied with the strength of your jaw, we will begin by implanting the posts into your jaw. After implantation, you’ll need to wait several months for the posts to bond with your jawbone in a process called osseointegration.

Then, after your posts are secure, you’ll have another appointment with us in order to attach the abutments. We'll also take molds and pictures of your implantation site at this point, which we send to a dental lab to make your crowns.

After your gums heal and your crowns are ready, you’ll come back for another appointment to place, bond, and polish your crowns. You’ll have follow-up appointments so we can check your implants and ensure your jaw and gums are healing as expected.

If you’re missing a tooth and want a permanent, natural-looking replacement, call or make an appointment online to meet with us so we can discuss dental implants.