subject: Lost A Tooth? Replace It Using A Dental Implant [print this page] In the past, your only options to replace a missing tooth were to either be fitted with dentures or to have a dental bridge installed. Because of this, losing a tooth due to decay or injury was a very significant event. Thanks to increases in dental technology, today patients are also able to replace their teeth by using a dental implant. An implant is a replacement tooth root that is inserted directly into the bone socket of a missing tooth and attached directly to your jawbone. The implant acts as an anchor that will support a replacement crown.
How Are Implants Installed?
The first thing you need to do if you are considering getting an implant installed is to talk to your dentist to go over your options and see if you are a candidate for dental implants. To successfully receive an implant, you need enough gum and bone material to fully support it. Once you and your dentist have decided that an implant is the best option for you, he or she will begin the process by applying local anesthetic to the area and then inserting the implant directly into the bone socket. Once the implant is securely fastened to the jawbone, you will need to wait between six and twelve weeks for your gums to heal. Your gums will heal around the implant during this time, further securing it in your mouth. When the healing process is complete, your dentist will then attach a small connector post to the implant. He or she will then take impressions of your mouth. These impressions will then be used to create a crown that will fit in with the rest of your teeth. Once your crown is received from the dental lab, your dentist will attach the crown to the implant and the process will be complete. You will be free to leave your dentist's office and start fully enjoying your new and improved smile.
The Benefits Of Dental Implants
The most important benefit of dental implants is the fact that they offer an almost permanent solution to tooth loss. If you take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly, it is not unusual for a dental implant to last 25 years or an entire lifetime. Once an implant is installed, it takes no extra effort to maintain, unlike a set of removable dentures for instance. Since the implant is attached to your jawbone, your implant really becomes a part of your mouth. Implants are also less invasive then a dental bridge, which requires your dentist to shave off a significant portion of your teeth to install.
To learn more about dental implants or to schedule an appointment, contact your Fullerton, CA dentist today.
