subject: Dental Implants Offer A Smile That Looks And Feels Natural After Teeth Are Missing [print this page] Have you lost a tooth, or multiple teeth? With anywhere from one to 32 missing teeth, dental implants can successfully restore your smile. By visiting your dentist in San Jose you can successfully treat and restore your smile because, let's face it, no one wants to lose a tooth. But if the unthinkable happens, there are solutions to successfully restore your smile to its natural appearance.
The Implant Process
When a tooth is lost, the first step in placing an implant is surgery, which is performed to place the anchor. Surgery can take up to several hours, and up to six months for the bone to grow around the anchor to firmly hold it in place. Some implants may require a second surgery to securely attach a post to connect the anchor to the replacement teeth. With other implants, the anchor and post are already attached and are placed at the same time.
Once your gums have had several weeks to heal, the next step has begun. The artificial teeth are made and fitted to the post of the anchor. With several fittings required, this step can take one to two months to complete. Once the implant and crown are placed, your dentist will give you specific diet and oral hygiene instructions to help maintain the health and longevity of your implant.
Explore the Benefits
Dental implants provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. There are many advantages to replacing missing teeth with dental implants including:
*Improved appearance - designed to fuse to the bone, dental implants look and feel like your own teeth.
*Improved speech - dental implants allow you to speak without worrying that your teeth may slip, as with dentures.
*Improved comfort - with implants becoming a part of you, they eliminate the discomfort that removable dentures cause.
*Easier eating - dental implants function like your own teeth, which allows you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
*Improved self-esteem - dental implants give you your smile back and help you feel better about yourself.
*Improved oral health - because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health.
*Durability - with proper care, your dental implants can last a lifetime.
*Convenience - dental implants remove the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.
Are You a Candidate?
In order to be a candidate for dental implants, you must have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. Also, it is important to be committed to proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits, as this will ensure the health of your teeth and the longevity of your implant. Heavy smokers, people suffering from uncontrolled chronic disorders, or patients who have had radiation therapy to the head/neck area need to be evaluated on an individual basis.
If you are considering implants, talk to your San Jose dentist today to see if they are an appropriate solution for restoring your smile.
