Take Back Your Smile with Dental Implants

                                  Take Back Your Smile with Dental Implants

While dental implants date back to around 600 A.D., modern implants have been around only since the 1970s. Unlike ancient times, when people made dental implants from jade, stones, and even seashells, modern implants are nearly indiscernible from real teeth. Dental implants replace missing teeth and stabilize the jawbone.

                                                                                                     

How Dental Implants Have Evolved

When dental implants first became popular, they were for people who had lost most of their teeth. When you lose teeth, the structural integrity of the jaw begins to deteriorate. People who wear dentures often have trouble getting them to stay in place if they've lost strength in their jaw. The implants are fused to the jawbone surgically, acting like an "anchor" for replacement teeth.

 In the 1970s, oral surgeons used these anchors to stabilize the jaw to accept dentures. But now, implants can negate the need for dentures altogether. Oral surgeons fuse the implants to the jawbone and attach the replacement teeth to the anchors. The teeth are strong and secure, and there is no need to take them out at night for cleaning. Implants can replace one tooth or all of them!

 The Dental Implant Process

Dental implants are done in three steps, which require three separate visits to your oral surgeon. The whole process takes six months to a year. The first step is to place the implant into your jawbone with surgery. The implant acts like a natural root of your tooth, and need to be covered for three to six months to fuse to the jawbone.

After that time, your surgeon will attach a post to the implant, which will eventually serve at the frame for your replacement tooth. You will then need to let your gums heal for a few months before proceeding to the final step. Once your gums have healed, your oral surgeon will attach your new replacement tooth to the post and you will have your own beautiful smile back.

 

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

While implants are very strong and damage resistant, they are not indestructible. It's not uncommon for implants to fail because the patient doesn't take good care of his or her teeth. People who smoke or grind their teeth run the risk of damaging their implants. Some preexisting health conditions, including diabetes and osteoporosis, can increase the risk for implant failure. Your oral surgeon will tell you if implants are right for you.

 

Want to learn more about dental implants? Visit the Solace Oral Surgery site to find out about our services.