Missing one or more of your natural teeth can impact your confidence, chewing function, and bite. As soon as a tooth is extracted, the remaining teeth start shifting from respective positions to cover the gap, which can cause a misaligned bite. There is also the concern of bone mass loss, which can affect your facial structure, especially if you lose many teeth. Dental implants offer a better and more effective way to restore your smile and have many advantages over traditional dentures and bridges. If you are interested in dental implant restoration East Charlotte NC, here is an overview of the procedure.
Getting replacement teeth with implants
A dental implant is a replacement root for a missing tooth. It can be either placed on or drilled into the jawbone. Once the healing process called osseointegration is complete, the implant post then serves as a base for the prosthetic tooth. An abutment is connected to the post, which is used to attach the prosthetic tooth. Dentists recommend dental implants for patients who have lost many or all of their teeth, and it is possible to get an entire arch of prosthetic teeth with just four implants.
Restoration options with dental implants
If you are missing a single tooth, your dentist can place a crown on top of the implant using the abutment. For many missing teeth in a row, a dental bridge is a great option. Implant-supported bridges have crowns on both ends, with prosthetic teeth in between. Compared to regular bridges, implant-based ones don’t require healthy teeth to be buffed or prepared for crowns. You can also get implant-supported dentures, which are fixed and don’t move inside the mouth, making the option a great alternative to traditional dentures.
Reasons to consider dental implants
Firstly, dental implants become a part of your jawbone and offer a permanent solution for replacing missing teeth. While you may need to replace the restoration after a decade or two, the implant remains as durable. Implant-supported restorations are always better and can improve your bite, speech, and chewing function. It is the closest you can get to a natural smile. With dental implants, you can prevent bone density loss, too. The remaining teeth will not shift anymore.
Procedure for getting dental implants
Your dentist will first take X-rays and 3D images to determine how to restore missing teeth. They will discuss the number of implants you will need and the restoration options. The actual process requires surgery, and your dentist will use local anesthesia, which means there won’t be any pain. You can also consider sedation options. The implant will be drilled or placed in the jawbone, and once the site heals, the posts get secured in place. The next step is a small surgery to place the abutment, following which the dentist will order prosthetic teeth. It can take a couple of weeks or more for the restoration to return from the lab.
Pretreatments before dental implants
Some patients may need additional treatments before they can get dental implants. If you have lost significant bone mass because of removing a few teeth, you may need to go for bone grafting to prepare the implant site. This can take time and prolong the process of getting replacement teeth.
Other quick details
Your jawbone can take three to six months to heal after implant surgery. Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants, but that said, there is no age limit for considering the option. Talk to your dentist about how quickly you can get replacement teeth and whether they can offer temporary options.
Always choose a reputed dental clinic in East Charlotte for your dental implant surgery.