f you had a choice between a set of removable
dentures or permanent
replacement teeth that look and feel like your own, which would you
choose? What if the replacement teeth would also allow you to speak
and eat with comfort and confidence, offer you freedom from the irksome
clicks and wobbles of dentures, and allow you to say goodbye to worries
about misplaced dentures and messy pastes and glues? Dental Implants
are growing in popularity and advancing in technology. They are a
permanent and effective alternative to dentures.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to hold a
replacement tooth or bridge in place. While high-tech in nature, dental
implants are actually more tooth saving than traditional bridgework,
since they do not rely on neighboring teeth for support. The ideal candidate
for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone
in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have
healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal diseases.
Once you decide to get a dental implant, there are some different options.
Some implants take two to six months for the bone and implant to
bond together to form anchors (osseointegration). During this time,
you can wear a removable temporary tooth replacement option over the
implant site(s). However, there is now the option of immediate
loading, whereby a periodontist places the implant immediately
following tooth extraction and attaches a temporary fixed tooth replacement.
Depending on your specific condition and the type of implant
chosen, your periodontist will create a treatment plan tailored to
meet your needs.
Perhaps the most important decision you need to make regarding your
dental implants is who should perform the procedure. Since periodontists
are the dental experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they
are ideal members of your dental implant team. Not only do periodontists
have experience working with other dental professionals, they also
have the special knowledge, an additional three years of training and facilities
that you need to have teeth that look and feel just like your own.
Speak with your periodontist about dental implants today.
Just like your own teeth, dental implants require the proper care. In order
to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing
still apply! After treatment, your periodontist will work closely with you
and your dentist to develop the best care plan for you. Periodic follow-up
visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth and gums to
make sure they are healthy.
