For many people with missing teeth, a dental implant can be the best choice for replacing them. The main benefits of dental implants are:
- The next best thing to natural teeth
- Strong, stable & comfortable
- Protects healthy bone
- Protects healthy teeth
- Longest term solution vs. other restorations
Dental implants are a titanium replacement for the tooth root. Every tooth has two major parts; the part you can see above your gum tissue is called the “crown” of the tooth. The majority of the tooth is hidden beneath the gum and this is the “root” of the tooth. When you loose a substantial portion of the crown of the tooth due to a cavity or fracture the root alone can no longer be used to hold a replacement such as a porcelain crown. In these cases the root of your tooth will be removed and you can have a dental implant as a replacement to the tooth root.
Modern dental implants are made of titanium and come in varying lengths and diameters. Once the dental implant is placed, your body will attach bone to its’ external surface. Once this “integration” process has taken place, a porcelain crown can be attached to the implant. The inside of a dental implant is hollow and threaded to accept a screw; an “abutment” screws into this hollow area and extends above the gum line to hold the pretty porcelain crown.
For most people, dental implants are a great choice due to their predictability, function, comfort and appearance!
