Understanding Dental Implants

Dental implants are your best bet for permanent replacement of missing teeth

According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69 percent of adults age 35 to 44 have lost at least one tooth, and 26 percent of adults over age 74 have lost all of their teeth. Of all the options for replacing these missing teeth, dental implants are the best. If you’ve lost one or more teeth due to accident, gum disease, or tooth decay, you will definitely want to consider dental implants.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants consist of two parts: a titanium peg that is surgically implanted into the jaw and a crown that is seated on top of the peg to replace the missing tooth. Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth or multiple adjacent missing teeth. In the case of multiple teeth, you don’t have to get a separate implant peg for each tooth. Instead, a multi-tooth prosthetic similar to a partial denture can be permanently mounted onto a foundation of two or more implants. If properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime.

What Advantages Do Dental Implants Offer Over Other Treatments?

Dental implants are the only solution for missing teeth that help to arrest bone loss in the jaw. Once the titanium peg fuses with your jawbone through the process of osseointegration, the implant will function just like a real tooth, enabling you to retain a more youthful appearance and prevent the hollow-cheeked look commonly associated with missing teeth. Furthermore, dental implants are superior to dentures because they will not slip, move, or click when you are speaking or eating, and they are superior to bridges because they will not present any risk of damage to adjacent teeth.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Because getting dental implants is a surgical procedure, patients do need to be reasonably healthy in order to take advantage of this treatment. If you have advanced gum disease or significant bone loss in your jaw already, you will need to undergo treatment for these conditions prior to getting your implants. Smoking lowers the success rate of dental implants, so it is recommended that you give up or reduce your smoking during your recovery period. Age is generally not a factor in who can get dental implants, although in most cases it is recommended that children wait to receive their implants until the development of their jawbone is complete.

If you’re interested in exploring dental implants as a permanent solution to missing teeth, please visit California Dental Group for a consultation with one of our expert dentists.