Traditional replacement teeth, like bridges and partials, and complete dentures, focus on restoring your smile’s appearance and your bite’s ability to function properly. However, when you lose teeth, the loss of their roots can also affect the vitality of your jawbone, and therefore its ability to support the rest of your teeth. Dental implants are small posts that serve as prosthetic roots for a dental crown, partial denture, or complete denture, and offer the most realistic replacement option for your lost tooth or teeth.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
After an appropriate number of implant posts have been placed to support your dental prosthesis, healing may take up to 4-6 months, and your jawbone will fuse to the biocompatible posts. By becoming a part of your jawbone’s anatomy, dental implants offer several advantages over conventional replacement teeth, including;
- Unmatched comfort and stability
- No need to modify healthy teeth for support
- Longevity (implant posts can last for life with proper care and maintenance)
- Improved oral health and hygiene practices
- Reduced risk of future tooth loss by strengthening the jawbone
Do I Qualify?
One of the most significant benefits of dental implants is their ability to maintain a strong supportive jawbone. Yet, many patients lose jawbone density after having lost their teeth, or if they’ve suffered from advanced periodontal disease. Before you qualify for dental implants, Dr. Okoniewski will examine your jawbone to ensure that it is strong enough to support the implant posts. If your jawbone has grown weak, then you may benefit from a bone graft to fortify it before receiving dental implants.
The presence of gum disease can also jeopardize the success of your implant placement, since the disease targets your supportive gum tissues and jawbone structure. If you have gum disease, then Dr. Okoniewski will help ensure that the disease is under control before recommending implant placement.
The number of implants you receive will depend on how many teeth you’ve lost and the size of your appropriate prosthetic. For instance, a single implant can support a dental crown to replace one lost tooth; two or more implants can support a combination of crowns and/or a partial denture; or four or more implants can support one or a pair of complete dentures.
Enjoy Lifelong Benefits with Dental Implants
Dental implants replace your lost teeth roots and restore their vital functions, including keeping your long-term oral health in better shape. To find out if you can enjoy the lifelong benefits of dental implants, schedule a visit with Dr. Okoniewski by calling Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI today at (248) 852-1820.
