Dental implants procedures are ideal for individuals who want a smile that looks and feels natural. Crowns, bridges and dentures are not the only option a person has for replacing lost teeth. Implants are options that offer security and stability because of how they are fused to the bone. Dental Implants are placed surgically below the gums where they can fuse to your jawbone. Implants can be a base for replacements, dentures and bridges. The implant process takes place during the course of several dental appointments. With implants, your replacements feel more comfortable and look more natural than their conventional counterparts do. Before exploring your options for dental implants, you need to be sure your gums are healthy and that you have enough bone left in the mouth to support implants. Your dentist will conduct an evaluation of your month thoroughly to determine if dental implants are right for you.
- Tooth Implants
- Implant Dentures
Replacing Missing Teeth with Implants
Dental implants are the most natural looking tooth replacements you can obtain. They begin with a post that is placed securely into the jawbone. The bone around this anchoring post heals in about six months’ time. Once this process is complete, the artificial tooth replacement can be implanted. Your results are natural looking teeth that look nothing like traditional replacement teeth.
For several missing teeth, implants can be affixed to bridges creating a truly natural look for the replacement teeth. If the implant process is too costly, you can always consider having your dentist fit you for a set of dentures.
Implant Denture
Loose, ill-fitting dentures can be a thing of the past with implant dentures. Traditional dentures can also cause pain and sore spots in the mouth if they loosen while you eat. To begin the process of implanting dentures in the mouth, your dentist will surgically place anywhere from two or four implants into the jawbone. These anchors take a full six months for the bone to heal around them. Once this occurs, the dentist can then construct and implant the dentures.
Implant dentures are removable. They have attachments on the bottom that clip onto a bar that connects them to the implants. These attachments and the bar are what hold the dentures in place, so that they do not move when you chew or talk.
You can choose from two types of implant dentures, retained dentures and supported dentures. Retained dentures are held in place by the attachments but are also supported by the bone and gum just like traditional dentures. The support denture work for those who do not have enough bone or gum tissue to hold them and are supported by the bar of the implants.
You may consider a new set of dentures if the financial cost of dental implant dentures is too high. Speak to your dentist about implant procedures that are right for you.