Whether replacing one tooth or several, dental implants are an important solution to restoring and maintaining dental health. Dental implants are very common, more than 5 million are done in the United States alone each year. Most adults under 50 have lost at least one of their teeth. A dental implant is a great choice for replacing a missing tooth. A dental implant is composed of 3 things. The bottom part is a titanium screw that provides support in the jawbone, acting as the tooth root. The middle part is an abutment to connect the foundation to the crown, which gives your teeth a natural look. This will be a strong and permanent solution allowing you to smile, eat, and speak confidently again.
*All of the materials used in dental procedures at Dr. Lichter’s office are compatible with the body and safe for use.
Dental implants are small anchors made of a biocompatible metal called titanium that are placed in the jawbone to replace missing teeth in the mouth. After placement, the anchors will begin to fuse with the bone over the course of a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the permanent attachment of the replacement teeth.
An implant supported bridge is a restorative solution for spaces where three or more adjacent teeth are missing. This restoration typically requires two implants to support the bridge that provides a functional and aesthetic replacement for a patient’s natural teeth.
Because of the natural look and feel and the functional stability provided by the implants, implant supported bridges are an effective solution to replace multiple missing teeth.
A dental implant supported bridge replaces missing teeth by placing two or more dental implants to support the bridge instead of the adjacent teeth. These implants avoid putting any additional stress on your natural teeth and help preserve the health and function of the surrounding bone tissue and teeth.
Implant supported dentures can be either fixed or removable. This solution requires the placement of two or more implants. If a removable denture is selected, the denture will “snap” on to the implant rather than requiring the use of denture paste or adhesives. Removable dentures can be taken out for cleaning at night.
This technique offers many advantages over traditional dentures.
Easy to care for, this solution can simulate the look and feel of natural teeth and stay fixed in place with the implants acting as anchors. Patients will not experience the typical rocking and movement or gum irritation associated with dentures.
Dental implant placement can also help alleviate the sunken look that can occur with bone loss in the jaw by stimulating bone growth in the area around the implant. This process is called osseointegration and can also help prevent future bone loss.
This procedure is a unique implant solution that allows patients who are missing all of their upper or lower teeth to replace a full arch of teeth using only 4 implants as “anchors”.
This technique offers many advantages over traditional dentures.
Easy to care for, this solution can simulate the look and feel of natural teeth and stay fixed in place with the implants acting as anchors. Patients will not experience the typical rocking and movement or gum irritation associated with dentures. Patients can often leave the same day with a full arch of teeth, reducing both overall cost and healing time for the patient.
Dental implant placement can help alleviate the sunken look that can occur with bone loss in the jaw by stimulating bone growth in the area around the implant. This process is called osseointegration and can also help prevent future bone loss.
With this implant supported full arch, there is no plate covering the roof of the mouth, so speaking and eating are more natural and comfortable than with a traditional denture.
A dental implant stability system helps dentists measure how firmly an implant is attached to the jawbone. Osseointegration is the process by which bone grows around the implant, making it strong enough to support a new tooth. Stability has two phases: it starts with a tight fit in the bone and improves over time as the bone heals and grows. Factors like bone quality, surgical technique, and implant shape affect overall stability.
First, the dentist will place the foundation for the dental implant into the jawbone to serve as the root of the implant. The dentist may wait for the next appointment to connect the dental restoration so that the bone has time to grow around this new foundation and create a very sturdy base for the new tooth. During the next appointment, the abutment will be attached to the foundation and then the restoration will then be attached to the abutment. Our experienced staff will review after care with you, but it is always important to brush and floss your teeth daily.
Dental implants can also be a good option for dentures. They can make your dentures more comfortable and reliable. Ask your dentist about your options when it comes to dental implants.
