Losing teeth is a common oral issue, but it involves more than just an unsightly gap. It can cause chewing difficulties and bone resorption, increasing the risk of periodontal diseases. Additionally, crooked and crowded teeth can negatively affect your appearance and oral aesthetics, lowering your self-confidence.
The implant dentist in Grand Valley offers a variety of dental implants to restore your oral function and appearance. Let’s explore them further.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are devices that are surgically inserted into your jaw bones. These consist of a titanium screw-like post that mimics your natural tooth root. They act as a strong and stable foundation on which artificial teeth such as crowns, bridges, and dentures are placed.
What are the types of dental implants?
Currently, dentists offer several types of dental implants namely:
Single implants
- These implants replace one tooth lost due to caries, trauma, or extraction. A single implant post is inserted into the jawbone that provides anchorage to a porcelain or ceramic crown.
All-on-4 dental implants
- These are specialized implants that replace all or most of the teeth lost. Instead of having a single implant post for each tooth, your dentist will provide 4 implant posts to support a full arch of artificial teeth.
All-on-6 dental implants
- These implants are similar to all-on-4 implants, but 6 implant posts are inserted into your jawbone for anchorage.
What is the procedure involved in fabricating dental implants?
Your dentist will evaluate your mouth to check for the number of missing teeth and the health of your jawbone. Once you are suitable for dental implants, the following procedure is adopted.
First Visit
- You will be given local anesthesia, and your dentist will drill holes into your jawbone to insert the implant posts. The number of implants depends on how many teeth you are missing and the type of restorations (crown, bridge, or implant-supported dentures).
- You will be sent home for healing while the implant post-fuses with your jawbone (osseointegration).
Second visit
- When you return to your dentist, your implants will be evaluated through a dental X-ray.
- Your dentist will record your full mouth impression and send it to the laboratory for fabrication of your custom-made implant restoration.
Third visit
- The fabricated restoration (crown, bridge, or implant-supported dentures) will be placed through the implant abutment (the part that connects the implant post to the restoration).
- Your dentist will check your bite and provide recovery instructions.
Losing teeth can be stressful since it can cause difficulty in chewing, premature aging, damage to adjacent teeth, and negatively impact your smile and appearance. But with the invention of dental implants, you can replace lost teeth to restore your oral health.