We have to admit; implants don’t always have the best name. How many times have you heard the word “implant” and got a good image in your head? However, when it comes to
dental implants, the images in your head should be amazing. That’s because implants don’t take away smiles, they restore them. Implants are important to our practice. They are vital. That’s because missing teeth are a problem across the country. Did you know that 120 million people in the United States are missing at least one tooth? Forty million Americans have lost all their teeth. Implants can fix so many problems that happen with missing teeth. Not sure what we are talking about? Let
Lincoln Center Smiles give you some great information about dental implants.
What Are Implants, and Why Do I Need Them?
Dental implants are the closest thing to your natural teeth that you can get without cloning your missing tooth. With implants, we can replace a missing tooth. We can also replace several different teeth at the same time. We can even replace your entire upper or lower teeth with implants.
In some cases, even if you have had
dentures for a while, we might be able to replace your dentures with implants. Unlike
dentures, which you have to take in and out every day, implants are permanent. They can remain in your mouth, and act like your natural teeth.
Dental implants not only look like your natural teeth; they function just like your natural teeth. They are the best device we have to replace the natural teeth in your mouth. One big reason we love implants is that they are screwed into your jaw, which means they are anchored very much like your natural teeth. If you allow your missing tooth socket to remain empty, your body thinks you don’t need additional bone in your jaw to anchor teeth. Your body takes calcium out of your jaw and puts it in other locations where it is needed. This will make your jawbone weaker and smaller over time. While you might not be thinking about it, your jawbone shrinking will change the shape of your face. No one wants that.
However, because implants act like real teeth, your jaw doesn’t know your tooth (or teeth) are gone. That way, the consistency of bone in your jaw does not change. Also, because implants look and act like real teeth, if we have to pull a tooth, we can place an implant immediately - and no one has to know you even lost a tooth at all.
How We Do Dental Implants
Placing a dental implant isn’t difficult at all. We deaden your gum so that we can make an incision. We then place a screw in your gum that acts as a tooth root. Sometimes, we have to leave the screw in place and let your gum heal. However, there are times we can put a temporary or your permanent implant on top of the screw. After some time for your implant to heal, you’re all set.
You can do all of the things with your new tooth that you did with your tooth that is gone. If you have questions about dental implants, why not call Lincoln Center Smiles? We can be found at (503) 598-0898. We love to talk to our patients about new
dental technology, so don’t hesitate to contact us!
