Missing teeth is one of the most common dental problems, which affects your aesthetic appearance and tooth functionality. You may lose your teeth because of many events – accidents, injury, tooth infection, gum disease, cavities, trauma, underlying disease, and so on.
Dental implants are a sought-after option to restore your missing teeth and enhance your appearance and functionality. The introduction of implants in dentistry has changed how the treatment of missing teeth is perceived.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that we place into your mouth to replace your missing teeth. It includes a stud-like structure that we fuse into your jawbone to hold your artificial teeth, called dental crowns. The artificial teeth are custom-made to fit your mouth and match the color of your remaining teeth.
Dental implants are a permanent restoration to your missing teeth. If you do not have enough jawbone to opt for implants, we will perform bone grafting followed by placing the implant.
What are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
- Dental implants are natural and comfortable.
- The procedure leads to a decreased risk of cavities in your nearby teeth.
- It is a safe procedure, suitable for all adults. Implants have a high success rate.
- Implants lead to better bone maintenance at the site of your lost teeth.
- They do not cause sensitivity in your nearby teeth.
- Implants are easy to maintain.
How are Implants Placed?
We begin your treatment by developing an individualized treatment plan to suit your needs. After carrying out your dental examination and X-ray, we place a tooth root implant made using titanium into the bone socket of your missing teeth. As your jawbone heals, it grows around the stud, thus anchoring it securely into your jaw. It is the healing process known as osseointegration.
After 6-12 weeks of osseointegration, we call you again and attach a small connector post 'abutment' to the implant to hold your new teeth (crowns). We create a model of your bite to fabricate dental crowns and then attach it to the abutment. We match the color of the crowns to your remaining natural teeth. Your replacement teeth look, feel, and function exactly like your natural teeth.
How to Care for Dental Implants?
You do not need to go out of the way to care for your implants. Follow your daily oral hygiene practices such as brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth using an antibacterial mouthwash. Do not skip your dental check-ups and examinations at our clinic.
Please reach out to our dental practice in National City, CA, to have a consultation with our dentist, Dr. Hirota. Please call us at (619) 474-4695 or schedule an online consultation, and we'll guide you further.
