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Teeth Implant and Invisalign Specialists
Dental Implants
Dental Implants
Family Owned | 28+ Years of Experience | Locally Operated
Family Owned28+ Years of ExperienceLocally Operated
Know More About How Dental Implants Work
Of all the ways modern dentistry has to replace missing teeth, dental implants are by far the best. There is no tooth-replacement option that will give you a longer-lasting result. Implants also help preserve tooth-supporting bone that naturally deteriorates when a tooth is lost. Loss of bone is one of the major hidden consequences of losing teeth.
A dental implant most often takes the form of a small, screw-shaped titanium post that replaces the root of a missing tooth. The surgical procedure used to place an implant is actually quite minor and routine, requiring only local anesthesia in most cases.
After a healing period, the implant is topped with a lifelike crown custom-made to match your existing natural teeth. Implants have a documented success rate of over 95%, which is significantly higher than any other tooth-replacement option.
Over the course of several months, the implant fuses to the bone, providing a secure foundation for the crown that will be placed on top of it. In some cases, you may receive a temporary crown the same day you receive your implant.
Aren't Implants Expensive?
The initial costs of dental implants may seem high when compared to the cost of bridges and dentures, but it's important to consider the lifetime costs of each tooth replacement option. With proper care, your implant will last your entire life, while bridges and dentures may need to be replaced several times.
What Are the Advantages of Implants?
Dental implants offer several benefits that other replacement options don't, including:
- No Jawbone Loss: Your teeth roots constantly stimulate your jawbone and keep it strong. When you lose a tooth, the bone underneath begins to recede. Since dental implants take the place of your roots, you don't have to worry about jawbone loss.
- Better Chewing: Because dentures rest on top of your gums, they don't offer the biting power that implants do. If you choose dentures to replace lost teeth, you may not be able to eat certain hard foods. Eating isn't a problem with dental implants.
- Easy Care: You'll care for your implants the same way you do your natural teeth. Regular brushing and flossing around the implant is essential to prevent an infection that can threaten the health of your dental implant. Luckily, infections are rare if you practice good oral hygiene.
Implants can replace missing teeth in a variety of ways. They can be used to:
- Replace One Tooth — When you have one tooth missing, a single implant is inserted into the bone to replace the root part of that tooth; a crown then goes on top to simulate an actual tooth. This treatment choice has the highest success rate, making it the best long-term investment for replacing a single missing tooth. Even if the initial cost is slightly higher than other options, it is the most cost-effective solution over time. An implant will never decay or need root canal treatment, and feels just like the tooth that was there.
- Replace Multiple Teeth — When you have more than one tooth missing, implants provide an ideal replacement mechanism. You don't even need one implant for every missing tooth. Instead, implant teeth can act as supports for fixed bridgework. For example, if you are missing three teeth in a row, we can place two implants, one on either side of the gap, and a crown in between that has no implant underneath. That way, you won't need to use any of your remaining natural teeth as bridge supports, which could weaken them and make them more susceptible to decay.
- Replace All Teeth Permanently — Implants can support an entire arch of upper or lower replacement teeth that are fixed into the mouth and never removed. Sometimes the new teeth can be supported by as few as four implants. It's comparable to the structure of a table, which only needs four legs to hold it up. In cases where jawbone density and volume have deteriorated, five or six implants might be needed to support a row of 10 to 12 teeth. Dental implant replacement teeth protect your jawbone, won't slip, and should last a lifetime.
- Support Removable Dentures — Implants can even make removable dentures more comfortable, effective and healthier to wear. Traditional dentures rest on the gums and put pressure on the underlying bone. This accelerates bone loss so that the jaw shrinks and the dentures slip, particularly on the bottom. But today, dentists can attach a removable denture to implants, transferring that pressure into the bone structure rather than the bone surface. This prevents the dentures from slipping while you eat and speak and preserves the bone directly beneath them.
Implant Care and Maintenance
There are only two ways an implant can lose attachment to the bone and fail once it has successfully fused: poor oral hygiene or excessive biting forces. Poor oral hygiene and/or a lack of regular cleanings can lead to a destructive bacterial infection called peri-implantitis.
Flossing and brushing your teeth on a daily basis, along with regular professional cleanings, can prevent this. Excessive biting forces can come from either a habit of clenching or grinding your teeth or an insufficient number of implants to handle the forces generated by your bite.
You should receive the correct number of implants so this doesn't happen. If you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, a nightguard will be recommended to protect your implants.
Implants are a long-term investment in your smile, your health and your well-being, so it's best to protect your investment. For more information on dental implants in the Franklin, WI, area, call Franklin Dental at (414) 425-7050 today!
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