Dental Implants in Stafford, VA
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a wonderful innovation in dentistry for the millions of Americans who suffer from tooth decay and loss. Losing a tooth can lead to bone loss, change in speech and chewing patterns, and chronic pain or discomfort. Luckily, by replacing the missing tooth with a dental implant, patients can maintain their same quality of life, without the decaying tooth.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are medical devices that serve as replacement tooth roots. These small titanium posts are surgically implanted into the bone socket of a missing tooth to provide a strong foundation for artificial replacement such as crowns or dentures.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Improve Cosmetic Appearance
Having a missing tooth or noticeable metal crown can be a cause of insecurity for many people. Dental implants can be made to look just like natural teeth, restoring your confidence and encouraging you to show off that smile.
Prevent Bone Loss
A side effect of missing teeth is rapid bone loss that can make the jawbone appear smaller. Implants stop this bone loss from occurring, preserving your dental health.
Return Speech to Normal
Speech patterns are often changed or disturbed as a result of missing teeth. With implants, your speech will return to normal very quickly.
More Comfortable than Temporary Solutions
Temporary dentures can cause discomfort while talking or eating. Since dental implants are permanently secured to your bone, they feel the same as any other tooth.
Durable Tooth Replacement
Implants are extremely durable and can last for a patient’s entire life with the proper maintenance and hygiene.
Preserve Remaining Oral Health
Dental implants don’t require any adjustments of the surrounding teeth, allowing you to preserve the health of your natural teeth. They also make maintaining good oral hygiene more convenient since they are individual implants rather than connected dentures.
Who Can Get Implants?
Individuals with healthy gums and enough bone to secure the implant are good candidates for dental implants. If you’re a heavy smoker, have suffered severe bone loss, suffer from a chronic disease, or are undergoing radiation therapy, consult a dentist to determine your eligibility for implants.
How do Implants Work?
A small titanium post is implanted into the bone socket where the previous tooth lived. Following the procedure, the jawbone will heal and grow around the implant, securing it to the jaw. This takes anywhere from 6-12 weeks. Then, an abutment, which is a small connecting post, will attach the implant to the artificial replacement tooth.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the Stafford, VA area and have suffered from tooth decay or loss, consult Precision Smile Dentistry to see if a dental implant is the right solution for you.