If you are missing any of your teeth or if you will soon get a tooth extraction, you may be wondering what your options are as to tooth replacement. Specifically, you may be considering dental implants or implant-supported dentures as a solution to tooth loss.

There are many benefits to modern dental implants, including:

1. Aesthetics. Implants look strikingly like natural teeth when fitted with modern dental crowns, and the exact contours of the crown are custom-fit to each individual mouth.
2. Functionality. A titanium implant root fused to your underlying jawbone will create a firm support for chewing and give you a fully functional tooth.
3. Durability. Not only do modern dental implants have a 99% success rate at installation, they last for decades, usually for the rest of one’s life.
4. Low-maintenance. Unlike removable dentures, implants require no more maintenance than do your natural teeth.
5. Comfort. Wearing dentures can sometimes lead to gum soreness and can even wear down your alveolar ridge. Implants and implant-supported dentures are comfortable to wear and don’t irritate your periodontal tissue or harm your jawbone.
6. Affordability. Many dental insurance policies will cover dental implants, and given that they don’t require replacement and numerous dental visits like dentures and bridges can, they may cost little or no more than your other options in the long run.

When Is The Best Time For Getting Dental Implants?
The longer you wait with missing teeth, the more quickly the gums and bone below where the tooth used to be will sink down and deteriorate. If this process goes too far, you might need bone graft surgery or even periodontal surgery before you can get your implants installed.

If your mouth is still healing from an extraction or from some other dental procedure, you may need to wait at least a couple weeks, and possibly a couple months. But in most cases, there are no real obstacles to getting your implants put in. So, the sooner you do it, the better off you are!

In many cases, where the bone and gum tissue around where the implant will go are healthy enough, you can get one or a few dental implants installed in one dental visit. Same-day implants, for example, are offered through the Teeth Express procedure.

The Dental Implants Process
Here is a basic overview of what to expect when you decide to get dental implants:

• If a badly cracked or worn down tooth is still in place, it will be extracted.
• If you need periodontal or bone graft surgery (to support and cover the implant properly), that must be done first.
• The implant surgery itself begins with X-rays and the careful examination of your mouth. Then your periodontist will form a socket through your gums, and sometimes into the jawbone.
• A titanium implant root will be placed into the socket, and it will fuse to the bone as your mouth heals. Whether the implant rests on top of the bone or a little ways into it, it will fuse firmly.
• Abutment posts may need to be put in to give added support and stability to the implant.
• The custom-molded crown will be placed atop the implant rod. With Teeth Express, this can be done same-day.

To learn more about dental implants or to schedule an appointment, feel free to contact Dr. Kenzik today!