What could be worse than missing one or more teeth? The answer is not replacing them!
Dr. Eric Buck and Dr. Hannah Burton, dentists at Distinctive Smiles of Dublin, love seeing patients smile after their state of the art dental implant procedures. Many people are candidates for these marvelous prosthetics that enhance the performance and appearance of damaged smiles. Could you qualify for dental implants in Dublin?
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is today’s premier tooth replacement option. The single tooth implant is an artificial tooth from root to crown and is comprised of:
- A titanium implant screw which resides in the patient’s jaw bone
- A metal alloy extension post
- A lifelike porcelain crown
Amazingly, human bone and titanium metal meld together through a natural process called osseointegration. After an oral surgeon places the implant device in the patient’s jaw, osseointegration gradually anchors the implant over several weeks of healing time.
Then, Dr. Buck places the extension post and custom-fabricated crown on the implant, and the restoration is complete. The Institute for Dental Implant Awareness indicates a 95 to 98 percent success rate for dental implants. The organization also maintains that most implants stay in place for decades, a vast improvement over traditional fixed bridgework and partial dentures which typically last a decade.
Other Advantages of Dental Implants
Beside their longevity, dental implants are attractive, versatile and bone-strengthening. Patients report that their implant-improved smiles look and feel very natural. Plus, Drs. Buck and Burton, as well as other skilled dentists across the nation, praise dental implants as beneficial to bone density and strength. No other tooth replacement option helps jaw bone health.
Finally, dental implants are versatile. They replace one, two or more teeth. Or, the dentist may use them to support fixed bridgework or full or partial dentures.
The Dental Implant Candidate
The older teen or adult with good overall and oral health usually makes a good candidate for dental implant placement. The patient must be free of active decay and periodontal (gum) disease. He or she also needs sufficient bone in the jaw to accept the implant device. If there are problems with the bone, dentists have augmentation procedures to reinforce it.
In addition, people who are diligent about their oral hygiene habits are good candidates. While dental implants cannot decay, they are prone to an infection which resembles gum disease. It’s called peri-implantitis, and just like periodontitis, this condition results from plaque build-up.
Unfortunately, it often necessitates implant removal. Cigarette smoking contributes to peri-implantitis, too. So, good oral hygiene and professional cleanings are a must, and smoking cessation is an excellent idea.
The team at Distinctive Smiles of Dublin thoroughly evaluate implant candidates with oral examination, digital X-rays and other imaging before advising implant placement.
Implants Could Help Your Smile
If you are facing extractions, have failing or missing teeth or are sick of poorly functioning dentures, contact Distinctive Smiles of Dublin for a restorative dentistry consultation. You’ll get all the information you need to make a good choice for excellent smile enhancement.