Your teeth were made to last a lifetime, but sometimes they don’t! Replacing missing teeth with dental implants is important to your general health and to the health of your other teeth. Not only do you lose chewing ability when a tooth is lost, but teeth that are not replaced can cause other teeth to be lost, tipped, or crowded, and create subsequent problems.
Dental implants are designed to blend in with your other teeth and have proven to be an excellent long term solution for restoring your smile. Most patients find that dental implants are a secure and stable replacement for their own tooth or teeth.
Also, there are the obvious problems of poor appearance and loss of self-esteem caused by one or more missing teeth. Dental implants should always be considered as an option to replace a failing or missing tooth. Replacement of lost teeth with dental implants has been used for treating missing teeth for more than 50 years and today is recognized as an effective treatment choice. Treatment is considered more predictable than bridgework, resin bonded bridges and endodontic treatment.
Steps of a Dental Implant
There are three steps for acquiring a dental implant. The two steps performed by a dentist are available at Rite Smile Dental. First, Dr. Kaur places the implant into the jawbone. Most other dentists send their patients to an oral surgeon or periodontist for this step. While it heals, it is recommended that you consume soft food.
In the second step, the bone around the implant heals in a process called osseointegration. The bone actually grows around the implant and holds it in place. That is what makes the dental implant so strong. This process takes several months.
Lastly, Dr. Kaur places the replacement tooth (crown) or teeth (bridge or denture). It is important to note that the replacement teeth usually take some time to make. In the meantime, Dr. Kaur will give you a temporary crown, bridge or denture to help you eat and speak normally until the permanent replacement is ready.
Am you a candidate for a dental implant?
Implant patients are of all ages. Implants may be the right choice for anyone missing one or more teeth due to injury, disease or decay. They are especially practical for patients who can no longer wear removable dentures. Dr. Kaur at Rite Smile Dental in Branchburg can determine if you are a candidate for dental implants after a careful evaluation of your dental and medical history. Call for a free consultation.