Dental Implants

What are Dental Implants?

When you lose a tooth, your body compensates for this loss by reordering the placement of your teeth, which can cause a variety of dental problems and can also affect your physical health, making tasks like eating or speaking difficult. Dental implants will not disturb the teeth around them and will help you to talk and eat more efficiently while providing you with a more confident smile.

Implants are typically made from durable, lightweight titanium alloys that are compatible with bone and non-reactive to the human body, providing a strong foundation for your new teeth. These titanium posts are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw to mimic the root of your natural teeth, functioning as an anchor for the natural-looking replacement teeth.

Dental Implant Procedure

The dental implant procedure begins with the dentist surgically placing the implant into the jawbone. Next, the jawbone will heal around the implant through a process called osseointegration. This process provides strength to the implant because the bone grows around it, holding it in place. Some patients may have to wait several months for the implant to fully integrate with the bone before the teeth are attached to the implant, whereas other patients can have implants and teeth placed in one visit.

After osseointegration is complete, the artificial tooth or teeth can be placed. With single tooth implants, we will customize a new tooth for you called a dental crown based on the size, shape, color, and fit of your natural teeth. If you require a replacement of more than one tooth, custom-made bridges or dentures will be made to fit your mouth and implants.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants can provide many benefits to our patients, including:

• Provide a safer and more convenient alternative to traditional dentures, which can contribute to aspiration or choking due to food blocking the airway and can be a hassle to care for.
• Help to preserve the jaw bone, helping to maintain facial contours
• Stop malocclusion or the changes to teeth placement and bite
• Prevent halitosis (bad breath) and periodontitis (gum disease)
• Promote good health by allowing proper chewing, which enables healthy digestion.

When you come to our office for your dental care, we treat you like a member of our family. Our staff will spend time with each patient and listen to your concerns. We pride ourselves on having a relaxed office atmosphere where you’ll feel at home. Call or contact us today for dental care that creates a beautiful, healthy smile!

- Severns Dentistry & Orthodontics