A dental implant replaces a tooth that has been lost, restoring both chewing function and the appearance of your smile. If your natural tooth is nonrestorable, Advanced Endodontic Specialists in South Barrington, Illinois, offers dental implants to replace your missing tooth with a durable, long-lasting solution. Schedule a visit by phone or request information online to find out more.
Dental implant Q & A
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a titanium post that is placed securely in the bone of your jaw. The post acts as the root for an artificial tooth, usually a crown, which is later placed atop the dental implant by your general dentist.
Getting a dental implant is a process that takes time before it is completed. After the extraction and bone graft, the site needs healing time. After this first healing phase, your specialist will evaluate the site with digital and 3D imaging and perform a clinical examination. From there, the implant placement appointment will be scheduled.
During the surgery, the doctor makes an incision in the gums to provide access to the jawbone where the previous tooth’s root once was. He embeds the implant in place before closing the incision.
Thanks to a complex process called osseointegration, your bone fuses with the titanium implant during the weeks of healing that come after the initial surgery.
Who can benefit from a dental implant?
Dental implants are an excellent option for people who have lost teeth and are often the best solution for replacing a missing tooth. Unlike a bridge, a dental implant does not compromise adjacent teeth, and maintaining oral hygiene is easier than cleaning beneath a bridge. Best of all, a dental implant is the closest thing to a natural tooth.
There are many reasons why you might lose a tooth. During the initial consultation, our specialists will determine whether a dental implant is the right treatment option if the tooth cannot be saved.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
When you lose a tooth due to disease, decay, or extraction, you have several options for replacing it. You may choose a removable denture or a custom dental bridge, which uses crowns on the adjacent teeth to support a replacement tooth. Many people consider dental implants the superior long-term option.
By replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant, you can:
- Avoid the maintenance that comes with bridges
- Keep your teeth from shifting into the open gap
- Bite and chew normally and comfortably
- Speak clearly
Because your jawbone fuses around the implant, a dental implant provides the most permanent solution for replacing a missing tooth. You might eventually need to replace the restoration, but even that can last for decades as long as you take great care of your mouth.
Learn more about dental implants and if they’re right for you by calling Advanced Endodontic Specialists or requesting an appointment online today.
