Many people take pride in restoring old things to their former glory, whether that mean a vintage car or a sorely neglected house. That’s the same way restorative dentists feel when completing a smile after tooth loss, allowing patients to return to life as they did prior to the loss. While there are many prosthetic options available, dental implants are considered the most permanent and stable, because of the unique ways they are affixed. Want to know if they’re right for you?
What will an implant look like?
A dental implant can be created using a pontic, fake tooth, a dental crown or a partial denture. Which prosthetic you choose will depend on the location of your missing teeth, your cosmetic desires, and if you have more than one tooth missing.
Many people prefer the esthetic benefits of a porcelain crown for smile restoration, since it can be made to closely match a person’s natural teeth, providing a more seamless restoration than some alternatives.
Will it take along time to complete?
Dental implants involve surgically inserting a titanium post into the jawline, then allowing the soft tissue around it to heal through a process called osseointegration. This can take a few months, after which time the prosthetic tooth can be affixed to the post. While this is a longer recovery time than some other prosthetic options, it is also considered the most stable and permanent form of tooth replacement.
How long will an implant last?
The titanium post used to anchor a replacement tooth is permanent, which means it should never have to be replaced, even if the dental crown or fake tooth does. This provides a wonderfully long-lasting way to cope with tooth loss.
If your jaw and gums are healthy enough to support an implant, you may prefer the stability a dental implant can provide.
