Dental Implants
A dental implant is a metal
post that is implanted into your jawbone. After the implant is surgically
placed in your jawbone, the bone heals and fuses itself to the implant.
After the jawbone heals completely, a crown, bridge or denture is attached
to the post.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Dental implants have been used
for over 20 years. They are perfectly safe. If you have a healthy jaw bone
then you may be a candidate for this procedure. Consult your dentist for
an evaluation.
What is Involved?
Dental implants generally
require two steps. First, an anchor or post is implanted into or onto your
jawbone. The implants are then left alone so that your bone can heal. Over
the next three to six months, your jawbone will actually fuse to the
implant.
Next your dentist will create a tooth or teeth which they will then attach
to the new anchor. You will be left with a tooth that looks and works just
like a natural tooth.
Are Dental Implants For You?
Dental implants are not for
everyone. Smokers or people in poor health will not be good candidates for
this procedure. The most important thing is the condition of your jawbone.
A complete series of x-rays by your dentist will help determine the health
of your bone.
Are Dental Implants More
Expensive?
If you have only one tooth to
replace, dental implants are comparable in price to a standard bridge.
With a normal bridge, the teeth on either side of the missing tooth must
be ground down so that the bridge can be fit to them. This extra work
makes the two types of repairs similar in cost. The benefit of the implant
is that you do not have to damage healthy teeth and you will not have to
do any special maintenance on your teeth. Bridges can be trouble to care
for.
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