Have you lost one or several teeth? If so, it’s time to request an appointment with one of our Grandville, MI, dentists and discuss restorative options. Aside from dentures and dental bridges, we also offer dental implants for those wanting the look and function of natural teeth.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium used to support a crown. Since dental implants are embedded into the jawbone, they’re much more stable than dentures and other tooth replacement solutions.
Continue reading to learn if you need dental implants and how they can transform your smile.
After tooth extraction, our restorative dentists will recommend an implant to help you maintain good oral health. Otherwise, your jawbone will start to deteriorate and eventually alter the shape of your face. The best time to get a tooth implant is immediately after extraction.
Your teeth are held in place by roots and adjacent teeth. This means that when you lose a tooth, nearby teeth are likely to tilt toward the open space, loosen, and eventually fall out. Fortunately, dental implants support nearby teeth, so you can continue smiling with confidence.
Dentures sit on top of the gums and don’t prevent jawbone deterioration. A , on the other hand, is inserted into your jawbone and will exert pressure that your jaw needs to remain healthy.
If you don’t receive a tooth implant, your jawbone will not be properly stimulated where the tooth was lost and will eventually lose tissue. Loss of bone over time can lead to a change in facial structure or a condition known as . Once the jawbone deteriorates, it becomes harder to refit dentures and chew without discomfort.
A major benefit of dental implants compared to dentures is that they never slip. This means that you can eat, talk, and smile like you did before tooth loss. While denture teeth have to be submerged in water or denture cleanser when they aren’t in your mouth, implants can be cared for like natural teeth.
Like the name suggests, a dental bridge “bridges” the gap left by a missing tooth. A bridge consists of an artificial tooth anchored by crowns on healthy adjacent teeth. In order to place a dental bridge, our dentists would have to remove healthy enamel from teeth on both sides of the gap.
Once enamel is removed, it can never be replaced. Our restorative dentists prefer implants over bridges because they let you keep as much natural tooth structure as possible.
A tooth implant is also sturdier than a bridge because it’s anchored to your jaw. This added stability helps you smile, talk, and eat with confidence. Dental implants are also long-lasting, which means you’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful healthy smile for years to come.
The entire dental implant procedure is a bit lengthier than other tooth replacement options. Assuming you have adequate bone present in the jaw and do not require a bone graft prior to placement, you’re looking at several months from start to finish.
The actual placement of the implant(s) does not take long. What demands the most time is the healing and fusion of the implant with your jawbone. As the implant heals, the body will restore lost bone material through a process called osseointegration, which fills in more bone until the implant itself is fully fused with the jaw.
Many patients believe dental implants are worth the investment because they blend in seamlessly with your smile and function exactly like natural teeth. If you’re interested in a life-long solution to tooth loss that improves appearance and speech, implants may be right for you.
We understand that you must have a lot of questions about the dental implant procedure. This is why we recommend scheduling a consultation with one of our . To request an appointment to explore your tooth replacement options, call Grandville Dental Health Center at (616) 531-0360.
This blog post has been updated.