A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that a periodontist places into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who have lost at least one tooth. You can once again smile, speak, and eat in confidence.

Under proper conditions, implants can last a lifetime. Long-term studies continue to show improving success rates.

What Dental Implants Can Do

• Replace one or more teeth without affecting bordering teeth.
• Support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture.
• Provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable.

Types of Implants

• Endosteal (in the bone): This is the most used type of implant and is generally used as an alternative for patients with bridges or removable dentures. The various types include screws, cylinders, or blades surgically placed into the jawbone.
• Subperiosteal (on the bone): These are placed on top of the jaw with the metal framework’s posts protruding through the gum to hold the prosthesis. These types of implants are used for patients who are unable to wear conventional dentures and who have minimal bone height.

Advantages of Dental Implants over Dentures or a Bridge

As long as your mouth is healthy enough, dental implants are the best replacement option for missing teeth. Some of the advantages they have over other restorations include:

• Aesthetic – Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth! Since they integrate into the structure of your bone, they prevent bone loss and gum recession that often accompany bridgework and dentures. No one will ever know that you have a replacement tooth.
• Tooth-saving – Dental implants don’t sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth are left untouched, which is a significant long-term benefit to your oral health.
• Confidence – Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence. They are secure and offer freedom from the irksome clicks and wobbles of dentures. They’ll also allow you to say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures and messy pastes and glues.
• Reliable – The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement.

Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease.

Dental implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Since periodontists are the dental experts who specialize in these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team.

Not only do periodontists have experience working with other dental professionals, they also have the special knowledge, training, and facilities that you need to have teeth that look and feel just like your own. Your dentist and periodontist will work together to make your dreams come true.

What Is Treatment Like?

This procedure is a team effort between you, your dentist, and your periodontist. Your periodontist and dentist will consult with you to determine where and how your implant should be placed. Depending on your specific condition and the type of implant chosen, your periodontist will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs.

Replacing a Single Tooth

If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it. This combination takes care of both the lost natural tooth and its root.

Replacing Several Teeth

If you are missing several teeth, implant-supported bridges can replace them. We will use implants to replace some of the roots, while some spaces will only be replaced with crowns.

Replacing All of Your Teeth

If you are missing all your teeth, an implant-supported full bridge or full denture can replace them. Implants will serve as a foundation for your new row of teeth.

Sinus Augmentation

A key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. The upper back jaw has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants due to insufficient bone quantity and quality and the proximity to the sinus. Sinus augmentation can help correct this problem by raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants.

Ridge Modification

Deformities in the upper or lower jaw can leave you with inadequate bone. To correct the problem, the gum is lifted away from the ridge to expose the bony defect. The defect is then filled with bone or bone substitute to build up the ridge. Ridge modification has been shown to greatly improve your appearance and increase your chances for successful implants that can last for years to come.

What Can I Expect After Treatment?

As you know, your own teeth require conscientious at-home oral care and regular dental visits. Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care. To keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing still apply!

After treatment, your periodontist will work closely with you and your dentist to develop the best care plan for you. Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth, and gums to make sure they are healthy

Ready to Try Dental Implants in Pembroke Pines?

Your smile can be whole again thanks to dental implants. Contact the Smile Xperts today to schedule an appointment.