You Should Restore Your Smile Using Dental Implants: Here’s Why

Do you have missing teeth? Or do you have damaged teeth that taint your smile? Do not fret; our Brookline dentist has an excellent solution for you: dental implants in Brookline. Ever since their invention back in the sixties, dental implants have been the crème de la crème of tooth replacement.

Tooth loss is a prevalent issue in our country. In fact, 17 percent of the American population has lost at least one of their permanent teeth due to tooth decay.

However, you do not need to continue worrying about your smile. The beauty of using dental implants is that it is a revolutionary missing tooth replacement treatment. So, let’s see why implants are an excellent treatment for missing teeth.

What Are Dental Implants?

Most probably, you have referred to implants as tooth replacements, but technically, they are root replacements. Implants are screw-like posts made from titanium that are surgically inserted into your jawbone, thus replacing your tooth root.

Implants boast of a unique feature that sets them apart from other missing teeth replacements options; they are a permanent tooth replacement option. They replace the entire tooth as opposed to the other options that focus on the crown or visible part of the tooth.

For implants to achieve this, they have three distinct parts:

• The implant. This is the titanium post that acts as the synthetic root, which our Brookline dentist inserts in your jaw.
• Implant abutment. This is the part that sits above the gum line and connects the implant to the tooth replacement.
• Tooth replacement. This is the visible part of the tooth or the dental prosthesis. This can be a crown, dentures, or bridges.

Titanium is a biocompatible material, which means that they are safe. In other words, when implants are introduced in your body, they fuse well with the body tissues.

With implants, you have the option of replacing all your teeth, one tooth, or several teeth. Or, if you want to replace an arch of teeth, there are the All-on-4 dental implants.

How Does One Get Implants?

Getting implants will involve several steps. However, if you are getting immediate dental implants, the process will be a bit different since the process will take a day or two as compared to the traditional implants, which take several months to complete.

Generally, the process is as follows:

• First, you have to undergo a thorough examination so that our dentist can ascertain whether you have healthy tissue and bones for the implant surgery to succeed.
• If you don’t have enough bone tissue, bone grafting shall be performed to stimulate bone growth. Then, our dentist will proceed with the surgery. Anesthesia will be used to ensure that the process is as pain-free and comfortable as possible.
• The implant will be inserted using surgical guided technology. Once the implant is in place, you will take some time to allow healing to take place. Healing will take close to 12 weeks. This allows the bone and gums to fuse with the implant.
• Once healing has taken place, and the implant has bonded to the jaw, an implant abutment will be placed. This provides a surface upon which the dental prosthesis can be attached to.
• Then using your dental impressions, a crown will be fashioned that is screwed on the abutment.

After Care

Implants are just like your natural teeth and need to be well taken care of. In fact, you need to keep them clean and plaque-free. If not, you risk getting an infection. You need to brush after meals and give special attention to all sides of the implant.

Do not forget to floss so that you can remove the food particles that get stuck in between your teeth. An antimicrobial mouth rinse will also go a long way in keeping your mouth clean.

Implants can last a lifetime if you take good care of them. This means that you still have to come for regular cleanings and checkups at least twice each year. Contact our dentist at Dental Partners of Brookline if you need to restore your smile.