Dental Implants Explained
Dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth that look and feel like natural ones. They can be used to replace one tooth, several teeth or all of your teeth (View Examples).
The procedure for placing dental implants Little Rock is generally simple and can be done in our office under local anesthetic. Afterwards, most patients can return to work or enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep.
Implants are made from titanium and are anchored into the jaw bone, much like a natural root would be. This means they’re highly bio-compatible, meaning your body won’t reject them and you can enjoy the benefits of a strong, functional restoration for the rest of your life.
They also stimulate the surrounding bone, preventing further bone loss that other options leave behind. This is because the process of ossification, which strengthens the bone in a process similar to that of the roots of your teeth, dies down with a missing tooth and the resulting gap begins to lose volume and strength over time.
Getting a dental implant is the only alternative that preserves your bone mass in the jaw and avoids bone loss in other parts of the mouth. Losing jaw bone accelerates the deterioration of your bite and the weakening of other teeth, causing you to experience a host of oral and overall health complications.
Your dentist will perform a thorough evaluation to determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants. This may include a CT scan of your jaw to assess bone density and X-rays to see how well the areas of your mouth where implants are planned will heal.
After the examination, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan. If you have poor bone quality, your doctor will recommend a process called bone grafting to add new bone tissue to the area. This will allow the metal fixture to fuse with the existing bone and serve as a foundation for your final restoration.
Step two involves the placement of a titanium metal fixture in the reinforced bone, which will eventually be surrounded by a replacement tooth. This will usually take a few months to heal properly and become fully stable.
When the healing is complete, the implant is topped off with a restoration, which can be a fixed crown, a removable partial or a full set of replacement teeth. The restoration will be custom designed to look and feel just like your real teeth, and you’ll enjoy the benefits of a healthy, attractive smile!
Once the dental implants Little Rock has been placed and the restoration is ready, your dentist will give you instructions on how to care for it. Brushing, flossing and regular visits to your dentist are all important to keeping your implants healthy and functioning as well as possible.
It’s also very important to eat a balanced diet to ensure you are receiving all the vitamins and minerals your body needs to support your implant. If you have a poor diet, you may experience a variety of issues related to your implant, including gum disease, loss of bone, or even implant failure.