Losing teeth isn’t just about appearances; it can also significantly affect speech and eating abilities. Restorative dental treatments, such as implants, can help.
At Precision Dentistry of Olympia, our team understands how important your teeth are for living your best life; that’s precisely why we have multiple options for addressing missing teeth, including dentures and high-quality dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are an option if you have lost teeth due to trauma, chronic conditions like diabetes, or after extraction. These titanium posts are inserted into your jawbone to mimic the function of the natural tooth root.
Explaining Dental Implants
The implant consists of three parts:
Dental Implant Post
This is the foundation of the implant, concealed within the jawbone. Dr. Xu will determine the appropriate size and design to ensure optimal fit and stability.
Dental Implant Abutment
This connection between the post and the final prosthesis makes it more stable and durable.
Dental Implant Prosthesis
This is the visible part of your implant, attached to the abutment, finally restoring the appearance and functionality of your tooth.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Typically made of titanium or similar materials, a dental implant fits snugly within your jawbone, forming a strong and enduring connection. This allows the implant to adequately support the attached crown, bridge, or denture, which is either screwed or cemented to the abutment.
Am I a Good Candidate For Dental Implants?
Before considering dental implants, Dr. Xu recommends a thorough examination. You may be eligible for this restorative treatment if you have any of the following conditions:
Loose or Extensively Decayed Teeth
In cases where patients have loose or extensively decayed teeth, implants could be an ideal alternative to undergoing extraction.
Partial Tooth Loss
Dental implants can effectively support your new crown or bridge without affecting the neighboring teeth, whether missing a single tooth or a few adjacent teeth.
Complete Tooth Loss
For patients facing complete tooth loss due to issues such as severe periodontal disease or systemic conditions, our team can help with several implants to secure your dentures firmly in place!
The Benefits Of Dental Implants
If you are a candidate for implants, you’ll find that they offer significant improvements in quality of life, including:
A Winning Smile
Say cheese! With dental implants, you can confidently flash those pearly whites again.
Eat What You Want
No more steering clear of your favorite food. Implants let you eat what you like with ease.
Talk The Talk
Did you know that our teeth greatly impact how we speak? You’ll speak more clearly and confidently with implants without mumbling or slurring words.
Why Dental Implants Are Better Than Traditional Bridges?
Dr. Xu usually prefers biomimetic dentistry to minimize extensive drilling and preserve your natural tooth structure as much as possible. So, we recommend dental implants as your first choice if you have one or more missing teeth. When compared to traditional bridges, dental implants offer a variety of benefits, such as:
Preserving Your Natural Teeth “Abutments”
When choosing implants, you don’t have to get the teeth on either side of the gap prepared to support the bridge. Instead, implants can work independently, providing extreme support to the prosthesis without harming your natural teeth.
More Durability
Implants successfully inserted into the jawbone typically last for 10+ years the vast majority of the time, providing a durable prosthesis and ensuring good function and aesthetics. On the other hand, bridges may lose their tight bond to the natural abutments over time due to frequent pressure. As a result, some patients may need to replace their old bridge with a new one after a certain period.
Better Appearance
Since implants are embedded inside your jawbone, it is difficult for anyone to notice that your prosthesis is artificial. However, bridges may be slightly visible, especially when fitted in the front.
What Makes Dental Implants Less Ideal for You?
Although our team strongly recommends implants as an effective restorative treatment, there is no one-size-fits-all since each patient may have a different condition. So, implants may not be suitable for you in any of the following cases:
Smoking
Smoking affects the healing process, so you should try to quit smoking when considering having implants fitted.
Poor Bone Quality
Having an implant fitted requires good bone quality and density. Certain periodontal diseases may affect your suitability for this treatment since implants must bond tightly with your jawbone to achieve successful results.
Uncontrolled Diabetes
Patients with uncontrolled diabetes or severe systemic conditions may have reduced chances of successfully undergoing implant treatment.
Parafunctional Habits Such As Bruxism
The habit of grinding your teeth, known as ‘bruxism,’ can exert excessive force on implants, increasing the risk of implant failure.
Are you considering having implants? Schedule your first appointment with Dr. Xu at Precision Dentistry of Olympia by calling (360) 995-0025. or clicking the button below. Let our team improve your quality of life!
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