Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are replacement tooth roots made of titanium or another durable metal. A connector, known as an abutment, extends from each implant and attaches to a replacement tooth. Each replacement tooth is custom fabricated to match the color and appearance of your natural teeth. 

Dr. Vu can use dental implants to replace one missing tooth or multiple teeth. In addition to improving the physical appearance of your smile, dental implants help prevent gum disease, bone deterioration, and other serious oral health problems. 

What are some benefits of dental implants?

Compared to traditional oral prosthetics, dental implants provide an array of benefits. Some of those advantages include:

• Improved appearance
• Improved speech
• Improved comfort
• Easier eating
• Improved self-esteem

Dental implants are also incredibly durable. You don’t have to worry about them chipping, cracking, or breaking as you do with crowns and bridges.

Am I a good candidate for dental implants?

If you’re healthy enough to undergo a routine dental procedure like an extraction or root canal, you’re probably a good candidate for dental implants. However, it’s important you have enough healthy gum tissue and jawbone to hold the implant. 

If you smoke cigarettes or have a chronic illness such as kidney disease or diabetes, make sure to share this information with Dr. Vu as well. These conditions won’t necessarily disqualify you from receiving dental implants, but they can increase your risk of complications. 

Following an oral exam, review of your medical history, and discussion of your goals for treatment, Dr. Vu can formulate a plan that aligns with your individual needs. 

Does getting dental implants take more than one appointment?

The process for receiving dental implants takes a series of appointments and anywhere between six months and one year. Though this may seem like an extended period of time, it’s important to remember that with proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. 

At your first appointment, Dr. Vu performs an oral exam and takes a series of X-rays to get a better look at your jaw and tooth roots. If you have healthy gums and jawbone, Dr. Vu moves forward with treatment.

First, he administers a local anesthetic to numb your teeth and gums. Next, he places your dental implant into the bone sockets of your missing teeth. After anchoring it to your jawbone, Dr. Vu provides you with a list of recovery instructions. You return home and wait 6-12 weeks for your implant to heal and fully fuse with your jaw.

At your second appointment, Dr. Vu examines your mouth to ensure healing is complete. If everything looks good, he administers a local anesthetic, numbing your teeth and gums, and attaches a connector to each implant. Finally, Dr. Vu takes molds of your permanent teeth. He sends these molds to a laboratory that manufactures the crowns or other prosthetic replacement for your implants. 

A week or two later, you return for your third and final appointment. At this appointment, Dr. Vu administers a local anesthetic and screws your permanent prosthetic onto your implants. The process typically takes no more than 45-60 minutes. 

If you’re missing teeth, dental implants are worth considering. Call the office or click the online booking tool to make an appointment at Toothscaler Dental today.