Are you tired of hiding your smile because of that badly chipped or missing tooth? Did you lose a tooth in a fall or a brawl and now can’t find that special someone because of the gap in your smile? Consider a dental implant.
Back in the day, dental implants used to be quite painful and laborious, sometimes taking almost a year to complete, and all the while burning a hole in your pocket. But today, you can receive a full dental implant in just a few months and at a fraction of what it used to cost
Dental implants are usually made of titanium and function as artificial roots for false teeth. A dentist or periodontist, working with a gum and bone specialist, surgically inserts the implant into the jaw bone. In a short amount of time, you have a durable, strong, stable, realistic looking new tooth or set of teeth.
A second type of dental implant functions as an anchor for dentures that can replace multiple teeth and be removed at will.
Dental implants are great for filling in that missing tooth and for replacing multiple missing teeth. They look and feel just like your real teeth and can greatly increase your chewing and flirting capacity.
A few other reasons to consider dental implants include:
- The American Dental Association and the Food and Drug Administration actually condone dental implants to be not just safe, but sound.
- Implants don’t slip like dentures or bridges.
- Dental implants look more natural than dentures because the imitation tooth is directly attached to the implant in your jaw bone.
- Implants require no annual or bi-annual maintenance and they last your whole life.
- Implants create healthy, happy gums and bones since the anchor is not filled with bacteria from a sickly root or tooth.
The way it works is fairly straight forward, with the amount of time varying depending on the individual needs of each patient. It starts at your dentist’s office.
After the initial examination and consultation, you will receive a temporary cosmetic device to wear until your permanent dental implant is secured.
A team of dentists and specialist develop a surgical plant, which usually involves inserting a root replacement through the gum and into the jaw bone. Time is needed after the initial surgery for the implant to fuse to the bone before attaching the tooth. You feel no pain during this process as the anesthetic delivery is very sophisticated and effective.
The fusing of the bone and implant is a process called osseointegration. During this time, the gums also heal and become strong enough for the permanent tooth to be inserted by attaching the tooth to the implant. A custom designed crown can be attached to the post until the implant and gums are ready for the actual prosthetic tooth attachment. When the whole procedure is complete, the implant will be your new tooth or set of teeth for the remainder of your life – unless you find yourself in another brawl or fall.
So take care of your teeth. They can make or break your smile and your smile can make or break that important interview, or that romantic date you’ve been trying to make happen.
How great will it feel to be able to smile without having to feel stressed out about your missing teeth? In fact, smiling is known to actually relieve stress. You deserve a smile that makes you feel good, not stressed. Consider a dental implant – talk with your dentist today and take your smile and your self seriously – and don’t forget to laugh too.