Did you know that dental implants are one of the most complex treatments in dentistry? It can take dentists years of specialized training and clinical experience to master this procedure. But you’re not trying to become an expert. You’re just starting to look into replacing your missing teeth.
You likely don’t have time to learn all the complicated information about implants—you just want to know the essentials so that you can understand all your replacement options. Keep reading to learn the basics of dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are prosthetic teeth that attach directly to the jawbone. They consist of a titanium post that looks like a screw, a connection piece called an abutment, and the porcelain restoration on top. Being biocompatible, or not harmful to living cells in other words, the post is like a natural tooth root, stimulating new jawbone growth. This new bone growth surrounds the implant and keeps it firmly embedded.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Implants come with a whole host of benefits when you compare them to normal dentures or bridges. Just some of these benefits include more security and stability for your replacement teeth and a healthier jawbone. Keeping the jawbone strong allows you to preserve a more youthful facial structure as you age, and being anchored gives implants more durability and longevity than traditional dentures or bridges. In fact, dentures typically need to be replaced every 5 to 7 years, but implants can last more than 30!
What Is the Process of Getting Dental Implants?
As with many other dental procedures, getting dental implants starts with a dedicated consultation to answer your questions and make sure your mouth is healthy enough to move forward. The most complicated part of dental implant treatment is the placement surgery. To do this, your dentist will make a small incision in the gum tissue and position the post into the jawbone. Over the course of several months, the bone will integrate with the implant. Once this process is complete, your dentist can then place the abutment and finally the custom restoration.
What Is the Cost of Dental Implants?
Even if you’re only at the beginning of researching and understanding dental implants, you’re likely interested in knowing how much treatment will cost. Unfortunately, because the price can vary depending on many factors, it is difficult to get a reliable estimate without talking to a dentist directly. However, many patients find that the long-term benefits far outweigh the upfront cost.
In the end, if you want to learn more about implants, there is plenty of information out there to read. But now you’ve got the basics, meaning you can go into your consultation with some understanding of this treatment.
About the Author
At Brecksville Dental Excellence, we pride ourselves on the quality of our work. After Dr. Mo Saleh finished his dental degree at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, he completed a one year general practice residency following school. If you would like to ask him questions about dental implants, you can schedule a consultation through the practice’s website here or by calling 440-546-9494.