Ridge Manor dental patients can benefit from dental implants for a range of different tooth loss situations, including a single tooth, multiple teeth or a full mouth’s worth of teeth. Dental implants offer an improved aesthetic appearance and better function, especially for those who struggle to eat effectively.
When you receive dental implants, Ridge Manor patients will enjoy a look that’s impossible for others to differentiate from your natural teeth. Plus, implants are more convenient and reliable than dentures, which can make it difficult to eat certain foods.
Dental implants come in a few different styles to suit different needs. There are implants that are used to replace multiple teeth, with some serving as an anchor for bridgework. You can also opt for a system such as all-on-four implants, whereby an entire jaw’s worth of teeth is secured to four “ports” that are implanted within the jaw. This is a great option for those who are seeking an alternative to traditional dentures, without the pain and expense of getting dozens of individual teeth implanted individually.
How Do You Get Dental Implants?
Ridge Manor dental implant patients usually get local anesthesia for the implantation procedure. Though some may opt for what’s called conscious sedation, which makes the procedure less stressful for the patient.
If the patient lost teeth due to an injury, a bone infection or if extractions were necessary, you may need to wait a period of time before getting dental implants. This allows the bone to heal and any gaps or empty sockets will start to fill in with bone. This increases the chances of long-term success, as the more healthy bone that’s present, the better the bond will be between the implant and the jaw. Bone grafts can be used in some cases where the dentist wishes to speed healing.
Once the root-like portion of the dental implant is put into place, the visible tooth-like portion of the implant can be added. In many cases, the false tooth, bridge or crown is affixed to the dental implant, typically after the gums are healed and the bone has had an opportunity to fuse with the implant. This is important because once the crown or bridgework is added, the implant sees greater stress due to the pressures of chewing and so forth. Each case is unique depending upon the patient’s precise dental situation and the type of implant that’s being utilized.
Healing typically occurs over the course of a few weeks. The gums and jaw may remain a bit tender over this period, but once all is said and done, the teeth will look and function just like your natural teeth!
*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Anchor Dental Care*