Dental Implants and Other Tooth Replacement Options

Cosmetic dentists consider dental implants to be the best option when it comes to replacing missing teeth. They look and act like natural teeth thanks to the titanium posts that are fused to the jaw. The posts act as tooth roots and stimulate bone growth, which helps the patients to retain their facial structure.

Replacing your missing teeth with dental implants

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth by fusing titanium posts to the patient’s jaw. After the titanium post has been fused to the jaw and the jaw is healed, an abutment is placed on top of the post. Then, the artificial tooth is screwed to the top to replace the missing tooth.

Why do people get dental implants?

Dental implants are popular because they can be used to replace a missing tooth, multiple missing teeth or all of a patient’s teeth. They are used to restore function to the teeth and improve their appearance. When it comes to replacing missing teeth, the major options available to patients are implants, dentures and dental bridges.

Dentures are the least expensive option, but they are not as effective. They are removable and sometimes move around in the mouth, making it difficult to chew food properly and speak properly. Dental bridges are more effective than dentures, but they rely on the patient having other natural teeth to support and hold them in place. Implants are supported by the bone and do not need to be held in place by surrounding natural teeth.

Deciding which treatment option to go with depends on several factors, which include:

• The patient’s health
• The location of the gap
• Cost
• The health of the jawbone and surrounding gum tissue

If a patient chooses to get dental implants, the dentist will examine the area to be considered for the implant to determine if the patient is an ideal candidate for the implant.

What are the different types of dental implants?

The two different types of dental implants used by dentists are endosteal and subperiosteal. Endosteal implants are the dental implants that are fused in the bone. Subperiosteal implants are implants that rest on the jawbone under the gum tissue.

Endosteal implants are the implants used by dentists these days, while subperiosteal implants are no longer used because they have poor long-term results when compared to endosteal implants.

How do I know if I am an Ideal candidate for dental implants?

Before a dentist decides to go ahead with the implant procedure, they have to make sure the jawbone and gums are healthy enough to hold the implant in place. Some of the health factors that can prevent a dentist from performing the procedure include:

• Diabetes
• Tobacco use
• Inadequate bone in the jaw
• Pregnancy
• Alcohol abuse
• Radiation therapy to the head or neck

Patients who fall into this category are not automatically ruled out from getting dental implants. However, they will need to be examined by a dentist to determine if they will be able to get the implants.

Conclusion

Dental implants are very effective for replacing missing teeth because they look natural and are as close to natural teeth as you can get. If you have one or multiple missing teeth, schedule an appointment with your dentist to find out if you can replace the missing teeth with dental implants.

Request an appointment here: https://www.roderickgarciadmd.com or call Roderick A. Garcia, DMD PC at (505) 634-5029 for an appointment in our Albuquerque office.

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