Dental Implants

Missing a tooth isn’t just bad for your looks, it can be bad for your health as well! Healthy teeth play an important role in the body from head to toe. When you are missing one, your jawbone deteriorates, your self-esteem suffers and so does your diet, which negatively affects the health of your entire body. Dental implants look, feel and function just like natural teeth and are widely recognized as the best replacement method.
Implants make smiling feel like it should!

IMPLANTS AT BELMONT PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

What are Dental Implants?
An implant is a small post, most commonly made of titanium, which functions as a tooth root and is inserted into the jawbone beneath the gum line. The post serves as a foundation to which your restorative dentist can affix a replacement tooth. Once the procedure is complete, the actual implant is not visible, and the replacement tooth blends in seamlessly and naturally with the patient’s other teeth.

What Does the Process Entail?
The process is fairly simple, but requires an experienced periodontist to perform the procedure to yield optimal results. First, your periodontist will determine if the patient has enough bone to support the implant. If a patient experiences bone loss, they may require a bone grafting procedure. For patient’s who possess enough bone density to sustain an implant, the periodontist will insert the post into the jaw in place of the old or missing tooth. Over the next few months the implant will naturally fuse to the jaw bone, for permanent stability. At this time, a temporary tooth placement can be worn over the area to keep patients’ smiles intact. After the jaw has healed, a periodontist will attach an abutment to the titanium implant, which serves as the connection between the implant and the permanent crown. In the case of zirconia dental implants, the implant does not require an abutment, and a permanent restoration can be attached directly to the post. Once the permanent restoration has been fastened, the implant process is complete, allowing the patient to eat, speak and smile regularly with confidence.

BENEFITS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

The result leaves you confident with a smile that feels natural and looks beautiful. The procedure is simple, minimally invasive, and almost pain-free. The implants are secured to the jawbone providing stability and ensuring the artificial tooth mounted atop the post won’t slip or shift. With the implant securely in place, the patient’s ability to eat and speak normally will not be affected.

SINGLE IMPLANT

A single implant is a great way to bring your smile back to life, and is the best permanent replacement for a missing tooth. A dental implant replaces the tooth root, and is completed with a crown that will look and function like a natural tooth. To receive a single implant, patients must have healthy gums and strong bone density in their jaw to sustain the implant. Patients must also implement a dedicated oral hygiene routine, including regular dental visits, to ensure the long-term health and success of the dental implant.

A dental implant looks and functions exactly like a natural tooth. As compared to conventional bridges, a common alternative to dental implants, dental implants replace a single tooth without affecting the neighboring teeth. A traditional bridge requires that the healthy teeth on both sides of a missing tooth or gap are ground down so that a bridge, which consists of an artificial tooth that is attached between two crowns, can be placed over the area to cover the empty space.

In terms of long-term sustainability, a single implant can be easier to maintain, and has a more esthetic appearance than bridges. Gum health can potentially be compromised with a bridge because the surrounding tissue can recede, exposing the implant and affecting the patient’s smile. In some cases, the cement-like substance securing the bridge in place can wear over time, enabling bacteria to grow and affect the teeth supporting the bridge. Further, the use of bridges can make it difficult for patients to floss, increasing the chances of developing gum disease.

Dental implants are the best permanent solution for missing teeth because the underlying bone is better preserved with a dental implant since the root is replaced. It’s important to choose a doctor who understands the structure of the mouth and will not harm the adjacent teeth by grinding them down in order to attach a bridge to them. The true value of a single tooth implant is the preservation of the natural dentition. Dr. Naghieh’s extensive experience allows her to skillfully execute dental implant procedures, helping restore the smile and confidence of her patients.

MULTIPLE IMPLANTS

Dental implants are a permanent way to restore beautiful, natural looking teeth. They are more cosmetically appealing than full or partial dentures. Dental implants also eliminate messy gels, nightly soaks and bad odors associated with dentures. A dental implant is simply an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Your new implants will blend in naturally with the rest of the teeth in your mouth, and you will be showing off a sparkling and healthy smile in no time!

Dental implants look and function precisely like natural teeth, without affecting the surrounding teeth. It’s always best to maintain a patient’s existing healthy teeth, which is why multiple implants are often a better solution for patients looking to replace several teeth. Most importantly, in the case of multiple implants, the natural jawbone is better preserved because implants are rooted directly into the bone, replacing tooth roots, as opposed to dentures or bridges. Due to the nature of conventional dentures, the bone around the missing tooth begins to deteriorate over time. Therefore, multiple dental implants are a preferred solution because they naturally protect healthy, existing teeth, and are securely anchored into the jawbone preventing the implants from slipping or shift; an especially important factor in a patient’s ability to eat and speak.