What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are used to replace lost teeth. Previously, your only alternatives were to either place a dental bridge or wear a partial denture. Dental implants are excellent tooth replacement choices since they do not risk adjacent teeth. Smith Family Dentistry, MI is one of the most highly respected dentists who specialize in dental implants.
What Benefits Does an Implant Provide?
Titanium implants serve as both the roots and the crown of a natural tooth. The implant goes through a process called osseointegration, which means it repairs into the bone over time. By replacing a lost tooth, implants assist to improve both the appearance and function of your smile. Once a crown or denture is placed over the implant, eating and chewing food becomes as simple as it was with natural teeth.
How Do You Know Whether You Need One?
If you have a significantly broken or missing tooth that has to be replaced, or if you have loose or ill-fitting dentures, we can check your mouth and teeth to see if an implant will be beneficial. To recover properly, implants rely on strong, healthy bone structures. If you currently suffer from bone loss, we will prescribe bone grafting before an implant can be placed. Patients who require or desire implants can have the operation performed in our office securely and successfully.
How Does a Dental Implant Procedure Work?
Contrary to popular belief, implant installation is a relatively tranquil and relaxed procedure that does not involve the noise of a dental drill. We start the process by giving you an anesthetic or sedative. Smith Family Dentistry, MI ensures a pain-free experience. After the anesthesia has taken effect, the titanium implant is placed using a slow, silent handpiece.
At this stage, the implant requires time to recover, and we will send you home with special care instructions. The implant will entirely integrate with the underlying bone during the next three months. When this occurs, we will invite you to return to the office to have a dental repair done specifically for that location. You may care for your new implant in the same way that you would your natural teeth, and it will last for decades without displaying symptoms of wear or decay.