An estimated 30 million Americans have lost all their teeth in one or both jaws. Without a full smile, your facial muscles sag, chewing or speaking may become difficult, and your active lifestyle may be limited. The closest prosthetic to nature, dental implants revive the strength and appearance of your smile.
Constructed from biocompatible titanium, a dental implant is a metal post that is surgically placed in the jawbone. One post fits into each empty socket. The dentist can place a prosthetic crown on each implant to replace individual teeth, or the posts can serve as anchors for bridges, dentures, or partials.
Reasons to consider implants:
Dental implants offer a permanent solution.
When you choose dental implants, you can say good-bye to messy adhesives and the hassle of a removable prosthesis. After surgery, the bone fuses with the posts, creating a solid foundation for the permanent crown your dentist will position on the implants once your mouth has healed.
Implants look and feel like natural teeth.
At the completion of implant therapy, no one will even realize you have prosthetic teeth. Care for the implants as you would your original teeth by brushing, flossing, and seeing the dentist for regular checkups.
Implants are a successful option for replacing lost teeth.
Patients with adequate bone tissue and good oral health enjoy a 95 to 98 percent success rate with implant therapy. If your mouth can’t support the implants, your dentist may recommend a bone graft to build up the tissue or mini implants, small posts used to stabilize dentures.
