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Whether you have lost one tooth or multiple teeth, tooth loss can have a negative effect on your oral health and general health. People who have lost teeth might feel too self-conscious to smile or talk. Additionally, biting irregularities caused by tooth loss can have a negative effect on eating habits, leading to secondary health problems like malnutrition. By replacing missing tooth roots with dental implants, you will gain the strength and stability required to eat all of the foods that you love, without struggling to chew. Dental implants also stimulate and maintain jaw bone, preventing bone loss and helping maintain facial features. What are Dental Implants? Implants are manufactured "anchors" that resemble cylinders or screws, which are used in the upper and lower jaws. They are surgically inserted into the jawbone to become a stable base for artificial replacement teeth. The implant itself will act as the foot of the tooth with a crown, bridge or denture placed over the implant to look and perform like the natural tooth that was lost. Unlike dentures, implants are not removed overnight to soak or clean and require no adhesives. Today, dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from other teeth, which are aided in part by the structural and functional connection between the dental implant and the living bone. Implants are typically placed in a single sitting, but do require a period of osseointegration, which is the process by which direct anchorage of a dental implant root and the bone of the jaw occur. Osseointegrated implants are the most commonly used, successful types of dental implants can take anywhere from three to six months to anchor and heal. After the healing period, your dentist can complete the procedure with the placement of a crown. Once the implant has anchored with the jawbone, artificial prosthesis may be attached and the process will be completed. Implant Restoration with Crowns and Bridges There are several restorations that can be placed on top of dental implants, including crowns and bridges. The dental implant provides excellent support for each of these restorations. A beautifully created restoration will maintain the integrity and aesthetics of your smile for year to come. Usually made of porcelain and ceramics, crowns are used to treat teeth that have been damaged by trauma, decay, or general wear. Also known as caps, crowns cover teeth that are chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged in order to protect the damaged tooth and support the existing tooth structure. Dental bridges are placed to fill the gap left by a missing tooth or teeth. A bridge consists of two crowns which attach to the natural teeth or implants on either side of the gap, and one or more artificial teeth in between. Using a bridge will also prevent the surrounding teeth from shifting around in the mouth to fill in the gap. An abutment will be screwed on top of the implant, which is a metal cylinder that the artificial tooth is built onto. After fitting the appropriate abutment, your dentist will take measurements of your teeth by making an impression and sending it to a laboratory for fabrication. When the final restored implant tooth is ready, your dentist will place it on the implant and final adjustments will be made if needed. Whether you are having an implant placed or restored, your dentist in Virginia Beach, VA can help restore your smile. Even though there are a number of restorative options for the treatment of missing teeth, none have proven to be as functionally effective and durable as dental implants.
Dr. Christopher Hooper, Virginia Beach, VA dentist, received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from James Madison University and completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry. Dr. Hooper, family dentist in Virginia Beach, also completed a post-graduate Advanced General Dentistry Residency at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
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