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As summer begins, you may be anxious to begin playing various outside sports such as baseball or tennis, or to swim at your local pool. While participating in various summer activities it is important to take extra precautions to protect your mouth against harmful injuries that could damage your teeth. If you lose a tooth or multiple teeth, implants may be an appropriate solution to restore function, your ability to chew food, improve speech and facial appearance and are an alternative to partial and full dentures or bridges. 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 and 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. If, for some reason, osseointegration does not occur, the implant will fail. Placing Implants First, surgery is performed to place the anchor for the implant. This surgery can take up to several hours, and up to six months may be required for the bone to grow around the anchor to firmly hold it in place. Some implants may require a second surgery in which a post is attached to connect the anchor to the replacement teeth. Other implants have the anchor and post already attached. After your gums have had several weeks to heal, the artificial teeth are made and fitted to the post of the anchor. Several fitting may be required, causing this step of the implant placement process to take one to two months to complete. Implant Restoration Restoration of your dental implant is the process of creating an artificial tooth and connecting it to the dental implant. The process of restoring a single implant, or multiple implants, begins after the implant has already been placed as described in placing implants. A period of three months is required after the implant is placed to let the tissue recover and prevent further trauma. 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 University Heights, CA 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. Allan Patch, dentist in University Heights, CA, always had a passion for art, which blended well with his passion for science, resulting in a career in dentistry. Dr. Patch, University Heights, CA dentist, is detail oriented and appreciates a fine result and a pleased patient, making him the choice for dental health care maintenance.
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