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You can lose a tooth or multiple teeth for various reasons, with gum disease being a leading cause of tooth loss. Injury or accidents can also be damaging to your smile. When teeth are lost, you may begin to experience significant changes in your ability to eat, as well as in your appearance and confidence. Certain things that you might take for granted such as eating your favorite foods, kissing your loved ones or smiling confidently may become a struggle when teeth are lost. With advances in dentistry, suffering from missing teeth can be a thing of the past with dental implants. A durable and permanent solution to missing teeth, dental implants look and feel just like natural teeth; making the demand for implants greater than ever before. Every year, dentists around the world place thousands of dental implants ranging from single to entire tooth restorations. Dental Implants: How they work and what they are Dental implants are artificial replacements for natural teeth/roots and are an alternative to partial and full dentures or bridges. Functioning like a tooth, the implant offers more comfort and stability than dentures. Implants restore the ability to chew food and may improve speech and facial appearance. Manufactured anchors that resemble cylinders or screws, dental implants are used in upper and lower jaws. They are surgically inserted into the jawbone to become a stable base for artificial replacement teeth. The implant itself functions as the root of the tooth, while a crown, bridge or denture is placed over the implant to look and perform like the natural tooth that was lost. Performed by your dentist in Fenton, dental implant surgery is performed in three steps. First, your dentist surgically places an implant directly into the jawbone, acting as a tooth root. Following this, the implant will usually remain covered for three to six months to allow the bone to properly develop around the implant in order to hold it in place. Once the waiting period is over, referred to as osseointegration, your dentist will uncover the implant and attach an extension to the implant. Several more months are often needed for the gum tissue to completely heal around the post. In the final step, once the healing is complete, the implant can serve as a foundation for the new tooth. Your dentist will then make a crown and attach it to the implant post. The entire process can take up to nine months to fully complete, depending on the patient. Are you a Candidate for Dental Implants? The best candidates for implants are those who are in good general health with healthy gums and sufficient bone structure. Success of the dental implant depends entirely on the upkeep of regular visits to your dentist along with a personal commitment to proper oral hygiene. Implants may be less successful for people who smoke, grind their teeth and patients with systemic disease such as diabetes. Check with your dentist in Fenton to see if implants are the right choice for restoring your smile.
Sean Hartmen writes for general and Fenton childrens dentist, Dr. Thomas Kemlage. Nominated in January 2011 in the St. Louis Magazine as Top Dentist in area, as voted by his peers, Dr. Kemlage offers services in teeth whitening, crowns, bridges and dentures in Fenton.
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