Dental Implants

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants are designed to help fill in gaps where teeth have been lost or removed due to being damaged or broken. If a tooth is lost, the teeth on either side of it may begin to slide into the opening, as teeth rely on one another to hold themselves in place. When a dental implant is installed, an anchor titanium implant is placed into the jawbone and allowed to protrude up through the surface of the gums. A Ceramic tooth is created in the same shape and size as the one being replaced. The tooth is attached to the anchor and will remain in place until it is removed.

Are Dental Implants Permanent?

Most dental implants are considered permanent. The anchors that are put into the jawbone are held in place as the bone grows around them, firmly securing them. When a bridge or other device is used instead of a single tooth implant, it can be removed from the posts as needed. Most dental implants have a lifespan of several years, but may have to be replaced or removed if the rest of the teeth become damaged or pulled so that a set of dentures can be made. The tooth portion of a dental implant can be made from porcelain, resin, or a combination of materials. The post or anchor is made from titanium or other durable metal.

What Benefits Do Dental Implants Offer?

Dental implants offer many benefits. First, they keep the mouth structurally intact preventing teeth from shifting out of place. This helps to maintain alignment between the upper and lower sets of teeth. Secondly, it allows the person to properly chew their food. When one or more teeth are missing in the mouth, food may pass through without properly being broken down. Food that has been only partially broken down by the teeth takes longer to pass through the digestive tract and many nutrients can be lost. Digestion actually begins in the mouth, through the introduction of saliva as the food is chewed. Dental implants maintain a solid chewing surface.