Gaps in your smile are embarrassing, but dental implants can help restore your smile.
As a child, losing a tooth is a special occasion. Losing a tooth meant you could put it under your pillow for a special little gift. Of course, as we get older, we certainly don’t have the same positive sentiments regarding tooth loss. If you are an adult who has lost a permanent tooth, don’t fret. Our Yorba Linda, CA, dentist, Dr. Richard Hamaty, is here to offer a long-term solution for replacing those teeth.
How Dental Implants Work
The sole purpose of this small metal post or screw is to take on the role of your missing tooth roots. Tooth roots are important not only for the health of your tooth but also your jawbone. Without tooth roots the jawbone will begin to break down and shrink. To prevent this, our Yorba Linda general dentist will place the implant into a pre-drilled hole in the jawbone during a minor procedure.
As your mouth begins to heal, something pretty incredible will happen. The implant and the jawbone will osseointegrate, or bond together naturally. This can take a couple months for the implant and jawbone to become one, but once it does, you’ll have a restoration that will last you a lifetime.
Now that the implant and the jawbone are one, the next step is to place an abutment on top of the implant. An abutment is a structure that serves to connect the implant lying under the gums with a dental crown or artificial tooth. If you need to replace more than one tooth or even a full set of teeth, several implants will be surgically placed throughout the jawbone to support multiple restorations or even dentures.
Dental Implant Candidates
So, you may be wondering if implants are right for you. Let’s find out! Some factors that play into whether or not you are an ideal candidate include your age, your health, your oral hygiene and dedication to proper oral care, lifestyle habits and budget. When you come in for an evaluation we will be able to determine whether or not you are the perfect candidate for implants.
If you are ready to say goodbye to those gaps between teeth and get back your smile, then call our Yorba Linda, CA, dental office. We would be happy to schedule your next consultation with us so we can help you decide whether implants are just what you need to restore your smile. Call us today!