Most dentists agree that it’s important to replace missing teeth. If you don’t, it’s very likely that your other teeth will shift in place over time, filling in the gap left behind by the missing tooth. Once that happens, it can throw off your bite and lead to other problems as well. One excellent way to permanently replace missing teeth is with dental implants.
What You Should Know about Dental Implants
A dental implant consists of an artificial tooth “root” (usually made of titanium) that is implanted into the patient’s jaw, and a porcelain crown that is affixed to the top of the root. Implanting the root into the jaw of the patient requires oral surgery, so we refer our patients to experienced oral surgeons for that portion of the procedure. Once the root is implanted into the jaw and fuses to the bone, our dentists finalize the procedure by affixing the crown to the implant.
Although the procedure takes some time, it usually requiring several months for the implant to fuse to the jawbone of the patient. The end result is a tooth that is as close to a new natural tooth as modern dentistry will allow. In fact, implants often last for the lifetime of the patient. For this reason, many patients choose to replace missing teeth with dental implants.
The Dental Implant Procedure
The first step involved in getting a dental implant involves an oral surgeon implanting the “root” into the patient’s jaw, then waiting for the implant to fuse to the jawbone. After that, our dentists here at Forever Smiles will attach a connector “abutment” to the top of the implanted root, then, permanently affix a porcelain crown to that connector.
Contact Our Office Today
For more information about dental implants, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Abayomi or Dr. Modrall, call our Mansfield, TX, office today.
