Dental Implants in North Augusta, SC
You can't grow new teeth, but dental implants offer the next best thing if you've lost a tooth.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant looks like a tiny screw and replaces the roots of a tooth. During a minor surgical procedure, your dentist creates a small opening in your jawbone and places the implant inside. Implants are made of titanium, a tough metal that bonds easily to bone. Over the course of several months, the implant fuses to the bone, providing a secure foundation for the crown that will be placed on top of it. In some cases, you may receive a temporary crown the same day you receive your implant.
Aren't implants expensive?
The initial costs of dental implants may seem high when compared to the cost of bridges and dentures, but it's important to consider the lifetime costs of each tooth replacement option. With proper care, your implant will last your entire life, while bridges and dentures may need to be replaced several times.
What are the advantages of implants?
Dental implants offer several benefits that other replacement options don't, including:
No Jawbone Loss: Your teeth roots constantly stimulate your jawbone and keep it strong. When you lose a tooth, the bone underneath begins to recede. Since dental implants take the place of your roots, you don't have to worry about jawbone loss.
Better Chewing: Because dentures rest on top of your gums, they don't offer the biting power that implants do. If you choose dentures to replace lost teeth, you may not be able to eat certain hard foods. Eating isn't a problem with dental implants.
Easy Care: You'll care for your implants the same way you do your natural teeth. Regular brushing and flossing around the implant is essential to prevent an infection that can threaten the health of your dental implant. Luckily, infections are rare if you practice good oral hygiene.
How Dental Implants Work
The bottom part of the implant, which looks like a screw, is placed in your jaw during a simple in-office procedure. The screw is made of titanium, a material that is biocompatible, meaning your body won’t reject it. In fact, over time your body will grow more bone to fuse with the dental implant. The implant screw becomes firmly embedded in your bone and won’t move.
Benefits of Dental Implants:
- Dental implants look completely natural
- Dental implants are cleaned by simple brushing and flossing
- Dental implants won’t ever move around
- Dental implants can last throughout your lifetime
- Dental implants won’t ever decay and they resist stain
Benefits of Dental Implants
Unlike other dental restorations, implants are designed to be permanent. Once they have healed successfully, they are virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth. Like natural teeth, they require meticulous oral hygiene and regular dental exams and professional dental cleanings to help prevent infections and gum disease. Implants are the only restoration that help to prevent bone loss in your gums. An implant can be used to replace a single tooth, or a set of dentures — with just a few implants! If you are in good overall health and have enough bone density, dental implants may be a good option for you.
Another important benefit of dental implants is that they also help you retain the youthful fullness and contours of your face, especially your firm jawline. Your body produces more bone to fuse with the implant and the increased bone production fills out your facial contours. You won’t have the sunken, sagging look of someone who wears dentures for a long time.
If you think Dental Implants could help restore your smile, call Hall Family Dentistry at our office in North Augusta, SC today for more information! (803) 278-2223