What is a dental implant?
For many adults, having dental implants is the next best thing to having natural teeth. When you lose your own teeth due to an illness, a traumatic accident, or tooth decay, it can negatively impact your self-esteem. You might also avoid smiling, or eating foods you used to love. This is where dental implants can help. Dental implants feel and function like natural teeth. They're durable and stable, and function almost the same as natural teeth.
A dental implant is a metal post, often made out of titanium, that a dentist surgically implants into your upper or lower jawbone. This screw-like post is like the root of your new tooth. After the post is implanted and your mouth has healed, your dentist will attach the new replacement tooth, or crown, to the metal post permanently. The implants fuse to your jawbone, so they are strong, stable, and don’t shift in your mouth.
These posts also help other dental work, like bridges and dentures, stay firmly attached to your jaw.
Why are dental implants so popular?
On top of functioning, feeling, and looking like your natural teeth, dental implants provide the following benefits:
- Are permanent and can last a lifetime
- Are a cost-effective way to replace missing teeth
- Help maintain your natural face shape and restore your smile
- Protect your healthy jawbone
- Help maintain the integrity of surrounding natural teeth
- Improve speech by allowing you to talk without worry
- Don’t slip out of your mouth
- Are strong and durable for chewing foods you love
- Aren’t susceptible to cavities with an implanted crown
- Offer a proven, predictable outcome for tooth repair
Can anyone get dental implants?
Whether you're missing one tooth or multiple teeth, you may be an ideal candidate for dental implants. Your jaw needs to be finished growing, and your gums must be healthy. Dental implants are an excellent solution for adults, not children.
You may also be a good candidate for implants if you're fed up with uncomfortable dentures, or it's time to replace a bridge or partial dentures. Women or men in search of a more permanent, long-lasting solution to dental work tend to be great candidates for dental implants. Get all your questions about dental implants answered during a consultation with your dentist. Implant treatment might be right for you.
Ready to take the first step toward a more comfortable, confident smile? Call Franklin Dental Group or schedule an appointment online.
