What Are Dental Implants?
Dental Implants: What are They?
Today’s modern dental implants have significantly evolved from the concept of long-term tooth replacement idealized by dentists decades ago. What used to involve a complex and invasive process has now transformed into the straightforward, gold-standard treatment that dental patients expect.
Essentially, dental implants are artificial tooth roots crafted from biocompatible materials (titanium or ceramic,)which are then set into the mouth near the area of the missing tooth. Their design triggers new bone development around them — a process we call “osseointegration” — where the body fuses itself to the implant, making it a permanent part of the mouth. The fact that this process occurs makes implants stronger than even the healthiest of teeth.
Options for Single or Multiple Missing Teeth
With dental implants, patients have a variety of restorative options. Individual implants can support a ceramic crown, making it appropriate for single tooth replacement. But if multiple teeth are involved, we can use implants in pairs to support longer prosthetics, such as multi-tooth dental bridges or an “All-on-4” hybrid denture design.
Advantages of Implants
Choosing to invest in dental implants over more conventional types of treatment offers many advantages to your overall oral health. Rather than altering adjacent teeth to support a fixed prosthesis, implants stand independently and function as if they were natural teeth. This makes it possible to offer our Seattle implant patients a number of benefits, including:
- Preservation of natural biting patterns and tooth alignment
- Non-invasive to adjacent teeth (no reshaping or structure removal)
- Enhanced bone support of the jaw and face
- Permanent (non-removable) restorative designs
- Options for dental implant stabilization
- Better return on investment than conventional treatments
The implants of today are the most lifelike tooth replacements available. Not only that, but their extremely high success rate means nearly 98% of dental implants last for the life of patients. They offer the longest return on investment of any modern-day dental restoration.
Does it Hurt to Get Implants?
A common perception of having dental implants placed is that the process will be an uncomfortable one. Not so! Because bone structure does not contain pain receptors, we’re able to efficiently place implants in a straightforward and comfortable manner. If you’ve ever had a tooth removed, getting an implant is usually much more comfortable.
After the placement of the artificial roots, patients wear a temporary restoration as the bone and gum tissue heals around your new implant. Within a few months, a permanent crown, bridge, or denture is fixed into place.
The office of Keith A. Kye, DDS, FAGD serves the neighborhoods of Huntersville, Lake Norman and Cornelius in the greater Charlotte, NC area. Please call us at 704- 896-0515 or visit our website at www.kyedentistry.com for more information on Implants and other dental services.