Dental Implants
If you’ve lost a natural tooth due to trauma, decay, or extraction, your dentist in Philadelphia, PA, may recommend a dental implant. Implants are beautiful solutions for missing teeth. They restore your dazzling smile and make it easier to enjoy all your favorite foods again. And the implant procedure, while somewhat detailed, is a common dental solution.
Millions of people elect to have implants in lieu of other procedures, including dentures. Mostly, this is because they’re permanently affixed, which means you’re not tasked with applying messy dental adhesive to keep them in place. Best of all, with routine care and regular check-ups from your dentist, your dental implant can last a lifetime. There’s a lot of information available on the many benefits of dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are permanent replacements for missing or extracted teeth. When you lose a natural tooth, it’s necessary to fill the space left behind. Otherwise, your body will assume the bone beneath the empty space is unnecessary. As a result, the bone will be reabsorbed. However, when your dentist places a dental implant, bone loss is prevented. Biting and chewing functions are restored, and it becomes easier to enjoy your favorite foods once again.
The dental implant procedure is somewhat lengthy, and it does require repeated visits to your dentist. However, it restores your smile to pristine condition and may eliminate problems such as speech impediment and malocclusion.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Aside from preventing bone loss, dental implants have numerous benefits. They include:
- Restoring your smile
- Restoring function
- Replacing a tooth that’s painful or too damaged to repair
- Preventing surrounding teeth from shifting or twisting
- Preventing future issues, such as open bite
In addition, dental implants are permanent solutions, meaning you don’t have to remove them for cleaning or sleeping. And they require no unusual maintenance, aside from normal brushing, flossing, and keeping regular dental appointments.
The Dental Implant Procedure
The dental implant procedure requires a dental surgeon to implant a metal post, usually made of titanium, through the empty tooth socket and into your jawbone below. Once the post has bonded, or osseointegrated, to the bone, your dentist can place an abutment and then a crown atop the post. The crown is made of a prosthetic material that looks just like your natural tooth. Therefore, nobody will ever know it’s not real unless you tell them.
The process to complete a dental implant is lengthy, often 6 to 12 months, because the post needs time to bond with the bone. But once it’s completed, you’re left with a beautiful new addition to your smile. Biting, chewing, and even speaking may become easier as a result.
Dental Implants in Philadelphia, PA
If you’re interested in learning more about dental implants in Philadelphia, PA, give Solange Lora Dentistry a call. The experienced professionals at Solange Lora Dentistry are happy to sit down with you to discuss treatment options for missing or extracted teeth. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.