What are dental implants?
Dental implants are thin titanium posts that act as tooth roots if you have missing teeth. Your periodontist surgically places these small rods into your jaw to hold your replacement teeth in place, exactly like your natural tooth roots.
Not only do dental implants look more natural than alternative tooth replacement options, such as dental bridges or dentures, they also prevent bone resorption.
When you lose a permanent tooth, the underlying bone no longer has the stimulation it needs to stay healthy and strong. By adding an artificial tooth root, the supportive bone in your jaw stays intact.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants are unmatched in the way they look, function, and feel. Once Santa Monica Bay Periodontics completes the restoration that attaches to the implant, you won’t be able to see it at all.
Implants osseointegrate into your jawbone, meaning they connect to the living bone during the healing process. This process ensures dental implants look and feel as natural as possible.
Some of the most common benefits of dental implants include:
- Improved speech
- Enhanced appearance
- Better oral health
- Easier chewing
- Reduced discomfort
- Durability
Unlike other tooth replacement solutions, dental implants can last for 25 years or more. They require no special care, so you can brush and floss your teeth as you normally would.
How are dental implants placed?
Dental implants typically take several months to place. When creating your treatment plan, your Santa Monica Bay Periodontics periodontist uses the state-of-the-art GALILEOS dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to generate 3D images of your underlying tooth structures.
CBCT imaging can also help your periodontist determine whether you have enough tooth-supporting bone in your jaw to safely hold your implants. If you don’t have enough healthy jawbone, they may recommend a bone graft procedure prior to surgery.
When ready for implants, your periodontist uses a local anesthetic to numb your gums. They then open up the gum tissue and surgically place your implants. They may use the IntraSpin™ L-PRF™ system to deliver platelets to your tissue during surgery to accelerate healing. Your mouth may feel sore for the next few days once they close your gum tissue.
What happens after dental implant surgery?
It typically takes around 6-12 weeks for your mouth to fully heal, during which time the implants osseointegrate into your jawbone. When your mouth heals, you return to Santa Monica Bay Periodontics for impressions of your mouth.
These impressions serve as models to create your custom-fit replacement teeth. Depending on how many missing teeth you have, your periodontist may recommend dental crowns, a bridge, or dentures.
At your final visit, your periodontist connects your replacement teeth to your implants to fully restore your smile.
To find out if dental implants are right for you, call Santa Monica Bay Periodontics, or schedule an appointment online today.
