Dental implants have revolutionized the way missing teeth are restored. Rather than replacing only the visible teeth above your gumline, dental implants replace the tooth roots as well, resulting in strong and long-lasting prosthetic teeth. At Smiles in Springfield, Quang Tran, DDS, has extensive experience in inserting dental implants and giving you back a radiant smile. If you’d like to learn more about dental implants, call the office in Springfield, Virginia, or schedule an appointment online.
Dental implants replace one, several, or an entire mouth of missing teeth. The implant refers to a small rod that’s placed into your jawbone to hold dental prosthetics such as a crown, bridge, or dentures. However, most people use the term “dental implant” to refer to the complete restoration.
One of the most important benefits of a dental implant is that it restores your smile and improves your appearance. But implants do much more than make cosmetic changes. They also:
Your jawbone grows around and bonds with the biocompatible rod, which replaces the original tooth root. By creating a secure anchor, implants have the same strength and function as your natural teeth, so you can enjoy your favorite foods.
When one or more teeth are gone, the nearby teeth gradually shift their position and move toward the empty space. As a result, your teeth become misaligned. Misaligned teeth disrupt your bite, place uneven stress on your teeth, and put you at risk for tooth decay and damage.
Your jawbone stays strong and healthy by eliminating old bone and replacing it with new bone. But your jaw needs stimulation from your teeth and their roots to rebuild new bone. When you lose a tooth, the bone begins to deteriorate and weaken. By replacing the root, the dental implant triggers normal bone growth.
Your dental implant procedure begins by placing the rod into the bone. Then you’ll need to wait a few months for the bone to regrow and attach to the rod.
Once healing is finished, your dentist attaches a piece called an abutment to the top of the rod. The abutment is then used to secure your new dental prosthetics.
If you need only one tooth replaced, a porcelain crown is produced in the office using advanced CEREC® technology. Porcelain is strong, resembles natural enamel, and is tinted to match the rest of your teeth.
If multiple teeth are gone, you need 2-6 implants to support a bridge or dentures. Implant-supported dentures may be fixed in place or made to snap on and off the implant. Either way, they’re more stable and comfortable than traditional dentures.
If you’re missing teeth, call Smiles in Springfield or schedule an appointment online to learn more about dental implants.
