• 14 NOV 19
    • 0

    How A Dental Implant Can Improve Your Smile

    Young man looking away from the camera while smiling.

    If you’ve lost a tooth due to injury, age or disease, you’re not alone. Millions suffer from missing teeth each year and don’t know how to fix their problem. Missing teeth can take a hit at your self-esteem and make it difficult to chew and eat, along with contributing to other oral health issues. Fortunately, dental implants are an easy way to remedy this problem as they replace the space where your natural tooth used to be with an artificial tooth replacement. A dental implant uses a screw that is attached to your jawbone to create an immovable anchor for the crown that will eventually be placed on top of it. Find out how dental implants improve the look of smiles and whether you’re eligible for one with this guide!

    What Is The Purpose of A Dental Implant?

    Dealing with a missing tooth can be a difficult process, along with learning how to chew and eat without one (or more) of your teeth. Teeth can fall out due to the aging process, a medical disease or a severe oral injury, and it happens to millions of people each year. Without the support of your teeth, your facial skin and muscles can begin to sag and make you look much older than you actually are. This can take a serious hit at a person’s self-confidence and make them feel self-conscious about their smile. Luckily, one of the easiest and most effective ways to counteract this issue is with a dental implant, which is an artificial tooth replacement that is attached to your jawbone with a screw. This simple process improves your ability to speak and chew, prevents jawbone shrinkage, provides a natural, restorative option for your tooth and renews your confidence. Dental implants are relatively new to the dental industry as they were only invented half a century ago. Since then, dental implants have come leaps and bounds and have a nearly 100% success rate. Because of this, millions are turning to dental implants to improve the appearance of their smile marred by missing teeth. Once you’ve been examined by a dentist and cleared for the procedure, you can have a new smile in as little as one dental visit. That means no more temporary fixes or expensive visits, which gives you something even better to smile about.

    What To Expect When Having An Implant Placed

    Picture of a dental bridge supported by a dental implant.

    There are three main parts to a dental implant: the implant itself, an abutment and a dental crown. The implant, or screw, is drilled into your jawbone to create a strong, secure foundation for the abutment and the crown. The abutment, or connector, is attached to both the screw and the crown as a support piece to keep the crown in place. The last piece, the dental crown, is placed on top of the abutment and is matched to the size, shape and color of your surrounding teeth to finish the procedure. This process ensures that the implant fuses to your bone and never moves, wiggles or falls out. Dental implants perform many functions and can replace a missing tooth or fill in the gaps where multiple teeth used to be. In fact, there are two different types of implants that are placed depending on your needs: endosteal and subperiosteal. Endosteal implants are the most common as they are attached directly to the jawbone and can be used as a replacement for a single tooth or as part of a bridge and/or denture. Subperiosteal implants are similar in nature except they use a metal frame that is secured to the jawbone right underneath the gumline. Posts on the metal frame protrude through the gums so that the crown can be placed on top of them. You will be given either an endosteal or subperiosteal implant depending on your needs and the health of your gums and bones. 

    Dental Tips To Keep In Mind

    Not everyone will qualify for a dental implant, even though they may need one. It is necessary to have adequate bone structure and healthy gums to successfully place a dental implant, so make sure to take care of your mouth now so that you have more options in the future if something happens to you. If you fulfill these requirements and get an implant placed, it’s imperative that you maintain good oral hygiene habits each and every day. Even though the materials of the implant themselves can’t deteriorate, the gums around them can and will if not brushed and flossed thoroughly. Tooth decay can form around the teeth adjacent to the implant, as well, which makes it very difficult to treat without damaging the implant or causing you pain. Additionally, if you’re a smoker, it’s a good idea to quit smoking since that could disqualify you from receiving an implant and could weaken your bone structure and cause your implant to fail in the long run. Make sure that you’re meeting with your dentist for regular dental checkups pre- and post-operation to ensure that your teeth, gums and other oral tissue are healthy and that your implant was inserted correctly. When followed, these dental tips will help you have a successful journey before and after your implant insertion and will keep your smile happy and healthy for years to come.

    Get A Confident Smile With Our Help!

    If you want to fix the gaps in your smile caused by missing teeth, call Dr. Evanson at (720) 409-0008 to schedule a consultation. A dental implant is an effective and minimally invasive way to improve the look of your smile without altering surrounding teeth and gums. Call our office today to learn what else a dental implant can do for your oral health and smile!

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