How Do Dental Implants Work?

    SACRAMENTO, CA, September 30, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dental implants are designed to restore functionality to your smile by replacing missing teeth with a surgically-implanted artificial root. Implant dentistry today has a higher success rate than ever - close to 98% in most cases - making it the preferred tooth replacement method among dentists.

The Dental Implant Process

Unlike other methods for replacing teeth, such as dentures and dental bridges, dental implants are directly fused to your jawbone, helping you prevent bone loss at the site of your missing tooth. Bone loss from missing teeth is a bigger problem than most people realize; if you allow resorption to continue unchecked, the structure of your cheeks and jaw will start to change, giving your face a caved-in look in as few as five to ten years.

When the dental implant's artificial root is placed, it will anchor itself to your bone through a process called osseointegration. This fusion process can take up to six months, but once it is complete, resorption will stop, and your new artificial tooth will be just as durable and well-supported as your natural teeth.

Dental implants not only allow patients to chew, eat, and speak normally again, they also simplify oral hygiene. Your implants can be cared for in the same way as the rest of your teeth: good brushing and flossing habits will help them last for decades to come. Without the fear of further bone loss, you can also take confidence that you are protecting the future health of your mouth and teeth.

Other Uses for Dental Implants

Because of their durability and longevity, dental implants are often used to help stabilize other types of dental treatments. For example, dental implants can:
- Be used to anchor and support a dental bridge
- Support loose or weak teeth by being splinted to them
- Support a set of replacement teeth for a jaw that is entirely toothless
- Stabilize a complete denture, eliminating clicking and moving

Whether you have a single missing tooth, a row of missing teeth, or a jaw that is completely toothless, dental implants can give your smile a second lease on life. For many patients, this is a life-changing procedure that allows them to recapture a lifestyle they thought they'd lost.

Even though the overall price for dental implants has dropped in the last decade, it is still an expensive procedure that will require an investment on your part. However, the vast majority of patients consider the dental implant process worth it for the immense difference it makes in their everyday lives.

For more information about dental implants, please visit the website of experienced Sacramento cosmetic dentist Dr. David Miller, DDS at Advanced Dental Concepts at www.hightechsmiles.com.

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