Dental implants are a revolutionary way to replace missing or dysfunctional teeth. Dental implants can also be used in place of failing bridge work, denture and crowns.
Dental implants are usually installed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and can usually be done in as few as two visits depending on the oral health of the person receiving them. (View more information on dental implants and case studies.)
Dental implants outperform bridges, crowns and dentures in that they are a permanent structure in the mouth. Dental implants are made of usually two components. The first component is an anchor that is either titanium or some other extremely hard and durable metal. The second component is a prosthetic tooth that is attached to the metal anchor stem. When both of these components are correctly installed the dental implant becomes virtually indestructible.
Dental implants are the closest thing to a natural tooth not only in appearance and functionality but they also trick the human body into thinking a natural tooth is still in place. Many people that have had a missing tooth for a long period of time have experienced some level of jaw deterioration. When a tooth is missing, the jaw bone beneath it tends to deteriorate and decay as it no longer serves the purpose of holding a natural tooth in place. In fact, many people that have had severe bone degeneration have to have a bone graft done by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon before a dental implant is placed. However, once a dental implant is anchored into the jaw bone, the jaw remains rigid and maintains its normal function of holding the tooth in place.
Whether or not a person is a good candidate for a dental implant will depends on many things including oral health, jaw structure and the candidate's ability to recover from the surgery. Getting an evaluation from the dentist first is the best place to find out if dental implants will work for you.
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