Healthy Dental Implant: What You Need to Know for a Lasting Smile

People are outliving their teeth. Our teeth have not changed to keep up with our increased longevity. Even with excellent oral hygiene, most people will eventually experience tooth loss. Fortunately, modern dentistry offers more solutions than ever for replacing one or more missing teeth. Dental implants can be transformative for anyone who wants to have the same tooth functionality they enjoyed with their natural teeth. 

Understanding Dental Implants 

One dental implant replaces one missing tooth. A dental implant consists of three pieces: a titanium post that will be the new “root” for your implant tooth, an abutment that goes atop the titanium post, and a porcelain crown to finish off the implant. The titanium post is embedded in the jawbone, where it will fuse with the bone through the osseointegration process. Once it has healed, the rest of the implant is completed. 

A Timeline of Getting New Dental Implants

At your consultation with the dentist, you will go through a thorough examination to ensure you are a good candidate for dental implants. This will include X-rays to ensure you have enough bone density to support the implant. The oral surgeon will assess your bone health and move forward with a treatment plan. If there are any other issues like tooth decay or gum disease, these will need to be corrected first. Once the titanium screw is placed in the jaw, it takes between three and six months to heal. 

The Importance of Bone Health in Implant Success

A healthy jawbone structure is essential for implant success. The bone provides the foundation for the implant; without proper bone mass, the implant can fail. If you don’t have enough bone mass, a bone graft can usually correct that. 

Long-Term Benefits of Choosing Dental Implants

With dental implants, you can enjoy many long-term benefits beyond restoring your beautiful smile. 

• Improved jawbone health.
• Implants look and feel natural.
• Durability.
• Long-lasting.
• Oral health is better.
• Enhanced confidence and self-esteem.

The Role of Regular Checkups for Implant Health

Just like with natural teeth, regular dental checkups every six months are important for ensuring your implants are successful and remain healthy. During your checkups, your dentist will closely evaluate the dental implant, the gum tissue around the area, and adjacent teeth to ensure everything looks good. A professional cleaning will remove plaque and tartar that can accumulate to help prevent an issue like peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory condition that can impact the bone and gum tissue around your dental implant. The buildup of bacteria causes this condition. 

Your Source for a Healthy Dental Implant in Boca Raton, FL

If you’re exploring the option of getting new dental implants, contact Dr. David Kagan and the talented team at Dental Care of Boca Raton in Boca Raton, Florida. To schedule your appointment and learn more, call (561) 556-6275 today.

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