Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made out of titanium posts that provide stable support for your prosthetic tooth replacement. They are screwed directly through the socket of your missing tooth and inserted into your gums, tissue, and jawbone. Because they replace your natural tooth roots, dental implants are able to hold your dental crowns in place.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

There are a broad range of advantages if you opt for dental implants, including:

Easier eating

Dental implants prevent your prosthetic teeth from slipping around in your mouth. This makes simple tasks like eating and chewing feel easier and more natural than before.

Improved appearance

Since dental implants are fused to your jawbone, they are permanent. This allows them to look and feel exactly like your natural teeth, improving your appearance and maintaining your natural facial structure.

Better speech

Without the stability provided by dental implants, your prosthetic teeth can slip around in your mouth, making it difficult to speak naturally.

Improved oral hygiene

Unlike dental bridges, your teeth are not reduced during the dental implant process, allowing you to keep more of your natural teeth intact.

Long-term durability

With proper care, dental implants can last for decades, even a lifetime in some cases. This makes them the perfect option for patients who do not want to get more dental work done down the road.

How do dental implants work?

At Dr. Yesina’s practice, an experienced oral surgeon is available to create your individualized dental implant treatment plan. While the process requires several dental visits, the payoff is a lifetime of strong, healthy teeth.

The first step in the dental implant process is to use X-rays and digital scans to ensure you have enough bone in your jaw to support an implant. If you do not have enough, your oral surgeon may recommend a bone graft before moving forward.

At your next appointment, the dental implant — a titanium post — is inserted into your gums and jawbone. Over the next six to 12 weeks, your mouth will begin to heal on its own, securing the dental implant into place naturally.

Once your mouth has fully healed the oral surgeon takes impressions of your mouth to create your prosthetic teeth, either dental crowns or dentures. After your prosthetic teeth are connected to the implants, they will look and feel exactly like your natural, durable teeth.

While dental implants are designed to last decades you may find your implant will need some restoration. Dr. Yesina has the experience necessary to restore your dental implant, crown, or denture when needed.

Dental implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss. To find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants, call Irina Yesina, DDS, or book an appointment online today.