Dental Implants For Missing Teeth Milwaukie ORTooth loss is a serious issue that impacts your entire life. Your smile is noticeably affected. It becomes more difficult to eat and speak. Your digestion and nutrition suffer. Even the health of your jawbone is impacted. Replacing missing teeth is essential for restoring the functions of your mouth, your smile, and your quality of life. Michael Regan, DMD Family, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry can replace missing teeth with dental implants. What Exactly are Dental Implants?Traditionally, missing teeth have been replaced with bridges or dentures. Dental implants are a modern alternative that provides you with an additional option. Implants use small titanium posts that are surgically inserted right into your jawbone. The bone then fuses to the posts in a natural process known as osseointegration. This process stabilizes the posts within your jaw so that they become strong and immovable. The posts are then used to support the ceramic crowns that act as your replacement teeth. Meeting Some Different NeedsImplants can be used to treat some different tooth loss needs. Whether you are missing a single tooth, just a few teeth, or even a whole arch, there is a treatment option for you.
Dental Implants and Your JawboneDental implants rely on your jawbone for stability. However, shortly after you lose teeth, your jawbone begins to resorb and grow weak. When your jaw is too weak, it cannot successfully support the posts. Your implants may be loose and wobbly, or they may fail altogether. Even if your jawbone is determined to be too weak to support implants during your initial consultation, this does not mean that you are not a candidate for dental implants. In many cases, a bone graft can be used. A bone graft is a surgical procedure that takes bone material from another area of your body, or from a tissue donor, and transplants it to the weak areas of your jaw, restoring its strength and integrity. Once you have healed from a bone graft, implant surgery can be performed. If you are missing an entire arch of teeth, you may be a candidate for All-on-4. This treatment uses only four implant posts to support your new teeth. The posts are placed specifically to take advantage of your existing bone mass, avoiding the need for a graft. The Benefits of Dental ImplantsDental implants provide several significant benefits, including:
Are There Any Disadvantages?While there are so many incredible benefits associated with dental implants, there are also a few drawbacks that need to be considered.
If you have suffered tooth loss, dental implants can be an ideal solution for replacing them. Call Michael Regan, DMD Family, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry at 503-654-8283 today to schedule your exam and find out if dental implants are right for you. |