Dental implants replace broken or missing teeth. These artificial teeth screw into the jaw and create a secure base for additional crowns. Here is some information on this procedure in case you are considering getting dental implants.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

If you’ve lost a permanent tooth, your dentist will provide a comprehensive exam and discuss customized treatment to meet your oral health needs.

You’ll have to choose from several replacement options, one of which is a dental implant. You and your dentist will decide if any other teeth need attention to promote healthy jaw and facial structure. You may select local anesthesia to numb the area directly around the lost tooth, or general anesthesia to make you sleep during the procedure.

If your jaw bone is damaged from trauma or osteoporosis, you may need a bone graft several months before the implant surgery. This procedure takes pieces of bone from other areas of the body and installs them on the jaw to rebuild the area.

On the day of the dental implant procedure, you will receive anesthesia before the dental surgeon cuts open the gum to the bone before drilling a hole into the jaw. They’ll install a metal post by screwing it into the divot, encouraging osseointegration, in which the bone grows around the metal and holds it in place. You may wear partial dentures for several months as the bone develops.

Most people need another surgery to open up the gums and reveal the metal so the dentist can screw in the abutment or dental implant. The surgeon will stitch the gums around the new tooth. Recovery may last several weeks as the gums grow in and the implant begins to feel normal.

Why Shouldn’t You Put Off Getting One?

Having a hole in the jaw where a tooth was may encourage the other teeth to crowd around and fill in the gap. Your jawbone can weaken, and your cheek will likely sink inward, making the jaw and face look thin and aged. The skin will follow suit, sagging and wrinkling along the cheek and mouth.

Missing teeth can impact your confidence and make you vulnerable to infections. There may be an open wound where the tooth met the jawbone that can harbor food particles that encourage bacteria growth and infect the jaw. This issue is especially likely if you lost the tooth because of gum disease or decay. Waiting to replace the tooth may contribute to heart and breathing issues because of the infection and gum irritation.

People concerned about their dental health should visit Gregory Sy, DDS & Associates in Lorain County, OH, for a check-up. The passionate team provides one-on-one service for teeth whitening, crowns, veneers, and dental implants. Call the Amherst location at (440) 282-9550 or visit the website to learn about oral cancer screening and partial dentures.