A Guide To Dental Implants
A Guide To Dental Implants: Dental implants are small titanium posts that replace the root of a missing tooth. They are surgically implanted in the jawbone during a minor surgical procedure. Once in place, they allow your dentist to mount replacement teeth onto them. One implant can support a single dental crown, while several implants can support a dental bridge or denture.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants work by replacing your teeth roots, which are naturally embedded in the jawbone. After your procedure, the implants will bond with your jawbone as a natural tooth root would. This bonding process is called osseointegration.
After this bonding process, your dentist will attach a dental crown to the implant. Your original tooth roots are no longer necessary, and your jawbone will begin to naturally grow around your new implant.
How To Care For Dental Implants
Once your dental implants have healed, you will be able to care for them just like your natural teeth. You will need to continue to brush and floss your teeth, and you should also visit our office for dental check-ups and cleanings.
You should also avoid chewing on hard foods, like ice, and using your teeth to open packages or bottles. Dental implants are very strong and can withstand a lot, but excessive force can still damage them.
Dental Implants vs. Crowns
Crowns and dental implants are two tools in the dental toolbox that are suitable for repairing heavily damaged or missing teeth. A crown is a tooth restoration, like a filling, inlay, or onlay. However, it is different from fillings, inlays and onlays in that it covers the entire top of the tooth. Dental crowns are named for the part of the tooth that they repair — the crown.
A crown is appropriate when the crown of the tooth is decayed or damaged, but the root of the tooth is still strong. To place a crown, first Dr. Snyder will prepare the tooth. In the case of a decayed tooth, the decayed bone matter will have to be removed. Then, Dr. Snyder will shape the tooth so that the crown can be bonded to it in the strongest possible fashion. Generally speaking, the crown will have to be made in a dental lab, and Dr. Snyder will place it in your mouth during a second visit. Dr. Snyder will make a temporary crown for you to wear while you wait for the lab to finish your permanent crown.
In the case of missing teeth, or when the root system is too decayed to serve as an adequate anchor for a crown, a dental implant may be used. Dental implants are anchors, typically made of titanium, that are surgically implanted into the jawbone. Titanium is used because of its capacity for osseointegration. This means that human bone can bond directly to the surface of the implant. While this is what provides dental implants with their stability, it also adds a complication to the placement process. Once the implants are placed in the jaw, they must be allowed a few months to rest before anything is attached to them. This gives your jaw bone a chance to grow around and bond to the surface of the implant. Once this is done, a crown will be secured to the titanium implant to restore normal function and appearance of the tooth.
Dental crowns and implants are serious procedures with the ability to repair serious damage and decay. If you need an implant or crown, you’re going to be living with the results for decades, possibly the rest of your life. Dr. Snyder’s work is second to none. She will leave you not only with a functional bite, but also a fantastic smile. When performed by a high-end dentist like Dr. Snyder, dental crowns and implants are almost indistinguishable from natural teeth.
To find out more about the dental services offered by our dentist in Albuquerque NM, Dr. Snyder, call (505)-293-7611, schedule an online consultation or visit us at 4830 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE, Ste. K, Albuquerque, NM, 87111.