Placing Your Lifelike Dental Implants
When you lose one or more of your teeth, then your oral health could suffer, not to mention your appearance. In order to provide our Independence, MO, patients with solutions for minor and advanced tooth loss, we may create and place lifelike and long-lasting dental implants. How do we create and place these natural-looking solutions to lost teeth?
First, let’s look at what causes us to lose teeth and how this impacts our oral health. Injury, untreated tooth decay or infection, and in most cases, gum disease, could lead to the loss of one or more of our natural teeth. When we lose teeth, the body stops the flow of key nutrients to the jawbone around the missing teeth. The bone tissue loses mass and density with time, causing further tooth loss and an aged appearance. Misalignment could also develop as surrounding teeth drift due to the gap in your smile, and the strain on the jaw joints could mean a higher risk of TMJ disorder and bruxism (chronic teeth grinding).
Replacing your missing teeth improves overall health and function. First, we examine your smile carefully and using advanced technology, choose the best area for placement and guide this process. We insert a biocompatible titanium device that looks like a small screw into the jawbone. Acting as a new root, this bonds with the bone tissue, stimulating the growth of tissue to prevent further loss of mass and density. The healing process could take between three and four months to complete.
Once your new roots are firmly in place, we move on to addressing the visible aspects of your new teeth. For an individual dental implant, we add an abutment that holds a custom-made crown in place, which is durable and lifelike in appearance. For multiple missing teeth, we may secure a bridge or denture with dental implants to return function, health, and beauty to your smile. You will once again be able to enjoy your favorite foods, and enjoy a smile that looks great and feels natural. If you have any questions about tackling missing teeth with implant dentistry, then please contact our team today to learn more.
We know the dangers of untreated tooth loss, and we want to help restore your smile with implant dentistry. To learn more about the factors behind your tooth loss and possible solutions, schedule a consultation by contacting Independence Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Independence, MO, today at 816-350-0808. We also proudly serve patients who live in Independence, Lee’s Summit, and all surrounding communities.