If you have lost a tooth or have multiple missing teeth, dental implants are one of your best options for tooth replacement. Dental implants are individual dental prostheses that take the place of a single missing tooth. The implant is comprised of three parts — the implant, the abutment, and the crown — which fit together in the mouth to provide a restorative option that is highly similar to natural, healthy teeth.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Choosing to replace a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth with dental implants is your best option for restoring teeth to the closest possible function and aesthetics of your natural teeth. They provide numerous benefits that cannot be obtained by choosing a removable prosthesis, including
- Maintains healthy teeth: In some prosthetic methods, it is necessary to grind down healthy teeth to cement a fixed bridge or rely on adjacent healthy teeth to support the weight of the bridge. Choosing dental implants mitigates both of these problems by inserting the prosthetic directly into the jaw. This also prevents jaw deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing for long periods of time.
- Looks, feels, and functions like healthy natural teeth: Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option for restoring the overall look, feel, and function of the rest of the natural, healthy teeth in your mouth. Once teeth are replaced with dental implants, most patients say that it would be difficult to determine which teeth are prosthetic and which teeth are natural if they didn’t already know.
- Restore day-to-day activities: Unlike removable prosthetic options, dental implants are integrated into your jaw bone making it easier to speak, sing, eat, brush, and clean your mouth. Because maintenance of your dental implants is no different than your healthy teeth, brushing and flossing can be done without making any special adjustments.
- Preserve your smile: In addition to the functional benefits that are received, dental implants are strong and stay in place, unlike removable dentures or tooth-supported replacement options, which may fall out or loosen over time. With a dental implant, you can maintain a confident smile knowing your implants look just like your natural, healthy teeth.
- A long-term solution: Dental implants may require occasional adjustment after placement to ensure that they are properly integrating with the jaw bone. However, with proper maintenance, a dental implant can last a lifetime without being replaced while other prosthetic options, such as dental bridges, typically only have a lifespan of five to seven years.
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
If you are missing one or multiple teeth, you may be a great candidate for dental implants. Some candidates may discover that they need an additional procedure, such as bone grafting, to ensure proper dental implant placement. Certain risk factors, such as regular nicotine use, a history of or pre-existing medical conditions, a history of periodontal disease or bone loss, or if you are under 18 years of age, may prevent dental implant placement. If you are interested in finding out if you are a candidate for dental implant placement, we encourage you to contact our office in Lebanon, PA, to schedule an initial consultation.
What happens during the procedure?
Before your procedure, you will be required to undergo an initial consultation, receive a comprehensive oral examination, and review your complete medical and dental history with Dr. Balaci. He may determine that additional X-rays, 3D scanning, or CT scanning are needed to create models for your custom-fitted crown, and this can be completed on-site during your consultation.
Two procedures must be performed to place dental implants properly. During the first procedure, the actual implant screw is placed within the jaw bone. After placement, patients will undergo a period of healing while the implant begins to integrate with the bone in the jaw and create a solid anchor to support the abutment and crown. Once it is determined that the implant has fully integrated with the jaw, the abutment is screwed into the center of the implant, and the custom-made crown is inserted on top.
At Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery, our entire surgical staff has undergone extensive training to gain the knowledge and expertise necessary to place dental implants successfully. If you are interested in learning whether dental implants are the correct solution to restore broken, missing, or decaying teeth, contact our office in Lebanon, PA, to schedule your initial consultation.
Where can I get dental implants near Lebanon?
Dr. Alex Balaci and the highly skilled team at Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery in Lebanon, PA, serve a wide region and provide the full scope of oral and maxillofacial procedures to correct functional and aesthetic problems, including the placement of dental implants.
