As people grow older, the chances that they will lose one or more teeth to decay or gum disease increase significantly. To fill in these gaps, the only solutions until a few years ago remained bridges and dentures. However, through advances in dental technology, patients can now enjoy the better option of dental implants.
Dental implants enjoy a success rate of more than 98 percent and will last for a person’s entire life after installation.
The procedure is fairly simple. A small titanium post is inserted into the jaw bone where there is a missing tooth. As the jawbone heals, it grows around the post and seals it firmly into place. This takes two to three months. The dentist will take impressions and create a new tooth, which then is secured to the post.
Following this course of treatment offers many advantages to patients.
Durable. Once the tooth is secured into place, it oftentimes lasts for the entire life of the patient.
More comfortable. Implants are more comfortable than dentures or bridges because they are more securely fastened to a person’s jaw, as opposed to being removable.
They look better. Dentists can match the color of the crown to your existing teeth so that there is virtually no difference between the implant and a person’s natural teeth.
They promote better dental health. Unlike bridges, implants do not disturb surrounding teeth. Keeping your own teeth intact helps to promote better dental hygiene over the long run.
More convenient. Because implants are permanent, once they are installed, a person never has to think about them. With dentures, they can be removed or fall out, meaning that a person must deal with dental adhesives to secure them in place time and time again.
Douglas Family Dentistryserves families in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Glendale and surrounding Arizona communities.