Las Vegas Dental Implants provide a powerful replacement for missing teeth that can last a lifetime. They also preserve the bone in the empty space, and help reduce deterioration of adjacent natural teeth.
Before placing an implant, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon performs a physical exam, X-rays and CT scan to see how much healthy bone remains in the area. If not enough, a bone graft may be needed first.
Dental implants are one of the most advanced tooth replacement solutions, restoring nearly 100% of your natural bite strength. They also look and feel like your natural teeth, giving you the confidence to smile, eat, and speak. While other tooth replacement options can cause bone loss and a lack of stability in the jaw, dental implants fuse with your jawbone to prevent it from resorbing and give you the reliable, stable support of natural teeth.
A dental implant is a titanium screw-shaped post that is surgically placed in your jawbone to act as a tooth root. Titanium is biocompatible and can fuse with the bone tissue to create a strong foundation for the overlying dental crown. The implant is topped with a metal post called an abutment, to which the dental restoration (usually a dental bridge or denture) is attached.
The abutment has a ball-shaped attachment that fits into another attachment on the implant, connecting the two parts of the tooth. The restoration, which is typically a dental crown, can be made of a variety of materials, depending on your needs and desired aesthetics. The crown is then cemented or bonded to the abutment to create a permanent tooth.
Your dental restoration will be colored and shaped to match the surrounding teeth, so it blends in with your gum line. With proper care, implants can last as long as your natural teeth. Implants are a popular option for people who have lost their teeth due to decay, gum disease, trauma, or other reasons. Unlike conventional dentures, which may slip or fall out, dental implants stay firmly in place and won’t restrict your food choices.
Your dentist will perform a thorough medical evaluation before your dental implant procedure to ensure you have the best possible outcome. They will examine your mouth, take x-rays, and discuss your concerns with you. You should inform your dentist of any chronic conditions you have, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, long-term steroid use, and some neurological conditions such as advanced Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis, since these can interfere with healing after surgery.
They Restore Full Chewing Power
Dental implants replace the root of a missing tooth and provide full chewing power. They also prevent bone loss in the jaw by stimulating it when a person chews, just as natural teeth do. The result is that the implant restores normal eating habits and improves the appearance of your smile, while preventing complications like a misaligned bite and temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
A dental implant is a titanium screw that is placed in the jawbone through surgery. Before the procedure, a CT scan and digital models of your mouth may be used to help your dentist plan your treatment. This ensures that your implants will be properly positioned and will support the restoration (like a dental crown or implant-supported denture) you need.
Today’s dental implants are made from titanium, which is bio-compatible and doesn’t trigger rejection by your body. The implant fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, which makes the implant strong and stable. It can support a single crown, several adjacent teeth or even a complete set of removable or fixed dentures.
The gap created by a missing tooth can destabilize the surrounding teeth and lead to them shifting toward the gap. This can affect the alignment of your bite and cause problems with your ability to chew. Dental implants fill in the gap to prevent this from occurring, which will preserve your other teeth and jawbone health.
With proper oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist, dental implants can last for a lifetime. They are more durable than other tooth replacement options, like traditional dentures, which can wear out and need to be removed regularly for cleaning. They are also much more comfortable than other tooth replacement solutions, like bridges, which can irritate the gums and obstruct your speech. When you choose an experienced, qualified dentist for your dental implants, they will be a permanent fixture in your mouth and will function just as well as your natural teeth. However, there are some cases where dental implants can fail, but this is usually due to health issues or behaviors that can interfere with proper oral hygiene.
They Help Maintain Bone in Your Jaw
Dental implants are high-tech replacement teeth that look, feel and act like real teeth. They also help maintain bone density, a vital part of oral health.
The titanium used to make dental implants is a biocompatible metal that bonds permanently with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. This fusion process is what gives the implant its strength and endurance. It also helps prevent the bone loss that can occur when a tooth is missing for an extended period of time.
Tooth loss can weaken the jawbone and cause the surrounding teeth to shift or fall out. Over time, the weakened jawbone can lose its height and width. This can result in the collapsed appearance of your smile and an increased risk of other health problems. Fortunately, dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that promotes the growth of new bone in the jawbone to keep it healthy and strong.
The dental implant procedure is safe, relatively quick and painless. During surgery, your dentist will use local anesthesia, sedation or general anesthesia to control any discomfort. Before the surgery begins, your dentist will perform an oral exam and take X-rays to evaluate your tooth and jawbone health and determine whether you have enough bone density for an implant.
If you have very low bone density, you may need a bone graft to give the implant a stable base. During a bone graft, your surgeon will use natural bone from another area in your mouth or a synthetic bone-substitute to add strength to the site. This can sometimes be done at the same time as your implant surgery.
After the dental implant has healed, a connector piece called an abutment is screwed onto it. Then, the final prosthesis—which can be a single crown, a bridge or a denture with multiple teeth—is attached to the abutment.
With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. However, patients must maintain a good oral hygiene routine and visit the dentist regularly to avoid complications like peri-implant disease, which is a bacterial infection that can damage the tissues around your dental implants.
They Can Be Customized for Your Mouth
Unlike dentures that slip around and can cause mumbling or slurring of speech, dental implants stay securely fastened to the jawbone. This gives you the ability to speak clearly, eat without discomfort and smile without worrying about your dentures shifting or falling out.
Implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth that can last a lifetime with proper care. They are made of titanium, which blends in well with natural bone and tissue to form a strong foundation for artificial replacement teeth. The implant consists of three parts: a post/fixture, an abutment, and the artificial tooth/teeth. Your dentist will perform a thorough dental examination to make sure you are a good candidate for dental implants. This includes X-rays to evaluate the structure of your jawbone and the presence of any bone graft that may be needed for support.
If the X-rays indicate that you have sufficient bone for the implant, you will need surgery to place the post/fixture into the jawbone. Then, after the area heals, your dentist will attach a connector piece called an abutment to the post and then attach your artificial tooth/teeth. Your new tooth/teeth can be a single crown (cap), a fixed bridge, or a full denture. If you choose a full denture, your dentist can replace all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw with one implant and abutment.
A full set of dental implants is a more permanent solution to missing teeth than dentures. They look and feel so much like your natural teeth that most people will never know you have them. The improved appearance and functionality will boost your self-esteem, allowing you to smile confidently and engage in more social activities.
Although dental implants are more expensive than other tooth-replacement methods, they provide a higher level of comfort and function that can lead to better overall health and quality of life. Dental implant success rates are comparable to other restorations on natural teeth and can even surpass them when they are properly cared for. This is because they are the only replacement option that maintains the natural shape and density of the jawbone where the tooth is missing.