Dental Implants
Although you might not realize it, tooth loss is quite common. In fact, by age 50, the average American has an average of 12 missing teeth, and 26% of adults between the ages of 65 and 74 are missing all of their teeth.
Thankfully, there are plenty of tooth-replacement options available to help restore your smile's form and function. Among the many options such as dentures and dental bridges, dental implants are by far the most popular, beneficial, and versatile tooth-replacement treatment option available.
A dental implant is a prosthetic dental device that mimics the anatomy of a natural tooth. A dental implant consists of three parts:
Dental implants offer several benefits and advantages over alternative treatment options.
Dental implants are designed to look completely natural, blending in perfectly with the rest of a patient's smile.
A dental implant feels and functions just like a natural tooth inside the mouth. They are not painful. They feel completely secure. They do not slip around or rub on the soft tissues like dentures.
Since dental implants are anchored in the jawbone, they work just like natural teeth. Patients with dental implants can enjoy any of the foods they want.
Dental implants are easy to care for, as they simply require normal oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing to keep the device clean and the surrounding gum tissue healthy. We might recommend adding the use of a water flosser to your oral hygiene routine if you aren't using one already.
Dental implants have a higher up-front cost than alternative treatment options. They are, however, designed to last patients a lifetime. Other options, such as dentures or dental bridges, typically need to be replaced after about seven to 10 years of use.
When a person loses a tooth, the jawbone begins to deteriorate directly below the gap. This can result in shifting teeth, damage to neighboring teeth, and a changing physical appearance.
Unlike other tooth-replacement options, dental implants help to stimulate the jawbone, triggering bone generation and keeping the jawbone strong. As a result, dental implants keep neighboring teeth healthy while also preserving the patient's physical appearance.
Dental implants offer patients a wide array of treatment options. They can be used to replace teeth on a one-for-one basis, or a strategically placed number of dental implants can replace multiple teeth with an implant-supported dental bridge or implant-supported dentures.
The process of getting dental implants is fairly complex and the exact process changes depending on each unique patient's anatomy and oral health. Placing dental implants requires special training and education. As a result, not all dentists provide the full dental implant treatment process in their offices.
We are proud to specialize in this type of oral surgery, and our office is fully equipped with all of the advanced diagnostic imaging and surgical tools to enable our experienced dental care team to assist you throughout the entire process of getting dental implants from consultation, preparation, and placement to recovery and aftercare.
To be a candidate for dental implants, a patient must have generally good oral health and good enough general health to undergo and heal from the dental implantation process. Typically, patients with existing periodontal disease or who are active tobacco users are not candidates for the procedure, as this can hinder the body's ability to heal without complications.
If you are missing one or more teeth, you are not alone and you don't have to live without a complete smile. We encourage you to contact our dental office in Montvale, NJ to request a smile restoration consultation. We can talk with you about your treatment goals and expectations and perform an examination to help you determine which treatment option is right for you.
Click below to schedule an appointment online. We can't wait to meet you!
