The Permanent Way to Replace Missing Teeth
Dental implants provide the most comprehensive solution for missing teeth by replacing both the visible portion and the root structure. Unlike traditional bridges or dentures that rest on your gums, implants are surgically anchored into your jaw bone, creating a stable foundation for replacement teeth.
Dental implants can be used to replace any number of teeth with the help of a dental crown, bridge or dentures.
Implant-supported restorations look, feel, and function remarkably like natural teeth and help stimulate bone tissue, preventing the deterioration that typically follows tooth loss
With proper care, dental implants can last decades or even a lifetime.
How Does a Dental Implant Work?
Your surgeon will use 3D cone beam imagining to help guide the placement of the titanium post into your jaw bone. Once placed, the implant post is left to heal for several months, and as it does, it fuses with bone and tissue and takes the place of the lost tooth root.
Once healed the implant will be topped with a realistic-looking dental crown, bridge, or denture, making it difficult to distinguish your implant from your natural teeth. Your dental implant will look, feel, and function much like a natural tooth.
In some cases, patients may not have enough bone to support an implant, and oral surgery will be needed to restore the jawbone to allow for implants.
More Dental Implants FAQs
These are some of the most frequently asked questions our patients have about dental implants.
- Are implant procedures typically successful?
At Hunter & King Dentistry, we use a cylindrical implant system, which is successful for many patients. However, as with any dental procedure, there is some risk of complications occurring. Your dentist will outline these risks during your consultation.
- Will the dental implant procedure be painful?
You are unlikely to experience significant discomfort during and after the procedure. Your dentist will discuss anaesthesia options with you and plan your procedure based on your expressed wishes. However, dental implant placement is typically done with local anaesthesia.
- Will I be able to chew normally?
Chewing often improves significantly after treatment with cylindrical implant systems. In fact, after a brief adjustment period to your new implant, you may find you can chew nearly as well as with your natural teeth.
- How long will my dental implants last?
With proper care, there is no time limit to how long successful cylindrical implant systems can last, and dental implant systems continue to improve.
- What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants can:
- Prevent bite and jaw joint problems caused by teeth shifting
- Prevent surrounding teeth from shifting
- Improve the ability to chew, speak and digest
- Restore the 'sunken face' look associated with missing teeth