Missing a tooth? Have you thought about a dental implant?
Life happens, things happen, missing teeth can happen. Whether you loose a tooth in a accident or because of dental decay, an implant may be a great way to replace the missing tooth. In this week’s blog we will explain what a dental implant is, when we need them, and the process of getting one.
What is an dental implant?
According to the American Dental Association (ADA) “ [dental implants] are posts that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, where they function as a sturdy anchor for replacement of teeth”. Think of a implant as the foundation to a house, where a foundation provides stability and a place to build the remainder of the house, a implant is the foundation to the replacement tooth. It can best be seen it the following picture. The Titanium root is the implant and acts as the root to the tooth.
When would I need a dental implant?
Dental implants are used when we are missing one tooth or many teeth. They can be used to help support a denture to replace many missing teeth, or just as a single stand alone tooth.
How do I get a dental implant?
To see if a dental implant is right for you, give us a call at 312-372-4845 for a implant screening. At the screening we will take a X-ray of the missing tooth and or decayed tooth and do some measurements to see if you are right for a implant. If the measurements are correct, we will then send you to see an oral surgeon for the implant placement. In some cases additional procedures are needed before a implant can be placed.
What is the dental implant placement procedure like?
Having a dental implant placed does not need to be a painful process. The oral surgeon will make sure you are completely comfortable either through local anesthetic, or if needed, sedation. Once comfortable, the surgeon will use a guide to place the implant into the tissue. After placement of the implant, healing needs to take place. As with any surgical procedure, healing time varies. After the placement of the implant a follow up appointment will be done with the surgeon to evaluate the healing of the implant. If all is well at the follow up appointment, the abutment and crown can be place and you can have your missing tooth back to working function!
What parts are there for a dental implant?
The dental implant generally consists of three parts, one is the implant fixture (screw) that is placed into the tissue. After healing we will place a abutment into the implant fixture. A abutment is like the framework of the house, it goes into the foundation (implant) and helps hold the house together (crown). Lastly a impression is made of the abutment and a lab will fabricate a crown (house) for your implant. More information of this can be found here.
In Summary
Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant is a great way to get you functioning and smiling again. Give us a call today to see if a dental implant is right for you. Our goal is to provide you with the best care possible, and implants can be a part of that care.
Keep Smiling Chicago!
Kevin Dow
