DENTAL IMPLANTS & SURGERY
Dental implants are a long-lasting, natural-looking solution for replacing missing teeth. They restore not just your smile, but also the function, comfort, and confidence you deserve. Whether you've lost a tooth due to decay, trauma, or gum disease, implants can help rebuild your oral health.
A dental implant consists of a small titanium post that acts as an artificial tooth root. It is surgically placed into the jawbone, where it fuses with the bone in a process called osseointegration. This creates a stable foundation for a custom crown, bridge, or denture that looks and feels like your natural teeth.
The process begins with a consultation and digital imaging to evaluate your bone health and overall oral condition. If a tooth needs to be extracted first, the implant can often be placed at the same visit—this is called immediate placement. In other cases, we may wait a few weeks or months to allow the area to heal before placing the implant.
Once the implant is placed, the healing process typically takes 3 to 6 months as the bone integrates with the titanium post. After successful healing, we attach an abutment and then a custom-made crown designed to match the color, shape, and size of your other teeth.
Dental implants offer exceptional stability, preserve jawbone density, and don’t require altering nearby teeth like traditional bridges. With proper care, they can last a lifetime.
What does getting dental implants involve?
The process of getting implants requires a number of visits over several months. X-rays and impressions are taken of the jaw and teeth to determine bone, gum tissue, and spacing available for an implant. While the area is numb, the implant will be surgically placed into the bone and allowed to heal and integrate itself for up to six months.
Depending on the type of implant, a second surgery may be required in order to place the “post” that will hold the artificial tooth in place. With other implants the post and anchor are already attached and placed at the same time. After several weeks of healing the artificial teeth are made and fitted to the post portion of the anchor. Because several fittings may be required, this step may take one to two months to complete. After a healing period, the artificial teeth are securely attached to the implant, providing excellent stability and comfort to the patient.
If you have questions about dental implants or would like to schedule a consultation, please contact our office.