That Chronic Headache Could Be TMJ: We Have Solutions
Migraine syndrome can take your day from good to bad to unbearable in under an hour. How can you fight back against frequent migraine episodes? Your dentist could have the answer.
Here’s Why You Should Replace Missing Teeth with Dental Implants
After losing a tooth or being told one needs to come out, you’ve probably got one thing on your mind: how to fill the gap in your smile. Fortunately, you have options.
Unfortunately, some of them come with drawbacks. Dentures can feel awkward in your mouth and you need to replace bridges periodically.
Dental implants are different. With these replacement teeth, you get a solution that looks and feels great and should last your lifetime with proper care. Our oral surgeon, Michael Issakharian, DDS, offers dental implants here at Lancaster Dental Care Associates in Lancaster, California.
Should you choose this option? To help you decide, let’s look more closely at how implants work.
Understanding implants
Dental implants are robust and long-lasting solutions to dental problems. They consist of three components:
- A metal rod that we implant into your jaw
- An abutment that goes on top of the rod
- A new replacement tooth that we cement to the abutment
Getting your dental implant starts with a small incision so Dr. Issakharian can insert the rod into your jaw. The rod serves as the root for your new tooth. But we don’t place that new tooth right away.
Instead, once the rod is embedded, we wait for the bone to regrow around it. The rod fuses to your jawbone, creating a stable anchor for your new tooth.
Once that process is complete, usually after 3-6 months, we create your color-matched, precisely shaped replacement tooth and position it in your mouth. You leave with a full, beautiful smile.
Why implants trounce other tooth replacement options
While getting an implant takes longer, it comes with notable benefits, including:
A tooth that feels and functions like your original tooth
A dental implant duplicates a natural tooth as closely as possible. Because the rod is firmly secured, you can talk, laugh, and eat with the same confidence.
A tooth that blends seamlessly with your smile
We precisely match the replacement tooth that’s attached to the implant with your natural teeth. Your new tooth blends in with the shape, color, and size of your remaining teeth. We make the replacement tooth out of durable material that can hold up to normal eating and drinking while looking great through the years.
A way to maintain your jawbone
Throughout your life, your body eliminates old or damaged bone in your jaw and replaces it with new, healthy bone. Jawbones require stimulation from teeth and their roots to keep regenerating. The pressure from chewing translates down through the root into the jaw, triggering this remodeling process.
Since a dental implant uses the rod to recreate the root, it continues to preserve the health and strength of your jawbone. While you have other options for replacing missing teeth, you only get this bone-preserving effect with an implant.
A way to avoid impacting your other teeth
If you choose a bridge to fill the gap in your smile, the replacement tooth is held in place by the existing teeth on either side of the bridge. To secure it, we have to grind down the enamel of the teeth on either side, essentially ruining two healthy teeth to accommodate the bridge. With dental implants, we can preserve the surrounding teeth.
Dental implants come with some significant benefits. Call our office or request your appointment online today to explore if they’re right for you.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Considering Invisalign? 3 Things You May Not Know
Invisalign® aligners are best known for being virtually “invisible” as the name suggests. But there’s a lot more to know about this revolutionary teeth-straightening system.
What Causes Dry Mouth and How to Get Rid of It?
A persistent dry mouth isn’t normal and can lead to significant oral health problems. If your mouth is chronically dry, seek a professional evaluation from your dentist. Early treatment can reduce symptoms before they worsen.
Why You Shouldn't Ignore a Cracked Tooth
A cracked tooth may seem like something you can grin and bear, but even minor cracks can lead to severe complications over time. Read on to learn why you should seek professional treatment for a cracked tooth.
Manual vs. Electric Toothbrush: Which Is Better?
The rules have been the same for decades: Brush at least twice a day, floss at least once, rinse your mouth after eating or indulging in sugary beverages or snacks. But what brush is best?
The Connection Between Your Oral Health and Your Heart Health
You know that obesity, inactivity, and smoking are bad for your heart, but how do brushing and flossing affect your ticker? February is American Heart Month and the perfect time to learn about the link between dental hygiene and heart health.