What are dental implants?
Dental implants are tiny titanium screws that are surgically inserted into your jawbone where you’re missing a tooth.
The implants actually become a part of your bone through a fusing process called osseointegration, allowing them to work just like your natural tooth root. This makes them a highly sturdy foundation, on top of which Dr. Cohan can install a crown or bridge or affix dentures.
By placing a tooth-colored restoration on top of a dental implant, it will be almost like you’ve re-grown your natural teeth!
Why should I get dental implants?
Dental implants can greatly improve the look of a smile that’s missing teeth, but they also provide many non-cosmetic benefits as well. Your mouth was designed to have all of its teeth present and working together in harmony. When you’re missing teeth, that can lead to:
- Changes to your bite, caused by the shifting of your natural teeth as they gradually move to fill in the space left by the missing teeth
- Changes in the appearance of your face as the muscles around your missing teeth atrophy and sink in
- Deterioration of the jawbone in the areas around the missing teeth, due to a lack of stimulation
- Difficulty speaking or eating properly
Dental implants prevent these problems from developing by functioning just like your natural teeth’s root structures.
Can I get dental implants if I have dentures?
Yes! Dental implants are actually an excellent resource for patients who need dentures. Implant-retained dentures are just like regular dentures, but instead of being held in place by unreliable suction or messy adhesive, they’re held in place by permanent dental implants, ensuring that they stay firmly and comfortably affixed in your mouth.
Implant-retained dentures offer a vast improvement over traditional dentures by helping you to speak and chew without having to worry about your dentures slipping out of your mouth. This not only makes it easier to get used to wearing dentures, but it also makes them much more comfortable to wear, which can increase your confidence and drastically improve your quality of life.
How do I get dental implants?
When you come in for dental implants, Dr. Cohan first takes X-rays of your mouth to determine precisely where the implants will go. She then makes a surgical incision into your gum and the jawbone beneath it, and places the implant in your bone socket. Once the implant is firmly in place, she stitches you up and sends you home while your mouth heals.
Once the implant has had enough time to fuse to your jawbone — typically 3-9 months — you’ll come back for a second appointment. After Dr. Cohan determines that the implant successfully fused, she installs a crown, bridge, or dentures on top of it, leaving you with the renewed ability to chew, speak, and smile with confidence as soon as you leave the office.
To learn more about what dental implants can do for your smile, call or make an appointment online with the friendly dental experts at Summerlin Dental Solutions.
