Understanding the Process of Getting Dental Implants

Your smile isn’t the only thing that suffers when teeth go missing. Tooth loss can alter your diet as you may be unable to chew crunchy foods. It can also weaken your oral health by making you more prone to dental issues. The sooner you replace missing teeth, the sooner your life can return to normalcy. Although dentures and bridges are quicker restorative procedures, they don’t offer the security, stability, comfort, or longevity of dental implants. At Whiting Dental, Mesa, Arizona, Drs. Ben Whiting and Scott Stauffer recommend replacing lost teeth with implants. 

Understanding the Teeth Implants Process

Implants closely mimic the composition, function, and appearance of natural teeth, making them highly effective in restoring your smile. They’re the only prosthetics that replace your missing tooth with its roots. Unlike removable bridges and dentures, which rest over your gums, implants are inserted into your jawbone surgically to function like a tooth root. The implant process may take between three to six months to complete, as it takes some time for the implant to fuse with your bone system. 

Your Mesa dentist will start by evaluating your oral health to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy enough for implants. We’ll take X-rays to determine if you have sufficient jawbone density to support the implants you need. If you’ve lost too much bone after losing your teeth, you may need a bone graft before proceeding with your implant procedure. We’ll discuss these aspects with you after evaluating your condition. 

Dental implants consist of three parts: a titanium post, aka the implant, a connective piece called the abutment, and your restoration (replacement tooth), which can be a dental crown, an implant bridge, or implant-supported dentures. 

A tooth implant procedure involves the following: 

• Placement of the implant(s) into your jaw via oral surgery
• A waiting period of three to six months to give the implant time to integrate with your bone system
• Addition of the abutment to the implant and a waiting period of two weeks for it to heal. This piece will eventually support your new tooth
• Attachment of your restoration to the abutment to complete your procedure

Benefits of Implants in Replacing Lost Teeth

With implants, you get comfortable, stable, and esthetically pleasing prosthetics to bring out the beauty of your smile. Your replacement teeth will look great and be as reliable as your natural teeth for biting and chewing. You’ll be able to eat a well-balanced diet and other crunchy foods without worrying about your teeth slipping or shifting as you chew. 

Implants:

• Stimulate jawbone growth to keep your face from sagging
• Prevent dental drift to keep your teeth in alignment
• Provide a firm foundation for your prosthetics that can last a lifetime without relying on adjacent teeth for support
• Only require daily brushing, flossing, and routine hygiene visits for long-term functionality

To learn more about our implant procedures, contact Drs. Ben Whiting or Scott Stauffer from Whiting Dental in Mesa, AZ, at (480) 870-4400.