Are you tired of seeing unsightly gaps in your smile from missing teeth? Sick of feeling embarrassed by your smile? Learn why a dental implant may be the cutting edge dental procedure you need to restore your smile. Dr. Benjamin Stevens of Beautiful Smiles of Greenwood, IN, wants to explain why both patients and dentists prefer this tooth replacement option.
Understand the Demand for Dental Implants
A dental implant is a permanent solution for restoring the smile of patients with missing or severely damaged teeth. A dental implant consists of a titanium post which is embedded in the jaw. A dental crown is then mounted atop the implant. The crown is a prosthetic tooth that takes the place of your lost or extracted tooth and restores the appearance, health, and full use of your teeth.
Dental implants tend to be preferred over other tooth replacement options by both patients and dentists because they look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth. And although the cost of dental implants may be more expensive than other options, these benefits make them well worth the extra costs for most of their recipients.
Dental Implants Are Convenient and Comfortable
Living with missing teeth can be uncomfortable and damaging to your self-esteem, but you may still be leery of having surgery to correct this issue. Fortunately, receiving dental implants is a minimally invasive and relatively comfortable procedure, leaving you with little to no post-surgical discomfort. These days, many patients can have the procedure completed in just one day.
To learn if you are a good candidate for tooth replacement with a dental implant, you’ll need an evaluation by Dr. Stevens or your area dentist. If you have enough healthy jawbone tissue, you can have the procedure as soon as possible. However, if it has been some time since you lost your teeth, jaw bone tissue may have eroded and not be strong enough to support an implant. In this case, you will need to strengthen the bone with bone graft surgeries, which can increase the cost of dental implants. Although dental implant may cost more than other options such as bridges, they don’t require the routine replacement and preserve healthy jaw bone and gum tissue unlike those other options.
Once the dental implant has been surgically placed into the jawbone, it will naturally fuse to the bone over the next few months, making it fully stable and secure. Once this happens, you will again have a complete smile that looks, acts, and feels like it’s made entirely of your own teeth. You may find that you eventually forget you have it after awhile.
How to Care For and Clean Dental Implants
It’s surprisingly easy to care for your dental implants. In fact, their maintenance is pretty much the same as the maintenance for your natural teeth. Simply follow these basic oral health guidelines:
- Brush your teeth on a daily basis
- Floss daily
- Seek treatment for any tooth grinding or clenching habit you may have
- Get regular professional check-ups and cleanings
Dental Implants in Greenwood, IN
To get the restored smile you deserve from Dr. Stevens at Beautiful Smiles in Greenwood, contact our offices at (317) 886-4512 or schedule an appointment online today!