Imagine the smell of a hot, fresh, recently delivered pizza. Imagine following your nose to a pizza just for you sitting on the counter and waiting to be devoured. Extra cheese, pepperoni and a side of barbecue chicken wings are ready to be your dinner. If an unhealthy option is not your entrée of choice, picture your favorite food on a plate as soon as you get home from a long day at work.
Now imagine that you are missing a tooth. Imagine you are missing a few teeth. Think about how difficult it will be to eat your dinner without those teeth. It’s possible you may not even be able to eat it at all.
Unfortunately, missing teeth are a reality for some people. This may be due to poor hygiene and tooth care, a sports related injury, or some type of accident. Whatever the reason may be, tooth loss is a common problem seen by oral surgeons worldwide. Having all of your teeth helps with confidence, comfort, and most importantly function.
What can be done to solve this problem? Dental implants. A dental implant is a replacement tooth root that is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Unlike dentures, dental implants do not slip, are more comfortable, easier to eat with and do not require nightly removal.
Receiving a dental implant is commonly a two-part procedure that takes several months. The titanium “root” creates a connection with the jawbone through a process called “osseointegration.” This process doesn’t intervene with the connective tissue, allowing it to be a stable solution as it fuses with the bone.
After the dental implant is placed, patients must wait between 3 and 6 months while the implant goes through the osseointegration process. During this process patients must maintain a soft foods diet. Temporary dentures are often placed on top of the titanium post until it is time for the permanent crown (artificial tooth).
Step two involves the attachment of the crown and your smile is whole again! Though the crown may require replacement approximately every 10 to 15 years, with proper care and maintenance, it is likely that a dental implant will last forever, and that is something to smile about.
To find out if dental implants are right for you, contact Davis Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center in Raleigh, or call 919-488-2194 to schedule an evaluation.