Dental Implants: Replacing Missing Teeth

Losing a permanent tooth can have a negative effect on your oral health, bite, and even your confidence. Luckily, in modern dental care, there are lots of different ways to replace a missing tooth, and one of the most popular ones is getting dental implants.

If you are thinking about getting a dental implant, here is everything you need to know about this procedure:
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What Is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth that looks and functions just like one of your natural teeth. It is formed by 3 components: the metal root, an abutment, and the dental crown that sits on top.

The procedure involves making an incision in the gum line to insert the metal root where your permanent tooth used to be. It’s a form of dental surgery that will require a healing time of up to 6 months, as the dentist will want to let your gums and bone areas close and properly heal around the root.

Once you are completely healed, the abutment and dental crown are added, and the procedure is done. The dental crown is custom-made in a lab to match your specific case, down to the size and color of the crown.
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The Benefits of a Dental Implant

Dental implants are a common way to replace missing teeth, and that’s in part thanks to their benefits:

• The procedure is permanent
• Dental implant will look and feel just like a natural tooth
• Easier aftercare than removable dentures that need to be cleaned (dental implants are cleaned just like your regular teeth), etc.
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Who Are Dental Implants for?

If you have a few missing teeth and are in general good health (oral and otherwise), then you are a strong candidate for dental implants. However, if you have multiple missing teeth in a row, singular implants might not be the most cost-effective way to improve your smile.

Luckily, some implant-supported bridges and dentures can help. Bridges and dentures are essentially prosthetics meant to replace multiple teeth at the same time, either in a full-arch or partial arch manner. You will still receive around 2 implants to support the prosthetic, just not an individual one for each missing tooth.

The prosthetic is attached to the implanted root, and like with regular dental implants, the bridges and dentures are custom-made to suit your specific case.
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Wondering If Dental Implants Are for You? The Art of Dentistry Can Help

If you’re thinking about getting a dental implant, we at The Art of Dentistry can help you make the best implant choice for the health and look of your smile. Our dental services are just what you need to get the smile you’ve always wanted.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kory Kirkegaard now or call our office at (913) 274-9200 to find out more about our dental implant services.