Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small, titanium posts that function as an artificial replacement for a tooth root. The human body doesn’t recognize titanium as a foreign substance, so the hard and soft tissues of your mouth actually heal around the implant, effectively fusing it to your jawbone in a process called osseointegration.

Because dental implants become a part of your jaw, they provide a strong and sturdy foundation on top of which Dr. Jones can place a restoration, such as a crown, bridge, or dentures. And since they mimic the structure of a natural tooth, restorations with dental implants feel and function just like the rest of your real teeth.

Why do I need dental implants?

The biggest benefit of dental implants is that they safely and effectively replace missing teeth. Missing teeth are more than just an eyesore for your smile; they can actually cause a number of dental, orthodontic, and health problems, such as:

• Bone loss in the jaw due to under-stimulation beneath the missing tooth
• Difficulty chewing and speaking properly
• Misalignment of the rest of your smile as your natural teeth shift and rotate into the empty space
• Misalignment of your bite due to shifting teeth, which can lead to accelerated wear and the development of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
• Changes in the shape of your face as your jaw and facial muscles atrophy and sag around the missing tooth

Your mouth was designed to have all of its teeth working together in harmony, and things can fall apart when one or more teeth don’t show up for the job.

What are the advantages of dental implants?

As a method for replacing missing teeth, dental implants have a variety of benefits, such as:

• Provide stimulation to your jawbone
• Keep your other teeth from falling out of alignment
• Stay in place without adhesives, unlike dentures
• Can be cleaned and cared for just like your natural teeth

How do I get dental implants?

All it takes is a few office visits at Jones Family Dental for Dr. Jones to install your dental implants. Dr. Jones first assesses your jaw to determine if there’s enough healthy bone to support an implant. If not, he performs a bone graft to give the implant a sturdier foundation to fuse with.

Once your jaw is ready, Dr. Jones makes a small incision in your gums, drills a hole in your jawbone, and inserts the dental implant into your bone socket. He stitches up your gums and sends you home to give your gums time to heal and your jawbone time to osseointegrate with the implant.

Your implant will be firmly in place and fused with your bone after about three to nine months, at which point you come back to Dr. Jones for your next visit. Then, he attaches a metal abutment (which is like a small screw that sticks out above the gum line) to the implant and seals your restoration on top.

You’ll leave the office with a replacement tooth that feels, functions, and looks just like the real thing.

Don’t wait around for your missing teeth to grow back. Schedule an appointment with Jones Family Dental today and get started on your journey towards dental implants. You can book your visit by calling the office or using the convenient online scheduling tool.