06 Jan Dental Implants: Will my replacement tooth look natural?
Implant dentistry has come a long way in the past quarter century. Not only is having a dental implant becoming more commonplace, the restorations used to cover implants continue to improve making them more lifelike and virtually impossible to detect from natural teeth!
Advantages of Tooth Replacement with a Dental Implant
There are several reasons a patient may require a dental implant:
- An accident or traumatic event resulted in tooth loss
- Deep dental decay
- Periodontal disease
- Teeth did not develop
Whatever the cause, dental implants provide a natural, permanent solution to tooth loss that rivals the feeling of having your biological teeth back. You will once again enjoy the ability to chew freely meaning you can eat anything you wish. Missing teeth may have hampered your ability to speak clearly, but that will no longer be a problem. And if you hesitated to smile or laugh in public due to missing dentition, feel free to show off your new smile!
The Dental Implant Process
Where tooth loss has occurred, your implant dentist will place the tiny post into your gum tissue. A healing period will follow where bone in your jaw will incorporate the implanted post allowing it to become a permanent part of your dental anatomy. This process is known as osseointegration.
While healing is taking place, you will be issued instructions on caring for the treated area to make sure infection does not occur that could result in implant loss. Periodic visits to the implant dentist to make sure appropriate progress is being made can be expected.
As you near the final step, your implant dentist will have the final restoration made. It will be designed to look just like surrounding teeth. Most restorations made for teeth in the smile line are made from porcelain taking on the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth. This means that once it is permanently cemented in, it will blend in naturally making it look like your biological teeth.
Take care of your investment by brushing and flossing every day. Visit our team at The Dental Place twice yearly or as prescribed for teeth cleaning and dental exam. While your newly implanted tooth will never experience decay and will look and function just like a biological tooth, it is imperative that you provide the care needed to prevent the onset of gum disease.