Dental Implants

Gaps in your smile caused by missing teeth can cause you many problems, such as poor dental health and difficulty eating. But perhaps worst of all, missing teeth can cause embarrassment and a lack of confidence at work and in your personal life.

According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, about 70% of adults between the ages of 35 to 44 have lost at least one adult tooth. The causes are usually an accident, gum disease or tooth decay. Worse yet, by the age of 74, 26% of adults have lost literally all of their permanent teeth.

It used to be that once a person lost a tooth it was forever gone. Then the dentures and bridges were developed and were a big improvement over having few or no teeth. However, technology now provides us with the option of dental implants, which are the most advanced tooth replacement option available.

There are many restorative treatments available for missing teeth, but none have proven to be as functionally effective and long lasting as implants. In fact, dental implants are often the only good choice to restore complete functionality of the teeth and supporting structures.

Dental implants don't lay and rest on the gums as do removable dentures. They also do not use adjacent teeth for support as do fixed bridges. Instead, dental implants are surgically placed and fused into the jawbone. They can replace one missing tooth or several. The implant is made of three parts. 1. A titanium implant that fuses with the jawbone; 2. The abutment covers the part of the implant that sticks up from the gum line; 3. The crown is constructed by a restorative dentist and placed and secured onto the abutment.

Dental implants have about a 95% success rate and decades of clinical research which proves their advantages. It's not hard to see why they are usually the ideal procedure for replacing missing teeth.