Missing teeth caused due to accidents, injury, or gum diseases can adversely impact the appearance of your smile and affect the functions of your mouth. They can throw your bite out of alignment and may also create difficulty while speaking. Dental implants are solid tooth replacement options that can last your entire lifespan with proper care. At Grace & Leedy Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Lakewood, Colorado, we provide advanced dental implants that can naturally reinstate your smile appearance.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts surgically implanted into your jawbone that fuse with the surrounding bone mass over time. In addition, they offer support to your artificial restorations like crowns, bridges, and dentures. Dental implants provide a sought-after option to restore one or more missing permanent teeth. They are constructed to look, feel, and function, exactly like your natural teeth.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- They offer a long-term solution for your missing tooth that helps you perform activities like speaking, chewing, and smiling with ease.
- They prevent your jawbone from shrinking because of bone loss.
- They help preserve the health of your gums and surrounding bone.
- They maintain the stability of your neighboring teeth.
The Dental Implant Procedure
A dental implant is an outpatient surgery. It involves using titanium posts fused to your jawbone, which imitates the root of your teeth. During your first office visit, we will numb the surgical site with local anesthesia to make you comfortable. An incision is made on your gums to place the implant post into your jawbone in place of the missing socket. After the implants are secured, we will close the gum with stitches to cover it. A healing period is allowed for the implants to fuse with the surrounding tissues. Upon completing the healing process, the implants will become firmly rooted in your jawbone and act as the artificial tooth root.
During the next visit, we will place a connector piece called an abutment on the top portion of your implant post. The abutment works to facilitate the placement of prosthetic teeth. We will take the impression of your mouth and fabricate the replacement prosthetic teeth, usually dental crowns. They are color-matched with your existing teeth.
After Care of Dental Implants
Dental implants require efficient oral hygiene practices to maintain them in the long run. It is best to brush and floss your teeth twice a day. Visit us regularly for dental exams and cleanings. Practicing adequate dental care is critical to maintaining your overall oral health.
To learn more about our implant dentistry treatments, visit our office, Grace & Leedy Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, at 10881 West Asbury Ave. Suite 210, Lakewood, CO 80227. You can also reach Dentist Lakewood CO at (303)989-0452.