Dental Implants

Dental implants are designed to replace the roots of missing teeth and support artificial replacements. Not only are dental implants the most permanent solution to missing teeth, their natural look, feel, and functionality mean you can speak, laugh, smile, and eat as usual. Implants typically outlast temporary replacement measures and provide an unprecedented level of comfort and confidence.

Artificial teeth supported by implants have the same two basic components as natural teeth: the root, which anchors the tooth to the jaw; and the crown, the visible portion of the tooth used to chew food. Both of these components are lost when an individual loses a tooth. To replace a lost tooth, your dental surgeon will install an implant made from titanium, the same material used to build artificial joints. This implant will be the foundation for your new tooth.

After your implant is installed, the surrounding bone will need time to heal and bond with the titanium. During this period, a temporary crown may be placed on the implant. Once the bone has grown around the implant and your new foundation is strong, a support post, or “abutment,” is installed atop the implant, and your permanent replacement crown is placed on the abutment. While this process describes single-tooth replacement, patients who are missing many – or all – of their teeth also have a variety of treatment options to choose from.