What are dental implants and what benefits do they have? Dental implants are used as a form of tooth replacement. The implants are metal frames or posts that are positioned into the jawbone, beneath your gums, during a surgical procedure. Once they are set in place and healed, your cosmetic dentistry professional can then use them to mount replacement teeth to make your smile whole again.
Providing stable support for artificial teeth, dental implants will not slip or shift, as dentures and dental bridges might and are much more comfortable in the long run. With proper care, they can look and wear just like your real teeth. In order to be eligible for dental implants, your gums must be healthy and your jaw bone must be strong enough to accept the implant.
There are two types of dental implants that the American Dental Association considers to be safe.
These implants are posts surgically implanted directly into the jawbone, which act as the roots to your replacement teeth. During your first procedure, our cosmetic dentist will place the implants into your jawbone, making sure they are strategically placed so the later stages can be easily completed. After the gum tissue around the implant has healed, a second surgical procedure is needed to connect a post to the implant. During the same procedure, an artificial tooth is attacked to the post. If you need more than one tooth replaced, the dentist may choose to attach them grouped together.
This type of dental implant differs because it uses a metal frame, opposed to a post. However, the procedure is generally the same. A metal frame will be fitted to your jawbone, just below the gum tissue. As it heals, the frame becomes fixed to the jawbone. Posts are attached to the frame, not implanted into your jawbone, and protrude through the gum tissue. Artificial teeth are then mounted to these posts, which are attached to the frame.
The cosmetic dentistry professionals with Dr. Richard Yung will only suggest a dental implant procedure if it is necessary. Having years of knowledge and experience, combined with the industry's latest technology, you don't have to feel nervous about visiting us for dental implants. We proudly provide caring and comprehensive services to patients all over the Columbia, SC area. For more information about dental implants or to schedule a consultation, give us a call today.