Everything You Need To Know About Dental Implants

Young woman confident about her smile.

What are Dental Implants?

Whether you’re talking about veneers, bridges, or crowns, dental implants are prosthetic teeth that are permanently secured into the mouth. They are a great solution for people who have one or more missing teeth.

The bottom line is that if you have missing teeth, they must be replaced as soon as possible. It is essential to have all your teeth. If one tooth goes missing, your bite will be compromised, and more teeth could suffer from that misalignment. Not only that, a missing tooth is unsightly. Let’s go over all the information concerning dental implants.

What are Implants Made Of?

Dental implants are created using ceramic and metal together to craft a tooth that looks nearly identical to the original tooth. A dentist can craft teeth out of these materials and even match the color of your other teeth. Some dental implants are made from titanium or zirconium oxide. Some implants are made of gold alloys, or cobalt-based alloys.

Implants are made of three parts:

  1. Implant Body: This is a piece made of metal that is screwed into the gums and fixed to the jaw.
  2. Abutment: An abutment is fixed into the screw and is meant to secure the new prosthetic tooth.
  3. Crown: The crown is the ceramic and metal piece that fits onto the abutment. This is what will look exactly like your old tooth.

Are You a Candidate for Implants?

You may be a candidate for dental implants. There are many factors that will affect your candidacy. These factors include:

  • Are you missing at least one tooth?
  • Are you healthy enough for surgery?
    Receiving implants means going under sedation and it requires oral surgery. If your body isn’t healthy enough for surgery, you are not a candidate for dental implants.
  • Did you lose your tooth or teeth due to gum disease? If the answer to this question is yes, you aren’t a candidate for dental implants. But never fear! If you get that gum disease under control, you will be able to eventually be a candidate for dental implants.

What are the Pros and Cons of Dental Implants?

Pros:

  • Appearance-Cosmetically, implants are likely to look more like your original teeth. This is why some people prefer them to dentures or just leaving the tooth missing.
  • Keeps the surrounding bone and gums healthy-When you lose a tooth and receive a dental implant, the surrounding teeth, jaw, and gums recognize it and don’t wither away, like they would do if you left the space empty.
  • Keeps nearby teeth stable-nearby teeth are less likely to shift when there is a replacement tooth.
  • The ability to chew is preserved-This is the most practical reason to get dental implants.

Cons:
There are no real cons to getting dental implants. There are however some risks involved.

  • Possible harm to surrounding teeth during insertion.
  • Shifting of teeth or changes to bite.
  • Implant failure-sometimes the implant doesn’t work like it should or it comes out.
  • Gum damage-Dental implants can sometimes cause gums near the tooth to become less healthy tissue.
  • Issues with cleaning around implant, possibly leading to the loss of other teeth.
  • Numbness after surgery

Conclusion:

Dental implants can be a wonderful solution to a missing tooth or missing teeth. They are a particularly positive choice for someone who has one to several missing teeth, but not completely missing teeth. They can boost confidence, improve bite, and complete your smile.

Park 56 Dental
If you are thinking about dental implants or other dental procedures, the best place in New York is Park 56 Dental. Voted the number one dentist in the New York area, we have everything you need for perfecting that beautiful smile. For more information about dental implants or to ask any questions about your teeth, visit our website or give us a call at (646) 679-3973.