Unlike bridges and removable dentures, which last for a few years before replacement is needed, dental implants can remain in place for decades to come. But how do they last so long? In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about the longevity of dental implants and how we can help them last, so you can enjoy a stunning new smile for years to come!
The Dental Implant Difference
With a dental bridge, we support new teeth with a prosthetic that connects to natural teeth using dental crowns. With removable dentures, metal clasps, suction, or adhesives could keep your teeth in place. But with dental implants, we actually insert a biocompatible titanium post directly into your jaw. This screw-like post will bond with the jawbone, as the body accepts titanium as natural bone structure. This bonding process helps the flow of nutrients to the weakened areas resume, so your jawbone doesn’t lose mass and density as it would otherwise following tooth loss. Essentially, the post acts like a new root to keep your smile intact, which means you have a tooth replacement option that can stay in place for decades to come, possibly a lifetime, with proper care and attention.
How We Place and Restore Your New Teeth
How does our team secure your new dental implant? First, we will examine your smile to assess the cause and severity of your tooth loss, as we may need to manage issues like gum disease to prevent future implant failure. Our team will then examine your jaw to choose the best positions, depths, and angles to insert your new roots, and we will guide them into place with advanced digital imaging. Once in place, we can complete the visible portion of them. For an individual one, our team can attach a dental crown. If you have multiple missing teeth, we could use several posts to support a bridge or possibly even a set of dentures, which are fixed in place and don’t need to be removed for cleaning or maintenance.
Helping Them Truly Last
To help them last to their full potential, we will examine your smile every six months to assess the state of your smile and offer care to manage issues like gum disease. We will remove harmful plaque and tartar from your smile with a cleaning in the same visit. We can also discuss better homecare habits to keep both new and natural teeth in place. If you have any questions about helping your new teeth last, then talk to our team today!
Dental Impressions Provides Implant Dentistry
We want to help you smile again with lifelike and durable tooth replacement. To schedule an appointment to enjoy a complete smile again, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
