Dental Implants Specialist

What are dental implants?

Dental implants replace one or more missing teeth. The implant is a biocompatible rod that your Willow Glen Dental Center provider inserts into your jawbone. The implant securely anchors a crown, bridge, or dentures.

How do dental implants preserve my dental health?

Most people get dental implants to improve their appearance or to make it easier to chew and eat. But getting implants also protects their dental health by:

Replacing the tooth root

The implant bonds with your jawbone, effectively replacing your original tooth root. This creates an anchor that’s as secure and functional as your natural teeth.

Maintaining jaw strength and shape

All the bones in your body, including your jawbone, stay healthy by continuously eliminating old bone and replacing it with new bone. But your jawbone doesn’t regenerate new bone unless it’s stimulated by your teeth and their roots. Dental implants continue to trigger healthy bone growth, which is something dental prosthetics like dentures can’t do.

Preserving tooth alignment

Replacing your missing tooth with a stable dental implant prevents the surrounding teeth from gradually moving into the empty space. It only takes a slight change in a tooth’s position to cause misalignment and increase your risk of tooth decay.

What should I expect during a dental implant procedure?

Before your dental implant procedure, your Willow Glen Dental Center provider examines your teeth and takes digital X-rays. The X-rays are used to plan the implant’s precise placement and determine if your bone is strong enough to support the implant.

Your provider explains the procedure and talks with you about your anesthesia and sedation options. They help you make the best choice to ensure your comfort and relieve your anxiety.

If your jawbone is too weak or too small, you’ll undergo a bone graft. During this procedure, your periodontist places bone graft material against the bone. The bone graft promotes new bone growth, which strengthens and builds up your jaw.

The implant procedure requires a small incision in your gum so your periodontist can insert the implant. Over the next few months, the jawbone regrows and bonds with the dental implant. After the bone tissue heals, your new crown, bridge, or denture is attached to the implant.

If you have any questions about dental implants, call Willow Glen Dental Center today or book an appointment online.