Dental implants in Lombard are one of the most effective ways to replace missing teeth. Not only will they complete your smile and help you feel more confident, but they also support your long-term oral health.
Unfortunately, dental implants are not the right solution for everyone. One of the main conditions to get these artificial teeth is a healthy jaw bone.
But if you’ve experienced bone loss, does that automatically mean you can never get implants? Not quite.
Keep reading to learn more.
What Are Dental Implants and How Do They Work?
Dental implants are artificial teeth that mimic both the look and structure of a natural tooth. Unlike other tooth replacement options that need to be anchored on other teeth or gum tissue, dental implants are inserted into the jaw bone.
Here’s what the process looks like:
- Initial assessment to determine if you’re a good candidate
- Implant surgery, where the metal post is inserted into the bone
- Osseointegration, a 6-months healing period where the bone and surrounding tissues fuse to the post
- Abutment placement and dental crown mold
- Dental crown placement
What Are the Benefits of Implants?
Dental implants are popular because they bring a lot to the table:
- Are a permanent tooth replacement
- Are easy to maintain
- Help support a healthy jaw
- Prevent the other teeth from moving
- Look and feel like a natural tooth
- Come as a singular implant or implant-supported dentures which help patients with severe tooth loss or dental damage restore oral health
Why Do Implants Need Healthy Bones?
Since dental implants get inserted into the bone, it stands to reason the tissue here must be healthy, otherwise, the surgery might not fully heal. This would lead to a rare implant failure.
Apart from healthy bone, a dentist will also check how much bone tissue you have. Implant posts must be fully inserted into the bone, and insufficient mass could also mean you’re not a good candidate.
How to Still Get Dental Implants after Bone Loss
Bone mass can actually be restored through a grafting procedure. This surgery involves taking a piece of healthy bone and adding it to the area that’s experienced bone loss.
The graft is usually taken from another part of the jaw bone, but it can also be artificial or come from a donor. Once the graft is placed, your jawbone will fuse to it, and your mass is restored.
Though effective, bone graft surgery will extend your implant timeline by around six months or so.
Find Out If You’re a Good Candidate for Dental Implants
Whether you’ve experienced bone loss or not, you should still see Dr. Brett Blacher for a dental implant consultation to discover your options.
Restore your beautiful and healthy smile by requesting a visit to Brett Blacher DDS online.
For more information, call us at (630) 916-0701 for a short chat.
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