Remember as a kid going to visit your grandparents and seeing (and probably being fascinated by) a full set of false teeth soaking in a glass of water? As dental science progressed, bridges, crowns, and partials were used in place of dentures whenever possible.Then in 1986, after over 20 years of research, the American Dental Association approved titanium tooth implants. Since then, dental implants have tripled in popularity with a success rate of over 90 percent for first time procedures. In layman’s terms an implant is an artificial tooth root which is surgically placed in the jawbone and followed by a crown put on top of it to replace the original tooth. Implants are normally done by a dentist, periodontist, or oral surgeon in their office under local or twilight anesthesia. Usually after a day of soft food and over the counter pain meds, you are back to normal with a great new tooth (or teeth) to show off! Are dental implants right for you?
- Jawbones can eventually change shape and deteriorate when a tooth is lost. Since an implant is placed into the jawbone, that empty space is filled, preventing bone deterioration.
- Implants look natural unlike a full set of dentures or a partial that includes metal bands and clips.
- Dentures can slip, while bridges and crowns can be temperature sensitive, making eating uncomfortable. Because implants are more like real teeth, mealtime is more enjoyable.
- Maintenance is no more time consuming than regular brushing and flossing. No messy special cleaners, gels, pastes or glues are required.
Please contact Ellis Dental today at 314.965.1334 for more information.