Losing one or more teeth impacts your oral health and overall well-being. Speech, biting, and chewing all change. Additionally, remaining teeth drift, and the gum tissue and jaw bone at the empty tooth socket recede.
Unfortunately, tooth loss happens. While dentures and bridgework were the only viable tooth replacement options in years past, .png)
modern dentistry offers dental implants, the gold standard in dental prosthetics offered by skilled dentists such as Dr. Jason Campbell of Seaside Dentistry in Virginia Beach.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a true artificial tooth. Comprised of a titanium screw surgically placed in the jaw bone, a metal post or abutment and a lifelike porcelain crown, the dental implant may replace one tooth or even support a multi-tooth bridge. Dentists even use dental implants to support fixed or removable dentures for a stable, secure fit.
Advantages of Dental Implants
Unlike traditional bridgework, dental implants require no enamel preparation on adjacent teeth. Better than partial dentures held in place by metal clasps or everyday dentures which can slip and cause slurred speech, implants meld right to the jaw bone for rock-solid tooth replacement.
The Academy of Osseointegration says that implants are secure because titanium metal has a natural affinity for bone. So, when the dentist places the implant device below the gum line and into the jaw, the bone bonds to the implant. After several weeks of healing, the implant is ready to accept its post and crown.
Dental implant procedures are highly successful and are well-retained for years with good oral hygiene and regular check-ups and cleanings with Dr. Campbell and his staff. Chewing on a dental implant helps retain the size and density of the jaw bone, and surrounding teeth maintain their alignment and strength as well.
Who Can Get Implants
Many people who have lost teeth or face extractions because of dental decay, accident or gum disease make good candidates for dental implants. Oral health issues such as periodontitis or insufficient bone structure must be addressed first before dental implants are placed.
Also, good candidates are diligent about brushing and flossing. While smokers have a reduced rate of success with dental implants, they can receive these prosthetics but are encouraged to start a smoking cessation program.
Explore Your Options
Virginia Beach dental implants help many patients regain the feel, fit and function of natural teeth. Plus, implants provide outstanding smile aesthetics.
If this tooth replacement option sounds interesting to you, contact Jason G. Campbell DDS at Seaside Dentistry for a personal consultation. He will evaluate your oral health, present you with treatment options and answer all your questions and concerns. Call (757) 689-4363 for a consultation.